Should the excitement of the transfer window end before the start of the season, or continue until two games in?
The moment that all football fans around the country, and further, have been waiting for is now upon us: the start of the new Premier League season. For many sets of supporters, there is renewed optimism; for other sets, there is a very tense and apprehensive view on the season ahead. The main reason for these contrasting feelings is the dealings each club have made during the transfer window, and what could potentially happen. However, shouldn’t the window now be closed? Well, that’s what the likes of Louis Van Gaal and Arsène Wenger believe…
For sides in the bottom half of the table, the period between the start of the season and transfer deadline day is essential. Said period identifies what positions teams need to strengthen, and the calibre of player they are looking to purchase. On the other hand, the clubs with a lot more money can buy who they desire at the start of the transfer window, and do not have to worry about value for money, whether the player will live up to expectations, or if the players have excessive wage demands. This leaves them with an excuse to complain about the transfer window staying open, as they believe it’s just elongating the period at which their players are at risk of leaving. I feel this is rather analogous to a spoilt, rich child complaining about the amount of money they have.
Furthermore, if I was the manager of Arsenal right now I wouldn’t be complaining about how long the transfer window is, seeing as they still need a lot more recruitments to be able to reach their goal of Premier League glory. So, for Wenger and Van Gaal to complain like they do is somewhat belittling for smaller clubs, and suggests that they don’t care about how competitive the division is in the future; they only care about keeping their jobs. This is a fundamental problem in football. Results determine everything, so, therefore, planning for the future is futile and can also leave the English national team in a dreadful state.
The transfer window still has two and half weeks to go; I’m sure there are still some big signings to come. Karim Benzema to Arsenal looks possible, Saido Berahino to Tottenham is a possibility and John Stones to either Chelsea or Manchester United could also be very much on the cards. So, the window is very much heating up, and eventually we’ll see the very yellow tie of Jim White on our TV screens giving us the best transfer news.
I believe that it is right that the transfer window extends two to three weeks into the season; it gives the lower positioned sides a chance to compete with the bigger clubs in the league. Transfers these days are very complex and take time to complete, so, the extra time can also help clubs on that front. So, for me, Wenger and Van Gaal are trying to find an excuse to have a good old moan.
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