January can be the time for troubled sides to change their fortunes through the transfer market and it’s nice that for us this isn’t an issue. However, Paolo Di Canio still wants change. Adam Johnson looks at what might be in stall for Swindon in the January window.

Paolo Di Canio has made it pretty clear what he wants from January:

“I have already asked the chairman for three players, but now I want four or five, otherwise I will discuss my contract. With this mentality I can not win the league.”

Paolo’s comment must be taken in the heat of the moment, but there is a lot of truth in that last sentence. As much as this statement is an admission of his own failings so far in the transfer market, can we expect a wholly different approach to be taken in the January transfer window and where should we strengthen?

What Paolo Wants…

In recent weeks Paolo Di Canio has singled out individual players for failing to perform to their best and strolling through matches. He wants to see fight, passion, skill and flair (don’t we all!) and if players get a result without playing the good football he teaches, he won’t be completely satisfied.

He’s pulled no punches in telling us this and Mehdi Kerrouche is a prime example. Swindon are fortunate whenever they get a goalscorer and the Algerian has been that. In early games Kerrouche showed hunger and passion to get the ball but in Paolo’s eyes this may have disappeared and he’s not going to be pulling players along the ground.

With the Italian it’s all about the attitude, which us fans love to see. Players fighting for the shirt could be the difference between promotion and disappointment come May. It makes you proud to watch your team and it’s what Di Canio is all about, the belief of hard work, no matter who you are.

Come January this is what will lie underneath any transfer movement. Quality is obviously wanted in every side but attitude is the character trait he loves. If players try hard and lose he can take it, and that was the problem with the Bristol Rovers game. Now I can’t say who has a bad attitude and who doesn’t but from the current side you may get clues.

Paolo and pretty much every Swindon fan has a solid idea of the first nine that will appear on the team sheet, which my assumption is: Foderingham, Caddis, Flint, McCormack, Ridehalgh, Ritchie, Smith, Ferry and De Vita. The real questions are how can this group be kept together and a squad built for the remainder of the campaign…

Players In…

The first issue has to be extending the loan deals of Wes Foderingham and Liam Ridehalgh, of which the latter is close to signing an extension according to media reports. They’re a part of the best defence in League Two and keeping that intact is crucial. Other loanee, Ipswich striker Ronan Murray, has impressed and will probably be asked to stay but there are still big holes of consistency missing in that front line.

Birmingham City Loanee Jake Jervis looks like he won’t be extending his County Ground stay so the need for a replacement is essential. You look at the list of strikers with Kerrouche, Magera, Connell, De Vita, Murray, Storey, out on loan striker Billy Bodin and we should feel comfortable but we don’t.  We have good potential in many of these players but they’re not being clinical enough when the chance is presented to them.

Lukas Magera is a Di Canio favourite and it’s with no surprise. He was built up as a Czech international but has yet to adapt to the English pace of football. Connell works hard which means I’ll give him a chance, but against AFC Wimbledon for example, his missed chances were the difference between getting the all important victory. De Vita has been moved to the left side of midfield, operating as an inside forward, where only an injury crisis may see the former Blackburn player leading the frontline.

So, will Paolo turn to others for inspiration? Yes, but it looks like the answer could be Billy Bodin. Di Canio has stated that he is interested in bringing the striker back from Torquay and if he was too, it would have to be for a first team place. He has impressed at Torquay and so, we may as well use our own assets.

People may question Bodin’s ability after our poor strike partnership at the start of the campaign with him and De Vita but I actually liked the look of Bodin. The Welsh youngster got in good positions, had pace and was mostly let down by some poor finishing on the end of his product by De Vita.

January could also be a good time not just to bolster our inconsistent attack, but look into the squad depth.

Players Out…

Swindon went on a spending spree in the summer and if we’re going to bring people in, some will have to leave to clear room for wages. We may be one of the more financially stable clubs at the moment but surely the board don’t want to see high wages sat on the bench.

Again, like players attitude, I don’t have a list of who is on what, but this could be the time to cut the cord early and try new prospects by giving unwanted players deals like the one given to Ibrahim Atiku. Expect at least Comazi and Lanzano to be shown the door.

The rumours have also begun again about Matt Ritchie who along with Ferry, Flint and Caddis have been the best players at the club. I don’t expect Ritchie to leave, as he has said before, he’d only leave if the club aren’t fighting for a promotion…and I’d like to think we are.

It would take a big offer for Swindon to sell Ritchie and Bournemouth aren’t in a position to meet our demands. They’ll need Ritchie to force a move through and with a chance to play at Wembley plus success in May, to leave now wouldn’t make too much sense.

Will other players leave in January? Michael Timlin and definitely Leon Clarke! Otherwise, the others have the same reasons as Ritchie as to why staying here would be beneficial. Swindon is in a position where they don’t need to sell and success is a big reality this season.

A Quiet January?

So, how will Swindon fair in the January sales? I’d expect little activity. Even though Paolo had that massive rant after the Rover’s game, I wouldn’t be shocked if it was a message for the players to show he isn’t going to get sentimental.

We have a solid team. Overall, our defence hasn’t look this comfortable since Gordon Greer, our midfield continues to flourish and our strikers are popping up when needed, but admittedly not enough.

Results show it couldn’t be going any better at the County Ground and as a result we’re all enjoying going to the games and that itself is a much craved pleasure. The Boxing Day defeat has quickly turned some people to point out our flaws, but one defeat in sixteen isn’t worth getting too upset about. In the end we remain in the playoffs and have nearly guaranteed a trip to Wembley.

I’m more concerned with squad depth rather than the quality already in the first eleven. Injuries to key players, such as Ferry or Flint, don’t seem to be covered and that could be vital in the latter stages of the season. If Kerrouche, Magera, Connell can’t prove their worth before mid January then another striker should be ushered in.

Knowing Paolo Di Canio he’ll want to sign some players, he is always eager to improve. I hope though we don’t just bring in players for the sake of it. The majority of our squad is more than capable of achieving promotion, it’s just getting the best out of them and adding cover in key areas.