Recruitment has been utterly shocking. Simple as.
1. Mahrez - Strange signing since day one. Given his propensity to not track back and his selfishness, it makes it hard to believe Pep wholeheartedly wanted him. The subsequent nonsense where Pep would bench Sane for a month for not tracking his man, yet persist with Mahrez having 50 shots per game and not bothering his arse to press, resulting in Leroy becoming disillusioned and wanting out. Truly criminal.
2. Rodri - Possesses none of the qualities shown by the DM in our successful 2017-2019 period. With his inability to get around the pitch, set a game's tempo, win 50/50s, make cynical fouls...how on earth did the club think we would continue our success?
3. Cancelo - Considering the amount apparently paid for him, was he an absolute necessity that we needed to blow half of our supposed budget last summer on? Danilo was doing a fine job filling in and even if he wanted out, did we need to spend such a considerable amount on someone not improving the starting eleven? Baffling again.
4. 2020 summer recruitment - After our sorry excuse for a title defence and our win in court, all the messages coming out of the club were that of an all guns blazing summer where previous hesitancies about age profile and transfer fee would be brushed aside in favour of ruthlessly improving the starting eleven. Instead, we've been slow and plodding. Signing Ake (a player that doesn't improve the starting eleven but improves the overall squad) Torres (a very young and unproven player) and Dias (our apparent 3rd or 4th choice centre back depending on who you ask).
What this team needed after such a flat season that saw David Silva leave was for proven and renowned personalities to walk through the door and not only reinvigorate the atmosphere around the club but light a fire under those who were complacent last season. Raise the level a couple of notches and properly kick on.
None of our recruits have done this and I can see the frustration in some of the experienced players, namely Kevin. Is he looking around and saying to himself that his peak years will be spent competing at the business end of the Champions League? Forget about it.
We need to get next summer right. Because we've fucked up the last three.