World Football: Is The Transfer Window a Boon or a Bane?

In 2002, FIFA implemented what was to be called a transfer "window." This was defined as a period where clubs were allowed to buy or sell players in a stipulated period. (The summer transfer window is what we are currently in, i.e. from June-August and the winter transfer window is open in the month of January.)

The transfer window was brought in for obvious reasons. Clubs needed stability in terms of retention of players and also needed a considerable amount of financial stability. But the transfer window has always had its critics. The number of dissenting voices against it seem to be growing.

I have collated a few statements from managers of the "big" as well as the "small" clubs. The views, as always are diverse and yet many managers seem to be against it.

Gary Megson, manager of Bolton Wanderers has been against the window for a while, it seems. He is of the opinion that the window could lead to the "smaller" clubs suffering losses due to profligate spending.

"This barmy window we've got forces you to either put the club at risk financially, or put it at risk football-wise if you're not one of the big four clubs," said Megson.

Earlier this year, he was even more elaborate with his criticisms. It was a time where he was newly appointed as Bolton boss after the transfer window had closed. He said this time, that he couldn't get rid of the players he wanted and replace them adequately—and complained about the fact that there was a transfer window.

He said: "The transfer window is rubbish. It is unfair and I would like to see it challenged in court. Look at other businesses. If a haulage company wanted a new lorry and someone said in September you cannot have one until January, you are not allowed to do those kind of things. Yet football clubs are told they have to do their business in a certain time, not when they would like to do it. It suits only very few clubs at the top end of the game."

What is interesting is that it does suit the top clubs and yet, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger asked for the window to be scrapped in January as well. He had a different kind of explanation which I hadn't seen from any other manager. He felt that a team which hadn't played Arsenal could become stronger during the January transfer window, while that team could have already played some of their rivals when they hadn't made those signings.

"The spending is not over," he said. "Now Keegan has arrived at Newcastle, they will be involved as well. Maybe you should ban the transfer window. It is not necessarily a good idea because it can change the force inside the League. For example, teams who you have not played against at all are stronger. To me, it is not fair," said Wenger.

Steve Bruce also had strong words against the transfer window. "It's like buying puppies at Christmas. You have to make sure it's for the long term and for the right reasons," he said.

One thing is for sure. The transfer window does seem to favour the so called big clubs. The "smaller" clubs seem to suffer because they have to wait for some cash in-flow from player sales and then spend. When you have just a month to do all that in, it becomes very difficult.

Another thing I've observed is that the transfer window ensures inflation of player values. If you see any of the deals being done in January, the value for money that clubs get for players is almost negligible. It's almost as if they're being forced to buy players due to the media pressure, and due to some poor performances in December.

If you look at the other side of the coin, players seem to be the most fickle human beings today. If the transfer-window system were scrapped altogether, when will the madness stop? When will the "silly-season" begin and end? That might well play into the greedy players' hands.

The transfer-window does regulate transfers to maintain stability at clubs. The League Managers Association, though, believes that it is one of the reasons for the manager turnover during the August-December period.

Frank Clark, vice-chairman of the LMA, said: "Most of our members are against the transfer window, and the whole principle of it. It makes things very difficult. If things are not going well in October and November, you can't get in the transfer market to give the team a lift. So it's easier to change the manager."

That is yet another fact which is overlooked. What I don't understand is that if there is a window for players, why isn't there a window for managers?

At the end of the day, the transfer-window's raison d'etre is stability.

In many ways, the older system offered stability as well. The prices of players seemed to be far more regulated. Managers knew when to use the transfer market and when not to. If certain players weren't given opportunities, they could move on whenever they wanted. The system was far more flexible.

The current system won't be scrapped. All managers can do is complain, but the system will still be in place.

I find myself torn between the two options. While I see the merit of the absence of a transfer-window—the greed among the players today and the media frenzy, especially during the "silly-season" mean that I'd rather see this side of football for a few months rather than the whole year.