Let's not get carried away. Our first XI is good, the defence is shaky but the rest is decent enough to compensate. The starting XI is top 4 quality, imho. But we have no squad depth bar fullbacks. Front three is irreplaceable, midfield has a midtable-level or youth backup. We need another decent CAM/CM badly. We need another CB even more, but I accepted the fact we don't get one already. VvD is not going anywhere and we're too stubborn to look for alternatives.
The only other positive I have is that we're actually fine so far without last season's starters Coutinho, Lallana and Clyne.
Barring defense i dont agree with ya.
Midfield is good enough. hendo,wiji,can, milner are not just average. All 4 are good on the ball, good at passing, tackling, positional awareness you name it. they may not be extra ordinary but certainly good enough, they do the job asked by the manager, and its not like they are total knob in attack and vision. These are central midfielders if anyone is expecting them to play like coutinho or hazard then thats not their fault. Im not saying they are world beaters but you look at aresnal team today and they are dying for strong midfielders. Even one of the pundits on the show said people are over looking these players. when your team scores 13 goals in 4 games these players have to have some credit due, specially considering both the regular CAMs coutinho and lallana are out.
Substitution wise, last season we were at the top before mane left for afcon, we have addressed that problem. Todays front 3 and add coutinho and lallana to that mix and you have 5 options for that front 3 same with the midfield. Then you have studg, origi, woodburn, solanke, ings for the cups. Its a very good mix.
Its the defense and GK what is worring. I don't care if its van dijk or any other xyz, just sign a CB and that's all we need for a good competitive season