Pep is the latest to have had a pop at the fixture schedule. 2 games in under 48 hours for them. Spurs playing Tuesday night and Thursday night. In the last two weeks we've had a game every 3 days.
While the rest of the continent seems to be laughing at how busy our festive fixture schedule is, we seem to be making it even busier.
However call me a traditionalist, but doesn't it seem to make sense to play football over the festive period when people are off work. After all football is primarily entertainment. Bands perform 6 nights a week, theater productions often put on 8 shows a week. Why should footballers complain about the prospect of 4 matches in 12 days?
Especially given that your average PL side has a squad of 25+ players, enough money to pack it with quality players so others can be rested if necessary and access to the best sports scientists the world has to offer.
You know what I say. Make 'em play more!
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Being New Years Eve there would have been a lot of Officers patrolling around the Embankment area ahead of the traditional gathering there - Wonder if they didn't want Spurs v West Ham happening as would have meant fewer for New Years!!
I know here in England the show must go on, but that's not normal guys,"
Erm fraid it is normal here Pep - I like him yet hate the typical rubbish they sprout
These are meant to be elite athletes.
If they cannot work for 90 minutes every other day they should be ashamed.
Cyclists spend hours in the saddle day after day.
Tennis players must win 7 games in two weeks to win a grand slam.
Cant remember who it was yet you had one in the Tour a few years ago who kept on with a broken collarbone in the final few stages, one of them being in the mountains (Hincapie I think) whilst Dan Martin completed the whole Tour last year whilst enduring back spasms the whole way.
As a huge supporter of the English National team I don't mind them having a two week winter break, but it must not affect either cup competitions for the lower division.
Slightly off the subject, I would actually follow the Scottish model and have the league cup finish before Christmas.
When would the 4 games that are played in that 2 week period then be played though? There aren't that many free midweeks where there aren't already cup competitions/replays or European games being played....
Playing games 2 days after the previous one is tough, but acceptable if both teams have to do the same. Last night West Brom played 2 days after their previous match, whereas West Ham had 7 days before the game. If the Arsenal/WBA had been played on Saturday instead of Sunday, then they would have had 3 days recovery which could have made a difference last night, especially as it was a real 6 pointer at the bottom.
Loads more money from Sky, BT etc... How can it be wrong?
in the late 70's & early 80's Liverpool & N.Forest won Leagues & European Cup's playing 42 league games, FA & League cups with multiple replays (no penalties after a draw) on heavy & muddy pitches with just 1 sub being allowed. Most players played over 60 games & played 90 mins every week.
When English clubs were dominating the European Cup I think the typical pre-match routine for a player wasn't much different to the fans: pie, pint, maybe a fag or two!
I used to work 5 days a week and play on a Saturday afternoon and again Sunday morning (after a night on the piss)
Premier clubs not interested as they field reserve/development teams until they get to the later stages.
One minute they moan about it but will probably moan louder if they couldn't take part.
If would free up some midweek dates to get their fixtures out the way.
That would allow clubs competing in Europe the opportunity to drop out.
I assumed it was coincidence that they had a London, Liverpool and Manchester derby on the same day, just a fluke by the computer they say, yeah right.