Following a record-breaking start to the League Two campaign, Leyton Orient weren’t a side in need of massive upheaval going into January.
However, circumstances have meant this month has been trickier to navigate than the O’s recruitment team would have imagined heading into the window.
No amount of pre-window planning could have prepared Orient for losing three centre-backs in one game against Northampton just two days into the month, as Dan Happe and Shad Ogie were both ruled out with long-term injuries while Omar Beckles picked up a three game ban.
Understandably this forced the club’s hand and guided the majority of their early window thoughts as Head Coach Richie Wellens sought like-for-like replacements for both Happe and Ogie.
These eventually came in the form of Ed Turns and Jamie McCart, signed on loan from Brighton and Rotherham respectively with the duo thrown in at the deep end together for the first time in the 3-0 defeat at Stevenage.
Welsh U21 captain Turns is highly-rated and has been training with Roberto De Zerbi’s first team squad throughout this season while just less than two years ago McCart was talked about in glowing terms following his role in St Johnstone’s unlikely cup double triumph.
Elsewhere, having not played since rupturing his achilles last February, the signing of Australian midfielder Jordan Lyden is something of a low risk punt.
Lyden was available on a free transfer and, after receiving assurances over his fitness, Wellens opted to bring in a player who was integral to his League Two title winning Swindon side on a six-month deal.
If fit, Lyden has proven he can be one of the best midfielders in the division and the move, which was facilitated by finances generated from the sale of Ethan Coleman to Gillingham, will add extra creativity in the middle of the park and provide competition for Ipswich loanee Idris El-Mizouni.
Of the four January additions, Kieran Sadlier’s arrival on loan from Bolton is arguably the most exciting.
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The 28-year-old can play across any of the three attacking midfield spots in Wellens’ favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and a quick scan through social media following his arrival shows the regard he was held in by supporters of his parent club.
With a one in four strike rate across his career, the O’s will be hoping he can add a much needed extra goal threat to the side.
Another player who is effectively a new arrival is striker Harry Smith, with the 27-year-old cutting short his own loan spell at Exeter to return to E10 and give Wellens a more direct attacking option compared to Jayden Wareham, who was recalled by parent club Chelsea earlier in the window.
It’s interesting to note that not one of the players added to the squad this month has a contract with the club that lasts beyond this season – probably emblematic of the situation the O’s find themselves in.
In a perfect world, they might have liked to have recruited League One ready players but with promotion not a certainty those are hard to come by and therefore an understandable reluctance to hand out long contracts to players that might not be able to make the step-up.
Speaking back in December, Richie Wellens said: “If you said to me that January 31st is over and we’ve kept exactly the same squad then I’ll be happy.”
On that basis, Orient’s boss must be relatively pleased as there have been no major outgoings while the squad has been strengthened and looks well-rounded for the remainder of the season.
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However, the perception of this window has been marred by the complete loss of form Orient have suffered throughout the month.
With just one win and one goal from their last seven games, the stated goal of promotion, which seemed like a formality just a month ago, is now under question.
Perhaps another forward could have been signed – former striker Macauley Bonne was one Orient looked at but baulked at his wage demands and quickly moved on.
And with the club hamstrung by Financial Fair Play (FFP) constraints and three strikers already on the books, a move late on in the window was never a realistic possibility.
Nevertheless, despite these frustrations, Wellens has a squad at his disposal with at least two good quality players competing for each position and one that possesses more than enough quality to turn things around and secure promotion.