As January 31st approaches, Jim White gets to sleep early,
the Sky Sports team iron their fresh, colour coded yellow ties and the nation
prepares for one of the most exciting days in the football calendar. Every
agent across the world charges their phone for a big day at the office, ending
hopefully in a bumper pay day and security for the year. Every player, every
manager and every coach becomes more and more of a commodity while reporters
zip up their jackets to brace the cold, January winds. Finances, plans and
tactics are all forgotten in order to put a smile on fans' faces who yearn to
see the bright yellow banner flash across the bottom of the screen announcing a
signing for their club. So as we recover from the enjoyment of Harry Redknapp's
yearly interview from the Range Rover window, how will we reflect on January
2014 at the end of the season and in years to come?
BBC broadcaster Alan
Green described Manchester United's acquisition of Juan Mata as "a
plaster, an expensive plaster". As phenomenal a player as Mata is and
whilst his impact on the club, on paper, should be a positive one, he does
cover the somewhat glaring inadequacies in the Manchester United squad. But can
this turn of phrase be applied more suitably to the window as a whole? An opportunity to lick the wounds, cover the
problems and manipulate the realities of situations on and off the field at a
club? How much does the window really benefit the progress of a club, or is it
simply a chance to appease the fans in this ever growing fickle environment
that football is becoming?
Arsenal's surge to the top of the table has been based upon
an unusually solid defence, a wealth of skill and guile in attacking
midfielders and the goal scoring endeavours of Frenchman Olivier Giroud. They
have impressed on many levels and Gunners fans have a right to feel genuine
optimism going in to the final stretch of the season given the promise of their
form thus far. But with Theo Walcott injured and Nicklas Bendtner continuing to
cut the figure of the inconsistent maverick, the previously large yoke upon the
back of Giroud is suddenly that much heavier given that his form and fitness
are now of absolute and utmost significance. This plays as much upon his mental
fitness as his physical in the knowledge that he, and he alone, must produce in
the final third. He has proven his ability so far, and surely will have every
confidence of continuing his impressive form, but as the pressure mounts in the
final weeks, how much will Arsène Wenger regret not bringing in an extra body
to help carry the immense responsibility of firing a team to the title.
Kim Källström is a
quality, experienced player but he is not a player who will turn an Arsenal
team into potential champions in to title favourites. After many windows in the
wilderness however, Wenger knows that some transfers are as much about
appearing to be busy and keeping fans happy as they are to helping build a
squad. Wenger’s admission that given more time, he would have reconsidered
signing the Swedish international provides a scathing insight in to the reasons
for conducting business on January 31st. The Frenchman‘s refusal to
enter the transfer market unless it was absolutely crucial to the club’s
progression saw him come under immense amounts of pressure. This season he has
purchased Mesut Özil and the aforementioned Swede on loan and the media scrutiny
of his transfer dealings has been more tumbleweed than tornado. However if
Arsenal finish 3rd, a position more than possible given how close
the top three have been this season, he will simply be matching the final positions
of 2008, 2010 and 2012 where each time his job security was under threat.
Manchester City conducted most of their business in the
summer window and have been rightfully praised for their domineering form and
sheer satisfaction in pouring forward in pursuit of goals. As a result of not
significantly entering the market in January, Pellegrini has issued a statement
to the rest of the league: we have the firepower already to win this league, I
am happy. No such plaster required. Manchester City have conceded more, and
indeed lost more games, than Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton, suggesting that
defensive cover is required for the brilliant but frequently injured Vincent
Kompany and the learning Matija Nastasić. Admittedly the last defeat was in
November of 2013, but the point remains that City have decided to avoid the
proverbial plaster and as a result look in imperious condition moving in to the
remaining few months.
At the other end of the Premier League table, both Fulham
and Crystal Palace appear to have bought very well, Lewis Holtby and Tom Ince
in particular should offer flashes of magic to give the relegation threatened
clubs hope of survival. However both clubs have been forced in to such dramatic
flourishes of activity because they have both had to change managers. Wiser
money would suggest that Sam Allardyce’s West Ham will prosper further from
January’s exploits as they bought in players of genuine quality to a side which
is underperforming and in poor form, but settled. Likewise the activity of
Aston Villa and Hull City focus more on putting faith in to a settled manager
and tweaking the squad rather than mass spending sprees covering the wounds of
the previous 3 months. The acquisition of Shane Long could prove to be a
masterstroke by Steve Bruce whilst Grant Holt will provide a seasoned head in a
side with vast potential but little experience.
In a window dominated by the Juan Mata transfer, trends
across the Premier League all point to the importance of people pleasing, to
the degree where fans are happy to crave links even should they not
materialise. Liverpool will argue that in the pursuit of Yeheven Konoplyanka,
they are proving to be on the right track, despite not completing the move,
echoing summer shades of Diego Costa, Willian and Christian Eriksen. Chelsea on
the other hand have gone against the status quo in selling a fans favourite and
bringing in players who appear to feature under the “ones for the future”
category than out and out title winners. If they are to win the league however,
no doubt Mourinho will point towards the head having the final say over the
heart in a roller coaster transfer window that annually tests the resolve and
grit of even the firmest managers and squads. Never more so has the “plaster”
effect been prominent as fans continue to demand and desire. Yet while the
music blares louder and the rumours grow stronger, the one thing that is
guaranteed come deadline day, is that no matter where your opinions lie, nor
your creed or colour, when the flash of yellow comes and “Breaking News” adorns
our screens, we all hope and pray in earnest that it is our club that has
pulled off the signing of the season.
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