Winter Break: Yay or Nay?

By: Daryl | December 23rd, 2008

Several leagues around Europe are now on winter break – Ligue 1, Bundesliga, La and Serie A to name four. But no English Premier League. Despite constant complaints from players and managers about fixture congestion, English football plays on in the cold. Bringing added meaning to the phrase “stiff upper lip”.

Should the English Premier League have a winter break? Certainly John Terry thinks so, and went to extraordinary lengths to ensure that he got one:

But that’s an old question that gets asked every year. I’m more interested in the leagues that do have winter breaks.

I’d love to hear the opinions of football fans in countries that don’t play over Christmas and New Year.

Do you get annoyed that football disappears for a few weeks? Or is it a welcome break for yourself as much as the players? Do you feel jealous that Premier League fans get to watch games over the festive period? Or are you glad your boys are getting a rest?

Basically, is the winter break a net positive or a net negative for your league?

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Category: World Football

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Guest

I'm a fan of Bayern Munich and I love this winter break. I have my university first semester finals at this team of year,and the players get to rest bla bla bla ...

I'm expecting them to change this winter break when I finish school.
James

I don't think I'll make it. I don't wanna live in a world without football. :(

I try to watch every match I can though... from different leagues just to get my 'fix'
dp

A one week break in the Premier League after the Boxing Day fixtures would be ideal, as you would keep a major tradition and introduce a break that may help keep attrition rates down later in the season...after February, everyone in the Premier League looks like they're running in oil.
Mat

I think everyone looks at it from the players' perspective. Why don't we look at it from the spectators perspective too. Football during holidays can be fun/entertainment for many viewers around the world...that's also what sports is about too right??? Sympathising with the players too, they should get a week or two off after Jan 1st week
OhYes

I'm with Hawk on this one. I want me some Barca RIGHT NOW!! :(

But I like the idea of a winter break. It gives the players a well-deserved break. In the next few months, they'll have to deal with training, La Liga, Champions league, Copa del Rey, traveling, and other things. This is just a way to fully refill their tanks.
diana

I actually do watch the Bundesliga apart from the Premier League, Daryl. The Bundesliga has the longest winter break compared to Italy, Spain. Not sure how long is France's winter break though.

Good and bad when it comes to the Bundesliga. The winter break began last week and the league will resume in late January. Good because the footballers can get some break in between, especially who have to be on the sidelines due to injury...that is if they can get back in time when the season resumes. Bad because, no football. But since I do watch the Premier League too, I don't feel that I am missing that much.

Oh yes. The winter break for the next season in the Bundesliga will be halved, in view of giving more time for the German national team's preparations for the 2010 World Cup (that is if they qualified). I wondered if that will change after the 2010 World Cup. I had always personally felt that the Bundesliga's winter break is far too long, even as much as I welcome a break in between.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill was saying recently of having a one-week break in between in the Premier League. I know Sir Alex Ferguson once talked about it before.
Hawk

I'm glad Barca's players are getting some well deserved rest but I do miss the attractive football you just can't get in England.