Weakened In Certain Areas

Some transfer window, some final day. I think you can only draw two conclusions from what happened, neither exactly positive: first, that this season is written off; second, that nobody is in a position to be planning for next season. That the underlying priority behind shipping out eight players and bringing in five, of which only three are available to play right now, is to cut the wage bill would seem clear (although it would be no surprise to hear some leaks about bids for other players having been turned down). There could be some talk of reducing an unnecessarily large squad, of creating a tighter, more focused group, but we are left dangerously weak and lacking cover in certain areas – but as this season no longer matters small price to pay.

To add to the negatives, just how Sandgaard conspired to turn the window month into a period of due diligence for potential investors, such that an opportunity to use the window has gone begging and now nobody looking to buy the club from him has any incentive to act before the end of the season, is astonishing. We could of course be surprised and have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes, but we risk months of uncertainty which wouldn’t help supporter morale and could extend to the attitude of the players, especially as they can't be sure Holden will be around next season.

Rather than looking at each departure – and all of those heading off permanently go with our best wishes, just as we hope those brought in prove to be world-beaters – perhaps best to take each area of the pitch to see whether we have emerged stronger or weaker.

Nobody’s arguing about the keeper’s position. Maynard-Brewer has taken his opportunity well, Wollacott must be close to a return, MacGillivray deserves better than to be number three with little chance of playing. Good luck to him, decision for Holden to make over who is the number one, Harness the back-up.

For the full backs, we knew we needed strengthening and we have done that, with effectively one addition, perhaps two if Clayden is kept following the end of his loan. Kane's immediate injury led to Penney coming in, hopefully at some point before the end of the season Egbo will be able to reappear. As things stand, we have Sessegnon, but with doubts about his availability, Penney and Clare, Chin and Clayden possible alternatives.

In central defence, it was the night of the long knives. We probably thought that someone might be shipped out, but both O’Connell and Lavelle, the former permanently, was a surprise. I hope that Hector quickly gets up to speed, as well as having a good impact on the youngsters in the dressing room (surely Jason Pearce was around to do that), but really can’t see the case for bringing him in. It is February for crying out loud, the season has three months left, and his deal is to the end of it. And Holden acknowledges that we have to be ‘patient’ with him as he hasn’t played and isn’t match-fit. His arrival as the rationale for selling O’Connell just doesn’t stack up. The appearance of Ness on return from loan has been a big bonus, and of late Inniss has been lasting full games; but it was only recently we feared another red for a violent challenge and a lengthy ban. As things stand we have Inniss and Ness with Thomas – who having been brought back too soon from injury for half a game might have been shipped out but instead finds himself first reserve – and Clare if necessary. Add Elerewe, possibly Mitchell, and Hector at some point in the future. Right now one injury or red card and we are struggling. I’d add that for me central defence is as much about partnerships as individual players. We’ve knowingly left ourselves at risk in this area.

In central midfield we’ve lost Forster-Caskey and McGrandles, balanced by the arrival of Kilkenny. As the two outgoing were not usually in the matchday squad and the arrival will be (Bournemouth, having brought him back from Stoke because he wasn’t getting game-time, will expect him to play), you might argue we have been strengthened. But even here I’m dubious. Kilkenny will only be with us for a few months; and if Bournemouth get relegated to the Championship they may well look to him next season. So the chances of him staying with us beyond early May look slim. In that context, given also that he hasn’t been playing much of late and could take time to get up to speed, why bother? Assuming that Dobson, Morgan and Fraser are currently in pole position for the places, with Henry and Payne in reserve, to accommodate Kilkenny suggests Morgan will become more peripheral. And he is a player we will need to decide on come the summer.

In the wide positions we are now short of cover. Moving out either Kirk or Jaiyesimi, perhaps to clear up the space for a more like-for-like back-up for Blackett-Taylor and Rak-Sakyi, might have looked good. Shipping both of them out with nobody coming in – OK, let’s acknowledge that Palace not recalling Rak-Sakyi was a big boost as if he had gone the whole formation would have needed reappraisal – leaves just Campbell, possibly Payne, as the alternatives. Given that neither of the two first-choice can be relied on to last a full game all guns blazing, it’s another area where one injury will leave us at best stretched.

As for the central forward position, a straight swap of Bonne for Stockley – and the retention of Leaburn – would on the face of it seem fair enough. Stockley has had a miserable season for us, not least because we have not played to his strengths. But he’s not a bad player given the service, will no doubt return to The Valley soon with Fleetwood and play like Ibrahimovic, and the change will make us weaker defensively from set pieces. The jury’s out on whether bringing Bonne back will prove a good move, let’s hope so.

It's reasonable to say teams go into a January transfer window with one or more of a range of objectives: fill a position made vacant by injury/loss of form, strengthen in key areas to bolster a promotion challenge/stave off relegation, take advantage of an opportunity arising. At full-back you can say we’ve acted on the first of these. Otherwise we’ve left ourselves weaker in some areas, which has to be primarily about saving money, given that nobody has been brought in for longer than the end of the season.

That surely requires some explanation along with much-needed clarity on the ownership front in the very near future, if supporters are to be treated as stakeholders. After all, we've just been told the rest of the season isn't important, but by the way please buy the merchandise and renew season tickets. We will, we are supporters. But come on, throw us a bone as we really could use good reason to believe next season will be different.