For the past month, the Championship has been a place of frantic and at times, desperate, dealing as clubs gear up for the final three months of the season.
But with the transfer window now shut, it is a case of make-do and hope the business makes the difference come May.
While it is too early to make definitive calls, Sunderland's decision to bring in Enzo Le Fee on loan from Roma may well prove a masterstroke as witnessed in the Black Cats' thrilling derby victory at Middlesbrough.
Early days of course, but the signs suggest that the French midfielder offers a level of quality not often seen in the second tier.