For all the criticism that Ian Evatt has got recently, at least one thing he and the club seem to be doing well is making their moves early in the January window.
Dion Charles was unveiled on New Year’s morning, with Marlon Fossey joining 48 hours later. This week, the third and fourth signings were through the door, and a bid is in for another player. Where the money has come from is a good question, but in any case what do this week’s arrivals bring to the table?
Aaron Morley was announced on Tuesday, too late to be involved against Wycombe but he should make his debut on Saturday when we play Ipswich. Despite being just 21, he’s over six feet and had played nearly 100 games for Rochdale, so the central midfielder should be relatively battle-hardened. Given he’s technically well-rounded too, looking at a few pieces around the internet, he should be a solid acquisition who long-term can be competition for Josh Sheehan, and in the Welshman’s current absence, should be able to step in for the immediate future too.
The reception to Morley’s signing was fairly positive, not so much that of James Trafford. Trafford is another youngster, having come through the Manchester City academy, he got his first taste of senior football this season with a loan at fellow League One side Accrington. It doesn’t seem to have been too successful though, playing 11 games before being dropped, with his save percentage not being any better than Joel Dixon’s. It’s competition, and Trafford might end up being very good – he has become the England Under-20 goalkeeper this season, so he’s definitely got potential, but it does give ammunition to those who are quite right to point out we might want someone with a bit more experience between the sticks at this moment in time.