THE transfer window has been open a matter of days but the nasty odour from last season has largely been blown away already at Oxford United.

After a campaign marred by a fling with relegation, 17-game winless run, and drab performances, hitting the reset button required a shake-up in the transfer market.

Step forward Liam Manning, Ed Waldron and the rest of the recruitment team.

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The U’s have acted fast to snap up the services of Ruben Rodrigues, Jordan Thorniley and Josh McEachran – all on free transfers due to their contracts expiring.

It’s not just quick and efficient business, but the three are smart and sensible signings too.

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Rodrigues is certainly the most eye-catching, largely due to his displays and output for Notts County, plus reported list of clubs interested in his signature.

But while the addition of Rodrigues is the most ‘wow factor’ of the trio, the other two new faces are impressive signings in their own right.

Familiarity is an underrated trait in football, but in Thorniley and McEachran, United have gone with what they know.

Thorniley made a big impression on loan at Grenoble Road in the first half of the 2021/22 campaign, while Oxford-born McEachran is a player Manning knows well from his time at MK Dons.

Where the exciting Rodrigues lacks Football League experience, Thorniley and McEachran are swimming in it – a significant chunk in the second tier too.

But why is acting swiftly in the transfer window important?

The most obvious answers to that question are the ability to integrate and gel with new teammates on day one of pre-season, Manning knowing what positions are filled or need further reinforcement, and also sending a message to rivals in the market.

On the pitch, it makes a huge difference too.

Just look at the sides which won promotion from Sky Bet League One during the season just finished.

Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday all got important business done early last summer.

Title-winners Argyle announced the acquisition of Matt Butcher on June 20 last year, arriving as a free agent from Accrington Stanley.

The 26-year-old midfielder would go on to make 48 appearances for Plymouth last season, a figure surpassed by only three other players at the club.

League One transfer tracker: All the deals in the third tier

At Portman Road, the Tractor Boys revealed on May 30 that Freddie Ladapo would join them once his contract with Rotherham United expired.

The 30-year-old striker then bagged 21 goals in 53 games for Ipswich last season.

Only Conor Chaplin with 29 goals surpassed Ladapo’s total.

The Owls were arguably one of the busiest League One clubs during the early stages of the window last summer.

Of those early signings, Michael Smith from Rotherham and Will Vaulks from Cardiff City are the two standout names.

The addition of Smith was announced on June 22, with the 31-year-old striker going on to be the side’s top scorer last season, netting 21 goals in 49 appearances, including a crucial one against Peterborough United in the play-off semi-finals.

After being on the wrong end of a 4-0 tonking at London Road, Smith converted an early penalty at Hillsborough as the Owls went on to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Meanwhile, no player made more appearances for the club than 29-year-old midfielder Vaulks, who turned out 54 times in all competitions, and whose signing was announced the day before Smith’s.

The examples of Butcher, Ladapo, Smith and Vaulks highlight that getting business done early in the summer transfer window can play a huge part throughout the season.

While of course U’s supporters shouldn’t demand the very same impact from Rodrigues, Thorniley and McEachran, there is no reason the trio shouldn’t become key cogs in this United side and ultimately push the team back up the table.

The qualities they possess enhance positions that the club has seen as important areas to strengthen.

Thorniley allows Manning to play a left-sided centre back comfortable on the ball in a back three, while the former Blackpool defender’s passing range is to be admired.

The midfield at times lacked leadership and experience last season, plus the ability to thread in the forward line – attributes McEachran should bring to the table.

And it was in the final third where the U’s toiled for most of last season.

Adding a player in Rodrigues, who scored 19 goals and bagged 15 assists last year, will hopefully inject new life into United’s front line.

Getting all three of them through the door before pre-season even starts is welcome news for supporters – and crucially could put the U’s back into the promotion mix.

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About the author

To sign up to Liam’s latest Oxford United newsletter for free, click here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/newsletters/

Formerly the politics reporter for the Oxford Mail, Liam now covers all things Oxford United.

Liam attends the U’s home and away, as well as covering other big sports stories across the county.

His Oxford United newsletter is released every Saturday morning at 6am.