View from the terraces: Stevenage's January window so far

Coming into this month, there are no concerns about the quality of this squad, so it seemed to be more about the opportunity to add depth in certain positions, a nice position to be in. For a club as well-run as ours, we're not looking to break the bank with the kind of expensive player that will immediately make other clubs sit up and take notice.

Instead, it's about adding options, and being smart with transfers that may not seem the most exciting on paper but can pay off with Evans' skill and style.

Already it seems to be a more successful window than last January, which proved underwhelming. We made six signings then, including Daryl Horgan, Josh March and Josh Reid (remember him?), but only one of them, Jake Forster-Caskey, remains at the club.

This time around, we've already added depth in the positions where it seemed most necessary.

READ MORE: All the latest news on transfer deadline day - LIVE

At left back, Dan Butler has had a solid season - it's no coincidence that our biggest loss of the season, at Blackpool, came when he was suspended - but we needed another option there to give him some competition and the opportunity for a rest now and again. Reece Hannam doesn't seem to be in the gaffer's plans, so signing Nesta Guinness-Walker on loan from Reading makes sense, bringing depth and a different option, with more attacking threat. 

Another goalkeeper was needed, with Krisztian Hegyi's loan terminated, and Craig MacGillivray is an impressive signing. We can talk about the choice to select him over Taye at Wigan and whether that's the right option going forward, but I'm far happier knowing that we have two keepers who Evans trusts. 

The final signing so far was Vadaine Oliver, who hasn't had a great time at Bradford but got off to a fine start for us at Wigan, assisting Reid's opener and showing both aerial ability and good mobility for a target man. He seems to fit Evans' system well, and hopefully we'll see more of that going forward.

That transfer, though, potentially opens up the door to a move away for another striker. Aaron Pressley and Elliott List have both struggled for game time, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see one of them move on, either on loan or permanently.

List offers something different to the other strikers we have on the books, whereas Pressley seems to be competing with Hemmings and now Oliver for that target man role, putting his place in the squad at risk. He put in some promising performances early this season, and is still young, so I'd hope that any deal for him is a loan rather than permanent.

Harvey White was another who looked like he may head out on loan, but his selection in the starting eleven at Wigan suggests that he'll be staying. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any concerns about Jamie Reid - I think he'll still be here tomorrow, but with deadline day there's always that niggling worry that somebody will come in with a crazy bid that you'd struggle to turn down.

In terms of transfers in, I wouldn't be too fussed if we're already done. The only position we may be a bit short on now would seem to be in attacking midfield, with Jordan Roberts looking a bit leggy in recent weeks and no obvious alternative to him. MacDonald, Ben Thompson, Freeman are all good options but none of them replicate what Roberts at his best can do - but can anyone that we could bring in?

Finally, my eyes lit up when I heard about the transfer of young left back Lino Sousa from Arsenal to Aston Villa. With rumours that he'll head straight out on loan to Plymouth, could that open up a route for Saxon Earley to return? Whether we want or need him now is another matter, but he became a fan favourite during his short time here last season and he'd clearly add quality to the squad. We'll see what happens.