Xmas? Baaaah ... Humbug!

Souness insists that the Christmas period is hard on his players. Not because they miss the Crimbo parties, although I once knew one Berwick Rangers player who would make sure he was sent-off prior to the festivities so he wasn't involved in matches as Christmas!

Souness: 'It is going to be demanding, not just for us but for every club that's involved. It is a very difficult period for the players because once you get beyond the first game, you are carrying something whether it is just tiredness or a tweak and once you get to the second game you are on a wing and a prayer really.

'Players will start to fall over, as there are so many games in such a short period of time. Your muscles will get tired and that is when you start to get injuries. Whoever makes the decision to play these games as close to together as they do obviously does not understand football. It's crazy.

'Whoever decides to play these games, then if this is the best they can come up with then I suggest they go and look for another job. This is not helping anyone to play good football, or help the well-being of the players.

'People pay good money to watch football, with tickets and corporate hospitality. Whatever that costs, it is a fortune, and they are not seeing their players perform to the best level. This year people will say it is because the way the Christmas period has fallen, but there must be something better than playing all these games all at once.'

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