QPR fan Paul Moore believes the FA should change the football calendar to include a winter break. What other changes should be made to improve the sport for the fans?
With the weather that we’d normally expect in winter upon us it might seem a strange question to ask. But would football really benefit from a four week break?
I think the main problem is the weather; if the break was to go ahead then it might be very mild and ideal playing conditions and the week the fixtures started it may pour down from the highest heavens, or worse still, snow.
From my point of view the football season is nowhere near long enough. I do think that even with concerns over player burnout, squads these days are built to cope.
I believe we should have a winter break of a month and a reduced one in the summer – so we could actually get more football in but with two breaks to balance it out.
Now I’m going to hear people saying, ‘there’s enough football!’ Well I’m sorry but three months off in the summer – not including when we have major tournaments – is just too long for my liking.
Footballers need rest I’ll agree but the squads that the clubs have these days are huge; so why not? Young footballers need to gain experience and the older player’s need a rest, so more games could actually be more productive for youngsters and give extra opportunities.
Another notion to consider is that many fans complain about not been able to get into a game as there are so few to get to; a longer season will give those fans more of a chance to watch a game live – I’m sure the football clubs themselves wouldn’t argue against extra gate receipts.
So could we fit a major tournament like the World Cup in if we moved the football season in this country? Well we’d have to, we’d have to work it around it. It would be up to the clubs how much rest to give their players.
Another thing I think that isn’t needed is the 25 man squad; why limit teams? We already have a transfer window so what is the point in it? If, as a pro, you’re not in the twenty five then why should you be bothered to work hard; you can’t get in the team but isn’t that the idea?
If the calendar was to be moved, we would have to scrap it, it wouldn’t be fair on the players otherwise, and I don’t see the advantage of it as it is.
It may be ambitious to get club football for near 10 months per year, and there would be opposition, but it could be done.
One suggestion is to re-vitalise the League Cup, and make it a pre-season tournament for all the English clubs to get involved in.
Forget playing it through the season like we do now; start it in early July and run it throughout the month like an international tournament. It could be used for young players to represent their clubs and stake a claim ahead of the season, and therefore the clubs could still rest their top stars.
It would be up to them if they want to bring them back for the latter stages, and it could drum up interest in what is often a lacklustre competition. It could be great for the young players in this country.
With a bit of invention, we can get more football and the right balance, and the much discussed winter break, allowing players to re-cuperate mid-season.
Are the changes good ideas? Could they work? Do we need a winter break?
image: © vortistic
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