Denver Royal One thing jumps out. Eza was signed on loan (in desperation) mid-season, so that means you don't have many of Clement's Summer window signings in your team. (Yiadom, plus Baldock, who to me isn't a 90-min player, and who I might replace as starter anyway with Barrow, because there is no winger or pace). Yet, you have consistently said that window was good. Surely we were looking for more than depth from a Summer window, esp given that you've said the team coming in to the season was dire. It has to be a disappointing return, and one of the reasons we are where we currently are, no? Surely we needed more starters, to upgrade a dire team, for a window to be rated good?
You've got to think what our signings were for and what the situation was when we signed them.
Walker - Clearly not signed to be first choice immediately, but a decent backup with good prospects to develop.
Yiadom - Improved us at right back
O'Shea - Experienced back up and for behind the scenes. Never liked this signing
Meyler - The key signing to shore us up, turned out to be shit.
Ezatolahi - Solved the Meyler problem until he got injured
Baldock - Added striking options and was doing well as a foil to Bod or Meite.
McNulty - gave us more options up front, but never expect someone to fully breakthrough in season 1 after stepping up
Sims - again, clearly a cover signing where we were short.
We've spent several years trying to buy a new team each summer. This summer could only ever be phase 1 of a rebuild, with a few players integrating. I also give credit for bringing Meite back and showing him faith, and bringing in Rinomhota.
With our full squad available, I think we're tolerable mid table. Which is why the fitness issues are so frustrating.
