International break

Simple poll to gauge opinions. The International break was introduced many years ago now with the aim of helping England to bond together, have more time to train together and to improve performances. I can't say I have noticed any difference. We still bomb when it comes to the big tournaments including during the era of the so called "golden generation" a la Scholes, Gerrard et al.

So do you think the International break has proven to be a success or not and whether we should keep it or scrap it.

Also, should we simply scrap it because it disrupts your enjoyment of Club football with the interminabley constant breaks.

 

Can't be scrapped, and I wouldn't want it too.

Its not an English break, but a period when Internationals are played across the globe.
Even if England wanted to go it alone, which they wouldn't, there wouldn't be any players left at the clubs as they'd all be off playing for their own countries.

There is more to football than the Greed is Good PL and there are plenty of Football Fans out there who support England through thick and thin.

In any case as the saviour of FIFA and the Ethics Committee Chairman why are you suggesting something so heinous?

 

yes for me.

 

On a pedantic point, when have there been any "thick" times with the sole exception of 1966?

It's not the PL for me. It's the fact that Newcastle games are cancelled. Internationals were played in the era before International breaks came into existence. There are now more International games than ever before mainly just for the sake of the money. It's not just the PL that is greedy for money.

Anyway, with Sepp retiring, I'm having to explore new avenues.

 

Yes its ****e and most countries now are fielding foreign players so whats the point.

 

No - absolutely not!

**** these international footballers! How else would we fit in mid-season mafia games???

 

brother. hell yeah.

 

No but I do think friendlies in the season should be. We learn nothing and the time would be better spent working on tactics and playing behind closed doors inter squad games.

Personally I think we need to wise up, understand conditioning and give ourselves a chance by introducing a winter break. Its no coincidence that loads of PL players (English or otherwise) flop and look jaded. Unfortunately the PL is more interested in money and the FA too weak to pitch up against them.

 

Think the international breaks benefit the clubs to some extent as they get two games out of the way in one go rather than all midweek games which must be more disruptive.
But keep friendlies just for run up to finals of competitions.
If we need a winter break then do it mid Jan to beginning Feb. Love christmas footie. Also us tax domiciles tend to be in UK at Christmas time so dont want to miss live games.

 

This board could certainly do without the breaks though. Has been dead here. Have had to go to the Dark Side or Liverpool boards to read stimulating political debate, amusing meltdowns or a bit of racist/religious abuse. Will leave you to judge where i go for which.

 

Also against winter breaks.

All the big clubs seem to play friendlies in winter break periods of keep the players match fit and earn some more money! So what exactly are they having a winter break for?

Agree with the Jak Man that I also like my winter match "congestion" period.

 

Personally I love our excuses against winter breaks, I am not bothered about the festive football but there is still ample time to fit one in. The germans have it sorted with a break of 6 weeks mid Dec to end of Jan. No wonder they always look fresh. We will never learn.

We could always still have the festive football and just take a 4 week break post that. The reluctance to even try it is embarrassing. Yet the same folk then whinge when we turn up to tournaments running on empty and flop badly, getting no where near our qualifying form.

 

To be honest I think they should just ban football altogether

 

It can come at the worst of times and the best of times. Personally I hate it because it starves me of domestic football but for it's effects on clubs? It's swings and roundabouts.

 

Do what they do in rugby - just carry on with domestic games without the international players even during major tournaments.

That way we might actually win some games as the other clubs will have no players to field whereas we'd have an almost full squad.

 

I think the breaks give clubs an opportunity to regroup.

 

Really worked for our group

 

Well the ****ing squads are big enough. Not sure how Chelsea will fare, their whole squad of 25 are probably internationals, plus the 634 they have out on loan.

 

Exactly. Our lads might maybe possibly have half a decent chance against the Chelsea under 12s girls' B team. Maybe.