Premier League Winter Break

Sassy Colin

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Now being seriously discussed, but not before 2019, due to, you guessed it, TV.

Discussions are ongoing for the introduction of a winter break to English football, says Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore.

New England manager Sam Allardyce said a lack of mid-season break means there is an "enormous demand" on the players.

However, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn says a winter break is not feasible until the end of the current television deal in 2019.

But Scudamore told Sky Sports there is "a willingness to make it happen".

He added: "Sam is very consistent, he has been calling for a winter break for a long time and we are not against it. We are in discussions but I don't know how close or far we are. I don't want to compromise those discussions.

"Even if the bodies come up with a solution, we will have to road test that with the clubs and fans but there is no timescale on it. If it was easy it would have been done already."

Glenn says although the FA favour a mid-season break similar to the top divisions in Scotland, France, Italy, Spain and Germany, it is not possible until the £5.14bn TV deal ends in three years' time.

"There is a consensus that it would be a good thing to do," he said. "It would help the Premier League and us at international level if we could achieve that.

"We can do our bit about fixture congestion and that's why from the quarter-finals of the FA Cup this season we are not going to have replays."
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36895889
 
Would be an excellent move for the league, especially if it falls over African Cup of Nations.

Really think the quality of the matches would benefit from this.
 
Nonsense but cant wait to happen,just to see what new excuse they gonna make up,when nothing changes.
 
It makes sense to condition the league into that format between 2018 and 2022 world cups providing they maintain the hosts of each competition.
 
Stupid idea. What's the point of having 50 odd players and still whinging about playing a couple of games a week. The top teams do their best to get in the Champions League every year then moan about playing a league game so soon after a CL fixture. Then when they got knocked out, they're happy cause they say they can focus on the league again?? Teams already play weakened sides in cup competitions. It's not going to make one jot of difference.
 
I'm all for a winter break, not just for the potential benefit to the international team but for the sake of the Premier League and clubs competing in European competitions.

The only reason ever given by those who advocate playing throughout December/January, is that it's 'tradition.' It's 'traditional' for teams to play on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. And since I don't care for tradition, I see no reason not to introduce a winter break.

It really wouldn't be detrimental to the Premier League's appeal. I can live with not watching games over Christmas.

Besides, on a purely human level, how about letting foreign players, managers and coaching staff head home for Christmas? Let them be with their family and friends, instead of spending Christmas Day evening in a hotel in Hull because they've got a game the next day at the KC Stadium.
 
R'hllor said:
Nonsense but cant wait to happen,just to see what new excuse they gonna make up,when nothing changes.
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Same. Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann, Wayne Rooney. Which of these three players played the fewest games for their clubs last season? And which of them had the worst Euros?

This will not make a jot of difference to England's chances in international tournaments.
 
When you think about how things were 30-40 years ago with replays in both cups, and in the FA Cup it could be replay after replay (I think the record is 5 or 6 replays) coupled with 42 league games and roughly the same number of games in one of the three European Cups. All that for a much smaller amount of money than the PL players earn nowadays, so I really have a tough time feeling sorry for anyone. Yes the game is faster now and all that, but the players are also in a much better shape and play the games on great pitches, even around christmas unlike 30-40 years ago when it was covered in snow or looked like a mud bath.
 
Jacko21 said:
The only reason ever given by those who advocate playing throughout December/January, is that it's 'tradition.' It's 'traditional' for teams to play on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. And since I don't care for tradition, I see no reason not to introduce a winter break.
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Surely this tradition will not be affected by the new proposals and the winter break will kick in after New Year's Day?
 
Ahhh the winter break excuse, didn't take them long to bang this drum again. I suppose this "enormous demand" had effect on the Welsh and Belgian players playing there too. Won't change anything, just more justifying bullshit for their shit display at the euros.
 
Jacko21 said:
I'm all for a winter break, not just for the potential benefit to the international team but for the sake of the Premier League and clubs competing in European competitions.

The only reason ever given by those who advocate playing throughout December/January, is that it's 'tradition.' It's 'traditional' for teams to play on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. And since I don't care for tradition, I see no reason not to introduce a winter break.

It really wouldn't be detrimental to the Premier League's appeal. I can live with not watching games over Christmas.

Besides, on a purely human level, how about letting foreign players, managers and coaching staff head home for Christmas? Let them be with their family and friends, instead of spending Christmas Day evening in a hotel in Hull because they've got a game the next day at the KC Stadium.
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With the amount of foreign players in the prem that don't look knackard in the international tourneys i highly doubt we can use it as an excuse for our failing national side.
 
Rolandofgilead said:
With the amount of foreign players in the prem that don't look knackard in the international tourneys i highly doubt we can use it as an excuse for our failing national side.
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Note the word 'potential' when I referred to the national team. I don't necessarily agree that it would have an impact, but when every other major European footballing nation has a winter break, I see no reason for us to be any different.
 
Pagh Wraith said:
Surely this tradition will not be affected by the new proposals and the winter break will kick in after New Year's Day?
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I guess the issue of when the winter break takes place is up for contention. Personally I would like it to kick in mid-December and resume in early January.
 
I don't have an issue with them having a free weekend and so two weeks between games if it is scheduled late jan/early fab to coincide with the African nations and just prior to the latter stages of European competitions. I strongly oppose any changes to the Xmas period.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
As long as it's in January and not over Christmas... I love festive football.
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jojose said:
I don't have an issue with them having a free weekend and so two weeks between games if it is scheduled late jan/early fab to coincide with the African nations and just prior to the latter stages of European competitions. I strongly oppose any changes to the Xmas period.
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What is it specifically about Premier League football across the Christmas period that is so appealing?

Just curious, because I can take it or leave it.
 
Jacko21 said:
Note the word 'potential' when I referred to the national team. I don't necessarily agree that it would have an impact, but when every other major European footballing nation has a winter break, I see no reason for us to be any different.
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I see no reason why a proffesional athlete earning upwards of 100k a week needs a few weeks off in the middle of the season.
 
Having a winter break means a more intensive schedule before or after because those 38 league games all have to be played anyway.
 
Rolandofgilead said:
I see no reason why a proffesional athlete earning upwards of 100k a week needs a few weeks off in the middle of the season.
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A) They're human beings, not robots, nor are they immune to fatigue
B) Salary is totally irrelevant (as it is in most cases when people try to use it as a stick in which to beat footballers)
 
Jacko21 said:
What is it specifically about Premier League football across the Christmas period that is so appealing?
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That it's the only football going on. I love the PL for giving me a chance to watch some proper football after 2 days of grueling family festivities.
 
As a fan I would prefer no Winter Break since I love being able to watch Football during the Winter Holidays. But, if I was a Footballer I would prefer having a Winter Break. I find myself often using German and Dutch clubs in Football Manager because of the Winter Break.
 
January is the dullest month of the year. Without PL it will become even more unbearable.
 
Keeps It tidy said:
I always hate this line of argument. Even if you make a lot of money your body can still break down.
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That's why we have squad rotation, fitness coaches, rest periods etc.

Lets say a winter break is introduced, will they play less football? Then lets imagine it's a world cup year, the players have had a month off in january. The season will likely end in june or late may, then off they go to the world cup. What's the point?
 
Rolandofgilead said:
That's why we have squad rotation, fitness coaches, rest periods etc.

Lets say a winter break is introduced, will they play less football? Then lets imagine it's a world cup year, the players have had a month off in january. The season will likely end in june or late may, then off they go to the world cup. What's the point?
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I am in the middle when it comes to the Winter Break argument. I just hate the whole "they make a lot of money how can they ever be tired" argument.
 
Have the break in January, Christmas would be crap without the footy. I genuinely look forward to the Christmas football moreso than Christmas itself.
 
People complain about international break all the time and now want a winter break as well? Not another 14 days without PL football. No winter break please.
 
Boring from a fan perspective, will be great from a player/team perspective. A break for most players to recover energy or if coming back from injury.
 
Keeps It tidy said:
I am in the middle when it comes to the Winter Break argument. I just hate the whole "they make a lot of money how can they ever be tired" argument.
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It's not so much the making a lot of money bit in fairness - i take that back, it's more they have a lot of money spent on them in terms of fitness coaches, top facilities etc and they're elite athletes in peak physical condition. I'm not saying they don't tire, of course they do, just nowhere near as quickly as you or i.

Plus the break in the middle may help but then the season extends and in tournament years i feel the advantage gained is minimal at best.

But, at the end of the day the league are discussing this and whatever decision is made is one we have to live with and adjust to.
 
Think we'd be better off doing away with some of the international friendlies and replays in the cups. Results for England will remain the same as the playerrs just aren't good enough to go deep in a tournament. If they do go ahead then I think it should be after the 3rd round of the cup, so start to mid/end Jan, that way we keep the crazy festive football which is my favorite time of the season.
 
a long spell of bad weather could occur anytime from November to March so that isn't a factor in scheduling the STUPID BREAK WE MUST NOT HAVE

Allardyce is a buffoon

it's a NO from me
 
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