If this 4-4-2 type system is the way we're going, we're massively overloaded with central midfielders and attacking midfielders, but short up front. The squad balance is wrong.
In central midfield we have 2 spots, and Normann, Sorensen, McLean, PLM are enough CM options, whilst even Rupp suits the workload of those roles better than Gilmour. We're wasting a loan spot on a 6th choice CM, who is creating media issues, unhappy parents, unhappy parent club, etc.
We have Dowell and Cantwell as creative midfielders without a role in the side.
Sargent, Pukki and Idah on the pitch means we have no strikers in reserve, no bench option, no injury cover.
Should Pukki or Idah get injured, you move Sargent up front (where he's been less effective) and then probably move Rashica to the right, and bring Tzolis or Placheta in on the left. That's 3/4 of the front 4 changed as a result of one injury, and a definite downgrade up front and out wide.
Looking beyond this season, we know Pukki can't keep his performances going indefinitely, we're going to need a long term replacement. A Srbeny-type signing, picking up a 22-24 year old striker for £2-3m, could solve some of those issues, or we could replace Gilmour with a loan striker.
We shouldn't have been looking at wholesale changes this window, I'm glad we haven't and keeping Aarons is a bonus. But with a total squad value of £158m (transfermarkt), having £34.2m of that wrapped up in players who don't suit the system is a concern.
The club may not have wanted to let Cantwell go on the cheap, but given how much needs to go right for him to be worth more in the summer, I'm not sure that makes sense. Even £5-10m for Cantwell would have given us a striker fund, to try and rebalance the squad depth a touch.
