Whilst the recruitment has not been the best, the squad building over the last three years has been pretty good until last summer. We do have a decent squad (albeit decimated by injuries). Players quite simply look worse than they are due to the tactics.
For example, VdV is one of the best CBs in Europe. Romero is Argentina's captain and a top class CB. Udogie, when in form, is a top LB. Porro of last season showed how good he is. Spence just made it into the England team and was one of our best players last season when playing on the left.
I do not understand the recruitment of Tel. This was reflected in him being left out of the CL squad. And why spend £40M on Gray if he is not going to play regularly and develop? Simons will clearly take time to acclimatise to the pace and power of the PL (a bit like Wirtz at Liverpool). Both are quality players who will come good.
Our problem is in CM (no progressive passers), and up top (injuries to senior players like Solanke, Maddison and Kulusevski have really hurt us).
In CM, picking Palhinha at home against teams like Wolves, Bournemouth and Fulham is incredibly unadventurous and puts a handbrake on the team offensively as he cannot pass the ball forwards. This is coupled with Franks' risk averse football where he only wants to progress the ball up the flanks so as not to lose the ball centrally. It makes us predictable, easy to press and negate, and is why we have seen an xG <0.1 in some of our home games. Take Romero out of the team and we cannot progress the ball at all.
The fans, who pay the most to watch their team in the country, are disconnected from the team. Unthinkable during the EL parade at the end of last season. If ENIC want to keep charging us what they do they need to give us a much better team. No more promising potential signings. Just players who improve our first team, staring with a #6 who can pass the ball, and a CF who regularly scores goals.
I'd seriously be looking at poaching Glasner from Palace. With Vuskovic being first team ready next season, we have a host of CBs who will thrive under Glasner.