Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor calls for a mid-season break
Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has echoed manager Martin O’Neill’s calls for the introduction of a winter break in English football.
Agbonlahor returned to pre-season training last week following his first extended break in two seasons after a gruelling schedule.
The Brummie forward made 35 Premier League starts for Villa last season as well as eight in the FA Cup and Carling Cup.
It followed last summer’s exertions in the European Championships with the England Under-21s.
Missing out on the senior’s side’s World Cup failure in South Africa may have been a blessing in disguise for Agbonlahor who admits that the Three Lions players looked fatigued.
The Bodymoor Heath academy graduate reckons the time has come for the Premier League football season to close down for a month during the winter.
“I watched the World Cup,” said Agbonlahor. “I thought it was hard for the lads because of the long season here.
“The players looked jaded and I’m sure there were a lot of tired legs. That’s what it looked like.
“If you look at a lot of the players, it’s a long and tough season at club level – and that’s not taking into account the pressure of the World Cup.
“The winter break is needed. We’ll just have to wait and see. I don’t see why other countries can have it and we can’t. It makes sense. Germany have it. It’s a long season to go all the way through. I believe it’s time for a break.
“We have good enough players. The winter break would make a big difference in my opinion.
“I’m not going to sit here and start talking about tactics, formations and players. It’s not my place to say.
“What I would say is a winter break would help. That’s all I thought it was – the players looked tired.”
Agbonlahor’s comments follow similar views from O’Neill who insists his Celtic team reaped the rewards of mid-season break in the Scottish Premier League.
“My own view is there should be a winter break,” said O’Neill. “I think it would be a fantastic thing.
“I believe it would give everyone a lift in January. We had it for a couple of years in the Scottish Premier League and we all got great benefit from it.
“I am a great believer in it and I think it is important. But I am not controlling affairs.
“People assume it causes a loss of impetus but that’s absolutely not the case.
“You would still have Boxing Day and New Year games and then you have the break -– for about three weeks.
“It gives the players a chance to get away with their families. They feel much better for it. It was so beneficial.”
