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The Dilemma Known as the January Window

By Zain Alvi | 18th January 2009
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The Dilemma Known as the January Window  | read this item

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wayne-bridge-001Quite a while ago, the introduction of the January transfer window was applauded by everyone across Europe as it had something in it for everyone. While the managers got the chance to splash some extra cash in exchange for much needed talent, the fans got the opportunity to see a new face arrive at their club. Furthermore, this new face gave his new teammates a chance to do things differently if the status quo had been failing.

However, in recent years, the January transfer window has become more of a strange dilemma for everyone involved as its existence seems just as inexplicable to some as it appeals to others. For the purpose of illustration, let’s just dissect this year’s transfer window that easily goes down as “all hype, no substance”. In other words, many have talked the talk, but hardly anyone seems to be even remotely close to walking the walk.

On a continental basis, several European giants have chosen to appreciate the window by utilizing it while others have chosen to ignore it. Real Madrid, for instance, have made a big-money transfer for midfielder Lassana Diarra from Portsmouth (more on Pompey’s January later) while also clinching the much-awaited signing of Ajax front-man Klaas Jan Huntelaar.

While these are two players worth spending millions of Euros on, Real are locked in a doomed fight with UEFA to allow both these cup-tied players to play in Europe for them. Not too long ago, we can remember how Real Madrid were locked in a just as doomed conflict with Manchester United over a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.

In contrast to Real, their league rivals Barcelona, who also happen to be arguably the most dominant club in Europe this year, have chosen to continue without adding to the squad that has made Pep Guardiola such an emphatic success. Juventus, a serious contender for the Italian Serie A title this year, have done the same, as they have refused to plunge into the transfer window for new faces.

Claudio Ranieri believes he can cope with the likes of Inter Milan and Chelsea by merely having some experienced players return to the squad after seeing his young, injury-hit Bianconeri side storm its way into an unexpected title contention this year. Juve’s rivals AC Milan and German giants  Bayern Munich, on the other hand, have chosen a middle-ground strategy by loaning LA Galaxy stars David Beckham and Landon Donovan (respectively) for three months.

Knowing that most of us are mainly concerned about the Barclays Premier League, we can begin dissecting the best league in the world without any further delay. So who in the Premier League has gone the Real Madrid way and who has gone the Barcelona way? My accusation of the January transfer window as a dilemma that results in great apprehensions these days is verified by the fact that almost the entire Premier League has chosen to go the Barcelona way.

Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari leads the pack by consistently maintaining that his under-performing squad does not need new faces but a renewed sense of motivation. In fact, Big Phil has gone as far as hinting that he is ready for the axe but not ready to spend at all. While the Chelsea manager refuses to sign, Wigan manager Steve Bruce continues to hope that the club refuses to sell this January.

Bruce has seen the likes of Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia, and Amr Zaki being linked strongly with top teams across the continent after these youngsters have suddenly turned Wigan into a contender for UEFA Cup qualification. Not to mention, Bruce has been restless all season with the transfer talk surrounding star striker Emile Heskey.

However, Heskey has joined his manager in abhorring the transfer window as he has decided to wait till the summer to move on. Heskey’s colleague, Newcastle United striker Michael Owen, has chosen a similar path by committing himself to the dreaded cause of the Magpies till the end of the season. Surely, one can notice a pattern of ignorance towards the January transfer window.

Champions Manchester United have added very little (Tosic) to their squad while Arsenal and Liverpool are also struggling to bring in any new names. Even if some teams want to sign new players, the trouble is that others refuse to sell. West Ham, Middlesbrough, and Portsmouth are fighting hard to keep Tottenham and Manchester City away from their players. Gianfranco Zola said that holding onto his players is a bigger priority than signing new talent and he is therefore locked in a strong battle to keep the likes of Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy at the club.

Gareth Southgate’s staff has similarly turned down a transfer request from Stewart Downing while the crisis-ridden Tony Adams was resigned to losing the previously mentioned Lassana Diarra as well as striker Jermain Defoe, who returned to Tottenham and just scored against Pompey today. Even Tottenham and Manchester City refuse to exalt the transfer window, however, as shown by City manager Mark Hughes’ labeling of the transfer window as “inexplicable”.

It will certainly be interesting to see how the final third of this month goes but so far, the continent has only seen a lot of speculation and hardly any movement. Of course, every transfer window is characterized by more speculation than actual activity, but perhaps the economic crisis this year has increased the severity of the situation as speculation has supersized in relation to the activity.

Listen to Episode 5 of the Premiership Talk Podcast, and make sure to take advantage of the huge 70% off winter sale in the Premiership Talk Store.


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