Feel The Force 0 Posted January 5, 2016 At the premier league and fixture congestion. Funny how the Christmas schedule is so terrible when you''re not winning every couple of days. He does have a point about the FA cup though. With midweek premier league games straight after it''ll be 2nd choice elevens everywhere. We could see plenty of upsets, including one against man city. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lessingham Canary 99 Posted January 5, 2016 That''s modern day football, managers know that these situations are going to happen during a season, time he got used to it, after all that''s why all clubs have such big squads, isn''t it ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crafty Canary 495 Posted January 5, 2016 Professional football is part of the entertainment industry. In this country fans love having matches to watch over the Christmas holiday period. Managers should be thankful that it''s not like the old days when the same teams met home and away on consecutive days at Christmas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
King Klose 0 Posted January 5, 2016 In the same way that he''s moaning he has 3 away games in a week, and a Saturday lunchtime game after a Wednesday night game, we have been stitched up by his reckoning because we have Stoke away on the Wednesday, whereas Bournemouth play at home 24 hours earlier. So they have the home game and 24 hours extra rest advantage over us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mello Yello 2,291 Posted January 5, 2016 Like any one in control of assets......you have to manage them accordingly.....Whether it be football, industry, business, Police, Fire or Armed Forces etc.....Sam''s had a ''heads up'' regarding fixtures over the Holiday period - and it''s not like the Premiership has just had the fixtures lumped upon them.....That''s why you have a large squad and therefore a back up for these events. Squad rotation is a necessity for events like this and unfortunately your not always able to field your best side.......Get over it Sam, it''s not just Sunderland..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Essjayess 307 Posted January 5, 2016 What is Allardyce talking about? Twas always like this around Xmas and new year in England. I understand how Stoke and Pool fans must feel about now, with League Cup and FA Cup fixtures to fulfill as well as Pre. matches but thats success for you...if you go on a cup run and reach the semis or whatever you will always get congestion sometime in the season. Also the Championship as we know play 46 league matches a season, but forever has it been. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Jenkins 0 Posted January 5, 2016 Trying to deflect attention Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Apples 1,320 Posted January 5, 2016 I''m surprised Big Sam doesn''t want Christmas and Easter amalgamated so his poor lambs only have only one holiday period over which to play. Still he''d probably complain about getting his Christmas pressies and Easter eggs at the same time...too much to handle in too short a time, pressure of the modern festive season, unreasonable expectations, etc., etc., etc. Clown. Apples Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
It's Character Forming 1,160 Posted January 5, 2016 I was thinking the other day about how benign the Christmas fixtures are this year, but I guess it''s just the experience of being in the Championship last season when 2 fixtures a week is common. Whereas this Christmas we''ve had the Saturday game at Spurs followed by Villa at home on Monday, yes that wasn''t much of a recovery time but it was the same for them. Followed by Soton on Saturday. Then Man C in the cup the following Saturday, after which we have Stoke on Tuesday, and Bournemouth on Saturday. It''s not exactly the end of the world, is it ? definitely deflection tactics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites