We’re just over three months into the 2023/2024 EFL campaign, yet a third set of international fixtures have impacted many clubs across League One and League Two.
For many, the international schedule brings a much-welcome break from traditional club football. However, typically it’s uncommon for sides in the third and fourth tier to be affected by this.
Furthermore, the threshold set by the EFL regarding the request for postponement around national call-ups is a minimum of three players. However, in the modern day, it appears that clubs are using this implication to their advantage.
As a result of the undoubted quality and appeal of playing in the Premier League and Championship, these ‘breaks’ are accounted for and are not pencilled into the original league schedule at the start of the season. Those clubs who may benefit from the extra time between matchdays can use this to enhance team morale and encourage spirit, alongside additional training and discussing tactics.
In hindsight though, if you can use the rule to your advantage, you would be a fool not to, whether that’s because a club genuinely believes they would be missing their key players or they want use the brief timeframe to accelerate recoveries.
This criteria applies to both senior and youth call-ups. The latter is a critical point regarding potential postponements, which begs the question; is it time for a change, or at least worthy of a rewriting of the rules?
The basis of creating a ‘squad’ is to fulfil fixtures, even when faced with difficult times, such as injuries and illness, alongside other commitments. The fact that three international call-ups can veto this completely bypasses the principle of developing a competitive ‘squad’.
This weekend, in League One, just four sides take to the pitch. Matthew Taylor’s Shrewsbury Town travel north to face Blackpool at Bloomfield Road, whereas the surprise package of the season Stevenage host new man Michael Skubala’s Lincoln City.
In League Two, three fixtures are set to be rescheduled. Milton Keynes Dons‘ Mo Eisa, Tommy Smith and Phoenix Scholtz are all linking up with their respective nations, putting derby day with AFC Wimbledon on standby.
Furthermore, Walsall‘s Caribbean trio of Donervon Daniels, Brandon Comley and Liam Gordon ensures the re-arrangement of their fixture against Doncaster Rovers.
Meanwhile, three key youngsters for Morecambe have earned international recognition. Michael Mellon, JJ McKiernan and Eli King will represent their respective nation’s U21s which cancels Crewe Alexandra‘s trip to Lancashire for now.
With an ever-growing fixture congestion arising, tweaking this rule would contribute to decreasing rescheduled affairs. In times gone by, it hasn’t been uncommon to see fixtures played months later, which depending on that club’s situation could have a significant role on one’s season.
