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Kenny’s complaint is completely justifiable

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You can’t please everyone, and that’s something that has to be kept in mind when looking the fixture list – managers will always complain for one thing or another, and just last week I wrote an article asking if the fixture list was in fact as random as the FA would have us believe. That aside, the latest problem regarding the scheduling of games is over the time between matches – specifically Liverpool’s league game and subsequent Carling Cup tie against Chelsea, which has been moved to a mere 48 hours later.

Cue a fit from manager Kenny Dalglish, who called it a ‘disgrace’ and then called for the fans to effectively boycott the tie in protest under the ruse of saving them money due to him having to field a youth side against Chelsea. Whilst some may disagree with the way Kenny has dealt with this, it cannot be ignored that there have been more than a couple of managers in recent seasons who have questioned if the timing of fixtures help or hinder English sides, especially when it comes to European competitions.

It is something that Jose Mourinho noted more than once during his spell at Chelsea, finding it incredulous that the FA, who should want representatives of their league to have the best possible chance in European competitions, steadfastly refused to move fixtures to give an extra day of rest before a tie in the Champions League, something that other league associations across Europe are more than happy to do.

Tony Pulis has reignited this debate claiming that English clubs suffer in Europe because of the fixture system, with Stoke facing eight away trips after Europa League fixtures, and has suggested that the ‘powers that be’ consider such scheduling issues in the future – not exactly an unreasonable request – it is perhaps the teams playing in the Europa League who suffer more than the rest.

It is usually at this point in the scheduling debate that someone wheels out the idea of a Christmas break, with the fact that all other major European Leagues have at least 14 days off during a period in which English players face five fixtures in 18 days. Does this then put players at risk of both injury and fatigue? If you argue that yes, that is the case, then in order to protect the players and get the best from them, not to mention allowing them the best possible chance to challenge for trophies in Europe at the business end of the season, a winter break would be required?

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  • Martin Badger says:

    It may well be a disgrace – I wouldn’t argue about that. What is disturbing is that Dalglish is becoming a carbon copy of old fat face – endless excuses. What I want, as a Liverpool supporter, is a trophy or two. The league is totally out of the question – seemingly forever. It would make a lot more sense to gift City the points and play a decent side against Chelsea in the Carling. Does it really matter if we finish sixth, seventh or whatever? Not to me.

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