Manic transfer window grist to Sky TV's mill

SOCCER ANGLES:Premier League bigwigs are unlikely to accede to a possible request from club chairmen for the scrapping of the January transfer window

SO HOW was the window for you? As a Manchester United supporter did you sit serene looking through it, gazing at all the frantic, disorganised fret in one corner; then glance to another and see the possibility of four more trophies with red ribbons attached? Or as the follower of a Newcastle or a Tottenham or a City, did you simply want to throw a brick straight through it?

Anyone but United fans probably felt the latter emotion because the transfer window – particularly the January window – brings with it an onset of expectation of excitement that intensifies pressure often to the point of fracture. It can lead to great disappointment.

From December 1st onwards every fan of every club is occupied with the idea of improvement in January. It is a distraction that does the individual and the club no good and as Monday’s deadline approaches you feel the heart-rate of the Premier League soar as deals need to be done that aren’t done and might not be done unless some other deal is done to pave the way. It is manic.

It is also artificial and the most amazing aspect of it all perhaps is that it is self-imposed. This is like the Big Brother show and one of its tests for the inhabitants. That is called zoo television, I believe, and the January window is zoo football. And people pay to go to the zoo.

Those in the zoo have themselves to blame – or applaud. An essential quality of the Premier League, one not officially acknowledged, of course, is that it is high on dramatic incident. Less is more is not one of those concepts the League sells to Sky TV. What they want are personalities, as many as possible as frequently as possible, losing the bap.

This guarantees acres of coverage on television, radio and print and keeps the game at the forefront of as many conversations as possible. They will think Rafa Benitez to have had “a good window”.

Therefore it was with a quiet smile that Premier League bigwigs will surely have greeted a newspaper report yesterday morning that when the club chairmen gather next Thursday for their latest meeting, one item on the agenda will be the scrapping of the January window.

A reason cited for this being under consideration is that “the integrity” of the League has been compromised by the sort of spats we have seen in the past fortnight.

Wigan manager Steve Bruce has called Manchester City “a disgrace” in that time; Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate and his chairman Steve Gibson have lashed out at Tottenham, who have also been criticised by new Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia for their methods in the market. “Spurs do what Spurs do,” was Sbragia’s cool killer of a phrase.

But this is all part of the package. Although officials might say that this is the sort of behaviour no one wants, it is the exact opposite. What sells more coverage: Benitez putting the boot into Alex Ferguson or Benitez talking about playing Lucas or Benayoun in a diamond formation?

As a tabloid editor once put it: “ ‘Nice man says nice things about nice man’ is not a story.”

Sbragia was furious that Tottenham appeared to have “turned” – January terminology – Kenwyne Jones. Turned towards the exit at the Stadium of Light. And he said so. Harry Redknapp bit back. Everyone got excited again.

What may be more significant it that to turn Jones back Sunderland have not only had to spend energy and time battling Spurs, they have had to give Jones a new lengthy contract at a considerably higher rate than presumably he was on in December. That has cost Sunderland money.

This is a different argument. When the chairmen gather it may be to say that ‘you cost me this much’ ‘and as for you . . .’

That could lead somewhere. But to the abolition of the window? Sunderland are able to say, for example, that in January they have made something of a statement in retaining Jones.

Yet to some fans it is nothing like a big enough one at this time of the season. Maybe the followers of West Ham could inform them that keeping players as the vultures circle is all part of January’s greater task.

There are some 60 hours to go so this could be premature, but West Ham have had a good January.

Ditto Aston Villa. In acquiring Emile Heskey, Villa did their business quietly and effectively and cheaply. At a point in the season when Martin O’Neill’s blossoming youngsters need a bit of stabilising and relief from action, big Heskey has come in to provide uplift, reassurance and, in his first match, a winning goal.

But then Aston Villa are reaping the benefit of being organised, have a manager they believe in and an owner with a plan that includes patience and a realisation there will be setbacks.

It is what’s known as a well-run club. It’s not a club that takes a scattergun with it into January. Fortunately for the world’s richest league, there are plenty of others who do.

Club not playing ball with Given

NEWCASTLE UNITED might be described as a club with January issues. One of them is Shay Given. As of last night the man from Donegal was still on Tyneside despite having been informed by Newcastle that he is now free to speak to Manchester City.

This looks magnanimous on Newcastle's part but there is no material difference to his situation. Newcastle's hierarchy doubtless congratulated themselves on a small victory when Given submitted a written transfer request on Thursday.

Such is his desperation to leave, Given has been prepared to forfeit the testimonial he was due. Now Newcastle seek to portray themselves as if they are helping facilitate his move to City.

Actually they are doing nothing of the sort and a good man is left in limbo. It is all part of the ugly choreography of the transfer window.

Lucre not enough to tempt Kaka

THE BIGGEST transfer of the window never happened. Kaka remains in Milan and Manchester City fans are denied further outings of the song adopted and adapted from Abba: " Knowing me, knowing you – Kaka-ah, there is nothing we can't do."

If only, as the City chief executive Gary Cook said, Milan had not bottled it.

That was Cook’s explanation for Kaka’s non-appearance, as opposed to Kaka being loaded already and playing for a better team and a club that does not do its business in January.