The Premier League’s big clubs have bulked up. Driven in this direction by five substitutions, the expansion of European competition, the increasing intensity of modern football and the strain on individual players.
They have arrived at the conclusion, it would appear, that the schedule is not about to relent. Let’s face it, the owners don’t want it to relent. More games brings more exposure brings more money.
So, if they’re going to be playing football around the year at full throttle, with matches stretched beyond 100 minutes on a regular basis, the physical strain leading to injured and exhausted players is inevitable.