Oxford went into the January transfer window wanting a left-back, holding midfielder and striker.
They've left it wanting a holding midfielder and striker.
If Ciaran Brown's comments that he is an "out and out centre back" mean anything, you might just be able to add left-back to that list as well.
It's been a window where Oxford have replaced where necessary, and improved in certain positions, but failed to recruit in the positions laid out as top priority, and it is therefore very difficult to determine whether the mid-season transfer window has been a success for United or not.
They certainly left their business late, with all of their deals happening in the last six days of the window, and all the singings coming in on deadline day.
Below is a quick recap of the deals which Oxford got over the line this January.
Incomings
Marcus Browne - Middlesbrough - Permanent - Two-and-a-half years (Option of a further 12 months)
Oisin Smyth - Dungannon Swifts - Permanent - Three-and-a-half years
Ciaran Brown - Cardiff City - Loan
Outgoings
Jordan Thorniley - Blackpool - Recalled from loan
Dan Agyei - Crewe Alexandra - Permanent
Joel Cooper - Port Vale - Loan
Three in and three out for oxford then, and man for man the signings seem very reasonable.
Ciaran Brown is likely not going to show the same class as Jordan Thorniley, but provides good depth at left-back and centre backs; Oisin Smyth is one for the future, but there probably won't be much loss in having him over Cooper, who has not been a regular starter for Oxford; whilst few would argue that Browne is not an upgrade on Agyei.
One upgrade, one straight replacement, and one slight downgrade.
Oxford's window has left them pretty much where they started.
Whilst United came into the window high in confidence, that does mean that they have failed to add depth in some crucial departments.
At the start of January, United fans were calling for a
backup striker to challenge Matty Taylor. The return of Sam Winnall and his
goal against former club Sheffield Wednesday has somewhat alleviated that
problem, but United still haven’t addressed it.
The deal for Jermain Defoe always felt ambitious, and a
return to former club Sunderland more likely, but United’s not recruiting a
striker leaves a lot of pressure on the form and fitness their current top
scorer Taylor.
Cole Stockton never seemed a likely deal, though Sammy
Szmodics appeared a strong candidate late last night, but Oxford’s
unwillingness to take the Peterborough striker on a permanent deal meant that
too was a non-starter.
All in all, Oxford missed out on a few striker targets, and
with the loss of Dan Agyei, may lack a bit of dynamism up front.
Marcus Browne, of course, can play up front, although his
talent may be wasted playing as a number nine, given his skill on the wings or
in midfield. His return from an ACL injury also means United may need to be
patient with his return.
The other key positions which needed addressing this month
were a back-up left-back and a holding midfielder to replace Gorrin and perhaps
free Herbie Kane to play further forward.
Oxford successfully tackled the former issue, with the loan
signing of Ciaran Brown providing the perfect cover for Seddon. Brown is a
centre-back by trade, but is comfortable playing at left back and can even do a
job at wing back, even if his comments in his first club interview suggest he is slightly tired of being shoved in to play at full back.
United were able to tackle the loss of Thorniley and back up
for Seddon in one player, then, and, though Brown is unlikely to be at the same
quality as Thorniley, he is a very solid option to challenge McNally in his
first full season at the club.
Holding midfield, on the other hand, remains an issue after
the window slammed close at 11 o-clock.
Oxford were heavily linked with Coventry midfielder Jordan
Shipley early in the window, but his return to Mark Robins' first team put
an end to that move.
Oisin Smyth is, as Robinson described him, one for the
future, and his minutes in midfield this year will probably be minimal. It is
suspected his long-term future lies further forward in midfield anyway.
United weren’t linked to many other midfielders, and the
issue of Herbie Kane playing out of position remains a problem.
Maintaining the services of Brannagan eases the stress on
this issue, with the Liverpool youth product able to play as a holding
midfielder if Kane is missing at points in the run in.
The rest of United’s squad looked relatively strong going
into this window, and reinforcements were not needed.
Oxford's window could easily be viewed as a success come the end of the season, but that relies upon United avoiding injuries, which could threaten their strength in many positions.
The fitness of Taylor and Kane now feel vital, whilst there is more pressure on Winnall to remain available. Moore, who struggled with injuries early in the season, is now an even more important figure, and Seddon is still by far and away Oxford's best left-back option.
Browne will need to hit the ground running on his return
from a long-term ACL injury, whilst it will be interesting to see whether the
other Brown, Ciaran, plays ahead of McNally, or is at the club for back-up
purposes.
United have replaced the players they lost impressively, but
this window has felt like one of reaction rather than proactively building the
squad.
The board must be credited for holding onto Sykes and
Brannagan, and the speculation surrounding these two probably dominated
transfer discussions, but the fact remains that United failed to strengthen in
two of the three key positions they needed this January.
If Browne produces anything near the form of his last two
spells at the club, and Smyth replicates his Irish counterparts of Sykes, Whyte
and McNally, then all worries will be forgotten.
In such a strong division, the question is now if Oxford’s squad depth be big enough to last the distance.
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