When the transfer window was introduced a dozen or so years ago the authorities hoped that it would stop the disruption that transfer speculation was causing during a season, it hasn't quite been the success they hoped for,but is there an alernative. Those old enough to have been watching football in the early part of this century ( Ok 12 years ago but it does sound dramatic) will remember that back then there was no transfer window, then clubs were free to buy and sell players right up to what was known as transfer deadline day, usually in late March.
So if we think that the chaos in the current transfer window is chaotic then back then it wasn't just for three months in the summer and January, it was year round.
So when Saints fans moan now about late bids for Mane & Wanyama and the disruption that may cause, they should perhaps consider that it is still better than what we had before when you could never actually be sure there was not going to be player tapped up and demanding a transfer to the final month of the season.
We found out on numerous occasions that a couple of month in the season when a big club suddenly had a long term injury or was struggling that they would come calling at any time.
So in that respect the transfer window has succeeded, its not perfect, but once we get past the end of both windows at last we have a four month period of stability and that is something we never had in the past.
Ideally the transfer window would end when the season starts but the problem with that is that the big European leagues do not start on the same dates, so the window is actually closing when the final big league is starting, not ideal for us in the UK as we have a two week period usually after the season starts and indeed three weeks this year, but if we shut our window when our season started we would be at a disadvantage to other leagues notably Italy who start later.
So in essence the transfer window works and is doing its job but it is not perfect, what we did not have so much back in 2002 when the window was made compulsory by FIFA was the internet and social media to the level we had today. Yes it was starting but we did not have twitter, facebook and a plethora of other sites that enable supporters to go into meltdown when they hear their favourite squad player is going to be sold to Rochdale.
This is where the transfer window is made to feel much worse than it actually is, every rumour seems like the gospel truth when it concerns one of your own players being sold, although conversely when its about a player you are trying to sign, common sense seems to prevail and supporters tend to get a little more perspective if only through pessimism.
So to cap, yes the transfer window is flawed and that could be put right to a degree by making all European leagues kick off on the same weekend, most peoples gripes seem to be that the transfer chaos continues after the season starts, that would help a lot of things if there was parity in start dates. But ultimately the end of the window is only a date whenever it is and there is always going to be rumours stirred up by the media.