[aries22]

Is that right, Gus? Well, I tell you what, if you don't want to accept the way Christmas and New Year football's always been played in England, why don't you piss off to where you're used to? You come to our country, you're the one who has to change, not us.

[St Charles Owl]

Spot on Aries!! Poyet played for Spurs for long enough, and has also managed for long enough to know what happens at this time of yesr with regard to games!! I love this time of year from a football perspective, its a vital time of year with 3 or 4 games in a short period of time, can make or break a season and that makes it exciting!!

Our of curiosity, is there any rules as to when games can be played? Wednesday played on Boxing Day, as everyone did, but our next game is on Tuesday, with other teams playing today instead, does the PL or FL have rules and if so are they different?

[aries22]

I've no idea if there are any rules as such, St Charles Owl, but I remember league football being played on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day and then again on New Year's Day. It's a great time of the year anyway, and attendances are always up and people in good humour and fine fettle. Except the Gus Poyets of the world. I hope someone like SAF has a quiet word in his ear.

[themaclad]

At one time they played on Christmas Day, totally agree with Aries, fantastic time of the year, was going to three games in three days until the weather put paid to it. These foreign managers are such wimps, Bacon face at Man U was complaining about it as well.

[St Charles Owl]

At one time they played on Christmas Day, totally agree with Aries, fantastic time of the year, was going to three games in three days until the weather put paid to it. These foreign managers are such wimps, Bacon face at Man U was complaining about it as well.

Of course the managers at the top of the game have also in the past called for a winter break of at least a couple of weeks, that seems to crop up every few years. Thats another thing I feel is so unnecessary and would not only "interupt" the ebb and flow of the leagues but would rob a lot of the clubs outside the prem of much needed extra revenue from the bonus crowds that tend to be seen at Xmas.

Of course if this was to be introduced in the Prem, prepare yourself for "exhibition" games in place like Dubai for the likes of MU and Chelsea, wouldn't be much of a break but would earn the wealthy prem teams more money!!!

[themaclad]

And that is what they want, last paragraph nails it

[Slick_Footwork]

Pretty sure Poyet was misquoted.

Media trying to stir the pot.

I think in the actual interview he said he liked the Boxing Day and New Years
day games and that they represented great tradition, but didn't think there should
be a fixture on the 28th.

Personally it annoys me when anyone in the game moans about the fixures, but
I don't think Poyet's real feelings were dead against the festive period like the
headline suggested.

[St Charles Owl]

I believe the exact quote was a follows:

"I know that Boxing Day games are a tradition and I accept that and think we should maintain it, but I think that then playing on the 28th is a disgrace. We shouldn't be playing then, we shouldn't."

I accept he is not calling for a winter break, I just mentioned that as it has been called for before by a number of the top teams managers over the past few years.

[themaclad]

In 1990 Barrow had to play 18 games in 19 days including a Wembley final, won all bar one of these games and they were part time having to do a days work before playing. The overpaid darlings have it easy, two games in three days how tiring for them.