The winter break debate

This topic always seems to occur around the festive period. Should there be a winter break during Christmas. I personally don’t think it should, not only from a personal interest, ( What would a hungover, food coma-ed boxing day be without the football!) but also from a point of view where the national team should benefit.

The international break means the season finish later. We seem to finish 2 weeks before La liga etc. The players get a chance to rest before tournaments and train together adapting to each others  playing style, which the manager having more time to enforce his ideas. Historically, this doesn’t seem to work with both Spain and Germany, who have the winter break, winning the last four international tournaments. This season the Spainish FA have reduced the winter break to ease the fixture congestion (Followed on below)

Another point against it would be the push back in fixtures. Many FA cup games will go to replays affecting the schudeling. This added to the teams playing in Europe can cause disruptions. This already happens, where would the fixtures from the break get placed. The only benefit I could see is that fantasy football could get a double gameweek

Maybe the international break could take place in seasons to which there is no tournament at the end of the season. Yes, I said the fixture congestion could cause problems but those seasons could be dragged on further and we as fans could have some football in the summer, well the first week of June anyway.. Thoughts? Are you for or against the Winter break in English football, or if your team is from a league where the winter break is in place, comment your opinions on it and would you scrap it? Let me know!

North vs South: A premier league all star game

America has all star games in all the big sports. Traditionally, this is East vs West and sees the best players play in an all round entertaining game where players take part in side contests (such as the dunk contest in NBA). This is a concept I would love to see in football. Now, this could work in a number of ways; Northern Hemisphere vs Southern Hemisphere, with the venue alternating similarly to the Ashes, or by Europeans vs South Americans. As great as these would be, it doesn’t seem plausible. Certainly not as possible as the idea of North of England vs South of England.

Why? Firstly, the concept needs to be tested. Having an All star match across a league would be safer than across continents. With all the scandals occurring at FIFA, it may be better to have a less unstable governing body carry out the match too. Much lower risk. This is also proven to work. It only happens under the NHL/NBA what have you. The Spanish or Russian basketball associations are not related to the all-star matches.

The teams would be split based on the geographical locations, so the ten most northern teams of the season would play the ten most southern teams, with the best performing manager of the regions being invited to manage the teams. To ensure all the players aren’t all from one team, there would be a maximum of 2 players from each team plus 2, therefore making a squad of 22 players. During the game, there would be an unlimited amount of subs, designed to give rotation of players, so fans can see more of the best players on the field and reduce the chances of a player being unfit for their next club game.

As mentioned earlier, the US sports also have contests.  A couple of contests that could feature with the Premiership All Star match include:

The free kick challenge, where the obstacles aren’t just a four man wall.

The Accuracy challenge, where a large percentage of the goal is covered and the player attempts to score

This all star game could replace one of the friendly international breaks. It would certainly be more entertaining and could happen every day for the top leagues. Managers would also benefit as the clubs would lose less players for a shorter amount of time.

It additionally makes sense on an economical and publicity level. Many people watch the all star events in the US without following the sport as with British people and the NHL Superbowl so there is no reason why football would not benefit in the same way. New Orleans hosted the 2014 NFL Superbowl. Visitors spent on average $904 and the even generated $106M. (NBA, 2015). The NHL event also anticipated high revenue streams with Columbus expecting nearly $50M worth of media exposure and 140’000 hockey fans going to the city.

What do you think of a Premiership All Star game? Leave feedback and any thoughts in the comments!

My predictions for the Premier league 2015/2016

It has come up on my Twitter feed and YouTube recommended watches about William Hill’s Prem Predictor. Now while entries have closed, I thought I would still put out my opinion as to where teams will come.

1^st – Chelsea

2^nd – Arsenal

3^rd – Man City

4^th – Liverpool

5^th – Man United

6^th – Tottenham

7^th – Swansea

8^th – Everton

9^th – Stoke

10^th – West Ham

11^th – Southampton

12^th – Crystal Palace

13^th – Newcastle

14^th – Leicester

15^th – West Brom

16^th – Norwich

17^th – Aston Villa

18^th – Sunderland

19^th – Bournemouth

20^th – Watford

The teams of the 2015/2016 Premier League season (This is not my image but I like where the Liverpool FC badge is placed)

Why?

Champions and Top 4

Starting with Chelsea to win. While the squads around them challenging for the league have all improved their squads, I feel Chelsea still have the edge. Arsenal could pip them to it however if they sign a world class striker before the transfer window shuts. I have opted against City too. I think the signings they have made are not significant enough improvements on the squad and would not be surprised if they fall away like the end of last season. And Liverpool in 4^th? It’s my blog, I’ll be biased if I want! (Also got to have faith in the team).

Relegation

This was a tossup and any of the teams from 14^th downwards could have gone in my bottom 3. Watford are definitely going down. Their owner is ruthless and will happily chop and change managers and a lack of stability in the premier league will only lead to trouble. Bournemouth seem to be everyone’s fairy-tale team this season but this will end in a nightmare for the cherries. Started the season with good performances but I can’t see them staying up. The squads around them are much stronger, but at least it’s not bottom for the first time premier leaguers. And Sunderland. I had Villa in the last relegation spot before changing my mind. The signings made are average and the lack of transfer funds would be worrying. 18^th.

All the debatable bits in the middle.

Manchester United and 5^th. A poor defence and a lack of striking options is the main reason I have United in 5^th. (As well as a slightly biased agenda but I fully believe it.) Similarly to Arsenal, make a few signings before the window shuts then it could all change but currently, I see them 5^th at best. Additionally, if David De Gea goes to Madrid, it could be another tough season for United fans.

Swansea in 7^th/ Everton in 8^th.

Could go either way but I feel Swansea have strengthen their squad well and have a good manager in Garry Monk. Everton will also have a good season. Not having Europa League will be a big help to their season but they will just miss out again. (Unless they win a cup or get a fair play spot but I can’t see the former happening).

Southampton in 11^th

As I said Everton will benefit from not having Europa League football, Southampton will suffer as a result of having it. I don’t think they have the rotation options available to them that the extra fixtures demand.

Aston Villa to avoid relegation

I quite like Villa but I can see them having a rough season. Fallen in the last few years and selling key players like Benteke and Delph won’t help this year. Rudy Gestede could prove to be a good signing and think they’ll just stay up.

Disagree?

Think Bournemouth will stay up? Will Manchester City win the league? Stoke to sneak a Europa League spot? If you disagree with this, let me know. Would be interesting to see where other fans see their teams finishing. Share this around and lets get a discussion going!