I do not see removing transfers as making things worse. However the costs of transfers (fees, taxes, pay offs etc do leave the game) I think in totality ignoring circulating money it’s amount is not as much as you would believe.

Wages in the UK are taxable at 50% which is creating issues for all bar Mansour. Players spend money here. Indeed we probably produce luxury cars they buy 2nd only to Italy. Plus with less circulating money inevitably clubs would be forced to operate more effectively – UEFA are threatening to enforce that as well.

I am flying a kite but the odd hole accepted I still feel it’s the better of 2 poor situations. As usual with this blog I do not have the whole answer but I think it’s worth putting up as an idea.

Formations also need to be adaptive — and often managers will only really insist on a shape when the other team are coming forward from their own half — that’s something that’s not often seen on television but can be seen from behind a goal — two banks of four in a line.

The very best teams and players will also interchange positions — not just Brazil in 1970 but quite a few of the best club sides can do this.

The main benefit of a formation is to tell players like Rooney and Heskey that they are not expected to drop deep — that if the underachievers who are playing there can’t get them the ball then that won’t be improved to have no strikers up front.

While Mourinho does have a good track record, you have to admit he’s strangely restless. It’s like he manages to get the best out of ageing teams in the short term then realises he’s never going to preside over a dynasty in the way that Ferguson and Wenger have done. There’s no blame shifting for them if they’ve been in charge for over 20 and 10 years respectively.

Mourinho’s style is divisive — players seem to love or hate him but that’s a clue as to his lack of longevity.

And whatever you think about him as a manager — he’s loved by journalists as he gives a good quote, story, picture, etc. more than they love his football.