Poll: Is Louis Van Gaal right? Is the lack of winter break evil?

Quite why Louis van Gaal is worried about England’s lack of success in recent years is open to question, but his comments about the lack of a winter break could nevertheless open up a major discussion into how the season flows in this country.

The man at the Old Trafford helm has blamed the lack of stoppage in the Premier League season when the days get colder and shorter for the country’s failings on an international level.

“There is no winter break and I think that is the most evil thing of this culture,” he said.

“It is not good for English football, it is not good for the clubs or the national team and I think you should change it.

“England has not won anything for how many years? It is because all the players are exhausted at the end of the season”.

Of course, what that fails to take into account is the number of foreign players forging careers in England’s top-flight. A lack of a mid-season break doesn’t seem to have done them any harm.

Of the 20 teams that have reached the last four of the planets premier football bonanza since 1998, just half stop play midway through their domestic season for a breather.

With every member of the England set-up based at home, the Three Lions players will undoubtedly be forced to take to the pitch more frequently than some of their international counterparts, but is that the reason for our failings?

That question is up for debate another day, but what we want to know today is whether you think Van Gaal’s wishes should be followed through?

In the same interview, the Dutchman also made reference to how he was going to need to buy players in January to cope with the long season.

There may well be an ulterior motive to his wishes, but the question remains a pertinent one.

Does the Premier League need a mid-winter break?

Cast your vote now…

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