Catlin warns of the transfer window pitfalls
‘Our recruitment hasn’t been good enough on the face of it’
MARK Catlin has outlined the pitfalls of the January transfer window Pompey are desperate to avoid.
The Blues’ chief executive admitted the club’s recruitment in January hasn’t always worked in recent years as they prepare for another window to open.
Catlin is adamant the homework is thoroughly undertaken when it comes to identifying the players who come through the door, however.
He said: ‘My definition of a successful January transfer window will be from the league position we go into January, where do we finish at the end of the year? If we’ve improved, then January by default will have improved the team.
‘That’s what we are looking for. That hasn't happened in the last two Januarys, and you look at it and the obvious reason it hasn’t happened is our recruitment hasn't been good enough on the face of it.
‘On paper, you do your homework and research, these players look great and for whatever reason didn’t make it. They then leave, go elsewhere and are suddenly successful again - and we have to look at why that is.
‘You go back to the wider things, it’s a tough place to come with the expectations.
‘I watched Omar Bogle at the weekend, did he really make the difference and impact that we hoped he would here? Possibly not, it’s subjective.
‘I watched him and he is a Championship player, looked good, sharp, worked well, things we brought him here to do - and it just didn’t work.’
Pompey’s hierarchy have made it clear they are focusing their player hunt on ‘quality’ additions who can make an immediate impact.
Catlin added: ‘What do you get from the January window? Players that haven't been playing or recovering from injuries.
‘We throw them into a match environment and they pick up injuries or because there’s a struggle to get their form going and don’t hit the ground running, a lot of supporters already make their minds up on them and then they are operating under that pressure.
‘Your main work should be done in the summer.
‘Unfortunately, for the last two years, did the January window strengthen us? On paper yes, in reality no.’