Valencia was a massive panic buy, and I don't think anyone can say that last summer wasn't a complete sham. It was disastrous, even the management accepted that.
Like you say about Rooney, he can change games and if he comes off the bench the dynamics of the game can swing in our favour and if rather have that than someone like Kone Niasse or Valencia.
The core of the team has massively been strengthened, and not to overlook the people who have been added to the development squad.
Then there's the snake, people will always be concerned because his goals will be a loss, and I'm sure Athletico fans used to feel the same every season when they're top strikers used to depart (Vieri, Torres, Falcao, Augero, Mandzukic, Costa); and Sandro maybe an unknown quantity but he was wanted by a team that was a conveyor belt for world class strikers and is extremely well thought of in Spain.
Kone McGeady Cleverly etc etc have all been canned, the team is slowly being transformed into a really steady unit that is more than capable of delivering trophies; future investment can see us break ground in the top 4