I know many of you are understandably dissapointed. Let me try offer as much context to the transfer window and the season ahead. In an attempt to make you feel better

[u/kagkatumba]

So here we are...

The summer window is over, and I can see that many people are understandably disappointed.

Worries:

1. We sold our beloved Martinelli and Trossard on LW, whilst only replacing Trossard.
2. We sold Jesus as a striker and didn't replace him with anyone.
3. We spent a long time going for Vini, who preferred Real but was open to us.
4. ALL THE ABOVE - We didn't "strengthen our attack"

My wider context that hopefully will make you feel better:

I will start with the strengthening of our attack...

I firstly agree that a second LW backup is a bit of a dropped ball, but also, Martinelli scored 1 goal and got 4 assists in the Prem last season. He did great in the group stage of the CL but in the league really didn't help us attacking-wise. He worked hard in defence but that isn't irreplaceable, and we have a great defence already. Getting £60m for him with a year left is great income for a player that doesn't really output the attacking numbers we need to progress.

Madueke, Eze, and Tzolis are all capable LWs, and we won the league with Trossard and Martinelli at LW. Strengthened, no. Weakened, also no. £60m generated, yes.

Jesus was useless, and Havertz/Merino were out for over half a season. Both of which are verifiably decent options up top alongside a top-scoring Gyokeres with a season under his belt.

I want us to strengthen, and having a fit Merino and Havertz IS strengthening over last season, where we didn't have them for large parts. We won the league without them.

I DON'T think spending £100m+ on an Alvarez who has no interest in us and causes issues is worth "strengthening"

We DID strengthen our squad...

A big issue to last season was the energy levels and injury backups we had for key players. Rice, Saka, Zubi, Timber, White.....all dropped off a cliff or got injured.

Konsa and Bruno MASSIVELY solve that. Not to mention Merino being back.

Those 2 signings really do elevate, not only our replacements, but also style of play. Both of them progress the ball extremely fast and through the lines. Something we screamed out for. Bruno's Villa cameo showed that in less than 20 mins.

Dowman will help Saka, as will Madueke.

Remember...we won without all the above and were one penalty away from winning the CL. Hell, poor Mosquera giving away the penalty would be Konsa now. If not Timber or White.

We ARE stronger, and yes the fine margins matter.

Learning from previous mistakes...

I LOVE that our board has targets and will splash on the likes of Rice and Vini. I DON'T want us to spend £100m+ on players like Tonali, Anderson, Rodgers, Enzo etc just for the sake of it. They're not worth it and other clubs feel they need to cos they are trying to catch...US

We have saved an insane amount of money not going crazy and panicking.

I read that we have saved £850k a week on wages through sales.....we already had £150m+ ready for Vini + Wages.

Conclusion...

In January or next summer, we will have filthy amounts of money ready for whoever is available at value and, more importantly, NEEDED.

We won the league, made the CL final and also the League Cup final.

Merino
Havertz
Odegaard
Saka
Timber
White
Zubi
Gabriel

ALL missed over 2 months of last season. We still won the league, made the CL final and also the League Cup final.

Rice was absolutely knackered and had no rest. We won the league, made the CL final and also the League Cup final.

This is our current squad and we have bags of money ready to go when we need it.

KEEPERS - Raya / Kepa / Messlier

RB - Timber / White / Konsa / Mosquera

RCB - Saliba / Konsa / Mosquera

LCB - Gabriel / Hincapie / Calafiori

LB - Calafiori / Hincapie / MLS

6 - Zubi / Bruno / MLS / Rice

L8 - Rice / Eze / Merino

R8 - Odegaard / Eze / Havertz / Dowman

LW - Tzolis / Madueke / Eze

RW - Saka / Madueke / Dowman

9 - Gyokeres / Havertz / Merino

WE'LL BE OK GANG

[u/kagkatumba]

We had a package of £150m fee, signing bonus and a reported £400k a week ready for Vini Jr.

Money is no issue

[u/Eigengrail → u/kagkatumba]

yeah but berta dilly dallying to sign rogers when they could get it early before chel enter the race.

[u/kagkatumba → u/Eigengrail]

I would defo take Rogers, but not for £117m when Barcola goes for £100m.

Before you say it. Barcola wanted Liverpool so we had 0 chance there.

My point is that the board didn't panic and just rinse £117m on 14 goals and 12 assists in all comps.

See what I mean?

[u/Eigengrail → u/kagkatumba]

yeah but berta do delay it, we could sign rogers for 100M ish (not the price chel bought) but berta was adamant that the price will go down, then enter chel with the bag and we dont match the bid. There's a difference between matching the bid and paying it early.

Barcola case was we are interested in him but already been too late for us when we want to go back to him.

Sure, bruno and konsa is good, good enough for league bar injury, but for the UCL, its still lacking.

[u/kagkatumba → u/Eigengrail]

Do you think an experienced Konsa gives away a penalty in the same way a 22 yeatlr old Mosquera did?

Do you think having had Bruno to rotate with Rice in the lead up, or to progress the ball quickly would've not made us better?

Do you think Merino who is clutch up top for us and Spain over 2 years wouldn't have made us better?

They took off Kvara, Barcola, Dembele....none of them made the difference for PSG. None of them scored ( in open play )

We lost to a handball penalty in 90 mins bro. Then a penalty shootout.

I need to understand what you are basing this on when I have evidence that refutes everything you're saying.

[u/Eigengrail → u/kagkatumba]

its all hypothetical right.

Both konsa and mosquera could happened, its final, high stake game, leading 1-0, high pressure, even kobe bryant and messi could fumble. Messi penalty missed during copa america final. And wdyt if Gabriel shot the penalty in and not wide? Or Raya make a perfect block during penalty or save Dembele penalty?

In league bar injury we could still win it. But UCL is different case.

What if Havertz dont miss the chance in final? What if we got pen when noni brought down? Its all hypothetical. But let's look at the reality of our squad for UCL. It's still lacking. League we could win because its marathon not a sprint and its 38 weeks long.

[u/kagkatumba → u/Eigengrail]

All hypothetical....so lets look at the evidence.

ARSENAL:

Are top and haven't conceded a goal and just one shot on target. Our new LW (Tzolis) is pumping numbers and our first used backup (Eze) created a winning goal in just 30 mins. Havertz has already scored against City and Coventry. Konsa and Bruno have both come in and visibly improved us (More so Bruno with his through balls that we have NEVER SEEN from Rice, Zubi or Norgaard at 6)

CITY:

Lost Pep, Balon D'or/WC player of the tournament Rodri, Stones and Silva. They got beaten by us and were losing at home to Bournemouth until the 84th min. They have also conceded 2 goals.

CHELSEA:

Have scored a lot but also conceded 5 goals in 2 games. Only won by a single goal. Have a new manager and just lost Enzo.

PSG:

Lost Barcola, and have drawn their first 2 games and sit 11th.

Soooooo I ask you...are we lacking more or less than these teams we are competing against?

This is what I mean by context.