This is why I think Howe's talking about the next signing's importance, I reckon. Almiron has been really good pre-season, as has Anderson, which then means our urgent need for a RW is maybe diminished a little. Midfield trio is in decent shape. I wonder whether there's consideration over a blockbuster CF signing and whether the key decision here is spending the rest of the budget in one position?
I can see why Howe has a big challenge, don't envy it. Fine margins in the PL as was seen with the before/after Krafth revival. You look up the league and can rightly ask whether the likes of Willock or Longstaff are THAT far from someone like Hojberg or Xhaka? I'm properly on the fence - been repeatedly burned by Ashley's mediocre managers plodding along with these players, so my worried side thinks "Howe's making a gaffe relying on these guys to come good, when they never have." But then you look at what Eddie got from Krafth, Joelinton, Fraser (at times), Targett, Burn and think "maybe Eddie can give these guys the extra inch they need".
And that's the point - fine margins. David Brailsford is all about fine margins, shaving off 0.1 second here and there means in a race you go from nowhere to winning. Could be the same in football, probably is. If you make someone like Willock 3% fitter, or 2% faster, how much better does he become?
We'll see in the friendly tonight - our second string still look toothless. But if we brought in a top end CF, I'd be happy to see how it goes. I wonder if Eddie thinks that too?