Festive Football in the Premier League: Yay or Nay?

The English Premier League festive football period finished yesterday, and I still can’t decide whether it’s a good idea or not. On one hand there were some absolutely incredible games. How could you not love the Shevchenko-inspired fun of Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa? It was the game of the season, until there was an even better game of the season three days later. I’m sure everyone (except Reading fans) enjoyed Tottenham 6-4 Reading, especially the last 30 minutes where both teams seemed to score every time they got the ball. Great entertainment especially for all of us at home for the holiday. But it’s worth thinking about the toll that festive football takes on the players, who spent Christmas and New Year having the exact opposite of a holiday.

With the possible exception of Santa Claus, no one works harder then Premier League footballers over the Christmas period. The teams played four games in 12 days, and were looking suitably exhausted by the end of it. Alan Curbishley (pictured, looking suitably tired) summed it up after his West Ham team’s New Years Day defeat to Arsenal. “This was one game too many for us,” he said after losing 2-0. But he wasn’t making excuses, acknowledging the cumulative effect of festive football on everyone involved. “It was a tired effort from both teams.” he said

Now I know what you’re thinking. Something like “they get paid a fortune, they should stop complaining” right? But I’m not thinking about them (the players) so much as us (the viewing public.) Because even though the festive football was fun, those same players have to keep going. There’s no Premier League this weekend, but all the Premier League teams will be in FA Cup action. Then the squads will get trimmed down for the African Cup of Nations. From this point on there’s going to be a lot of tired legs, and that’s going to be a lot less fun to watch.

Some Related Stories:

Category: English Premier League