toffeeblue9
Player Valuation: £35m
Devils Advocate - We have been crying out for more pace and creativity in attacking areas. We've brought in N'Diaye and Lindstrom who seem to be able to provide that. We are as per the status quo in the striking dept. Last season we had Doucoure as the only real number 10. We had Danjuma and Dobbin in wide areas who barely played, so I'd say we are arguably better off in attacking areas now.If that's the case, then it's another transfer window where we failed to address the key positions in attack.
I think the bigger focus would be midfield - we've lost Onana and for all the stick he gets on here, the lad is a young international who's got plenty of experience and a Champions League team were happy to drop £50m on him. We've lost Gomes as well who was a bit part player, but between those two weve only brought in a kid from Villa (who might eventually do very well, but there's a notable drop off in the here and now).
Defensively we were good last season and we are, on paper, slightly better off as we now have a 3rd centre back who is 1st team level, rather than having to hold my breath every Saturday before the teams are announced worrying that Branthwaite or Tarkowski picked up a knock in training and fearing seeing Keane's name on the teamsheet. Ok, we've lost Godfrey but he was a back up full back.
I think the squad overall is marginally better than what we ended last season with, but we are still a centre mid, a winger and a left back short of what we'd ideally have.