Personally I think it's a load of bollocks and a complete waste of time. Players will still need to train to stay fit and clubs will undoubtedly attempt to play exhibition games, or at the very least head off somewhere for a "training camp" so it's pointless. If the ultimate aim of this is to give players a break then we have to do one of two things :- 1. reduce the number of teams in the league to 18 in line with the Eredivisie and Bundesliga (therefore playing 4 games less) 2. finish the season 2-3 weeks earlier so that players are finished for the season (euros/world cups aside). Of course implementing 1 will mostly likely deliver 2 by proxy
Its a personal thing. I think the quality of our season drops off markedly in the latter stages as fatigue sets in. We play at a much higher intensity than many of the other leagues, and the physical and mental fatigue is obvious to me. That coupled with a desire to give our national team the best possible preparation is why I see it like I do. Others don't see any mental or physical fatigue, and they don't give a rats ass about the national team. I respect their point of view but I couldn't agree. I think its a pretty archaic way of thinking about physical and mental preparation/conditioning towards sport. Just to be clear though I don't see having a winter break as suddenly making England likely to win a big tournament. Unfortunately the national team has had much bigger issues - with quality being the most important one. However I do see quality in our youth ranks, and I do see an opportunity to do something if we can make the step. I think we do this by giving opportunity to the young players - this is going to be a major problem with the clubs in this country and hopefully more will be like Sancho and just head abroad. Then I'd like to see an England team arrive fresher too. Harry Kane has quality equivalent to his counterparts abroad but the state he arrived in that last tournament was disgraceful in my opinion. He literally had nothing in the tank. I look at our national team performance in September/October time and generally we are very competitive - Kane a prime example. Come May/June we are cooked. Kane, Rooney, Beckham - I've watched any number of quality footballers disappoint and far too often they'e looked tired. I wouldn't even care if the rule applied English players only in the PL but I don't think its realistic and I think the overall quality of the league could be helped. As I say its just my personal opinion, but I don't expect anything to change as the PL make the decisions, and Xmas time football is very very profitable to the clubs. It would take commitment in terms of scheduling to fit it in anywhere, and to be brutal, why would any PL club go along with it? They are all coining it in the way it is.
If the national team is the reason then it'd probably be better to hold a break in the spring and not the winter. Get them rested in March then 8 games to get them fit without tiring them out again.
I wouldn't have a problem with that. All I'm thinking is a natural halfway break which typically falls around December/January. Essentially though we don't need to fall in line with anyone else and as we've seen our weather doesn't dictate it as we are just as likely to get poor weather in February/March time by the looks of it. I think there needs to be flexibility around it but I'll be honest, I think its a pretty mute conversation because the PL won't be interested in anything changing what is a very successful product. Their business priorities far outweigh any sporting consideration. The fans already know this with the inconsiderate TV changes.
