How using the squad fully can help teams in the Premier League

Squad depth is widely accepted to be a key factor in determining which teams are successful in the English Premier League.

It is undoubtedly an element which has a significant influence on team performance over the course of a season, particularly when sportsbooks are formulating their odds for the title race.

Analysis from BettingTips4You also highlights the importance of squad depth when assessing team performance in the Premier League.

Given the influence this can have on results across a season, it is prudent to take a deeper dive into how using the squad fully can help teams each season.

Deep squads have not always been the norm

English clubs have not always had the luxury of having strong squads. Before the Premier League was launched in 1992, it is was not unusual for clubs to have 14 or 15 players they relied on each season.

Injuries and suspensions often had a major bearing on English football, while a loss of form was a factor every manager dreaded due to the threadbare nature of their squads.

Ipswich Town are one of the most noteworthy examples of this in action. They should have won the treble in 1980/81, but ultimately ended up with just the UEFA Cup.

The loss of defender Kevin Beattie to injury late in the season blew a sizeable hole in Ipswich’s aspirations as they didn’t have a player of similar quality to replace him.

Bigger has become better in the Premier League

Squad depth has increasingly become about numbers in the past few years, particularly with the ever-expanding fixture list placing increased demands on clubs.

However, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola previously insisted he would rather work with a smaller squad containing players who can play in two or three positions.

Even he has been forced to accept that principle is flawed due to the seemingly endless number of fixtures the top clubs are expected to play each year.

With less time to recover in between games, Premier League clubs must ensure they have enough players to cope with the workload.

Arsenal showing the benefits of squad utilisation

Having a big squad is only part of the equation, as evidenced by an intriguing statistic which is set to shape the outcome of this season’s title race.

Arsenal are top of the Premier League this season for goals (11) and assists by substitutes (10). Those numbers have helped them establish a nine-point lead at the top of the table.

By contrast, Man City’s substitutes have contributed just one goal and one assist this term. City’s tally of two points earned through substitute goal contributions is the second-lowest in the top flight.

Those damning statistics highlight that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been far more adept at changing games with his substitutions than Guardiola this season.

Sesko rekindling memories of yesteryear at Man United

Former Manchester United Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was renowned for his goalscoring exploits off the bench, although he openly admitted he didn’t want the ‘super-sub’ status.

Benjamin Sesko is rekindling memories of the Norwegian after scoring four goals from the bench this season. His ability to change games has proved invaluable to United.

The Red Devils are third in the standings, five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with eight games remaining. Chelsea are one point behind the Reds in sixth.

While Sesko will ultimately be hoping to become a regular starter in the future, his efforts off the bench could help United secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The post How using the squad fully can help teams in the Premier League appeared first on 11v11.