The first month of the 2016/17 season is over, and with that comes the closing of the transfer market.
Teams now have their squads set until January, when the transfer window reopens.
It has been an interesting first month for Peterborough United, but one that I would imagine would please the fans.
Before the season had begun, Posh added to their squad with the signing of Crystal Palace youngster Jerome Binnom-Williams in early August.
There was a huge sense of optimism around the club, and a genuine belief that this really could be the season that Peterborough United returned to the Championship following their relegation in 2012/13.
The season began with the usual trip to Rochdale. Posh had visited Spotland on the opening day for the past two seasons, with both sides winning a game apiece.
It was Posh’s turn to earn three points this year, with a last minute Gwion Edwards header ensuring that Posh returned to Cambridgeshire victorious.
It wasn’t easy by any means. Posh twice went behind, with Marcus Maddison and newly appointed captain Chris Forrester equalising, and ensuring the sides went in level at half time.
Maddison’s goal and assist was enough to earn him a place in the first EFL Team of the week.
The victory thrilled fans and players alike, and the Posh players wasted no time in taking to Twitter to show their feelings.
Up next for Posh was an EFL Cup tie with AFC Wimbeldon.
The scoreline ended in the same way as the first, with Posh securing their place in the next round thanks to a late winner from Tom Nichols.
Posh were back in League One action the following Saturday, but the less said about that the better.
Posh failed to show up to their home match with Bradford, and deservedly suffered their first defeat of the season, losing the game 1-0.
A home match with Millwall gave them the perfect opportunity to bounce back, and bounce back they did.
Within 20 minutes, Posh had raced into a three goal lead thanks to goals from Marcus Maddison, Paul Taylor and Gwion Edwards.
The game ended 5-1, with Edwards and Nichols adding to the score, before Steve Morison pulled one back for the visitors.
Millwall were heavily fancied for promotion at the start of the season following their Play-Off final defeat last season, and this result set a real marker down to the rest of League One.
Looking to build on this impressive victory, Posh travelled to Oxford the following Saturday.
However, the inconsistency of Posh was there to see, as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat, following the award of a late Oxford United penalty, which saw Jack Baldwin sent off.
It was a familiar story for Posh fans, but there was still a sense of optimism around the club ahead of the visit of Premier League side Swansea in the EFL Cup.
That optimism was short lived, as the Welsh club raced into a three goal lead. It was a disappointing night for Posh, with the only positive being an excellent goal for youngster Leo Da Silva Lopes.
This goal was later to be voted Posh’s goal of the month.
Posh were knocked out of the EFL Cup in just the second round, but they had bigger things to worry about.
The following weekend saw Peterborough United make the trip to MK Dons.
This fixture means so much to Posh fans, and they were determined to get one over on their rivals.
Peterborough took over 2100 fans, a number which saw them boast the 8th largest away following in the whole of England on that particular weekend.
The 2100+ fans certainly weren’t disappointed, and Posh put in their best display of the season to leave Stadium MK with all three points.
Two wonderful assists from Marcus Maddison saw Andrew Hughes and Michael Bostwick score their first goals of the season, helping Posh to a 2-0 victory.
The jubilation was there to see, as McCann and his team ended their League One month 7th in the table.
There was one more game for Posh to contend with before the end of the month, but this match is best off forgotten.
It was in the newly revamped Checkatrade trophy (formerly the JPT Trophy), a competition that Posh have had some good times in.
It was just two years ago that Posh won the competition at Wembley, but nowadays it seems to have less meaning.
Norwich U23s were the visitors to the ABAX Stadium, and they comfortably won the game 6-1.
In a competition that’s meant to promote young English talent, a 28 year old Frenchman scored a hat-trick for the Canaries in their comprehensive victory.
An attendance of just 1696 demonstrated a lack of support for the new format, which was echoed by fans up and down the country.
Although Posh ended the month on a sour note footballing wise, they weren’t yet done in the transfer market.
Deadline day soon rolled around, and there was even more excitement amongst Boro fans.
Just a couple of months after attempting to sign George Moncur on a permanent deal, Grant McCann finally got his man as Moncur joined the club on a loan deal until January.
That wasn’t it for the day, as Posh continued to work on more deals.
Eventually it was confirmed that they had signed Nathan Oduwa and Luke McGee on loan from Spurs, both joining the club until January.
Chairman Darragh MacAnthony had one more big announcement for Posh fans, confirming that there would be no further departures, and that the club had managed to keep hold of all of their top players.
WeAreThePosh, Peterborough United’s biggest fan page, did a poll earlier asking fans to vote for their player of the month.
As you can see, Gwion Edwards is the winner!
August is over, so who was your Posh player of the month? If your choice isn't there, tweet us!
— We Are The Posh™ (@WeAreThePosh) September 1, 2016
It’s been a bumpy first month under McCann’s leadership, but I for one am very optimistic about what the season holds.
