ToffeeWeb - Season 2010-11

The Mail Bag

The 25-Player Rule

Excuse my ignorance here, but someone maybe able to shed some light on this issue.

Firstly, when does this 25 player squad list have to be submitted by? Is it Saturday?

Also, how does it work for us, let's say:- We announce a 23-man squad, and leave space available for future signings (hopeful I know).

ie, can we change when/if we sign sell someone. Is the deadline running in line with the Transfer window?

Also, we've been here a million times before, with the 'no money' then the 'maybe 1 or 2', surely we will be signing someone, hopefully Landon...
Steve Foster, Yorkshire Posted 09/08/2010 at 21:56:18

back Return to the Mail Bag

Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Michael Kenrick
Editorial Team
1 Posted 10/08/2010 at 02:25:49

Report abuse

Squads of up to 25 players must be submitted by 1 September 2010 ? after Deadline Day and the closure of the transfer window. So transfers between now and then that do not cause the squad list to infringe the rules will be okay.

Prior to 1 September, the club can play any registered players on their books. Throughout the season, they can play any number of players who were under 21 on 1 January 2010.

The whole cycle starts again in January, when the next transfer window opens. But a new 25-player squad list must be submitted by the beginning of February, after that window closes.

A couple of weeks back, I took a look at how this might work out for Everton in this Editor's Blog piece and made corresponding changes to our Squad Page that hopefully reflect the effect of the rules.

David McKitt
2 Posted 10/08/2010 at 08:08:46

Report abuse

Hopefully Everton submit theirs in writing and don't just think that they can have an oral "gentlemen's" agreement with the Premier League!

Eugene Ruane
3 Posted 10/08/2010 at 09:05:59

Report abuse

Zinger!

Duncan McDine
4 Posted 10/08/2010 at 10:52:14

Report abuse

Very good David... though you forgot to mention the "24/7" and "watch this space" references that rarely get mentioned on TW.

Jimmy Hacking
5 Posted 10/08/2010 at 10:30:06

Report abuse

The 1st September date was chosen so that clubs could annoy their fans by swapping squad numbers the day after a new printed replica shirt has arrived in the post.

Michael Brien
6 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:04:17

Report abuse

Michael : Thanks for your explaining the details of the rules - there are two questions which you may be able to answer for me.

1) The thought occured to me that if this rule had been introduced last season we could have been in something of a dilemma regarding the long-term injuries we had at that time. Arteta, Jags, Anichebe and Yak were all on the long-term injured list ? I think only one of them actually played before Christmas. Would DM have named them in the squad of 25 or would he have waited until January?

2) Jack Rodwell is still under 21, so will he be counted as one of the 25?

Richie James
7 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:27:32

Report abuse

Michael (6)

1) If they were long term injured, they wouldn't have been named until the squad list was revised at the end of January

2) Anyone under the age of 21 doesn't need to be included within the 25.

John Crook
8 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:21:08

Report abuse

I think there will be a lot of movement on Deadline Day and maybe a couple of days before. My predictions:

Vaughan and Baxter out on half-season loan deals (because we may need them in January so full season loan deals wouild not be wise).

I think a new left back of some description will come in as vital cover for Baines (the amount of running Baines does we cannot expect him to play 50 games, providing we have good cup runs of course haha).

The only other assumption i will make is if that Yak goes to West Ham, then another striker will be in to replace him.

Heres my 25-man squad. Howard, Neville, Baines, Jagielka, Heitinga, Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov, Cahill, Saha, Arteta, Pienaar, Hibbert, [new left back], Distin, Yobo, Beckford, Anichebe, Rodwell, Yakubu (or his replacement), Osman, Gueye, Mucha, Turner, Silva, Coleman.

Roberto Birquet
9 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:26:27

Report abuse

This is great news for overall competition in the Prem, whatever Wenger says. There is less scope for the likes of Man City and Chelsea to hoover up players into a large squad.

It could also mean players at such clubs moving on, or get paid for not even proverbially warming the bench. This has already been noted by Mancini.

I hate the modern style of lots of quality players on the payrollof a rich club, who barely get a game. They could be at other ckllubs, getting games and providing much-needed comptetion in the League. My first memory of this was Milan in the late 80s. Their bench could have won the Eutopean Cup, but we only got see some of those players play for their countries.

I'd say, we should be looking at 3 goalies, 9 defenders (inc P Neville), 9 midfielders (not inc P Neville), and four strikers (probably inc either Anichebe or Gueye, and the other among the midfielders, if you get my drift).

That for me means we're a midfielder short - a right midfielder. After that it would be wheel and deal.

Michael Brien
10 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:33:25

Report abuse

Thanks Richie.

Roberto Birquet
11 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:36:44

Report abuse

Richie:
2) Anyone under the age of 21 doesn't need to be included within the 25.

I did not know that.

That knida changes my above opinion.

Duncan McDine
12 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:46:50

Report abuse

The first team squad, as it stands has 22 players who'd have to be included in that list. I think the FA are looking for other teams to follow in our footsteps... Moyes has cut out the deadwood, and gives the younger lads a chance when the time comes. IMO, it's an excellent plan to give young players an opportunity.

Duncan McDine
13 Posted 10/08/2010 at 13:59:05

Report abuse

Although there could be uncertainty surrounding Yakubu... his birth certificate states he is just 17.

Dennis Stevens
14 Posted 10/08/2010 at 16:59:36

Report abuse

Duncan, why would the Yak's birth certificate have to be updated to show his current weight??

Ray Robinson
15 Posted 10/08/2010 at 17:36:25

Report abuse

Discussed this new ruling with a colleague today. On the surface, it looks a good move to encourage clubs to includee more of their locally trained players in the squad.

On another level though, all it will do is encourage the welathy teams to hoover up the best talent in the 16 - 18 age group who become "home grown" after 3 years. Bad news for clubs who produce "Rooneys" and "Rodwells" but have them tempted away by the wealthy clubs and bad news for the England team because the academies will become stuffed full of young foreign players.

I don't know whether this ruling will produce the effect that is desired. Any thoughts?

Matt Traynor
16 Posted 11/08/2010 at 01:33:59

Report abuse

Ray (#15) - a good observation I think. Clubs will always look for a way round the rules, and I think in this case UEFA could well be creating more problems by being seen to try to address another one.

Makes you think that only more strict financial rules, particularly with regard to wages, would impact them - but it's easy to say that being an Evertonian!

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment to the MailBag, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and MailBag submissions across the site.