Dyche's views on transfer window (From Watford Observer)

Watford manager Sean Dyche's views on the January transfer window

10:20am Sunday 5th February 2012 in Sport By Adam Newson

Picture: Holly Cant

“The powerful clubs are never more powerful than coming into the last week of the transfer window.”

That was the view of Sean Dyche a week before the January window closed. As it turned out he was proved right as Marvin Sordell secured a late move to Bolton Wanderers.

Ever since it was implemented the transfer window has divided opinion between managers.

Dyche admits he has never given it a great deal of thought but believes there would be less of a rush from clubs and agents to try to buy players if there wasn’t a restricted time frame.

“Not having the window would mean less scrambling from agents and less scrambling from clubs,” he said. “You would have less silliness where you have clubs offer this and that which is either inappropriate or appropriate. And you would have less manipulating of the system.

“If everyone didn’t have to do things by a certain time then they can look at things, let it build and work things out better rather than all the scrambling.”

The Watford boss continued: “I think the window then plays into the powerful club’s hands. The powerful financial clubs can leave it to the last minute knowing they can come in and trump people.

“Clubs like ourselves have to fight, do everything right and put all the things in process. Then if the agent of that club or player decides to tell other people then another club can come in who never even thought about that player, so it alerts people.

“But that is not just for us, that is for the whole of football. The powerful clubs are never more powerful than coming into the last week of the transfer window because they can cherry pick and throw money at who they want.”

Due to financial constraints Watford have not been one of the ‘powerful clubs’ that can go out and throw money at players.

The Hornets have relied heavily in recent seasons on promoting players from their youth set up. While Dyche acknowledges his job is first and foremost to win matches, he understands the role he plays in the development of young players.

He said: “Firstly my job is the immediate future and then secondly the future of the club. Now that is sitting quite well with us at the moment and that’s not just me, it is the staff, Ross (Wilson) and others.

“The pathways we were hoping open up are going nicely at the minute.

“Because of that knock-on effect, players are getting experience on loan, development players are playing more in the development games and development players training with the first team more.

“So that can only be good for their futures and the pathway into the first team. I think they are getting ready in a more appropriate manner which I suggested at the beginning of the season.

“It is not about playing young players or not playing them. It is about having them ready to play so when they do they’re ready, they can deliver and they can stay in and around the team. That’s the key thing for me,” Dyche added.