SPARE A THOUGHT...

And so we say `farewell` to yet another transfer window as the doors slammed shut at 11.00pm last night to bring another scramble to a shuddering halt (unless you still want to buy players from the Championship and all points south.)  As for the Saints, it`s been interesting in that they have managed to unload a few of the more spectacular failures of recent years - Wesley Hoedt to Lazio, Guido Carrillo to Elche, Sofiane Boufal back to Angers - all of which helps the wage bill.  Players coming in have included a couple of up and comers - Salisu and Diallo of whom much is expected in time - an excellent capture of right back Kyle Walker-Peters from Tottenham and the return of the prodigal Theo Walcott.

I remember being at St. Mary`s when Walcott made his debut and even at 16 years of age you could see his potential.  No surprise when, at a time when Southampton needed the money, he left after about 50 games for us and went to Arsenal where he won trophies, scored loads of goals and earned 47 caps for England.   (I was also present to see the debuts of Gareth Bale, Alex Oxtail-Chamberlain and even Luke Shaw, each of whom has gone on to varying degrees of success.)  But I`m glad that Walcott has decided to `come home` and spend the twilight of his career where it all started for him.  Pity some of the others don`t do the same with the possible exception of Luke Shaw, who has gone native at Manchester United.

But back to the transfer business.  It often reminds me of a bit of a livestock market with its effects on the players and their families.  It`s OK for the super stars on the international stage with their private jets, their ridiculous salaries and unending bonuses to guarantee a lifetime of riches and privilege but I always feel for those professional footballers further down the line - those in the lower reaches of the `football family,` the food chain.

One minute they`re happily playing away at the game they love and in what appear secure environments, the next their agent has been on the phone with the news that another club has had a bid accepted for their services and, as the transfer window is about to close, can they get down to wherever at short notice, sign the contract and begin the frantic process of moving on, disrupting family life and having to come to terms with a change they might not have seen coming. 

It all seems a bit unfair down there and,yes, I know they are in their `chosen profession` but it`s a short career and right now there are an awful lot who are simply out of work with families, mortgages and all the other responsibilities of life.  As much as I might welcome the return of Theo Walcott to his spiritual home, at the same time I feel for those who find themselves, like so many others in other walks of life, in a very difficult situation not necessarily of their making.   

A thought genuinely spared.