"Festive schedule a disgrace".......is it?

[Dubai Mark]

Following the Van Gaal's comments on this subject, I see that Gus Poyet has had a winge about the festive schedule, two games in three days situation. Van Gaal even said something like it is illegal according UEFA and FIFA?

I really dont get it being a "disgrace", sure recovery time is of concern, but surely this is a good challenge for all the clubs in respect of how their squad can cope, how they manage their squad and a key part of the season.

Hence, its a real test for our squad and one that you would think we will pass, when considering the caliber of players at our disposal who have hardly set foot on the pitch yet this season.

 

[morty]

I love it, going to my second game in three days, what's not to like lol?

 

[Canaryboy]

I've always enjoyed the way that the games come thick and fast at Christmas, and every club in the Premier League should have enough senior players to put out two entirely different teams, it should be a non-issue.

Van Gaal is just getting his excuse ready because he's scared of playing Spurs away today, they have won 4 in a row. Doubt he'd be moaning if they had Leicester at home today! 

 

[Yellow Fever]

I can see the complaints from the PL though, as they play 4 games in 8 days. Strange that they play on New Years Day but we don't.

 

[GazzaTCC]

I have often wondered why the schedule isn't tweaked so clubs play on just Boxing Day and New Year's Day, dropping either the Saturday before Christmas, or the weekend game in between?

 

[eatonparkboy]

I give up. Foreign managers moaning about schedules that have existed for so long because it suits the supporters of all things. It is the same for everyone.

 

[Din]

It is a bit strange, but at the end of the day as long as every team in the league plays on the same days, so no-one is getting an unfair advantage, I don't see it as a problem, and certainly not a 'disgrace'. The whole point of having 25-30 man squads is that you can bring players in when other players are injured/fatigued. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Its always surprised me that the teams with the biggest squads seem to suffer the most during this period. Maybe its because they do rotate and this disrupts momentum or cohesion. The bigger teams are likely to have more special players, but their squad fillers are probably average so despite having a bigger squad, the complaint is probably not that theyre having to play tired legs, but that they cant field a superior team in every game. I dont know why they complain, everybody is in the same position

 

[Fenway Frank]

Having said all that, we played yesterday, the binners don't play till tomorrow, could we have re arranged ? 

 

[Brian Fantana]

It is the one time of the year that a large percentage of the population are free to enjoy the output of an entertainment industry, if that means that teams have to adapt then so be it - this silly idea that footballers should get Christmas off misses the point that the industry relies on interest from the fans and we are mostly free to enjoy it at this time of year.

It's time to top whinging and use the squads that are assembled at great expense - it must be hard for LVG to field 11 players having only spent £250m.

 

[Fenway Frank]

Would those managers be complaining if they'd won their second game ?

 

[eatonparkboy]

Its the TV money that attracts LVG and his like to the Prem and TV dictates when you play.

I would much prefer if we went back to MOTD and BBC money when we all had a chance and it wasn't life or death, just fun and entertainment.