A January Déjà Vu
By Lee Sidebotham
Say what you want about our recruitment team, but the signings we’ve made during this transfer window were exactly what we needed, and it’s now down to the players to do the rest.
Rewind to this time five years ago, arguably our best ever January transfer window. We were all fed up with the division we were stuck in and everything we were watching on the pitch. Club morale was at an all‑time low and we didn’t know how we were going to get out of it. This time last month was certainly relatable.
Little did we know that January would prove to be a huge turning point in our season, and I think there are many similarities between that window and this one. We strengthened our midfield with the likes of Kieran Lee and MJ Williams, and out wide with the signing of Dapo Afolayan. We also cleared out a lot of deadweight, which is exactly what we’ve done in this window.
Jack Bonham, despite the doubts many had, has been a solid number one and a much‑needed change in goal following some inconsistent performances by his predecessors. It’s no coincidence that our change in form has aligned with our change in keeper.
Corey Blackett‑Taylor and Rob Apter are already showing what great signings they are with their performances last Saturday against Wimbledon.
I’m surprised no club above us snapped up Ruben Rodrigues. He’s a quality midfielder who showed us exactly what he can do in the play‑off final a couple of years ago. Get him up to full fitness and I think he can finally prove to be the number ten we’ve been waiting for.
Then there’s Johnny Kenny, a player I admittedly don’t know much about, but our recruitment team seemingly know inside and out, having chased him since the start of last summer. While he’s had mixed reviews online from Celtic fans, he’s still only 22-years-old. He’s been playing in an inconsistent team yet has still managed to come up with plenty of goals this campaign. I’m glad to have him.
Every single player we’ve signed this transfer window has experience at a higher level than this division, and that’s ultimately what we needed.
Contrast our window with our opponents this weekend, Barnsley. They’ve just sold their top goalscorer, Davies Keillor‑Dunn, and apart from striker David McGoldrick, I don’t know where their goals are going to come from now. My prediction is that today’s game won’t be the usual Bolton‑Barnsley slog, but rather a goal fest in our favour.
Many of our fans are now wondering if we can now catch up to Lincoln, but I don’t see why we can’t set our aspirations higher. After what was meant to be an easier period of games over Christmas, I was worried about what the final part of the season would bring. But now, I genuinely believe the hunt for promotion, and even the title, is well and truly on.
A good window
By Chris Evans
Transfer deadline day has often been a damp squib in recent years, but this time was all about whether or not we would get the striker we desperately needed.
Sam Nombe and Ryan Hardie were linked all week, but in the end it was a blast from the past, summer target Johnny Kenny signing on loan to a mixed reception. Celtic fans seemed happy to see him go. I will reserve judgement. I have a feeling he will be a great addition, but may take time to adjust to the English game.
There is no doubt that we have been stuttering in front of goal, and in desperate need for more firepower. Enter Blackett-Taylor and Apter. Two players who I’ve been impressed with in recent years. Suddenly the worries about Cozier Duberry’s injury and Gale’s drop in form have vanished. Two wingers who know where the goal is, and who like to attack at pace.
It was the energy boost we needed as we saw arguably the best 45 minutes of football in months as we pummelled Wimbledon. Yes, Apter, McAtee and Burstow all missed very good chances, but it felt different.
We attacked at pace for the first time in ages and I felt like a goal was coming every time we got possession. We tired, but we looked different and got a crucial away win. In a few weeks, we can add Rodrigues to the mix and that can only be a positive.
Lots of positives. However, Stockport and Huddersfield strengthened too. Lincoln and Cardiff seem out of sight. It may well all be about getting into the best form and bracing ourselves for a play off campaign.
But if we beat a weakened and hurt Barnsley this weekend, and manage to overcome Lincoln away the following week, you never know.
Johnny Kenny, is that you?
By Daniel Conway
So that’s it, the January transfer window is now officially closed. What are our thoughts towards Wanderers' business through January? Very impressive if you ask me!
We’ve overhauled our goalkeeping department, loaned in two really exciting wingers and signed attacking midfielder Ruben Rodrigues (we’ll forgive him for the chant!) Proven promotion winners who will hopefully give Wanderers that extra push we’ve needed in years gone by.
Oh, and there was the small loan signing of Johnny Kenny on Monday’s transfer deadline day. The same Johnny Kenny that Wanderers were heavily linked with throughout the whole of last summer, so much so that people began to get bored of seeing his name pop up!
Fun fact: he was actually the first topic I wrote about when I started writing these column pieces. Finally signing him, albeit on loan, feels like the missing puzzle piece to me. I have a lot of excitement, hope and expectation for what he can bring to this squad.
Last weekend's game, which now feels like a lifetime ago, showed two good sides to Wanderers. The first half being as exciting I’ve seen us play for some months and the second half might’ve been completely the polar opposite, but it showed Wanderers can dig deep and do the ugly stuff when needed.
Despite Bonham’s run of games, I am also none the wiser to what his saving abilities are like as he hasn’t really been properly tested. Perhaps his command of the box and punching could improve somewhat, but his distribution up top, particularly to Dalby and the wingers, is really impressive. A sign of a good goalkeeper is one you don’t really tend to notice in the game, anyway.
A special shout-out to Blackett-Taylor and Apter’s impressive debuts.
I’m sure, like most, we’re all looking forward to seeing how Wanderers fair with their new January signings. We have a tough run-in to the end of the season, on paper. The games don’t get any easier, and this weekend it’s Barnsley. Bring it on!
Instant impact from new recruits
By Aaron Berriman
To end a busy January that consisted of 11 competitive games, a 12:30 kick off away at Plough Lane wasn’t exactly the fixture that we wanted to end the opening month of 2026 with, or at least it wasn’t for us fans, who were met with 4 and 5am alarms to support the lads in the capital.
Despite all of this, a flying start to life in a Wanderers shirt for loanee Corey Blackett-Taylor ensured that we kept up the pace with Lincoln and Cardiff in the automatic promotion places. His 13th minute strike at the end of a blistering counter attack featuring fellow loanee Rob Apter, and John McAtee, was enough to secure the three points in West London.
On the transfer front, they say patience is a virtue and our patience was most certainly rewarded in our pursuit of Johnny Kenny, as we finally acquired the forward from North of the border on a loan deal until the end of the season.
Despite the fact he won’t be able to get straight into the thick of things due to a slight hamstring injury, it is clear he is highly rated by the gaffer and rest of the recruitment team given how far the pursuit of his signature went in the summer.
As the first month of 2026 comes to a close, 13 points from the remaining 15 available is most certainly promotion-worthy form. The only question now is can we keep finding a way to churn out performances and points that will hopefully take us closer to getting back to where we belong?
Next up, a battle of the Roses as Barnsley make the trip across the Pennines for what feels like about the 15thtime in the past few seasons. With top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn being sold to Wrexham, it feels like an opportunity is there to be taken.
Share