Winter Break

summerisle · February 6, 2018

It's on again.

https://www.joe.co.uk/sport/premier...ng-away-our-beloved-christmas-football-161300

Premier League moves closer to introducing winter break and taking away our beloved Christmas football.

MATTHEW GAULT

Football is the best thing about Christmas.
Spending time with the family is great, the food comas are so damn satisfying and the gifts are, well they're gifts – they're bloody brilliant.

But let's face it. Football is the best thing about the festive period. While the rest of the European leagues settle into a mid-season yuletide slumber, the Premier League really kicks into gear in a two-week football bonanza.

We had it this season, and it served up some Christmas crackers, like Arsenal and Liverpool's thrilling 3-3 draw at the Emirates.

However, we may not be able to look forward to a Christmas packed with football for much longer, as The Times are reporting that the Premier League is moving closer towards introducing a winter break.

According to journalist Matt Hughes, a potential winter break was referenced in "the tender documents that were sent out to potential broadcast partners for the upcoming sale of domestic TV rights for 2019 to 2022."

TIMES SPORT: Winter break moves closer for top flight #tomorrowspaperstoday

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— Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) February 5, 2018

The idea of a winter break has been touted for several years now. The intensive nature of the Premier League's Christmas programme is widely attributed to England's poor tournament showings in recent years. If Gareth Southgate's men crash out of this summer's World Cup in the group stage, you can expect another clamour for a winter break.

Worryingly, the Premier League reiterated its support for the implementation of a winter break to The Times, confirming that it has been in discussions with the FA and EFL over coming up with a long-term solution for fixture congestion, which has been a bone of contention with several top-flight managers this season including Chelsea boss Antonio Conte.

For purely selfish reasons, we wouldn't want to be deprived of football at Christmas time, even though this proposal does make a lot of sense.

canuckblue · February 6, 2018

Get rid of the in-season international breaks -- hold qualifying tournaments during the off-season the year before each Euro and World Cup -- and there'll be more than enough time to spread the league fixtures out over the same period of time and thereby save the Christmas schedule. It just won't be as hectic.

verreauxi · February 6, 2018

I've flown over to England many times over x-mas to watch games. I associate x-mas with football, pints, rainy days, and a well-run rail system. So no, for me.

mmmmsnouts · February 6, 2018

Boxing Day football is fine but they have to stop packing 5 matches into like 12 days. By the end of it the quality of play is terrible and some teams never recover physically, like the RS, so actually you know what keep it exactly the way it is now.

toffeejack · February 6, 2018

The end of Premiership football as we know it. Why don't they want to keep something they is unique?

Just bowing to foreign managers demands and money is the killer. Every fan lovs it.

Seathestars · February 6, 2018

It will leave us free to enjoy the horse racing at least, every cloud and all that

Boba Fret · February 6, 2018

There is another simple solution to saving the Christmas break and that is to have no international breaks. Let us follow the model of other sports with the league calender continuing regardless.

Before the purists say no, remember the lower leagues still play over internationals. Whilst you may argue that it has less of an impact I disagree. These teams still have players who represent their nations during these periods, but still manage to field a team to compete, albeit a weaker one. Premier and Championship teams have large squads use them ergo simple solution to no more fixture backlogs

I know my thoughts are unpalletable to some so thoughts please.

Raindog · February 6, 2018

The article says 'after the FA Cup third round on the first weekend of January'. That's a fair bit after Boxing day.

Kenshin · February 6, 2018

All to improve the fortunes of the national team. The same one who is managed by Gareth Southgate?

Sorry but just because England is crap at football doesn't mean a few weeks off would change anything. It would just benefit all the foreign players more to get that because we would still be crap at tournaments. Bet they never thought of that?

ToffeeTim · February 6, 2018

There should be a free week for all teams in mid January. They should stagger a particular game week over 2 weekends with 5 games each weekend, so that TV don't miss out, and teams have a rest for one week.

Tampering with Christmas football would be a disgrace and a travesty. Make them play more over the holidays and less daft Tuesday night games in February.

Brisan123 · February 6, 2018

Do away with 2 legged carabao cup matches , FA cup replays and close the league for 2 weeks over Christmas

Caolam · February 6, 2018

Our players have been on their winter break for a few weeks.

chrismpw · February 6, 2018

If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen!

Fricking mercenaries thinking they can run the shop.

Echo the shouts for getting rid of international breaks. Play international matches midweek, like the league has to to catch up with fixtures caused by international breaks!