The Premier League has pressed the pause button as it readies itself for the first international break of the new season.
But unlike previous years, this current gap between top flight fixtures will be an elongated one. Rather than a traditional one-week, two-game window, national sides will now convene across two weeks where they will play as many as four matches. European teams are competing in Nations League matches, whilst other national teams take part in various friendlies or qualifying matches for continent-specific tournaments.
It represents a new problem for clubs and their coaches in the English top flight. The next Premier League matchday comes on Saturday, October 10.
David Moyes, the Everton manager, offered his thoughts on the new schedule before his side capped off the first portion of the campaign with a home win over Brighton – a result that extended their unbeaten start.
“Well I don’t think anybody can really have any big thoughts on it because it’s never happened before,” said the Scot.
“I would be surprised if it’s a benefit from where we are. I think we’d rather that the league continued. I think it’s the first time we’ve ever gone on a break for three weeks, certainly during the season. So yeah, I think we’ll all have to get on with it, we’ve got no choice.
“We (managers) moan quite a lot around about Christmas time because we play too much football so now we’ll get an opportunity to maybe to give players a little bit more rest time.
“Obviously, not the international lads so they have got to deal with it all. But the other players who are not in that situation might have a bigger opportunity to get a little bit more down time and train differently at different times and I’m guessing most clubs will probably be preparing their own in-house games.”
Tongue firmly in cheek, Moyes added: “We moan about the fixture congestion and I have to say what they’re doing with the fixtures is really, really poor. But obviously that’s also probably to do with the international schedule. As I say, I think everybody will just get on with it and do what we can and see how it goes.”
Everton, one of five teams yet to be beaten in the league, resume their campaign away at Hull City on Sunday, October 11.
