The ghosts of transfer windows past

By Jemma Tappenden
January 28 2008

It has been another quiet January at the Hawthorns so far. But that’s nothing that Baggies fans won’t have been expecting if past seasons are anything to go by. As the transfer window enters its last week of activity, Albion fans still await any news of comings or goings, with so far little more than speculation to ride on.

This is familiar territory if you’re a Baggies fan. In fact this is familiar territory for many fans of many clubs. No year more so than this one have passed with players, fans, pundits and managers alike all questioning the point of the transfer window. Indeed it looks again like the final day, Thursday 31^st January will as expected be the busiest.

But Albion fans perhaps have more reason than any other to be weary of January. Twice in consecutive Premiership seasons was Chairman Jeremy Peace criticised for not making funds available to strengthen the squad. The first seasons of which he received a big let off once the ‘great escape’ had been achieved. But many fans felt that the second season had been a big let down, the purse strings well and truly tied at a time when Premiership survival was fundamental.

Peace was on the receiving end of similar accusations last season, many feeling that he had failed to show confidence in new Manager Tony Mowbray by once again sticking to a tight budget. This criticism was confirmed and re-raised in May, when Albion failed to win promotion back to the Premier League after reaching the Play-off final. The Baggies had been in the automatic promotion spots with no less than ten games to play, and many had felt a stronger squad would have been the edge needed.

There can be no denying that the business directed by Peace over the summer was clever. Not budging once on the transfer fees he expected from other clubs for some of Albion’s top players secured them the largest transfer fund in the Championship, and outgoings were considered wisely. This alongside Tony Mowbray’s eye for a decent bargain, such as the likes of Teixeira at less than £1 million, have meant that Albion have been able to strengthen their squad with talent. It is a squad that has already built up a reputation for being the best in the division.

There are plenty of rumours of activity at the Hawthorns. It is widely believed that keeper Danek will sign this week. But with the securing of Sherjill MacDonald from loan to permanent signing as of yet the only transfer activity at Albion this winter, many will be waiting with baited breath to see if the club will repeat its previous mistakes.

The ghosts of transfer windows past

Posted by: West Brom (IP Logged)

Date: 28/01/2008 09:53

The ghosts of transfer windows past