A January window full of ins and outs, twists and turns, ups and downs. It didn’t pan out completely the way Nottingham Forest wanted, but they can be pretty happy nonetheless.
Will it be enough to get them into the top six? Only time will tell. Steve Cooper has already worked wonders since arriving at the City Ground, though, so that is a good starting point.
And while the Reds might not have been able to strengthen their squad to the extent they would have liked - having missed out on signing a winger - the big plus from the past month is that they have not been significantly weakened.
Notwithstanding the injury worries over key players, the huge positive is that Forest go into February with Brennan Johnson, Joe Worrall and Djed Spence, in particular, still in situ.
Brentford tried hard to get Johnson. Rejecting what would have been a club record fee was a big statement of intent by the Reds.
The Wales international can make a difference when it comes to a promotion push. His link-up and understanding with Spence down the right flank will only keep getting better, too.
At one stage it looked as though the latter would be recalled by Middlesbrough. That would have been a significant blow.
Worrall will also be key when he returns from the broken ribs which are currently keeping him sidelined.
The importance of keeping those three in the Garibaldi shouldn’t be underestimated.
Forest have made some good additions, too. Keinan Davis, Steve Cook, Richie Laryea, Sam Surridge and Jonathan Panzo can all add something to the squad.
There is still a concern over whether the Reds have enough goals in the side, should the ankle injury Lewis Grabban sustained at the weekend keep him out for any length of time.
But Forest have nevertheless managed to bring in two forwards during the window - in Davis and Surridge. No mean feat, given how many clubs are chasing strikers.
They have also managed to move on a few fringe players, either on loan or on permanent deals, helping to trim Cooper’s squad.
The down side to the window is not managing to strengthen in the wide areas, despite the club’s best efforts.
They had multiple bids turned down for Millwall’s Jed Wallace and Blackpool’s Josh Bowler, but both ended up staying put.
Getting one of those two in would have been a fantastic bit of business. But the Reds do still have Alex Mighten and Joe Lolley to come back from injury.
January should still be regarded as a good one. There was no panic buying or mad scramble as has happened in the past, and there is quality in that squad. Sensible deals were done.
Whether or not it’s enough to get Forest into the play-off spots remains to be seen. But it won’t be for the want of trying.
