Window still shut as managers need breathing space

After 10 games in the football league, some teams will be wondering what went wrong. From injuries flooding the physio’s room, to the summer signings who haven’t impressed as much as everyone thought, teams in the bottom half of the table will be looking for answers.

Thanks to the transfer window, though, there are none.

Since 2004 when the summer and January windows were introduced, clubs have been limited to ‘emergency loans’ throughout the playing season.

Whilst being good opportunities for players to go out and get experience, and for their feeder club to gain an exciting young addition to the team, there is no long term benefit.

Prospects such as Scott Sinclair, who circulate the football league in a bid to chalk up some matches, usually make a big impact at their loan club. Unfortunately, this lasts all of 5 matches and then they are off again.

The problem is that loans do not provide stability, and they do not provide sustainability.

The long term prospects of a team are not benefited by players coming and going, and the bridge between the gap of the top flight and lower leagues will always get bigger whilst this continues.

So, what are the advantages of the transfer window? Well, as far as I can see, not many.
It upholds the main functions of English football in the 21st century, which is to keep the rich at the top and the smaller teams at the foot of the table.

The transfer window system has boosted press speculation and wild transfer rumours, which has increased an already extortionate British transfer market tenfold.

Larger teams can charge ridiculous amounts for average players, with managers forced into panic buys at the end of a busy window in an attempt to appease the board and the fans.

The FA wants to address the amount of foreign players in the English football.

The best option is to wipe transfer windows from the record, watch the value of British players plummet to a reasonable rate, and then reap the rewards of home grown players plying their trade up and down the country.