The Betfair Debate: Does the Premier League need a winter break?

Yes

Anyone who has stood (or these days, sat, which is worse), wrapped in five layers, a wooly hat, and mittens, and watched a drab goalless draw can only give one answer to this: yes.

Forget frozen pitches, unsafe approach roads or the potential for more injuries in cold weather (all three of which were surely always a problem anyway) - what about the consumer?

Us season ticket holders pay a small fortune for our plastic seat and two feet of concrete, and unless you're fortunate enough to support one of the triumverate who have farmed the trophies in recent years, the return on that investment has been pretty small (not withstanding the emotional return of the odd good victory).

I don't want to watch football in searing heat, as that would be abnormal (similar to why I could never spend Christmas on a beach). But I wouldn't mind not having to dress up for the Arctic and generally lose the feeling in my toes around the hour-mark.

But the fan won't generally get much consideration from the authorities, so we're down to using the more 'industry-based' reasons: postponements, public safety and increased risk of player injury.

I find citing these a little bit fraudulent because, as I said earlier, surely these risks have been omnipresent through football's history? However, the modern-day, more litigious nature of society means they have grown from being a nuisance to something which now carries more risk.

Personally, I'd be very keen to avoid weekends like last weekend, when there are so few games on that highlights shows are abridged. I'd miss the Pools Panel, but you can't have it all. And if it avoids a fixture pile-up and a stack of midweek games (not good for the consumer), then even better.

Public safety didn't use to bother me, but negotiating slippy stairwells and icy paths with my son on the way to a game last week means I suddenly take a lot more notice.

I'm not quite so worried about the potential for player injury as (a) they get so well paid regardless of if they are fit or not and (b) the modern footballer can strain a muscle getting out of bed, it seems. But, nonetheless, as part of the 'winter-break reasons package', it's worth throwing in.

So, there you, let's shut down football for a month. Let everyone hibernate and play a bit more of the beautiful game in slightly better weather.

What's that you say? When should the break be? Lord knows. Ask Fifa - they seem able to arrange anything, so perhaps they can sort out for all the bad weather to come in a four-week period...