There is too much emphasis on transfer windows and the focus should change to results on the pitch reckons former Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger(Image: Christina Pahnke - sampics/Corbis via Getty Images)
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Former Everton player Thomas Hitzlsperger believes the focus on the club should shift from their chaotic end to the transfer window to their results on the pitch.
In the final week of the window Blues owners The Friedkin Group gave Nottingham Forest the green light to pursue a £40million move for Harrison Armstrong before supporters’ threats to riot prompted them to perform a dramatic U-turn.
However, despite pocketing over £100million on deadline day with their most creative talent Iliman Ndiaye, last season’s top scorer Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson all sold, following the late collapse of the purchase of USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun from Monaco, Everton were left with a first-team squad of 18 outfield players.
Despite such adversity, manager David Moyes has steered the team to seven games unbeaten this term in all competitions.
And Hitzlsperger, who finished his playing career at Goodison Park under Moyes in 2012/13, told Breaking the lines: “I think this is a bit delicate now, but the whole transfer deadline day debate, or let’s say the last few days of transfer windows, I’m just gobsmacked at how much now clubs have to explain themselves about a transfer window.
“Now, all these people think they know that this is a good squad, or it’s not a good squad. They can look at the numbers and think: ‘We’ve been amazing’.
“Now we judge a transfer window, which to me is insane. Now, are you telling me that because, in the eyes of some people, Arsenal didn’t have the best of transfer windows, so they’re not going to win a Premier League?
“I want people to commit now. Say it now, because at the end of the season, let’s see where Everton is.
“Do we think they get relegated? I’m not saying they’re not, but people have such strong opinions about transfers, especially the incoming players, we will not know how they perform.
“Too many people have such strong opinions about transfer when they’re based on the money that was paid. Now, of course, if you bring in a player and sell them for a lot more money, and you think there’s good business, that’s easy for me to judge.
“I think yes, it could be good business. But the players you bring in, and the way you compose a squad, I think people are judging way too early.
“Especially, I saw at Everton, people are really upset, and I think they want to talk to the club now. Now, it’s like: ‘Okay, interesting, this is where we are’.
“Now, this is the new reality, I have to accept it. But I think the transfer business and transfer window take way too much space in football.”
Thomas Hitzlsperger playing for Everton
Thomas Hitzlsperger playing for Everton
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The 44-year-old former Germany international, who after hanging up his boots became head of sport and then chief executive at VfB Stuttgart before taking up a position as a board member at Hellas Verona, added: “Personally, it would be much better to talk about football, the game itself, but we end up talking about transfers and money, and people like Fabrizio Romano become stars in the industry, and you think: ‘What's he doing?’ He’s throwing around numbers and rumours.
“Just because he’s often the first one announcing somebody who’s leaving… is that really, really important? I think it’s important who plays well.
“I think it’s important how the guys perform. And yet, so much of our time we spend talking about transfers and big spending and not enough spending and I just don’t like this development.”