Winter Break

[lcfcadam]

Perhaps this should be in General Sport but what the heck.

After seeing the third game in three weeks that I was going to attend called off due to bad weather, I started to wonder whether perhaps the British system makes much sense after all.

Previously I steadfastly thought that our system of continued football during the Winter was a great thing that other countries missed out on.

However, I'm now looking at a huge list of postponed fixtures just for today, added to hundreds more that haven't been able to go ahead over the past few weeks.

This leads to masses of wasted time and money for fans, as well as inevitable lost revenue for clubs (for example, Dunfermline Athletic have had their undersoil heating turned on since Tuesday, at a cost of probably thousands of pounds, only to see the game called off by the police because of forecast snow).

So the idea of a Winter break, maybe even just for the second half of december and first of January, starts to seem like not such a bad idea.

What does everyone else think on the matter?

[Ford Super Sunday]

And make us have to play EVEN more Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday matches?

Unworkable when you're trying to schedule 46 league games, cup games, play-off games, especially when they have to be done early for the international tournaments at the end of the season.

I just look at the pile-up ahead for us... try and transfer that to being INTENTIONAL and EVERY season, and it's a scary thought.

No way

[jonthefox]

you would think in this day and age of undersoil heating and covers etc , it wouldnt be necessary.

[lcfcadam]

And make us have to play EVEN more Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday matches?

Unworkable when you're trying to schedule 46 league games, cup games, play-off games, especially when they have to be done early for the international tournaments at the end of the season.

I just look at the pile-up ahead for us... try and transfer that to being INTENTIONAL and EVERY season, and it's a scary thought.

No way

It's a good point but to be honest I'd rather know in advance that an away game is gonna be on some hideous Tuesday evening rather than buy my ticket, get on the train on Saturday afternoon, and then discover halfway there that it's not gonna happen.

It would make the fixture list more awkward, but cancelling the last half of December and first half of January would only mean rescheduling like 5 games or so, surely it wouldn't be that hard to fit them in later in the season?

[Mike the Metal Ed]

But a lot of clubs with good facilities are still able to get their home games on, and all clubs would rather take their chances with the raised Christmas attendances. It's not like we know a cold snap like this every year, a winter break would be a slight overreaction, and do more harm than good, really.

[davieG]

Like the bad weather is always end of Dec / beginning of January.

The fact that our winter is so unpredictable makes the idea a non-starter, what happens if you have a break like you say and the weather's fine, like it has been in recent years and then we get a bad February / March - there's no time left to fit in the games.

If the idea is cover for bad weather it's a complete none starter.

[Finnegan]

Baffles me that people act so outraged, like it can't be done or it's impossible, when other countries are doing it fine, .

That said it doesn't really strike me that it's a major problem in this country.

[AoWW]

Like the bad weather is always end of Dec / beginning of January.

The fact that our winter is so unpredictable makes the idea a non-starter, what happens if you have a break like you say and the weather's fine, like it has been in recent years and then we get a bad February / March - there's no time left to fit in the games.

If the idea is cover for bad weather it's a complete none starter.

Exactly. Wasn't the majority of the cold spell and snow in February last year?

[Flynny]

Especially difficult in a World Cup season, surely?

[lou]

No

[Guest Bilo]

The only league in which this could work is the Premiership. 38 games would be more doable than 46 but there's no way the CCC and Leagues One and Two are going to be reduced to 20 to accomodate this, and nor should they. We've all been frustrated by the fiascos at Doncaster and Cardiff of late but as undersoil heating (which some clubs even remember to switch on ) becomes even more popular the need for a winter break becomes ever more diminished.

[lildave3]

I don't want one. I love games this time of year generally.

[dandannieldanok]

I don't want one. I love games this time of year generally.

Agreed, football makes winter worth bearing for me.

[Ultra]

Many clubs get their biggest crowds of the season around the Christmas/New Year time, so wouldn't be keen on a winter break.

[Fosse Boy]

If anything we should be playing more games during midwinter. Bring back bully old Christmas Day games.

[MC Prussian]

Besides, just because they don't do league games during the Winter Break doesn't mean clubs in other European Countries don't play competitive football at all.

Ever heard of Indoor Tournaments?

[Sparky]

Besides, just because they don't do league games during the Winter Break doesn't mean clubs in other European Countries don't play competitive football at all.

Ever heard of Indoor Tournaments?

Hardly competitive , well the ones ive watched on eurosport

[Manwell Pablo]

Baffles me that people act so outraged, like it can't be done or it's impossible, when other countries are doing it fine, .

That said it doesn't really strike me that it's a major problem in this country.

Biggers leagues and two domestic cup competitions, thats the difference. Just can't afford to shut down the whole league system for 2 weeks never mind a month.

[Alexikokopops]

And make us have to play EVEN more Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday matches?

Unworkable when you're trying to schedule 46 league games, cup games, play-off games, especially when they have to be done early for the international tournaments at the end of the season.

I just look at the pile-up ahead for us... try and transfer that to being INTENTIONAL and EVERY season, and it's a scary thought.

No way

I thought the point of the Winter break was that the entire season was planned with that in mind, so you wouldn't be squeezing the games in left, right and centre on Tuesday nights. That is, it would start earlier or end a bit later.

[davieG]

I thought the point of the Winter break was that the entire season was planned with that in mind, so you wouldn't be squeezing the games in left, right and centre on Tuesday nights. That is, it would start earlier or end a bit later.

You can't predict when the weather's going to be bad that's why it wont work. You can do all the planning you want, start earlier, finish later but if the bad weather comes outside the break then your no better off.

The other consideration is many clubs wouldn't be able to cope with a break in the cash flow.

[TrickyTrev]

We'd need to reduce our leagues to 18 teams and scrap the league cup before it was even a goer, but I am with davieg and say we don't have a cold season. We have cold periods that can hit at any point as opposed to a specific mid winter.

[Alexikokopops]

I thought the point of the Winter break was that the entire season was planned with that in mind, so you wouldn't be squeezing the games in left, right and centre on Tuesday nights. That is, it would start earlier or end a bit later.

You can't predict when the weather's going to be bad that's why it wont work. You can do all the planning you want, start earlier, finish later but if the bad weather comes outside the break then your no better off.

The other consideration is many clubs wouldn't be able to cope with a break in the cash flow.

I'm not saying I was for it, just pointing out the whole reason behind it which I thought Ian C had missed. You're right about the fact you can't predict it though. Last year the snow that ground London to a halt (which didn't really happen this year) was at the beginning of February.