Since 2002/03, football fans up and down the UK have had the close season to get excited about new signings - right up until the transfer window shuts towards the start of the season, not opening again until January.
It was seen as a necessary alternative to constant mid season moves that was argued spoiled the integrity of the game.
However, twenty years on, this time of year grates massively. So much so, here’s three reasons why I can’t stand the transfer window.
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It encourages the “announce” mob
There are many types of football fan, but the “announce X” ones on Twitter are just about the worst.
It doesn’t matter what the club posts; they’ll reply, quote tweet or tag their club constantly throughout the day. “This isn’t a new player” or “announce…” clog up your timeline and those who run the social media accounts of clubs and associated journalists must have the patience of saints (or just block and mute constantly).
We get it… fans are desperate for news. Incessantly tweeting the club for any sign of it though is a habit that really must be ditched.
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Everyone becomes a football scout
In addition to those desperate for announcements, you’ve got those accounts that comb YouTube for footage of rumoured players before editing it all together and reposting these clips as a highlight reel.
Nothing wrong with that in principle, but these videos often then give the viewer the impression that the rumoured signing is the next big thing. Having watched a Nick Proschwitz highlight reel back in the early 2010’s before he signed for Hull City, these highlight reels give fans an exaggerated idea of the players strengths and actually help neither the player or the fans in the long run.
The other thing linked to this is fans posting “wish lists” of players, before tagging the club in. Clubs have no need for the list of players you want to play for your club based off Ultimate Team cards from FIFA. Please stop.
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“In the Know” accounts and clickbait articles spread misinformation that wind up fans
If it isn’t “fan” accounts with a profile picture of their club badge, it’s the selected few accounts that people constantly tweet for news - and it’s exhausting to read.
Fabrizio Romano is a stand out account - mainly due to the fact that he’s right about prospective moves in the pipeline. He does also have 8.8 million followers on Twitter, which gives his account a lot of credibility - as he actually is in the know.
There are “ITK” accounts that hide behind Patreon paywalls, keen to cash in on fan’s desperation for transfer news - and these are not even worth the time and effort to read them. Worse are those accounts who just paraphrase what another account or individual has said and post it, often not even crediting the original post.
All these make me miss a time when social media didn’t exist. Before Twitter or any of the other options out there, people had to be patient and simply wait for the club to let the fans know when deals were actually happening.
So, don’t send that tweet to the club or journalist of your choice. Maybe just wait patiently for good news to come and the surprise of it may make you more excited for the season ahead.