On the ball: Chris Travers's sport blog

Sentinel assistant sports editor Chris Travers has his say on the world of football in his weekly blog

THE transfer windows. Everyone whips themselves up into a frenzy about them, expecting bank-busting deals, but they continue to disappoint.

Which begs the question, is there any need for them? And what damage is the system doing to clubs lower down the food chain?

For the majority of Monday’s transfer activity, the stand-out deal of the window – in terms of money being exchanged – was the princely sum of £150,000 Brighton paid Stockport for the services of defender Jim McNulty.

With all due respect to both clubs and Jim, that’s hardly the sort of exciting transfer deal to get fans around the country salivating with excitement.

Even the usually ‘over-the-top’ presenters on Sky Sports News would have trouble mustering the enthusiasm or skill to convince football fans everywhere that Brighton had just concluded the transfer of the decade.

For the big boys in the Premier League, the transfer window is not necessarily an issue.

They usually have enough money to build a big squad in the summer and, with a month to tweak the playing staff at the turn of the year, they are not overly-affected by the transfer limitations.

However, for those battling to escape the drop from the top flight – and those in the Football League - the restriction can be a hindrance they could well do without.

In the current economic climate, lower-league football clubs are suffering a downturn in attendances as fans feel the financial pinch.

Having a billionaire owner would ensure this doesn’t cause any problems, but for the likes of the Accrington Stanleys, Chester Citys and Bournemouths of this world, they are forced to work extremely hard to preserve their very existence.

In the past, clubs who were struggling on the money front could always sell a star player for a decent wedge to give themselves some breathing space – and they could do this at any time of the year.

Now, with only a limited time for clubs to wheel and deal, the transfer window is threatening the very existence of clubs in the country.

With the rich clubs getting richer... and virtually no money trickling through the system into the likes of League Two clubs, the future doesn’t look that healthy for teams in the basement division.

And what does the transfer window actually achieve? Does it matter whether or not a Manchester United or Chelsea can buy a player in September, October or March?

It matters little because the selling club can always turn down any offers that come in.

But for lower-league sides, the transfer window being scrapped could prove to be a financial lifeline to their very existence.

Football is supposed to flourish at all levels... but with the powers-that-be keeping faith with these stupid rules, it is only the Premier League who benefit, while the rest battle to stay in business.

Hopefully, common sense will eventually prevail and it won’t take a club going to the wall to hammer home the point that the transfer window is a dangerous concept.

Liverpool are nothing without Gerrard

IT has been well-known for a while... but last night’s FA Cup replay between Everton and Liverpool proved that the Reds are virtually a one-man team.

Once Steven Gerrard limped off at Goodison Park with a hamstring injury, Rafa Bentiez’s men looked clueless in their pursuit of victory.

Benitez, always one to look for excuses, pointed to the sending-off of Lucas as a crucial point in their extra-time defeat.

Well, I’m sorry, but he was that bad, you only realised he was on the pitch when the referee was booking him.

Fernando Torres is another star man for Liverpool... but he is not the same player without Gerrard in the side.

Now, with the England midfielder injured, it will perhaps show how good Liverpool REALLY are.