Is it me or am I old fashioned (I am 50!) or after several friendlies and several weeks we played yesterday without possibly are 3 best players. I managed in semi pro football and I would want my best team playing together before the first game, NOT playing together FOR THE FIRST COMPETIVE GAME, NOR THE SECOND, NOR THE THIRD!!! The transfer deadline day comes after we have played 3 games and possibly lost 9 points. I think management, media,players get so lost in transfers and transfer deadline day they (Harry) lose the plot!.... The season starts Saturday not 14th Sep v Man U..... I am aware of Remy and Taraabts strange and unusual (can only happen at Rangers) positions, however Harry stating that Remy will be playing next week amuses me when its only game time and playing together as a team can work and gel together. IF, Isla, Taraabt, Remy gel with the rest of the team my guess it will be several games before we see the best and several points lost.............and we cannot afford that. The like of Burnley and Leicester will be working with their starting line up and all know each other well because thats how both got into PL..............
In a sensible world, the transfer window would close before a ball is kicked (end of July more or less with European competition) but deadline day has taken on an existence of it's own, surrounded by media furore. The only way I can justify it in a football sense is that it does generate revenue for lower league teams that a calmer event probably wouldn't. For football, it would be better (and arguably fairer) to start the season with the squad you'll finish it with (allowing for emergency loans). I think it's all part of a greater plan to maintain adrenaline levels of fans, sell papers, earn fees and keep the cash flowing. I think the ideal of gradually bringing together your first eleven as you head towards the season opener is becoming more of a elusive dream - even more elusive to promoted or relegated teams that need to maintain competitiveness either financially or in terms of players and are therefore forced into wholesale dealings. Good post and an angle that doesn't get a mention.
Cheers, I still feel a team that has completed its financial dealings now and already playing their BEST XI will be at their peak in next 2/3 games where I feel especially after yday it will be end of September for us and losing points to teams in what is a relatively decent fixture list to start especially at home.
Add the fact that Hull have already completed two matches in the Europa league and had all their signings made about four or five weeks ago and we are on a hiding to nothing next week. Another first day thrashing could be on the cards...
But let's be clear.... None of us knows what is going to happen. Nothing is completely predictable. We might even be in the top half of the table after a few games, like we were under Warnock. We'll just have to wait and see.
