So here we are in the midst of the January transfer window, and while we enjoy Arry’s car-side interviews and the usual last-day guff with broken fax machines, there’s actually some pretty good reasons to dislike the whole winter transfer window thing.
Overpriced players
There’s no doubt that the January window is a seller’s market. At the midpoint of the season, clubs are all too aware of the deficiencies within their squad as they look to replace injured players or those that just aren’t pulling their weight.
Unfortunately, these shortcomings are all too apparent to the rest of the footballing world. And when everyone knows you desperately need a keeper, prices go up.
Unrealistic expectations
Regardless of these inflated price tags clubs will inevitably break their transfer record midwinter in the hopes of cementing their status in the league or maintaining a run for silverware. Andy Carroll to Liverpool being the perfect example and we all know how that turned out.
Players that arrive to save a season find themselves in an incredibly high-pressure situation. The potential is there to gain legendary status as the club’s saviour or join a list of transfer window bombs. And unless you’re Suarez or Vidic, the chances are, you’ll end up in the latter group.
Reporters at training grounds
Did we ever see this happen before the transfer window became a thing? Of course, legend has it that reporters did on occasion visit the hallowed turf of Carrington and Melwood, but we never had to SEE them there, did we?
Why do we need to see reports coming from what looks like an empty school yard? Jeff Stelling replacing Jim White in a studio will do thank you very much, although preferably with Natalie Sawyer instead of Merse. Nope, we’ve had enough of transfer window reporters and their weird antics.
Ridiculous rumours
Remember that time Ronaldinho was on his way to Blackburn or when Newcastle rejected Puyol? Probably not, because they were far-fetched rumours started by fans with over-active imaginations.
Listen, if your mate’s aunt reckons she saw Ronaldo in a London hospital waiting room with an Arsenal kitbag, chances are she’s mistaken. In fact, according to BetStars the current odds on Sunderland to win the league are hedged at 2,000/1 which seems like a much safer bet than Cristiano rocking into London Colney with his bag full of medals.
Hearing about shop window players
‘He knows he’s putting himself in the shop window, so you’ll get a good game out of him tonight.’ It drives the common football fan demented to hear this timeworn soundbite trundled out ad nauseam, year after year.
Perhaps it’s true that certain players with mercenary tendencies try a little harder in December and January before kicking back for the rest of the year, but that doesn’t mean we have to hear about it constantly.
Player out injured, back in January, he’s in the shop window. Player on the bench because he’s a bit pants, gets a run of two games in January, shop window. I’m sure most of the pundits have a rudimentary grasp of the English language, so can they not just come up with something different to say every now and then?
Honorable mentions to the folk with big opinions based on very little knowledge, one or two players to complete the puzzle, and Jim White for being Jim White.
