QuincyAbeyie the only thing I'd add to this is the need for more improvisers.
We know stats/data have informed much of our recruitment and that approach has helped give us some marginal gains that have contributed to making us the side we are now. This is a good thing, I believe.
But I'm of the view that there's a ceiling to this approach. Stat-based recruitment discounts the fact that predictable behaviour can be nullified by opposition teams. And at the top level, that's what opposing managers will do. The best teams, the ones that win the top prizes all have a sprinkling of players who can create goals out of nothing, who aren't reliant on the system around them operating effectively. We severely under-index by my read on these improvisers.
That's why I've been underwhelmed by our overall recruitment. I hoped for more in the front line vs what we got. I think we're still serious challengers (we've made challenger-type signings, if not winners...) but can't say any of the players (bar Zubimendi) feel like 'big boy' signings.
