Some people really live for all this August deadline transfer nonsense (I’m looking at the silver-haired bloke who always materialises on TV around this time of year). But really, that’s all it is—nonsense. Because who can find any logic in allowing a window in which players are traded to remain open long after the clubs have started their proverbial engines and set off.
I’d love to meet the fans who genuinely do enjoy the chaos of a good August 31. Or is it September 4? And what time exactly? 4pm? 11pm? Dusk? The truth is, the whole concept has become distorted, and I’m not even going to try and wrap my head around the idea of other leagues trading with foreign clubs but not with those from their own country after a certain time of day. Did that even make sense? I think that’s the point. Illogical nonsense.
How many clubs are affected in England on this deadline day? Tottenham are trying to patch together a squad good enough for the league campaign (which may I remind you is already well underway), while Manchester City are apparently on the hunt for five new faces in one day. I’m not saying it can’t be done, as Arsenal gave a good account of this by revamping the entire first-team squad last summer. But it’s a real spanner in the works on the most important issue at hand—this weekend’s fixtures.
The thing is, getting rid of the August/September transfer deadline would have little effect on those who actually enjoy it. Adding to that, we need to keep a transfer window in order for clubs to protect themselves from the wealthy vultures who are circling their most attractive assets. But moving the deadline to July—for every country—would do absolutely no harm and would certainly clear the air once the season is ready to get underway.
It would clear up a whole host of issues such as the eligibility of players in cup competitions and in Europe, while also protecting the interests of smaller clubs who do not want to have their best players poached inside the last 45-minutes on deadline day and three games into a season. What happens to the players who have no intention of moving but are forced into packing their bags through any combination of wealthy rival clubs or greedy owners/agents?
By getting all the business done early and out of the way, clubs then have a two-to-three week period by which their newest recruits can bed into their new teams. Where’s the sense in forcing a new striker to find his way with new teammates in the competitive environment of a Premier League game? The opposition team certainly won’t be so forgiving of their situation.
Get rid of it, plain and simple. Give teams a genuine chance to launch out of the starting blocks at exactly the same time as everyone else. Don’t allow players to compete in three league matches against the same opponent, as Mikel Arteta did last season against Blackburn.
It’s mind-boggling how lazy the approach is to something as simple as the transfer window. But that’s the problem, isn’t it? No one in a good seat of power fancies making the necessary and beneficial change. We’re stuck with it for now, like a really annoying Phil Collins song that pops up when you really don’t need it.
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