Fixture congestion adds insult to injury
SOMEBODY SHOULD tell Taylor Swift and Shawn Mendes that leaving the Christmas lights up until January is pretty much the norm in these parts.
Welsh powerhouse Tom Jones should probably inform the dulcet duo that it’s not unusual.
Now, still having the festive decorations up as we roll towards February is a different matter altogether. When you get to that stage, thoughts turn to just leaving them up until next Christmas be damned.
Myself and the family were away in sunnier climes to ring in the new year and didn’t arrive home until after Nollaig na mBan, so after spending a few days readjusting to the wind and the rain and unpacking suitcases and the like, it was well into the second week of January before the tinsel was finally boxed away in the attic.
While I was off supping pina coladas by the pool (cheap lager may be more accurate, but it just doesn’t have the same ring to it), overworked Premier League players were lining out in four games in the space of twelve days.
Christmas can take its toll on the best of us, whether it’s overstretching ourselves financially or overindulging on all things nice, leaving yourself with a gut that will take half the year to shift.
However, as a sometimes responsible adult I have the choice to say enough is enough, and not pour that extra glass of red wine and leave the mince pie firmly in the grip of its foil case.
While I wouldn’t normally be one to feel any sympathy towards multi-millionaire footballers, the number of injuries picked up by top-flight players over the festive period shows that the schedule is too much for tired limbs.
Newcastle United were hit particularly hard, suffering nine injuries over Christmas, incredibly losing five players in their defeat to Leicester City on St. Stephen’s Day.
With already stretched squads, Steve Bruce’s men and their ilk simply can’t afford to have that kind of casualty list as they battle for every point in the Premier League.
It’s not just the less glamorous clubs that are affected, with Liverpool and Man City managers, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, both loudly voicing their criticisms of the schedule.
At least the big guns have the option of rotating their teams while still boasting pretty decent sides, whereas the likes of struggling Aston Villa, who have lost players for lengthy periods, find it difficult to fill the void.
However, the top teams are also hit hard by the debacle, as they search for silverware on different fronts, both domestically and on the European stage.
Whether a team is on a trophy hunt, or simply struggling to keep their head above water, it’s a tough ask to come through the Christmas period unscathed, while maintaining fitness, form and whatever aspirations they may have for the season.
The Premier League have introduced a half-hearted, token gesture of a mid-season break in February, but it will be far too late for many who will face months on the treatment table.
Of course, us fans all love a glut of games to get our teeth into over the lazy days of Yule, but keeping players fighting fit should be the number one priority, and fatigued bodies unquestionably leads to a greater risk of muscle injuries in particular.
Playing on St. Stephen’s Day and then again two days later may be good for the barstool punter, but without world-class players you don’t have a quality product, and having them at the peak of their powers will benefit those with a vested interest and those simply looking on.
A full round of fixtures on December 26, followed by games on New Year’s Day, should suffice, giving players sufficient time to recover, while keeping the British tradition of festive fixtures alive and well. Removing that one game could make the world of difference for clubs, while football fans still get to enjoy enough action to get them through the festive period.
In truth, the lion’s share of the games over this holiday season wouldn’t have had you on the edge of your seat, and a dilution in quality was evident as managers tried to juggle their packs and keep something in reserve for the tests that lie ahead.
A Christmas break certainly did yours truly the world of good, although I’ve ‘wintered’ well over the past month or so, and getting back to the rancid weather and the daily grind was a bit of a struggle.
Tom Jones can’t always be relied upon for sage advice though.
It’s not always good to touch the green, green grass of home.