If you need help feeling Christmassy, this punbelievable team should help get you in the mood...
10:17, 24 Dec 2015Updated 17:56, 29 Dec 2015
Merry Christmas, one and all!(Image: )
The Christmas period is a traditionally joyous time of year for football fans.
We all appreciate a few days off to drink Sherry and hang out with our nans, obviously. Still, with several games in quick succession over the holidays and the traditional bout of Boxing Day fixtures to look forward to, the festive season is an especially indulgent time for supporters and matchday die-hards the world over.
As such, and as football fans ourselves, we thought we'd pay tribute to Chistmas - to really sum up what it means to us on an emotional and spiritual level.
And what it means to us is: loads of football-related puns! We've thought up the ultimate Christmas XI here, with a few festive tweaks to the players' names. Warning: these puns will make the jokes in your lunchtime crackers look positively witty.
We've gone with an unorthodox team in a 3-4-3 formation; we're not quite sure how it would function in a competitive context, but it'd be a tad Scrooge-like to quibble over such trifles as tactics and strategy. Without further ado, then, check out our festive first eleven.
GK: Pepe Reindeer
"That is an awful pun"(Image: Laurence Griffiths - The FA)
DF: Per Myrrhtesacker
"Not even remotely funny"(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
DF: John Sherry
"Seriously, these are terrible"(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
DF: Sebastien Bassongs of Praise (Christmas special)
"This is actually the worst"(Image: Tom Dulat)
LM: Ryan Bauble
"What do these puns even mean?"(Image: PA)
CM: Santa Cazorla
"That one's just obvious"(Image: Action)
CM: Dirk Sprout
"Please stop"(Image: Mike Hewitt - FIFA)
RM: Bebe Jesus
"Okay, so that pun is actually pretty funny"(Image: Gallo Images)
LS: Scrooge van Nistelrooy
"And back to terrible again"(Image: Getty)
CF: Andy Christmas Carroll
"Truly abysmal"(Image: Justin Setterfield)
RS: Roque Santa Cruz
"Thank god it's over"(Image: LUIS ACOSTA)
Other players who narrowly missed out on selection include Barcelona's Dani Elfves, Everton's John Mistlestones and Man City's Pablo Zabalet Them Know It's Christmas Time. If you don't laugh at the awfulness of those puns, then we're sorry to inform you that you're a total Grinch.
We hope we've helped get you in the Christmas spirit here, anyway.
Happy festivities, people! Good will to all men!
Newcastle United striker Papiss Cisse throws a Christmas party for friends and childrenWho's your favourite player from the Christmas XI?
Who's your favourite player from the Christmas XI?
Pepe Reindeer
Per Myrrhtesacker
John Sherry
Sebastien Bassongs of Praise (Christmas special)
Ryan Bauble
Santa Cazorla
Dirk Sprout
Bebe Jesus
Scrooge van Nistelrooy
Andy Christmas Carroll
Roque Santa Cruz