So what if its snowing, play ball! (Photo credit: Justin Kraemer Photography)
Football’s festive period is upon us and January transfer window ‘silly season’ is just around the corner. It is a holiday season (for those leagues with a winter break at least) loaded with games and gossip. This Week in World Football, it’s Christmas!
Party Poopers
At this time of year footballing gossip doesn’t just limit itself to transfer talk. Teams’ annual Xmas parties also provide plenty of talking points for fans, journalists and occasionally the police. The game’s top players can be seen doing everything from partying with their WAGS in ridiculous fancy dress, to leaving the local courthouse after defending sexual assault charges. This year the fashionable thing to do, if the team is under-performing, seems to be to cancel the party altogether. QPR and Newcastle United have both called-off their parties out of respect for the fans following disappointing starts to the season. Championship side Blackburn have been playing just as bad but manager Henning Berg decided against cancelling their Christmas celebration. He probably wishes he had after being embarrassed by the event’s DJ in front of staff and guests. The Dane was invited onto the stage and unexpectedly asked to wear a Michael Jackson wig and dance. He refused, stormed off stage and out of the party and questions over his future at the club have resurfaced as a result.
In Italy, despite 4 back to back victories in Serie A, AC Milan are 17 points behind league leaders Juventus. Perhaps as a result they have treated fans to a recording of the players performing the song Last Christmas. Dodgy.
Winter Break
Calls for the Premier League to introduce a winter break always intensify at this time of year, especially as players across Europe put their feet up and enjoy the festive period, relaxing with their families and recovering from the first half of the season. In England however footballers are facing the most intense set of fixtures all season, with some playing three games in seven days.
Despite the fact that I would personally miss football in December and January, there are numerous reasons why the league should adopt the idea. The prospect of Premier League players performing better for the English national team is the most glaring benefit of a winter break. However, it would surely benefit the league itself in terms of quality and entertainment, with smaller clubs able to compete throughout the season and less chance of fatigue effecting games. Fans would likely welcome the relief on their wallets with no football to attend during an already financially stressful winter season.
Certainly something for the Premier League to think about.
Dont Be Bottom At Christmas..or top
It is a well know fact that being bottom of the Premier League at Christmas is like a death sentence in English football. West Brom are the only team in the Premier League’s history to escape relegation, after being bottom at Christmas. Reading face the monumental challenge of becoming the second team to achieve such a great escape.
Strangely, statistics indicate that it is not as easy to predict where the team who tops the league at Christmas will be in May. The table-toppers at Christmas have only gone on to lift the trophey 10 times in the Premier League’s 20 year history. Good news for Manchester City and Chelsea and Arsenal who all may feel they have some chance of catching Manchester United who sit 6 points clear at the top.
Related articles
- The 15 things Premier League managers ‘need this Christmas’ (footballfancast.com)
- Should the Premier League have a winter break? (bbc.co.uk)
- Cazorla: England should follow Europe with winter break (espn.co.uk)
- No Christmas party for QPR (soccerway.com)
The Fan 