Dave Edwards: A better 2026 starts with a big January window for Shrewsbury

There's been a few false dawns with performances and results and ultimately they are fighting it out near the bottom of the table.

Town fans would have been a bit more optimistic at the start of the season but the numbers haven't looked good with the number of goals they have conceded and the lack of goals they have scored.

Certain runs of results have been alarming. They had a good run in October and seemed to turn a corner but were unable to maintain that consistency and something needs to change.

The away form overall has been poor too and it needs to improve for the rest of the season to ensure 2026 is a better year.

The team is evolving and hopefully they have a transfer window coming up in January where everything is a lot more settled.

But they have to act fast in the transfer window, they haven't got time to wait until the end of the window to try and get the right players in and the right players out.

They've got to try and do it as quickly as possible because some big games are coming up in January and they need to pick up points to pull themselves away from that relegation zone. 

They've got to make decisions on their own players and I would imagine Elyh Harrison will return to Manchester United.

I really like Harrison as a goalkeeper, I thought he was a really good fit coming to the club and the way Michael Appleton wants to play, but he's just been a little bit unfortunate that Will Brook has come to the club and done so well.

If Harrison goes back they will have to bring in another goalkeeper and I'm not just saying this because he's one of my mates, but I'd be looking at Harry Burgoyne.

He left Morecambe in the summer and has been playing non-league at the moment just to tick himself over. Having a local Shrewsbury lad come in and work with someone like Brook would be a no-brainer for me. 

Someone who loves the football club, someone who knows what it means to play for Shrewsbury. I think that would be a good fit. 

Town have got to sort out the situation with Sam Stubbs. With disciplinary issues it sounds like he will be on his way and they need to do it early so they can bring in another centre-back as quickly as possible.

A lot of the work in the window will depend on the shape Appleton wants to play and with the club's strikers, none of them are in stellar form.

Some back-up there could be needed, while I think right-wing-back is an issue because Ismeal Kabia is needed higher up the pitch, in my opinion, and I think Luca Hoole's best position is right centre-back.

Especially if you play 3-4-3 you need two central midfielders who can do a little bit of everything and I don't think they've quite got the balance right in there.

Josh Ruffels has come in and has done really well. I'd be very surprised if they don't try and prolong his stay at the Meadow beyond January, but I feel they probably need another one in there. A bit of an all-rounder who can do everything and be very mobile. 

Away from that, Town fans want exciting players and they need more creativity to help with the goalscoring problems.

Quality over quantity is important. We don't need a lot of players coming through the door who are going to sit around and be on the bench and maybe not make an impact. You don't want players who are having to use games to get their fitness up and running. You want players who are fit and ready to go.

It's a huge four or five months coming up for the club and hopefully they can get the window right.