In this most bizarre of seasons, barely has Nottingham Forest’s campaign begun then thoughts already turn to the January transfer window.
Clubs have little more than 40 days to wait before they can bring in or ship out players, with Chris Hughton having admitted he feels a few “tweaks” may be required.
Given 14 players came through the City Ground doors in the summer, it shouldn’t need much more than that.
Hughton, understandably, will want to put his own mark on the dressing room. He will have players in mind who he believes are capable of getting the Reds up the top end of the table. A constant turnover of new recruits is the flip side to a frequent change in managers.
But Forest should also be mindful of transfer windows of the past.
This squad is undoubtedly stronger than last term.
That results and performances on the pitch haven’t reflected that, however, suggests it isn’t as easy as simply bringing together a group of very talented players.
It’s not yet clicked for this crop. It is taking time for them to gel.
So did a side which only narrowly missed out on the play-offs last term require such major surgery? Probably not.
It’s good to have options, and last season a lack of strength in depth proved costly, but some of those who came in have barely played. That gives Hughton a different problem.
Forest don’t need to go on another big shopping spree in January - they could actually do with trimming numbers.
But they do have to be wise, and savvy, about their recruitment.
The last winter window did not have the desired effect. The business done, ultimately, did not pay off.
Gaps were plugged, but not with the right players.
Gaetan Bong was brought in as an emergency left-back and has only just come back into the fold. Adama Diakhaby was added with a view to providing pace and bolstering the team’s attacking threat, but failed to make an impact. He is no longer at the club, having returned to Huddersfield Town, while Nuno Da Costa and Tyler Walker - also part of last January’s business - are not part of Hughton’s set-up now either. Da Costa has left on loan and Walker moved to Coventry City in the summer.
Transfer windows are not an exact science. There are never any guarantees, no matter who comes in.
But getting it right, can make a significant difference come May. And on that front, there are lessons to be learned from what has gone before.
