More and more managers are succumbing to the idea that a winter break would be a welcome relief from the long, hard slog that most footballing divisions offer up. With the recent spate of fixture cancellations the argument for a winter break has gained momentum and weight.
Furthermore, after a World Cup campaign in which England's sole victory came against Slovenia and ended with a 4-1 defeat by Germany, Fabio Capello, the England manager said his coaches had been concerned by the squad's physical condition after an uninterrupted season that for some players included more than 50 club appearances.
This said, the recent deluge of snow that has torn through the fixture list is yet another reminder that a winter break would not only be sensible, but would give players ample time to rejuvenate and attack the Premier League with renewed vigour come January.
The winter break is the norm in many European leagues, the concept also gets support from England boss Fabio Capello, while there are calls north of the border for its re-introduction in the Scottish Premier League. So why do the relevant governing bodies seem so against the idea?
Due to the severity of the situation some teams will be playing two to three times a week for a prolonged period which will surely result in teams' squads burning out prior to the season's end.
One thing that must be said is that if unfortunate weather is the main motivation for a winter break then it becomes a dangerous game. Critics of a winter shutdown point to the lack of accuracy in predicting a poor spell of weather, which would then trigger even more fixture congestion if cancellations followed the break.
A winter break would certainly have its advantages, players could enjoy a deserved break, it would prove beneficial for the national team especially during seasons where international competitions fall, and finally the system would fall in line with other European leagues. However, when weather is the catalyst for such a decision surely it's not the best of decisions due to our unpredictable climate?
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