Leith Green Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 48 minutes ago, Dons_1988 said: It isn’t much of a break but it is a break nonetheless. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) Unjustifiable now IMO when means cramming midweeks into December + February, especially when you've clubs jetting off on training camps, or in Rangers case filling half with friendlies. It's rationale was "giving players a holiday"... that clearly isn't happening, or to such limited extents that outweighing the benefit of less 'intensity' either side must be doubtful. They don't have it in rest of UK (in England it's 1 free Saturday halved over 2 weekends)... Italy and Portugal have scrapped theirs... others like Greece and Spain have reduced it to basically just festive holiday(s) which isn't our tradition... with 4 more UEFA midweeks to accommodate next season: scrap it. We've already lost Scottish Cup replays. Edited January 9 by HibeeJibee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 (edited) 2 hours ago, Spikethedee said: Would rather see more midweeks in August/September used, than trying to cram almost 1/5 of the season into December & the New Year week. 2 hours ago, kennie makevin said: Bin the nonsensical break which only really benefits the bigots, more midweek fixtures in August/Sept and finish the season early May and restart in August. Give players and supporters a proper summer break to recharge batteries. None of this Cup Final in June, season starts again in July garbage. Tbf all midweeks until shortly before Christmas are already used up - mostly for UEFA competitions plus internationals. Next season the midweeks of our League Cup QFs in September; immediately before Christmas; and last 2 in January also go to UEFA (though in 2 cases they only use Wed-Thu and in 1 case Thu only): Wed 24 Jul UEFA qualifiers Wed 31 Jul UEFA qualifiers Wed 07 Aug UEFA qualifiers Wed 14 Aug UEFA qualifiers Wed 21 Aug UEFA qualifiers Wed 28 Aug UEFA qualifiers Wed 04 Sep international break Wed 11 Sep international break Wed 18 Sep UEFA groupstage Wed 25 Sep UEFA groupstage (Wed+Thu only) currently used for our League Cup QFs Wed 02 Oct UEFA groupstage Wed 09 Oct international break Wed 16 Oct international break Wed 23 Oct UEFA groupstage Wed 30 Oct currently used for our Premiership Wed 06 Nov UEFA groupstage Wed 13 Nov international break Wed 20 Nov international break Wed 27 Nov UEFA groupstage Wed 04 Dec currently used for our Premiership Wed 11 Dec UEFA groupstage Wed 18 Dec UEFA groupstage (Thu only) Wed 25 Dec currently used for our Premiership Wed 01 Jan currently used for our Premiership Wed 08 Jan currently part of our winter break Wed 15 Jan currently part of our winter break Wed 22 Jan UEFA groupstage Wed 29 Jan UEFA groupstage (Wed+Thu only) Wed 05 Feb currently used for our Premiership Wed 12 Feb UEFA knockouts Wed 19 Feb UEFA knockouts Wed 26 Feb currently used for our Premiership Wed 05 Mar UEFA knockouts Wed 12 Mar UEFA knockouts Wed 19 Mar international break Wed 26 Mar international break Wed 02 Apr currently unused in Scotland Wed 09 Apr UEFA knockouts Wed 16 Apr UEFA knockouts Wed 23 Apr currently unused in Scotland Wed 30 Apr UEFA knockouts Wed 07 May UEFA knockouts Wed 14 May currently used for our Premiership Edited January 9 by HibeeJibee 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dons_1988 Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I have no issue with a winter break conceptually, doesn’t bother me having a few weeks off. However, as has been mentioned it doesn’t make sense with our existing calendar. This may be my old age but my view is there’s just far too much football to be played in general in too short a period. We give ourselves absolutely no breathing space. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScarf Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 26 minutes ago, HibeeJibee said: Unjustifiable now IMO when means cramming midweeks into December + February, especially when you've clubs jetting off on training camps, or in Rangers case filling half with friendlies. It's rationale was "giving players a holiday"... that clearly isn't happening, or to such limited extents that outweighing the benefit of less 'intensity' either side must be doubtful. They don't have it in rest of UK (in England it's 1 free Saturday halved over 2 weekends)... Italy and Portugal have scrapped theirs... others like Greece and Spain have reduced it to basically just festive holiday(s) which isn't our tradition... with 4 more UEFA midweeks to accommodate next season: scrap it. We've already lost Scottish Cup replays. That's a good thing. It brings more chances of an upset on the day and it reduces the fixture pile up in the new year for everyone. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurkst Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 2 hours ago, VincentGuerin said: I think the Polish league used to (maybe still does) do something like that. A short summer break, allowing them to make the most of the decent weather, then a long mid-season break through the winter. They still do. As does almost every Eastern European league. I think the rest of the countries in Europe that run an autumn to spring season have a winter break of a couple of weeks at least, with the exception of England. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 4 minutes ago, Lurkst said: They still do. As does almost every Eastern European league. I think the rest of the countries in Europe that run an autumn to spring season have a winter break of a couple of weeks at least, with the exception of England. Polish domestic season runs from late July to late May; their league season is slightly longer than ours (it starts midway through our League Cup groups and ends the weekend of our cup final as they play theirs on May Day weekend) - but in total overall season is actually 1 week shorter than ours. They do take a winter break: late December to early February. There is no winter break in England, Northern Ireland, Wales, Italy, Portugal or Israel. In several other countries it's just a traditional stoppage for Christmas and/or New Year e.g. in Greece the last games were Thu 21st Dec then first games back were Wed 3rd Jan; in Spain last games Sat 23rd Dec then back Tue 2nd Jan; in Turkey it is just New Year weekend. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Stiles Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 The break is just another disruption to an already start stop schedule badly hit by international breaks. Also, when a club goes out of a cup competition early, you can add in even more blank weekends. I'm totally against it and the bullshit reason for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJFCtheTeamForMe Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I like the busy end of December. I'm off, can go enjoy the games more with friends. A few weekends free of football in January while I'm skint and burst from Christmas works out well! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIVIFOREVER Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 I'm happy with the break, gives us the chance to reset, bring in new players, having double or even triple training sessions in warmer climes, and having the chance to get new players bedded in with the team before competitive games start back up. Ok i may just be desperately clinging onto hope we can improve and not get relegated, but at the very least it gives me a 2 week break to forget how pish we are and revive my dwindling enthusiasm for going to watch us play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Ferguson's Hat Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 It's a disgrace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girth Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 It's soooooo dull 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meeniedee Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 they should be using the "break" to play any postponed fixtures. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy groundhopper Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 No need for a winter break, as there will be a few p-p games over the winter, plus bad weather could stretch into February at times. International breaks just as stupid, should only be clubs with players on duty tbh. Midweek games Aug/Sept could help, plus too many various cup(s) across all levels of Scottish football. -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted January 9 Share Posted January 9 There's still football on you know. You could go to other games and give your money to clubs who will really appreciate it. Like Edinburgh City... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzdrk Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 I'd quite like it in the Championship, a wee break when life is busy and expensive. Mid December to mid January off (in terms of fixtures would have finished after matches on 16 December and return for either the cup matches on 20 January or this weekend's league matches on 12 January - presuming a Friday fixture). 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desp Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 It's a fucking nonsense that we can't schedule league games for midweeks in August, September, October etc because of UEFA competitions. Sorry lads, you can't have Motherwell v Kilmarnock or Ross County v St. Mirren because Real Madrid are playing Lyon on the telly. Get that rule to f**k. It would mean we could lighten the load in late November/December, somewhat, when the weather gets worse. Still have fixtures up to Boxing Day and New Years Day, then have a three week break, coming back at the end of January for the Scottish Cup. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennie makevin Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 2 minutes ago, Desp said: It's a fucking nonsense that we can't schedule league games for midweeks in August, September, October etc because of UEFA competitions. Sorry lads, you can't have Motherwell v Kilmarnock or Ross County v St. Mirren because Real Madrid are playing Lyon on the telly. Get that rule to f**k. It would mean we could lighten the load in late November/December, somewhat, when the weather gets worse. Still have fixtures up to Boxing Day and New Years Day, then have a three week break, coming back at the end of January for the Scottish Cup. Why have a three week break mid season at all ? Who's it for ? What does it achieve ? Am I the only one who thinks the summer close season is too short ? That's why players are knackered and that's where an extra three week break should go . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desp Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 1 minute ago, kennie makevin said: Why have a three week break mid season at all ? Who's it for ? What does it achieve ? Am I the only one who thinks the summer close season is too short ? That's why players are knackered and that's where an extra three week break should go . You could be right. The summer season is definitely too short and maybe if we played more midweeks during late summer/early autumn, it would take away the need for any mid-season break. In terms of "who's it for?", I'm sure the players would be in favour of a break in January, the average punter might be happy with a couple of weeks off from paying daft ticket prices to sit/stand in the cold at a time of year when many are skint, but there's definitely changes that need to be made to sort out the football calendar that could benefit everyone. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pens_Dark Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 On 09/01/2024 at 10:35, LiviLion said: I don't mind the break in principle to soften the demand on players, however it's completely pointless when you're cramming all those games into December to accommodate it. Add to that that you end up with some of those getting postponed, you could end up with players going straight into the first game back in the Scottish Cup game having not played competitively for a month. Basically this. The purpose is suitably defeated. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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