This summer’s transfer window seems like one of the longest in recent memory, with the long, drawn out sagas involving the likes of Fabregas, Nasri, Tevez and Modric to name but a few. These cases have been well documented and closely followed, stretching beyond the kick-off to the new season. A whole three rounds of Premier League action will have taken place before the transfer window slams shut on August 31st, but the ongoing noisy din of transfer rumours, negotiations and pure drama has put much of the on-pitch action secondary.
During deadline day we see Sky Sports ‘understanding’ a lot of things. What is very hard to understand is why the powers that be insist on allowing the transfer window to pass beyond the start of a new season. Once the old season has ended, the summer period gives clubs a time for rest and reflection – a chance to rebuild or fine-tune squads FOR THE START of the new season. Why the need to stretch this period past the new kick-off?
New Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas asked this very question last week and stated that he wishes to propose a change, in which he will seek backing from other ‘elite club’ coaches during a future meeting at UEFA headquarters: ‘It should really close on the day that the season starts,’ he stated. ‘I’m going to propose it. It will be my first time when the elite club coaches meet but I’ll propose it. It may look pretty stupid at first but maybe it makes sense because it would give tranquillity to the managers to address their team building. That’s fair.’ Whilst Villas-Boas’ intentions seem in the right place, his ‘proposal is still flawed: ‘The proposal would be to close the transfer window when the season starts in that country.’ If this was to occur, it would effectively give league clubs from the likes of Serie A and La Liga longer to work in the transfer window, than teams in England.
It’s an uncomfortable situation for many and needs a change, with this summer’s antics only highlighting the situation. The current time constraints only serve as a distraction for many managers, who have to deal with the uncertainty of losing, or signing, players whilst a new season has already commenced. They shouldn’t have to worry about these issues, having had a summer to prepare a squad for the upcoming campaign and therefore be allowed to implement any new plans or ideas. This cannot happen if key players are linked with leaving on a daily basis, and whilst the transfer window remains open, the possibility remains, no matter how small, that the player could move on. If the deadline closed before the big kick-off, these distractions would not be an issue. It hinders the on-pitch action and we only need to look at Arsenal this season to see the negative effect.
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Instead of preparing for his opening day fixture with a full squad (injuries aside), Arsene Wenger had to start without arguably his two best players because of the off-field drama. Both Fabregas and Nasri missed the trip to Newcastle and Arsenal were considerably weakened. Fabregas then left (finally) but next, Wenger was left with another impossible choice he shouldn’t have to consider at this stage whilst heading into a vital Champions League play-off match. If he was to play the influential Nasri, it would give the Gunners a better chance of qualifying for the group stages. Conversely, playing Nasri would cup-tie him from the competition if Manchester City, who had been in long negotiations, were to sign him, thus devaluing his price in the transfer market. The gamble to not include him paid off for Wenger as Arsenal went on to qualify, but it was a situation that could be avoided if the transfer window shut pre-season.
As it stands, the whole situation seems to lack common sense. It has an effect on transfer fees which become inflated, causes confusion to the fans who don’t know which players will be wearing their colours and fighting for their cause even after the new season has commenced, and effects a manager’s ability to solely concentrate on team affairs, with players he knows he will be working with for the season that lies ahead. But then again, FIFA and UEFA aren’t exactly known for their common sense are they?
