Sunshine, Chelsea now have a less-good GK (and paid £35m net for the privilege). And last time around they ended up with a less-good striker (Morata, compared to Costa) and lost Matic. Will Kovacic (loan) and Jorghino compensate enough for these to take them back into the top 4? I doubt it.
No words. Is there anything you can't try and spin in to a positive? It's been an absolutely terrible window. We've addressed none of our problems whereas Liverpool and Chelsea (our two biggest rivals for top four) have both added players and strengthened, the former considerably. Both teams who finished above us strengthened more than we did despite not doing much themselves. You can't just stand still and expect to not slide down the table eventually when others around you aim to constantly improve and add to their team.
United struggled with some terrible managers and poor spending, yet eventually it paid off and they finished ahead of us, it's a terrible example. The biggest spenders in the league (United, City, Chelsea) win the most leagues and trophies, United in their 'terrible' period after Fergie have won more trophies than we have in our best period in ages. You can't just sit there and continue to deny the clear fact that those who strive to improve their team are the ones who win trophies, the most important thing in football and what will be remembered, not shiny new facilities.
We've got a fantastic team which needs a little extra to compete, but we've completely failed to even attempt to add that. To not even try an add a midfielder with Dembele's current issues is an absolute disgrace, it's clear he's on the wane and we're once more going to completely rely on him as the only player to provide any kind of drive from midfield. We're going to be in a massive struggle for top four now, and better hope that we don't suffer any bad injury issues, that the world cup players can come back and be ready quickly, and that missing Son for a period of time doesn't have too much of an impact.
What was Pochettino meant to say, exactly? He's not going to rip in to Levy a week before the season starts. He's going to do his absolute best to work with what he has, and of course he's going to have praise for the team. If you actually think he didn't want more from this window, and that he's satisfied with adding absolutely nothing, then you're outright delusional.
Apart from City, who we'd not be catching this season anyway regardless of who we signed, Liverpool are the only rival to have - on paper at least - really strengthened IMO. And some of our rivals have managers who are new to the Prem and/or have unhappy camps and/or face the EL burden.
You're quick enough to use Pochettino's previous quotes when it suits you - and to place your own interpretation upon them - but when it comes to today's quotes, suddenly you disavow them.
And again you equate not signing new players with "standing still", when that's not necessarily the case … because some players sometimes improve through further coaching and new players from the youth ranks sometimes come through and shine.
If you can't improve a squad or first XI except by spending crazy sums and hoping that the gamble pays off, then sometimes you're better off keeping your powder dry. This seems to have been the case this summer, with prices spiralling even higher into ridiculous realms. Levy is on record as saying (last summer) that he believes the market bubble will burst, leaving some clubs in difficulties, and I happen to agree with him.
I don't expect a determined pessimist and critic like you to agree - or even understand - and so I'll leave you to continue ranting and raving.