I know this is hyperbole mixed with frustration, but we will definitely buy at least 4 players by the end of the window and won't sign WW or Sabitzer - we'll just end up with 3rd best options in at least 3 of those slots, in terms of quality and value for money, as rivals seize upon opportunities opening up right now in terms of free transfers, release clauses and players from 'lesser' leagues willing to spend a year or two as squad players in return for CL and PL minutes.
Biggest issue is that the managing Glazers function as both parasite and infection, without getting rid of which we won't even really perform 'on par' let alone better, even with the best scouting team and ETH at the top of his game. However, I think it would also serve us well to have whoever takes over (and approaches next summer's window, which will be the first 'proper' one we'll have had since 2007, despite the glitzy signing since then) to get rid of most of the residues/glazer legacies on the 'sporting direction//senior recruitment side.
I think there's a bad version of institutional memory at play, a tolerance for mediocrity to the marrow and this, more than Woodward's 'special' decisions regarding specific contracts and his theory of squad value for the purposes of satisfying the lenders, is why we cling to retaining so many average players. We need a SD/team to work with and push against when necessary, Ten Hag in order to prune the squad to have no 'weak' spots and no fat, which will also help with blooding young players and persuading new youngsters to join with the hope of a pathway there...
