Thoughts on the transfer window so far...

A lot of talk/discussions amongst Doncaster Rovers supporters over the past few days have centred on Darren Moore's efforts to bolster his attacking options in the transfer market.

Several names/potential targets (call them whatever you want) have been linked with a move, a stir has been created, then rumours have either played down or dismissed altogether.

It's been met with a series of predictable responses; outcries of disgust that nobody has been signed yet, conspiracies from others against the board/directors and accusations about a 'lack of ambition' whilst other supporters have questioned what the manager is trying to achieve. On the flip side, to counteract the negativity, there are the evergreen 'happy clappers' who always take a blinkered view and see the positives, no matter what happens.

For me, if you draw a line somewhere between the exaggerated ends of the different viewpoints, it's probably an accurate, measured reflection of reality right now.

Certainly, the manager isn't stupid. He'll know exactly what he wants to achieve - both in the short and long-term, where he needs to improve his team and which players he'd like to sign in order to do just that. Targets will have been identified which fit into a 'budget' (however big/small that budget is) though often it's the case that these players will be popular and in demand as prospective signings amongst quite a few other managers as well.

Those criticising the club for 'not having signed anyone yet' should remember that if the current crop of players go to pot for the remainder of the season (effectively what happened in 2015/16) and the team sinks down the table, it could get the manager the sack as a consequence. Darren Moore will 100% know this! He's accountable for what happens on the pitch, for results, and therefore he's hardly likely to risk his job which he's fought tooth and nail to get in the first place, due to not trying his damnedest to get new bodies through the door whilst the transfer window is open!

He'll have seen everything which supporters have seen on matchdays, plus a lot more behind-the-scenes, so will have a pretty strong inclination as to what he believes will make his team as strong as possible for the remainder of the campaign.

Criticism of him is ridiculous. He certainly doesn't deserve some of the uneducated, abusive drivel which has aimed his way on social media platforms by a handful of 'supporters' - nor does Adam Henshall (the new Head of Recruitment who hasn't long since joined the club), nor does Liam Hoden either, who is just doing his job for the Doncaster Free Press and has articles to write/sports pages to fill, etc.

Therefore, the focus/attention comes onto the board/directors.

For me, there's little doubt the purse-strings could be loosened as this 'top-six budget' talk which has existed is almost certainly a myth. All the myth does is raises expectations and can lead to knee-jerk reactions - the like of which has been seen in places. The fact the board/directors choose to take a 'quiet approach' with their business maybe goes against them, too, given that it's the polar opposite to John Ryan's techniques in an era which most fans remember with great fondness. Their lack of 'prominence' also allows speculation about their actions to escalate and even manifest. Nor are they helped by a tyrant-like figure who heads up a small supporters organisation shouting down others who air reasonable, justified and measured concerns.

All this said, however, my gut feeling is that if the manager went to the board/directors and said something along the lines of: 'Can you stump up X amount for this player? He's the one, we've done our homework, he'll improve the team and have a decent resale value' then the board/directors would probably back him - thus nudging negotiations a step nearer to a successful outcome, even though there aren't any guarantees. I'd certainly like to think this would be the case, anyway!

In some ways, a prudent approach from the board in keeping the purse-strings tight isn't a bad philosophy because there are some managers around who'd regularly want X amount for this player, X amount for that player, X amount for another player and could easily blow a budget in practically no time whatsoever, yet still not be satisfied with what they've got at their disposal.

Nevertheless, with prudence, there still has to be a 'loosening of the purse-strings' when it's justified to do so - and if the manager can show that it's justified right now, with any potential targets that have been identified, then ideally it should happen. Moore's comments in a Free Press article published on Thursday; the gist of which said that he wouldn't be happy if there was no incoming players in this transfer window, suggests to me that something will happen.

Lets not forget that throughout the division there hasn't been a vast amount of movement since the transfer window opened and, often, many deals aren't completed until close to the deadline.

It's easy to understand the viewpoint from fans who want to see something of a statement signing - given how close the League One table currently is. Then again, I'm sure Burton Albion, Wycombe Wanderers, Shrewsbury Town and many others also have similar thoughts that bolstering in a few areas could turn them into promotion contenders.

On the flip side, given the total upheaval which occurred last summer when Grant McCann and half the squad departed, there's no reason for negativity given the players' performances thus far this term have quashed any fears about a relegation battle.

Again, if you draw the line between those viewpoints, the middle ground probably hints at a cautious approach and possibly even using the present (this season) as a platform to build on.

What's probably needed more than anything is patience; an understanding that most business at clubs won't be completed until late on, when players have pondered their options, agents have 'got busy' and most of the serious and decisive discussions occur. Criticism from some quarters over the past few days, which has bordered on neanderthal squawking akin to a child throwing their toys out the pram, has been ridiculously over the top. Concern, however, is by no means a bad thing - and it shouldn't be forgotten that plenty of time remains in the transfer window, nor is the devastating worst case scenario of relegation a likely outcome if nothing happens.

Splashing the cash early on, making loads of signings and being 'noisy' is idealistic though even then it isn't always a guarantee for success - just ask Darragh MacAnthony!