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The FA, Premier League and EFL are close to agreement over the introduction of a winter break, Sky Sports News understands.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11336411/english-football-winter-break-agreed-in-principle-for-2020

Quoted Text

Teams on a break from league action would be allowed to travel abroad for training camps.

However, money-making tours in the US or Far East would not be received so well.

So basically the break won't be about saving legs or improving the chances of the national side in summer tournaments, it's just a way of allowing the big teams to make more money by doing mid-season tours of far off countries. The FA won't like it, but there's nothing they'll be able to do about it.

The hectic schedule is what makes the English game so entertaining and appealing.

Would it affect League Two? If not it might lead to increased attendances as fans of PL teams slum it at our level to watch live games?

Or would we go on a mid-season tour of Winterton and Brigg?

Im not convinced tours overseas are likely. Can you imagine Mourinhio's reaction if Pogba broke an ankle from a bad challenge by a Tokyo Tornadoes (no idea what they are actually called) defender in a friendly he didn't want to play.

I'm gutted about this, its a tradition in my house to go to the match on boxing day and new years day, can't remember the last year I never.

Quoted from Bignic69

I'm gutted about this, its a tradition in my house to go to the match on boxing day and new years day, can't remember the last year I never.

I don't expect the break to be until mid-January so those fixtures shouldn't be affected.

Those dates won't be affected

British football at Christmas time is all about the Boxing Day and New Years Day games, they are always better attended than the similar fixture if played in November/February so are a useful financial windfall for the teams, so as long as they do not mess them games up it's fine, but yes the premier clubs would use the break to make money in some football outpost, then complain their players are tired 2 weeks later when they have to play 2 games in 7 days.

Although the Boxing Day and New Year fixtures are unaffected I still don't welcome the news. The ending of FA Cup replays and switching of cup-ties to midweek will further devalue what we older supporters remember as being such a special competition. I recall the Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday epic in 1979 which I think went to four replays before Arsenal won. Despite that marathon Arsenal lifted the trophy that season.

Our winter is so unpredictable that this could be a disaster. I can see them coming back on the day it snows 6 inches, setting the fixtures back even further

The other point to note would be that F.A. Cup third round replays would go the way of the Dodo. Plenty of money made by small clubs from replays after battling to a draw against the big boys of football. Yet another way to make life easier for the big clubs at the expense of the smaller ones.

It's almost as though the administators in charge over the past 20-odd years are actively trying to kill the game at lower levels. Wouldn't put it past them.

Grimsby did a trial run this winter , we had a 20 game break,

Well the players thought they will on a break.

If the seasons were extended we would have to keep the players [no names mentioned] that we wanted to get rid of for longer. What would we do on a shite Saturday in February except go shopping with the missus.

Having read the proposal for the PL , it’s only 2 weeks and it is staggered so there isn’t any period without games it’s just about giving players a break ! I find it amazing that professional footballers on stupid money need a mid season break

I had a winter break once. Slipped on some ice walking along a scaffolding. Went weeks with no pay.

Fecking footballers.

When i saw this
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11334825/international-champions-cup-fixtures-announced-six-premier-league-clubs-involved
I assumed a winter break would be next.
I suppose it's only right that the rich clubs and players have the opportunity to have christmas off and make even more money during the summer.
Football was about the fans once, i wonder when that changed.

Quoted from supertown

Having read the proposal for the PL , it’s only 2 weeks and it is staggered so there isn’t any period without games it’s just about giving players a break ! I find it amazing that professional footballers on stupid money need a mid season break

they dont, its all Premier League bullsh!t.... "oh it will help the national team giving the players a break " ... yeah because of course they will actually get a couple of weeks off to lay around and eat chocolate bars and re-couperate.....they will be off on tour, promoting the Premier League in warmer climbs....probably playing each other in mini tournaments in Dubai, USA, Japan or China .... yah de yah de yah..

Quoted from moosey_club

they dont, its all Premier League bullsh!t.... "oh it will help the national team giving the players a break " ... yeah because of course they will actually get a couple of weeks off to lay around and eat chocolate bars and re-couperate.....they will be off on tour, promoting the Premier League in warmer climbs....probably playing each other in mini tournaments in Dubai, USA, Japan or China .... yah de yah de yah..

Give 'em a break moosey. It's hard to make ends meet on £250,000 a week. Without the shampoo ads, endorsements and exhibition games, they'd be down to their last 20 or 30 million.

Quoted from ginnywings

Give 'em a break moosey. It's hard to make ends meet on £250,000 a week. Without the shampoo ads, endorsements and exhibition games, they'd be down to their last 20 or 30 million.

Sorry Ginny :'( .. i feel bad , not sure what i was thinking.

If any Premier League footballers are tuned in please accept my humble apologies.

Quoted from StaffsMariner

When i saw this
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11334825/international-champions-cup-fixtures-announced-six-premier-league-clubs-involved
I assumed a winter break would be next.
I suppose it's only right that the rich clubs and players have the opportunity to have christmas off and make even more money during the summer.
Football was about the fans once, i wonder when that changed.

It’s not Christmas