The process of streamlining Bristol City's squad, trimming the wage bill and signing talented young prospects that have big sell-on potential is not going to happen overnight.
Although it felt as though the club made another significant stride toward being where they want to be following a relatively hectic January. The last two winter windows have passed with little excitement but seven departures and three new arrivals suggest further progress has been made.
The most notable departure of the window was Antoine Semenyo who left for Bournemouth for an initial £9m. It's a huge profit for a player the club signed from the SGS College in 2017 and helped develop into a Premier League player.
City replaced him with two new additions in Wycombe's Anis Mehmeti and Luton's Harry Cornick, believed to be a combined fee of around £1.3m. Mehmeti arrives in BS3 with a sense of expectation with a reputation of being one of the most technically gifted players in the Football League.
Cornick, 27, has bags of Championship experience and fits the mould of what Nigel Pearson wants in a forward. He plays with intensity and is versatile in featuring across the front three. Goalkeeper Nikita Haikin also came through the door on a free transfer to replace Dan Bentley who left for the top flight with Wolves.
City may not have signed the central defender they were after as a deal for Jake O'Brien fell through and that does leave them susceptibly thin on the ground should they suffer an injury or two between now and the end of the season in May. But all in all, it's a positive window and here's how we think it could impact certain individuals between now and the end of the season.
Winners
Rob Atkinson
The defender has largely been consistent throughout the season but there have been moments which have put his position in the side under threat. The most notable came in December when he was left out of the squad and then on the bench following a return from illness.
Pearson challenged Atkinson to work harder and show more enthusiasm and he has started the last seven games in all competitions - all of which City have failed to lose. However, it has been no secret City were after a new defender during the transfer window in their pursuit of Jake O'Brien.
It's difficult to say whether a new arrival would have put Atkinson's position in the side under threat but given Zak Vyner's excellent performances this season, it's fair to assume would be one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Despite Tomas Kalas' return from injury, City still lack depth at the back with Kal Naismith also capable of dropping into the defensive two but Atkinson will need to ensure his performances remain at a certain standard and eradicate the mistakes that have crept into recent games.
The error against Swansea in the FA Cup was the standout one, in which he recovered brilliantly, while he had a lucky escape against the Baggies on Saturday when he lost the ball deep in his own half. Aerially, there is no better player in the side but there is always a feeling that he is an error away that would encourage Pearson to look at other options.
Nigel Pearson
He may not have gotten his wish to bolster his defensive options, although it wasn't through the want of trying after moves for O'Brien and Jack Currie fell through. But the City manager can be more than content with the dealings completed over the course of the month.
Pearson had to wait patiently in the search for a maverick, 'someone who can keep him on his toes' as he put it earlier in the season when he opened up on the attempt to sign Reda Khadra over the course of the summer. Mehmeti is that man and while Semenyo's boots are big ones to fill, the 22-year-old has arrived in BS3 with the ability to change a game on its head.
Slowly but surely, this side is becoming one that is reaping the benefits of longer-term planning. Pearson has made it abundantly clear they will only sign players that will improve the squad and with a limited budget available, that's not an easy task.
The departures of Dan Bentley, Semenyo, Timm Klose, Chris Martin and Han-Noah Massengo all make sense. Four of those five weren't featuring in the starting XI and the club replaced them with players who will certainly add quality to the ranks in Cornick and Mehmeti.
It's a time that is now very much having the manager's stamp on things. A hardworking, young and hungry side that boasts a blend of leadership, experience and raw talent. Go back 12 months when Pearson said there were players happy to go through the motions and there seems to have been ample progression in terms of motivation and the atmosphere.
Omar Taylor-Clarke
Just the latest academy product to recently break through the ranks, the 19-year-old has already enjoyed a terrific start to his year after making his senior debut in the FA Cup victory over Swansea earlier in January. He then came off the bench against West Brom in the last outing for his second senior appearance.
Without signing a new midfielder this month, that would have done Taylor-Clarke's chances of earning more minutes under his belt no harm whatsoever. That is also emphasised by the fact his academy team-mate Dylan Kadji completed his loan move to Swindon Town on transfer deadline day.
Pearson will be reluctant to expose him to Championship action too soon but City aren't necessarily blessed with a deluge of midfield options. Taylor-Clarke has been on the bench twice in the league, coming in both of their last two league contests, and he can expect to find himself travelling on the team bus more regularly going forward.
Losers
Jay Dasilva
The left-back was left in limbo on transfer deadline day with a move to Coventry on the horizon. City were open to letting him leave, mainly to further reduce the wage bill with Dasilva among the top earners, but only if they could bring in a replacement.
AFC Wimbledon's Jack Currie was the man lined up to come in but the League Two club rejected four bids and City weren't prepared to go any further. The Dons also wanted to include a loan back clause which would have also scuppered Dasilva's reunion with Kasey Palmer in the Midlands.
Dasilva's experience and quality are obviously a positive for City but on a personal level, there would have been a disappointment not to have made the switch. Cam Pring's brilliant form means he's likely to play second-fiddle for the majority of the rest of the season whereas, at Coventry, he would have become an important player in Mark Robins' side.
The fact that City were willing to let him leave this month also confirms his contract is unlikely to be extended beyond the summer. He's a popular player among his teammates and coaches, and the big hugs he received from Pearson and Curtis Fleming after his performance at the weekend is evidence of that, but the rest of his season is likely to be limited to bit-part roles.
Andi Weimann
It was always a massive ask for the Austrian to maintain the form of last season that saw him score 22 Championship goals. He hasn't hit those levels this time around while injury and the fact he barely had a break over the summer due to international duty undoubtedly has had an impact on his form.
With an expected return to action against Preston at the weekend following a hamstring injury, a lot seems to have changed since Weimann's last appearance against Swansea just three weeks ago. Chris Martin and Semenyo, two players who played massive contributions to his campaign last season, have both left.
Two new forwards have come in and Pearson has also changed position to a 4-3-3, which bodes the question - where will he fit in? Weimann can play anywhere having had stints in midfield and right wing-back but he has always been most effective in that No10 role behind the forwards.
Having switched formations, the midfield trio of Kal Naismith, Matty James and Alex Scott offer a balance in the midfield with the latter able to showcase his tremendous ability to drive forward with the ball. Weimann can play in a flat midfield three but is unlikely to take the places of the trio.
He's played out on the right for a large majority of his career and therefore, that would seem to suit him the most going forward. However, he faces stiff competition for places alongside a rejuvenated Mark Sykes and new signing Cornick who can play anywhere across the front three.
Weimann has played plenty of football over the last year and a half. He started each and every league game last season and has made a further 23 appearances this time around but he may find himself on the bench on a more regular occurrence going forward.
Sam Bell
Now hear us out with this one. Semenyo's departure opened up a space in City's side for Bell to take advantage of and he wasted no time in doing so, scoring two superb goals in his first start of the season against West Brom.
Despite the arrivals of Mehmeti and Cornick this week, that has surely cemented his name on the team-sheet for Saturday's trip to Preston and the opportunity to further stake his claim in the side.
That role on the left of the front three looks to suit Bell. He has the blistering pace to make the runs behind and stretch the defence, leaving space for Nahki Wells to manoeuvre in a central position. He also has the unique ability to maintain that intensity throughout the 90 minutes.
However, competition for places has just increased with the two mentioned above, both of whom can feature on the left. On the one hand, it is likely to mean Bell's minutes are going to be under threat particularly with Mehmeti favouring the left side. On the other hand, it could motivate the young forward to continue hitting the back of the net when handed his chance.
Cornick has also played on the left during his spell with Luton and with Tommy Conway to come back from injury, competition for places going forward are healthy. Therefore, Bell will need to continue making sure he delivers when called upon.
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