The transfer window looms large but this time the anticipation is a little different for Bristol Rovers. Typically at this time of year, Gasheads are eager to see holes in the squad plugged with new additions.
But it is a testament to the squad that Joey Barton has built this season that there are no glaring needs. Of course, more quality and depth are always welcome and the Gas are expected to be active in the market, but for the first time in several years – save for any injury disasters in the final two games of 2022 – Rovers will enter the January transfer window without a sense of real urgency.
Earlier this year, for example, Rovers were improving gradually in the lead-up to the window, but there were obvious areas of need. Barton quickly acted to sign a striker in Ryan Loft and a centre-half in James Connolly, and Rovers were active all the way until the end of the window when they finally made a breakthrough with the inspired addition of Elliot Anderson on loan from Newcastle United.
The year before, Rovers tried and failed to meet a desperate need in attack under Paul Tisdale and it resulted in relegation. In 2020, Ben Garner made seven signings in a big to reshape the squad in his image, and the year before that Graham Coughlan had to be active to bolster a squad in danger of going down, coming up with the goods late in the day by signing Jonson Clarke-Harris.
This time around, Rovers are in a very different position. With 31 points from 22 games, the Gas are just 21 points from meeting Barton's conservative target of 52 points to secure League One status for next season. The play-off places are within touching distance and the team is on an upward trend, going unbeaten in their past five games, winning three of them.
As a result, Rovers have built something of a launch pad for the second half of their season and Barton and head of football operations Eddy Jennings will be scheming in the hope they can replicate the success of last January, making shrewd additions to give the Gas lift-off.
But the sense is trading will be measured, unlike in some windows in the recent past. "For me, it will be a couple of people going out and a couple of people coming in," Barton said last month. "That’s always ideal, slight tweaking, it’s just natural for every January."
The state of the squad
Rovers must work within EFL rules when building their squad and there is a cap on the number of senior players League One clubs are allowed. The league regulations dictate clubs are allowed 22 outfield players aged older than 21, with goalkeepers not counting against the squad limit.
Under this criteria, Rovers have three spaces in their squad to make senior signings in January without needing any departures, should they wish. The wiggle room in their squad numbers is a reward for the faith Barton has placed in young players to take up key roles, with Josh Coburn, James Connolly and Luca Hoole not taking up places on the EFL list because they were aged 20 and younger when the season started.
In terms of loans, EFL clubs are allowed a maximum of five loan players in their 18-man matchday squad, and again Rovers have room for manoeuvre here. The mid-season departure of Sylvester Jasper, who has returned to Fulham's under-21s squad, has left the Gas with three loan players on the books in Lewis Gibson (Everton), Bobby Thomas (Burnley) and Coburn (Middlesbrough).
Therefore, the Gas can make two loan signings in January without the need to leave any of their loan players out on a matchday.
Finally, in terms of contracts, most of Rovers' players are tied down beyond the end of this season, but Scott Sinclair's short-term deal is set to expire at the end of this month and the club are negotiating an extension.
Anssi Jaakkola, Alfie Kilgour, Josh Grant, Harry Anderson, Zain Westbrooke, Paul Coutts, Harvey Saunders and Alex Rodman are the senior players whose contracts are up in June 2023. Barton has indicated Rovers will offer Grant terms to stay as he continues his recovery from double knee surgery, and surely club captain Coutts will be involved in BS7 as long as Barton is.
Finland international Jaakkola has taken up some coaching duties in the goalkeeping department, which could give him more security over his long-term future with the club.
Positions of need
Are there any areas of true need? Do Rovers really need anything? That is not to say they cannot upgrade their squad or their starting XI in January – of course, they can – but a high hit rate of their summer acquisitions means most bases seem pretty well covered with the players already in the building.
However, just a few months ago the cupboard was bare in defence due to a brutal run of injuries and Rovers may look to insure against that happening again with another centre-back signing.
Lewis Gibson has emerged as one of Rovers' most important players, not only because of his high-level performances since he returned to full fitness in the autumn but because of the balance he brings to the team on the left side of the back three. Given his unfortunate luck with injuries in recent seasons, the Gas could look to take out an insurance policy in the form of another player in that mould, although good left-footed centre-backs are sought after and few and far between.
Another area Rovers could look to be active is on the wings. Jasper's return to Fulham was mitigated by the fact Sinclair had just signed as a free agent, but should the 33-year-old not agree to extended terms at the Mem, the Gas will certainly be in the market for a wide player if not two next month. The loan market could be an area of focus here.
In central midfield, Barton has said he would like to reduce the playing burden of first-team coach Glenn Whelan, and with Jordan Rossiter facing a couple of months out with a meniscus injury, the manager could look to add depth in this position, although he does have plenty of high-quality starting options.
Left wing-back could be another area of interest with Trevor Clarke on the injured list, leaving the impressive yet inexperienced Lewis Gordon as the only specialist for that role, although James Gibbons and Anderson can play there too.
Potential departures
When asked about it earlier this month, Barton said no players were pushing for an exit at this stage, but there are players who naturally will not be satisfied with the minutes they are getting.
Centre-half Kilgour has been in the starting XI in the league 18 per cent of the time this season and he will want to be playing more, although he has declared his love for the club and his desire to earn a new contract.
Westbrooke's playing chances appear next to nil now the squad has knitted together. Rovers have encouraged the midfielder to pursue opportunities elsewhere in recent windows but a permanent move has not yet materialised. The 26-year-old has made just three appearances in all competitions all season and he will be desperate to start playing regularly again.
Clarke may have seemed an obvious name to include after falling out with Barton at the start of the season, when he was told he could leave, but he fought his way back into contention and made himself a handy squad player until a groin injury earlier in December ruled him out for a couple of months.
Harvey Saunders is in an interesting position in that he is valued by the manager and the coaching staff, but in a limited role as a game-changing substitute and he has lived up to that tag this season with some impactful cameos off the bench.
He has scored twice in 18 appearances in all competitions this season, with both goals coming in the EFL Trophy. Barton will be more than happy to keep him around, but will 25-year-old Saunders want to fill a more prominent role at another club because it is hard to see him displacing Aaron Collins, Coburn, Ryan Loft and John Marquis in the pecking order up front?
Speaking of Collins, there is no indication yet that this will happen, but his form has been so good throughout 2022 that it cannot be ruled out that a bigger club comes up with an offer Rovers cannot refuse for the striker. From Barton's perspective, hopefully not. Most Championship clubs find themselves cash-strapped since the COVID-19 pandemic, so that reduces the pool of potential suitors for a player who would certainly command a seven-figure fee.
Coburn, though, will be staying, unless there is a raft of injuries at parent club Middlesbrough after confirmation came this week of their plans for the young striker.
And of course, Sinclair's future is the most uncertain of all given his contract is about to expire, but Barton has been optimistic about the chances of him staying in recent press conferences.
Keep an eye on JCH
No, not as a possible transfer target, but because Rovers' have a sell-on clause for League One's top scorer and any income doubtless would be welcome for the Gas.
The club has already accrued around £2million from the deal to sell Clarke-Harris to Peterborough United in 2020, including add-ons, and they would be entitled to a cut of the profit if Posh sell this month.
Manager Grant McCann will not want that to happen as he is a central pillar of the club's promotion hopes, but owner Darragh MacAnthony is trying to sell the club and a bid from a high-end League One club – watch out for big-spending Ipswich Town – or a Championship side may prove impossible to resist.
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