O'Neill blasts window shopping

19 december 2006, 10:50

Koen Freriks

Martin O'Neill has spoken out against the transfer window system and believes it forces managers into making panic signings.

The Aston Villa boss is expected to be active when the window reopens in January with Robbie Keane, Curtis Davies and Phil Bardsley among his potential targets.

But the Irishman is a bigger fan of the previous system where players could be signed at any time throughout a campaign up until transfer deadline day in late March. O'Neill said: "Do I like the transfer window? Not particularly. I think what it does do is point everyone into this supposed window of opportunity - and sometimes you are panicked into things."