A January transfer window to save Portsmouth's season - but this is when Rich Hughes shines
Rich Hughes has overseen three successful January transfer windows to date - now he desperately needs another
Not for the first time, the January transfer window will be pivotal in deciding the destiny of a Pompey season.
Indeed, the Blues’ history is littered with dismal New Year disappointments such as Josh Passley, Sylvain Deslandes, Lloyd Isgrove, Ben Chorley, Charlie Daniels, Tyler Walker and Denver Hume.
Encouragingly, however, Rich Hughes has produced some of his finest work as a sporting director during the window widely regarded as football’s most difficult recruitment period.
Certainly that should provide a glimmer of hope to the Fratton faithful fearing Pompey’s position in the Championship relegation zone becoming permanent during the second half of the campaign.
Yet, unlike many predecessors involved in the Blues’ January recruitment over the years, Hughes has achieved plenty of stand-out player successes.
Matt Macey, Paddy Lane, Ryley Towler and Di’Shon Bernard arrived in January 2023, his first Pompey transfer window having joined from Forest Green Rovers three months earlier.
The following year, Pompey were dominating League One and required a number of quality performers to bolster their strong position.
Strong 2024 January window bolstered title hopes
Callum Lang was a brilliant purchase from Wigan, while Owen Moxon and Myles Peart-Harris also provided important contributions, including scoring, during the second half of the campaign.
The only disappointment was Tom McIntyre, who sustained a broken ankle on his debut against Northampton, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He is currently on loan at Bradford.
Pompey entered this January as long-time occupants of the Championship relegation zone, languishing in 23rd spot and in desperate need of an inspirational transfer window.
What duly followed was a window in which eight players arrived - four loans and four permanent deals - to aid Mousinho’s men’s successful fight to safety.
Rob Atkinson and Isaac Hayden featured heavily, with Cohen Bramall and Adil Aouchiche also having regular involvement.
Aussie pair Hayden Matthews and Thomas Waddingham impressed before injury curtailed their seasons, while Ben Killip and Kaide Gordon were purely back-ups rather than designed to be key participants.
Kenny Jackett’s disastrous 2019 January window
As a consequence, Pompey secured their survival with two matches so spare, eventually finishing 16th in their first Championship season for 12 years.
In comparison, in January 2019, Kenny Jackett recruited six players to bolster Pompey’s grip on the League One summit as long-time leaders.
Admittedly, it was unfortunate that Ben Thompson (Millwall) and Andre Green (Aston Villa) were recalled by their parent clubs, yet the majority of their replacements failed to come off as the Blues subsequently finished fourth and lost in the play-off semi-finals to Sunderland.
Andy Cannon and Bryn Morris cost transfer fees, while Omar Bogle, Lloyd Isgrove, James Vaughan and Viv Solomon-Otabor were loans which thankfully could be returned.
Jackett also had a disappointing January 2018, his first season in charge, bringing in entirely loan players for the Blues’ first season back in League One.
Youngsters Sylvain Deslandes and Connor Ronan arrived from Wolves, while goalkeeper Stephen Henderson would make one appearance as suffering a serious injury on his second debut.
Completing the quartet was Anton Walkes, who arrived from Spurs, scored on his debut against Doncaster and was signed permanently in the following summer.
In his final January window in 2021, Jackett brought in loan players Harvey White, George Byers and goalkeeper Lewis Ward. Who all made little impact, with Ward serving purely as a back-up keeper.
His sole permanent recruit was Charlie Daniels arriving from Shrewsbury. Nothing more needs to be said.
Tyler Walker and Denver Hume disappointment
Jackett’s replacement, Danny Cowley, did superb business in January 2022 in terms of bringing in Hayden Carter on loan from Blackburn and Aiden O’Brien on a short-term deal until the season’s end.
On the flip side, Tyler Walker was a crushing disappointment, contributing just one goal and looking like he couldn’t care less. Denver Hume was signed for £200,000 from Sunderland and left for Grimsby for nothing two years later.
Rolling back the years even further, Ben Chorley arrived under Richie Barker, Fulham loanee Josh Passley was recruited by Andy Awford, while Paul Cook recruited Conor Wilkinson on loan from Bolton, although that was in March 2016, with deals not purely restricted to a window.
Clearly Hughes has enjoyed significantly more January successes than the aforementioned Pompey managers in days when sporting directors were not overseeing transfers.
And with Mousinho wanting up to six new signings over the duration of next month, Hughes will be challenged to maintain that impressive mid-season record.
Pompey’s Championship status could well depend on it.
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