Clubs always look to improve their squads in summer transfer windows, and with this being Ryan Lowe’s first at Preston North End, it’s a chance for him to stamp his mark on the squad.
We know the formation Lowe prefers and the style of football he is hoping for, but hasn’t quite yet managed to incorporate fully.
The transfer window started off well for Lowe.
A goalkeeper was a priority and two were brought in, with Freddie Woodman yet to concede in the league and Dai Cornell providing his back-up and saving a penalty in his only game so far against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Additions to the left side to compete for the wing-back role were also brought in relatively early; Robbie Brady on a one-year deal and Alvaro Fernandez joining on loan from Manchester United.
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Ben Woodburn was another free transfer as he signed a one-year deal, and then Troy Parrott also arrived on loan.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker was signed in the week leading up to the start of the Championship season which kicked off on the 30th July.
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No further signings have been made since that opening day, and unless something happens in the next few hours, we will go through the full month of August without signing anyone.
This happened in the behind-closed-doors season in 2020-21, but that was a rather unique situation, and the season did not start till September. Emil Riis was the only permanent signing that ‘summer’ and he arrived in October.
With that season aside, we have not gone through August without signing anyone since 2014. That was our last season in League One, and ended in promotion.
We already had a good squad; Simon Grayson added to it early on, and then complemented it with clever loan signings part way through with Jermaine Beckford, Callum Robinson and Sam Johnstone joining.
Last August, Jamie Thomas and Daniel Iversen arrived, before Josh Murphy and Ali McCann joined on deadline day.
Could we get some surprise again on deadline day? Right now it is looking unlikely.
There haven’t been any strong rumours of late regarding any incomings. With one goal scored in six league games at the time of writing, it’s obvious we need a striker bringing in.
Lowe may say he’s happy with the current squad, but everyone knows we need more. Brad Potts has started the season well at right wing back, but needs competition down that side.
However it could lead to Alan Browne being used there at times, which wouldn’t be the worst thing, as he has struggled for consistency in his preferred midfield position so far this season.
The start of the summer saw generally positive vibes around the club. Lowe had a decent impact when arriving in December last year, fans snapped up 12,000 season tickets and have been proactive with other campaigns such as the flags to help get behind the team.
But with all the 0-0’s that have followed, talk of Riis leaving, which has now been put to bed, and it looking like we won’t make any more signings, the club have undone a lot of the good work previously.
There is now a bad vibe devleoping around the place, and if we do end up losing a couple of upcoming games, then things suddenly look very, very bad.