Scrap the window?

Forever A Shrimper · Feb 5, 2009

After recent comments from Arsene Wenger and Chief Exec of Arsenal. They made the point that 14 PL clubs would want to see the transfer window in January go.

Do you think the January transfer window is a chance to refresh the squad mid-season, or an excuse for managers to show there lack of tactical ability?

TrueBlue · Feb 5, 2009

I am not sure I hated the window at first but now its grown on me because I enjoy the deadline days countdown and stuff

Matt the Shrimp · Feb 5, 2009

I've always struggled to understand how the transfer window is reconciled with the general rights of freedom of movement for workers pursuant to the Treaty of Rome. You or I don't need to wait for a specific "window" to leave our job; we can simply hand in a notice of resignation and then move to our new company. Moreover, if I moved from (say) my current employer to go and work for General Motors, then General Motors wouldn't have to pay my current employer a penny!

Football clubs have sought - and secured - special exemptions from employment laws, since their players are such valuable assets to the clubs. How that special exemption is properly manifested by creating a transfer window is, however, entirely lost on me.

However, since its creation is as a result of special negotiations between UEFA, FIFA and the EU so as to ensure that any club can safeguard itself from any player walking away, then the maintenance of the window is probably in our best interests - so voting for scrapping the window would be akin to turkeys voting for Christmas.

Matt