We have all heard managers moaning about the festive fixture schedule for this season, which has seen some teams play two games in the space of three days. However, according to a draft schedule drawn up by the Premier League, things could be about to get a lot worse for Premier League managers next season.
Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp have been the main critiques of the congested festive Premier League fixture schedule, which keeps fans entertained up and down the country over the festive period. Pep Guaroiola has been other manager that has struggled to cope with the demand of the festive season.
The former Bayern Munich manager saw his side travel to Hull on Boxing Day, before making the trip to Anfield on New Year’s Eve to face Liverpool, and finishing up on 2nd January to face Burnley at home. Jurgen Klopp was very unhappy with the fact that his Liverpool side faced Manchester City on New Year’s Eve but then had to make the trip to Sunderland just a couple of days after on 2nd January.
The feeling was similar with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who repeatedly stressed that the packed fixture list was not benefiting his side in any way. The Frenchman saw his side host Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day before making the trip to Bournemouth, where his side fought back from 3-0 down to somehow rescue a point at the Vitality Stadium. Alan Curtis of Swansea and Crystal Palace’s Sam Allardyce have also been critical of the recent run of fixtures.
If Premier League managers were not impressed with this season’s schedule, they are likely to be absolutely furious with next season’s proposed schedule. If this draft fixture schedule drawn up by the Premier League is turned into the officaial fixture schedule for next season, we could see SIX matchdays played in just SEVENTEEN DAYS. That gives teams less than three days on average between games.
The BBC were the first to report this, and claim that matchdays are set to be scheduled for the following dates next campaign:
Saturday 16 December 2017
Wednesday 20 December 2017
Saturday 23 December 2017
Tuesday 26 December 2017
Saturday 30 December 2017
Monday 1 January 2018
Of course these would not ease the calls by managers for a winter break, nor would it please managers in the slightest. Clubs would have to use the full depth of their squads to cope with this busy proposed schedule, but equally this may please fans, who would see 60 Premier League games in the space of seventeen days.
These dates will not apply for all clubs however as TV selections will have a huge effect on different team’s festive fixture schedules.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has kept quiet about the piled up fixtures over the Christmas period. His side have been able to deal with this over the past couple of years. Spurs picked up seven points from three games last festive period, and the Lilywhites have managed to go one better this season and pick up nine points from nine over Christmas and New Year. Spurs and Manchester United are the only teams to have done that this season.
Premier League managers are not likely to be happy about the new fixture schedule, but what do you make of it all?
