Shrewsbury shake-up now taking effect

Sixteen deals either in or out, with seven players signed and nine departed tells much more than the story of a manager freshening up his squad.

It is admitting that, after giving many of the squad who got the club promoted a chance to prove themselves in League One, they have fallen short.

Not only that, but after 14 players were signed between May and the end of 2015, it is a reluctant acceptance that several of those summer arrivals designed to strengthen Town's hand have failed to have the desired impact.

You only have to look at those not in the current matchday squad to see who they might be.

It also shows the patience and understanding of a chairman prepared to allow boss Micky Mellon to right some wrongs.

Chairman Roland Wycherley handed Mellon a vote of confidence after the 7-1 hammering at Chesterfield on January 2.

But in since handing him the funds to manoeuvre the squad to League One survival (hopefully), he has put his money where his mouth is.

In short, this is the transfer window that could make or break Mellon's post-promotion Shrewsbury Town. So what signs have the makeover provided?

Two of the seven signings are extensions of deals for players who were already at the club in Zak Whitbread and Larnell Cole.

Their performances in the first half of the season merited those decisions and, in Whitbread's case, we have seen a string of consistent displays.

Cole is still learning the game and needs to put his stamp on matches more with his final ball.

Three of the other arrivals – Jack Grimmer, James Wallace and Andy Mangan – were familiar faces who have returned to the club.

It's early days, of course, but from what we have seen so far, Grimmer and Mangan already look to be two big successes.

Even before his dramatic winner against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, Grimmer has looked the best bet of any of the five players tried at right-back or right wing-back this season.

Mangan's impact has simply made people ask why he was ever allowed to leave in the first place.

The bubbly Scouser has added pace and movement to a stale, sterile attack as well as three goals in six games and an assist.

The bottom line is he has looked a better option than those he replaced in James Collins and Tyrone Barnett.

Richie Wellens has brought a degree of control and composure to the midfield not seen since the departure of Ryan Woods at the end of August. As he builds match fitness, he will only get better.

The jury has to be out on Wallace and the other recruit Kyle Vassell, who has plenty of pace and power but who is currently being kept out by Mangan and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro.

Perhaps Mellon's changes can best be summed up by the feeling that no-one is missing the 'big hitters' who have left in Collins, Barnett, Liam Lawrence, Mark Ellis or even Anthony Gerrard.