2014, a fresh year and the latest instalment of silly season. Bit part players suddenly becoming indispensable and commanding astronomical fees, teams linked with all and sundry and Odemwingie turning up at a club near you soon.

As all this unfolds, you can’t help but think that this is arguably the most important transfer window for the Rams since promotion in 07. You also get the feeling that potential ins and outs, coupled with the month as a whole, will shape the rest of the campaign.

As I type this, positive news has been announced with the signature of Dawkins on a two and a half-year deal, reward for his displays without really being fully fit for large parts of his loan spell. It is refreshing to have someone who genuinely wants to beat people and looks comfortable with the ball at his feet so a big thumbs of from me on this one.

The same too of the deal that sees Michael Keane stay until the end of the month (at least.) For me, he has looked steady and has improved with each display. Allowing him more game time will also hopefully see me reap rewards on the standard ‘Keane anytime’ goal-scorer bet which has been infuriatingly close to bearing fruit to date!

The signing of Zak Whitbread could also prove to be shrewd business, with him at least providing solid cover for Buxton, Keane and a fit again Keogh as we reach the sharp end.

A lot has been discussed about whether we, as the top goal-scorers in the league, need to strengthen up top during the window. That discussion also seems to have been settled today (which has led to various editing to this mid flow!) with the announcement of young Patrick Bamford joining us for the remainder of the campaign.

For what it’s worth, and as we know it’s now very little, I would have liked to have seen us go after Le Fondre, who is said to be unhappy at Reading. The likelihood is that they would have been reluctant to sell to a promotion rival though, making Patrick a viable option.

So what do we know about him?

Well, he came for a poor academy...but I digress. 16 goals in 29 apps this season is a fair return, albeit in the third tier. My bone of contention would be is he any better than what we have? Which brings me nicely onto the outs…

Sticking my neck out, I would imagine the arrival of Bamford would spell the end for Sammon, at least for this campaign. Whilst I cannot envisage him reuniting with Nigel at the Lane, I wouldn’t imagine him wanting to be third choice in a one striker system. The saving grace could be McClaren’s admittance that Bamford could be played out wide, but again, with three players already fighting for these spots, up top seems a likely position.

This said, I would not rule out something happening with Jamie Ward if he continues to act like a child when substituted. The most likely outs are Ben Davies, someone who I would imagine Nigel would have already contacted, Michael Jacobs to Wolves until the end of the campaign and Kalifa Cisse, who I can’t see earning a new deal.

Whilst these outgoings wouldn’t hinder our squad, arguably the most important bit of (non) business during silly season would be to keep hold of messers Hughes and Bryson. Surprisingly, it is the latter that I am most concerned about leaving.

Any suitors for Hughes I would imagine would wait until the summer for a large bid. Bryson, by far our best player for me this season, will almost certainly have bids in the pipeline, probably from Celtic amongst others.

In my opinion, casting my views on Scottish football aside for a moment, the club have to be realistic. By this, I mean not falling into the traps of previous owners and selling assets on the cheap.

For what it’s worth, I feel the clubs owners currently have more resolve and deeper pockets than they sometimes project. It would be scandalous to change manager and then undermine his evidently successful methods by dismantling his squad. I say with fingers firmly crossed.

It is these negotiations that will have to go hand in hand with a tricky month on the field in order to bring success.

Chelsea on Sunday is a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves against a top side and whilst it will be a fantastic occasion, the result will be a small stepping stone in a crucial month. Leicester on Friday is viewed by many as a more important game and it will be interesting to see the team charged with being up for the cup.

Recent history hasn’t been good for us just down the M1 and one can only hope that Sunday doesn’t take too much out of us. Welcoming Brighton and then travelling to Blackburn will bring little respite.

Strangely, it might just be actions off the field, taking the silly out of silly season that defines what will happen come May.

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