Squad additions in January?

In this post I will try and put my thought down to words regarding what I feel we need to add to the squad in January. I’m sure many will disagree but that is bound to happen when we all have our different opinions on what is the “right” way to success. Feel free to comment or give your own suggestion what is needed in January. But please, be constructive and polite if you take time to write a comment.

We need more squad depth to be able to rescue anything from this season.
To have any chance of a playoff push this season we need to strengthen the squad and add some depth to the squad to make possible rotations when needed without dropping quality to win matches.

One or two injuries in certain positions could cause big problems.

First of all we need to tie down Wes McDonald to at 2 year contract or at least a 1 year with option to extend one more year. He has shown he have the tools to lock up defenses and cause havoc in the opponents half.

I feel we need more creativity in midfield maybe add one more central midfielder to have cover.
We should also add with one more winger to have a similar player as McDonald on the right wing to make us more dynamic and not only rely on creating chances down the left flank.

Keepers
Not a priority to add more depth. Roberts are good enough if he get the backup from the defenders as keepers need. Rose is a adequate backup.

Defence
Pring and CCM have played well as left full-backs but both been hampered with injuries lately. Zak Jules is an option as full-back on the left side and additions here should not be a priority. Clarke could play as left back as a last resort.
We have four good enough central defenders (K. Roberts, Scarr, Clarke and Jules).
No additions is needed as a priority
Norman and Facey as right full-back is good enough and doesn’t seem to been hampered with injuries like we been on the left side. K. Roberts could cover when needed and Clarke as last resort. Even Kinsella could drop in as right defender if needed. No additions should be needed.

Midfield
I feel the balance in midfield is off sometimes. We lack creativity in the attacking phase from midfield. Guthrie and Bates is OK but better to start attacks from own half when we transition the play into the opponent’s half i feel we lack creativity centrally that can lock up defences and get good balls through to our strikers.
One more addition to the attacking central midfield should be looked into by Clarke. Defensively i feel we have good enough cover with Kinsella and Sinclair. Also Bates tracks back defensively as does Guthrie when needed.

Wingers
The highest possible priority should be to get Wes McDonald to sign a new contract and I would like to see a similar addition to the squad for the right side. Add a pacy, tricky winger on the right side should make our attacks more dynamic and not so easy to predict. I do not feel Hardy or Holden is the right answer on the right wing. There is something in their style of play that isn’t working as a winger. We need more pace and forward thinking on the right wing.

Strikers
This is a tricky one as strikers are judged by the amount of goals scored but if they don’t get the right service from out wide or from a creative midfield they won’t have much luck scoring if they can’t sort out chances by themselves.
We have strikers who can score, they just need to have more composure when getting in the right position to finish off attacks. Too many good chances have been wasted so far this season. If i was Darrell Clarke I would terminate Gaffneys loan early and try and find another type of striker. Gaffney is to similar to the strikers we already have but not up to the same standard as Lavery, Gordon or Adebayo.

So to summarise the signings I would do during January is

1. Sign up Wes McDonald ASAP
2. One more creative attacking central midfielder (eg. Öztümer type of player)
3. Right winger to make us a threat from both wings
4. Terminate Gaffneys loan deal and add one more striker. Maybe a Don Goodman or Tommy Mooney type of player. I don’t care if he’s young or old just add quality.