MOT View: Shearer right to call for international break to be scrapped

Dave is a huge Leeds fan and ardent disciple of Bielsa ball. A career in print magazines that included editing PC Zone, launching PokerPlayer and redesigning The Big Issue has finally led Dave to writing about the love of his life, Leeds United. It’s been a tough 2020 but the single scariest moment was the first quarter of the game against Man City. Rodrigo will be the saviour this season.

Published on:

08 Mar 2021, 9:57 am

Alan Shearer wants the upcoming international matches scrapped to give players a proper break ahead of the season run-in and the delayed Euros.

Writing in The Athletic, the pundit claimed that fatigue was kicking in and that most teams were suffering from injuries.

He said that if the international break wasn't scrapped, the Euros could be ruined.

Shearer backed up his comments with a table that showed goals have dropped off dramatically over the season.

England are set to play three World Cup qualifiers on March 25th, 28th and 31st.

Shearer wrote: "Some of the football we are seeing at the moment is drab. Poor games played by exhausted players in a season where there is no time to rest, no time to recover. The quality of matches is suffering.

"I’d say the intensity and the standard of 75 per cent of games has dropped off dramatically, a consequence of so many matches in so little time and with no time to stop. Everyone looks absolutely shattered."

"I’d like to see the international break cancelled, just like South America announced on Saturday... If we don’t give players a rest soon, it will ruin the end of the season and the Euros this summer. We want a high standard of football but without a break, that is impossible."

We completely agree with Shearer.

The Leeds player put in a monumental effort to win the Championship last season.

The season went on late and with preparation for the Premier League, players didn't get a proper rest.

The Leeds squad is as fit as it comes but the players have looked flat recently, and we've lost three of the last four.

Mateusz Klich – normally a machine – is looking out on his feet and we've had to contend with injuries, some of which came from the international break earlier in the season.

We don't want to lose more players for the season run-in.

Cancel the international matches and give the players the week off and we think we'll see a completely different Leeds for the last quarter of the season.

In other Leeds United news, 'We have reason to believe' – Reliable journalist claims regular Leeds starter out v West Ham

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Alan Shearer