SAM ALLARDYCE

Our guest columnist gives us his take on the window, FFP and Vardy

WHEN it came to signing players in the January transfer window, I was either very good or very lucky – and probably a bit of both.

At every club I ever saved from relegation, survival hinged on the players we signed in the January.

At Sunderland, we signed four players – Jan Kirchhoff, Lamine Kone, Steve Harper and Wahbi Khazri. At Palace, it was Jeff Schlupp, Luka Milivojevic, Patrick van Aanholt and Mamadou Sakho.

Everton needed less work, but we got a good goalscorer in Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott, who had more pace than anybody at the club.

Technically, they all improved the team. But they also changed the mood of the whole football club.

Fillip

When you bring better players in, the fans get a lift. The players in the dressing room respond by raising their game. They made a massive difference to results and can be pivotal to staying in the Premier League.

The reason I talk about being lucky is it’s so easy to get things wrong. Everybody says the January transfer window is a difficult place to do business, and they’re absolutely right.

Partly that’s because it’s such a short period of time. Everybody is looking for players in the same four weeks.

But the biggest thing is that there are so many players on the market – and the vast majority of them are not what you need.

Most of them, you can’t afford. Those you can are often on the market for a reason. You have to be very careful not to bring in somebody who will actually make you worse.

If you’re dealing abroad, which I’ve done a lot, it’s a gamble. Of course, you know the player has ability. Your scouts and statisticians tell you that.

What you’re gambling on is that the player is such a great professional that he’ll be able to adapt to the level and make a difference almost immediately. I’d always point out to the owners from the outset that we were taking a massive risk.

Risky

Take Newcastle as an example. They’ve got that striker, Joelinton, who cost £35m and is being criticised for failing to score goals. Then there’s Miguel Almiron, the little midfielder who hasn’t managed a goal or assist.

That shows you how difficult it is to come and show your ability straight away. Even Roberto Firmino took two years to properly find his feet at Liverpool.

In the Championship, mistakes are even more costly. Not only is there less money available in the first place, but FFP rules mean you have to be very careful what you spend.

What’s more, the knock-on effect of Premier League prices has raised the cost of players massively. These days, a decent striker could cost you £10m.

It’s a tough place to do business. But for those who get it right, it could prove the single biggest factor in having a successful season.