Winter Break

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gmtx

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13688538.stm
BBC Sport said:
England players Theo Walcott and Peter Crouch have called for a winter break during the Premier League season.

England manager Fabio Capello said fatigue was partly to blame for the 2-2 draw in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland on Saturday.

And on Tuesday, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere said he had experienced a "crazy year" of football.

"It will have to come in at some point. Why not? It can't do any harm," Walcott, also of Arsenal, told BBC Sport.

"We love playing football, but it is a long season. Not just physically, but mentally as well, it's nice to have a break.

"I know in Spain and Italy they have a break ... when it comes to the tournaments, we do seem to look a little bit tired."

Tottenham striker Crouch, speaking at the launch of the Football Association's Just Play initiative, added: "It is a long, hard season, what with European games and international games.

"Our league is probably the toughest about - even if you're playing one of the bottom sides you're still in for a real hard game, you're playing tough games week in, week out.

"So all the players and managers and coaches would be behind a winter break, without a doubt. A lot of other countries have it and they seem to have faired a lot better over recent years in World Cup and European Championship campaigns."

The Premier League is expected to come under pressure to impose a winter break when the select committee for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport report their findings into football governance later this month.

However, the Premier League, which is keen to see the traditional Christmas and New Year fixtures protected, has previously stated it has no intention of introducing a mid-season break.

Capello has repeatedly called for a winter break since taking over as England boss in 2008, while Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson renewed his call for a winter break following his side's defeat to Barcelona in last month's Champions League final.
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What do people think about this? Personally I think it's a good idea. I love football, but the fact is there's so much of it these days we're becoming oversaturated with it and there's too many games where I just think 'yawn' nowadays. In addition to that it would do wonders for putting an end to player burnout and fatigue. It doesn't have to be a long break, just a couple of weeks. The traditional fixtures at Christmas and New Year could be retained, with the break starting at the beginning of January (So we'd still have the transfer window to keep us entertained with no footy). Come to think of it that would also help out a lot of teams, us included, because it coincides with African Nations Cup and we wouldn't have the likes of Yaya missing crucial games.
 
Hate the idea and frankly it would end up with more football being played in less time, because they won't extend the season and after the "mini break" there no doubt would "have" to be a warm up game or too....no doubt places like Thailand and the US
"Our league is probably the toughest about - even if you're playing one of the bottom sides you're still in for a real hard game, you're playing tough games week in, week out.

"So all the players and managers and coaches would be behind a winter break, without a doubt. A lot of other countries have it and they seem to have faired a lot better over recent years in World Cup and European Championship campaigns."
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Couple of points from this, in the first paragraph he seems to suggest that it would be better to have weaker teams in the lower half of the league and in the second.... forgive me but when have England ever done "well" at international level even when most countries in europe also didn't have breaks.
 
It would ruin the English football. It would mean the season starting earlier so they can fit in a break. The grounds are 100 times better than back even in the 90s with the under soil heating systems the pitches do be grand why stop it for a break. Also can you imagine no football on around the Xmas holidays it would be a nightmare for fans. Having to stay at home with the family.
 
leighton said:
It would ruin the English football. It would mean the season starting earlier so they can fit in a break. The grounds are 100 times better than back even in the 90s with the under soil heating systems the pitches do be grand why stop it for a break. Also can you imagine no football on around the Xmas holidays it would be a nightmare for fans. Having to stay at home with the family.
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...and some teams would arrange lucrative friendly matches.
 
Yeah, lets have a winter break to allow clubs to go on tour to Asia Usa etc & have the season start while the kids are off school and people - fans are on holidays.
Great idea.
 
Did people not read anything I wrote? YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR FIXTURES! The Break would be in January! Some people seem to have just seen the words 'Winter Break' and had an immediate knee-jerk reaction!

The concept's worked well enough in Spain and Germany, and I don't see any of their teams jetting around the globe for lucrative friendlies in January!

As for the resulting fixture pileup I agree this wouldn't be great, but it could be alleviated a great deal if we cut the league to 18 teams, and abolished the League Cup (which would also have the effect of restoring the FA Cup to its more prestigious position).
 
gmtx said:
Did people not read anything I wrote? YOU WOULD STILL HAVE THE TRADITIONAL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR FIXTURES! The Break would be in January! Some people seem to have just seen the words 'Winter Break' and had an immediate knee-jerk reaction!

The concept's worked well enough in Spain and Germany, and I don't see any of their teams jetting around the globe for lucrative friendlies in January!
As for the resulting fixture pileup I agree this wouldn't be great, but it could be alleviated a great deal if we cut the league to 18 teams, and abolished the League Cup (which would also have the effect of restoring the FA Cup to its more prestigious position).
Click to expand...

Fri 07/01/11 CLF Trabzonspor 3 - 0 Schalke 04
Sun 09/01/11 CLF Karabükspor 0 - 3 Schalke 04
Wed 12/01/11 CLF Eskişehirspor 1 - 1 Schalke 04

As an example...... Schalke went to Turkey for their winter break this season.....
 
No thanks. I love going to the match with 18 layers on, sweating my arse off in the car, waddling like the Michelin man to my seat, and then still being cold.

Make me appreciate it so much more. :)
 
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