NewburyOne
Well-known member
I'm going to focus on the the 3 clubs immediately above us in Oxford, Barnsley and Stevenage. I think the top 4 are probably a tough ask to catch and looking at their business, I'd sat they've probably done better than us this January.
Barnsley (7 out, 2 in)
Most of the outs seem to be to clubs lower down the league, so suspect they are trimming their squad fillers, a bit like ourselves. One notable out going however is Callum Styles. His form hasn't been what it was last season but I'd still have him down as one of their better players. Of the 2 incoming players, one is the ex Nobber and Cod, Josh Earl. Not exactly a signing to get overly excited about. I'd argue they are weaker now, than at the beginning of the window.
Oxford (6 in, 1 out)
The only outgoing is Rodriguez to FGR, so I'm taking that he isn't in or close to the 1st team.
Incomings include Kyle Edwards (Ipswich), Tyler Burey (Odense), Jay Matete (Sunderland) and our very own Owen Dale. I'd say that is a very decent window for them and will have undoubtedly strengthened their squad and I'd be highly surprised to see them miss out on the top 6.
Stevenage (2 in, 1 out)
Their 2 incomings are MacGillivray (MK Dons) and Vadaine Oliver (Bradford), with a squad player heading out to Colchester. Hardly earth shattering, I guess their main aim was to keep hold of their key players who have pushed them into the Play Off picture. I suspect their small squad will eventually fall away.
So my prediction is that we've done enough to kick on and hopefully leapfrog Barnsley and Stevenage. Oxford and above isn't an impossibility but for that we really do need to continue our form over this tricky little spell of fixtures.
Barnsley (7 out, 2 in)
Most of the outs seem to be to clubs lower down the league, so suspect they are trimming their squad fillers, a bit like ourselves. One notable out going however is Callum Styles. His form hasn't been what it was last season but I'd still have him down as one of their better players. Of the 2 incoming players, one is the ex Nobber and Cod, Josh Earl. Not exactly a signing to get overly excited about. I'd argue they are weaker now, than at the beginning of the window.
Oxford (6 in, 1 out)
The only outgoing is Rodriguez to FGR, so I'm taking that he isn't in or close to the 1st team.
Incomings include Kyle Edwards (Ipswich), Tyler Burey (Odense), Jay Matete (Sunderland) and our very own Owen Dale. I'd say that is a very decent window for them and will have undoubtedly strengthened their squad and I'd be highly surprised to see them miss out on the top 6.
Stevenage (2 in, 1 out)
Their 2 incomings are MacGillivray (MK Dons) and Vadaine Oliver (Bradford), with a squad player heading out to Colchester. Hardly earth shattering, I guess their main aim was to keep hold of their key players who have pushed them into the Play Off picture. I suspect their small squad will eventually fall away.
So my prediction is that we've done enough to kick on and hopefully leapfrog Barnsley and Stevenage. Oxford and above isn't an impossibility but for that we really do need to continue our form over this tricky little spell of fixtures.
