FA director of communications Adrian Bevington, who leaves his post at the end of December, on Twitter:, external "Understandable debate about so many games in such a short period, when other countries are resting. Major conundrum.

"Fans love the festive fixtures, it's part of our tradition. Broadcasters rightly max out on the games and we get big crowds.

"The administrators who have to make the fixture programme work have a very difficult job, when factoring in Uefa and international calendar."

A debate that will run...

Gus Poyet is not the only one unhappy about the festive fixture list as Louis van Gaal vents his feelings about his Manchester United side playing again within 48 hours after watching them seal their seventh win in eight games with a 3-1 Boxing Day victory over Newcastle.

"With FIFA and UEFA's rules it's forbidden to play within 48 hours. In England, it's okay," the Dutchman told Sky Sports., external

"I cannot prepare my team like I have to prepare. We have unit meetings, and team meetings, we have training 11 against 11, and assimilating opponents, we cannot do that now."

Adam Flint:, external Can't beat Sunday morning football!

Image source, Adam Flint

Matthew Payne:, external One very wet Sunday morning I managed a Sol Campbell-style, never ending slide tackle & took out a spectator.

Donkey Adams:, external During a cup game in torrential rain our keeper walked off because 'he was cold'. Stand in GK won us game on pens.

Chris Cowley:, external Once played on Portland - Dorset, took goalkick into the wind and the ball went over my own crossbar for a corner. #breezy

Football Focus pundits John Hartson and Mark Lawrenson say Crystal Palace's decision to sack manager Neil Warnock is "brave".

Warnock joined the Eagles for a second time in August 2014 following the departure of Tony Pulis, but the club's 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on Boxing Day saw them drop into the relegation zone.

Hartson believes Warnock's management was "not up to what's required" to stay in the Premier League, while Lawrenson is not shocked by the decision but thinks Palace need to find his replacement quickly.

Watch in full here.

Image source, EPA

• Tony Pulis left 48 hours before the start of the season after guiding Palace to an 11th-place finish and being named Premier League manager of the Year.

• Neil Warnock won just three of his 16 Premier League games in his second spell in charge, giving a win percentage of 18.8% compared to Pulis's 42.3%.

• Crystal Palace are now looking for a fourth manager in 14 months since Ian Holloway's departure in October 2013.

The big news this weekend from the Premier League is the sacking of Neil Warnock as Crystal Palace boss.

Warnock became the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season, having joined the Eagles for a second time in August 2014, following the departure of Tony Pulis.

Happy Christmas Neil.

The likes of Tim Sherwood and Tony Pulis are being strongly tipped as a potential successor.

Here is a reminder of what there is to look forward to today in the Premier League.

Tottenham v Man Utd (12:00)

Southampton v Chelsea (14:05)

Aston Villa v Sunderland (15:00)

Hull v Leicester (15:00)

Man City v Burnley (15:00)

QPR v Crystal Palace (15:00)

Stoke v West Brom (15:00)

West Ham v Arsenal (15:00)

Newcastle v Everton (16:15)

Shaun Thomas:, external Charity match Boxing Day 2010, sore knees all round.

Image source, Shaun Thomas

Things are tight at the other end of the table but Leicester will end the year at the bottom, whatever they do at fellow strugglers Hull this afternoon. Burnley and Crystal Palace will be eying moving out of the drop zone come the end of the day though.

So this is what the top of the Premier League table looks like. There is still a chance that Manchester City could end 2014 top of the pile but they need to rely on Chelsea losing at Southampton and themselves beating Burnley. They also need to make up a three-goal difference. Some suggest it is a three-horse title race now with Manchester United flying in third.

Here are some more of the stories making the newspapers this morning:

Sunday Mirror:, external Manchester United will have to offer goalkeeper David De Gea, 24, as part of any deal in their attempts to sign 25-year-old forward Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.

Star on Sunday:, external Liverpool are ready to test Aston Villa's resolve by trying to sign midfielder Fabian Delph, 25, and centre-back Ron Vlaar, 29, in a £15m deal, with both players out of contract next summer.

Sunday People:, external West Ham want to offload striker Mauro Zarate, 27, to make room for manager Sam Allardyce to bring in new signings.

For a full run down of today's gossip columns, see here.

Brett Oldfield:, external Once played U14 level in hail and snow, all players were allowed to wear their coats under their kits.

Michael Chapman:, external Our keeper having to get acrobatic after the wind blew his goal kick backwards as it reached the halfway line.

Tim Hughes:, external Played a Sunday game where the hailstones forced 22 grown men to cower behind trees like wimps! They didn't half sting.

Dave Brown:, external Me four weeks ago. Roade v FC Locomotiv Moulton in the Northants Sunday Combination Div 2. Who'd be a keeper?!

Image source, Dave Brown

Image source, Star on Sunday

Good news for Chelsea fans on a couple of the back pages with both the Star on Sunday, external and Sunday Express, external reporting the news that John Terry is set to get a new one-year deal at Stamford Bridge. At 34, surely good for a couple more years yet?

Image source, Sunday Express

Image source, Sunday Mail

The transfer window is about to reopen and the newspapers are full of speculation about who is going where this month. The Mail on Sunday, external reports Arsenal are set to offer Sporting Lisbon £20m for holding midfielder William Carvalho. You imagine if that one happens, there will be a lot of very happy Gunners fans.

Image source, Sunday Telegraph

The Sunday Telegraph, external focuses on Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace sacking and predict another Premier League managerial casualty might not be too far off. Managerless Palace travel to fellow strugglers QPR, while Alan Irvine's West Brom travel to Stoke very much in need of a win.

First though let's have a look through today's newspapers...

Image source, Getty Images

It's bitterly, bitterly cold in most places of the UK - but every year, hardy, brave souls put on their boots to play in near zero temperatures on rock-solid grounds across the isles.

We want you to tell us your tales of winter wizardry, orange balls, clearing the snow, showers failing to work, transport woes, or anything else that has happened to you when playing in challenging conditions.

Also, if you've been playing this weekend or watched your family member/friend cough and wheeze in the cold then send in your photos.

Tweet #getinspired with your stories and/or pictures or text in on 81111.