Hammers vice chairman Karren Brady insists the Hammers will resist any attempts to return to the long transfer window.
Chosing to give her view in her Sun column she declares: “The previous system, with a deadline at the end of August, was not only chaotic — it was misused by moneybags clubs who had three weeks to stress-test the squad and add a player or two if necessary.
“Some turned up right old pups, too, as is typical with what ends up being panic buys.
That is why West Ham will be voting to retain the current Premier League transfer deadline date.”
Admitting she would prefer to see the French, German, Spanish and Italian leagues fall into line she adds: “But there is no Brexit-style bust-up going to happen between England and the Continental powers who, surely, will see the sense in stopping transfers at the start of the season because it is both fair and efficient.
Whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy views it this way I doubt — though his manager might be a different case. The tedious Christian Eriksen saga has caused Mauricio Pochettino the kind of headaches recently associated with star Australian batsman Steve Smith.
Pochettino’s heart must have lifted when midnight chimed on Monday. This is in no way picking on Levy, a smart financial wheeler-dealer who has delivered a wonderful new stadium at White Hart Lane which, however, came with around £600m debt.”
ClaretandHugh says: It’s hard to disagree with Ms Brady. Previously with the window stretching to the end of the first games, squads were in danger of being seriously upset by late transfers when it seemed the whole show was run on behalf of Sky TV in order to keep the tension running as long as possible. She is right too in claiming that a few ‘pups’ (perhaps a kinder word than ‘dogs’ ) crept through in those final hours. The foreign windows remaining open worked in our favour this summer with the departure of Chicharito until Spain but in general terms we’re not sure it makes too much difference one way or the other. There were times some of us can remember when there was no such thing as a window, other than the one you stared through when bored, and transfers simply took place at any time. It worked then and in reality would probably work now. In the meantime ironically probably as the vice chairman says, the shorter the better.
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Agree with KB, Europe should change to match us not the other way round, As for having an all year transfer policy the way agents are am not sure I agree as it puts more power in the players hands and when you have a bad apple that could really derail a whole season for the fans and the club.
All I’ve got is a blank space next to her picture. That’s usually the best thing for our Karen, Sir Alan …
You got that right in one, Good Ole Daze, old son.