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Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes England should follow the German model and implement a winter break.

The Scot believes a month's break in January is the way forward for the Premier League and sees nothing wrong with the season ending later in the summer.

Ferguson wrote in Saturday's match programme: "What is worth looking at is the German model of a month's break in January and then launching the second half of the season with their Cup competition.

"I know this would mean spilling over into the summer season but I see nothing wrong with that and playing league fixtures beyond the end of May.

"We are playing internationals in June and we could accommodate a league extension."

Manchester United controversially withdrew from the FA Cup in 2000 when European success saw them compete in the World Club Championship.

As a result of Wembley hosting the Champions League final, this year’s FA Cup final will be played two weeks before the end of the season, timing which Ferguson believes could be improved.

He added: "What I'd like to see preserved is the timing of the FA Cup final to fall on the last day of the season, with the big day at Wembley a natural climax."

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Labels: believes, break, England, Ferguson, Follow, German, Goalcom, Implementing, Manchester, Model, Should, United, winter

This time of year, gardeners are in a slump. It's too wet and cold to be working the ground or doing cleanup. That's already been done in fall. All that's left is to wait for the first signs of spring and good planting weather. Rather than sitting around pining and itching to get out in the garden, smart gardeners are cozied up by the fire with a mail order gardening catalog - or two or three. There are big name nurseries, the small specialty nurseries and organic nurseries.

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Mail order gardening catalogs not only provide a remedy for the winter blues, but offer countless choices to make your garden very special indeed. Ordering is simple and you never need to follow up to continue receiving future catalogs. You'll soon find that browsing the fall offerings with a tall glass of lemonade provides a pleasant respite from gardening chores on those hot summer days as well.

Labels: blues, catalogs, gardening, order, winter