It's amazing how the goal posts change after each signing. You talk about not addressing the defensive issues, but we have signed a top rate player in Findlay, Brown who was MOTM for half of the games he played towards the end of the season, and a highly rated goalkeeper in McGinty. We are also looking to bring in others at left back and right back and have a long term extension for Elliott Moore.
We were told that Gorrin was the reason why we didn't go up last year, but not only have we extended his contract but we've also managed his preseason to ensure that he's fit for the season without any set backs. On top of that we've seen Smyth and McGuane both play in the DCM role and look very good during preseason. We have more cover and more variable options in that position than ever before.
I don't think the goalposts have moved at all. Many people (including myself) said at the start of the offseason that we needed to improve and get more depth at both full back positions and CDM, and have more balance across the squad, and we haven't done that yet.
In defense, in my book we only have five players right now (I still don't view Forde as a defender, and I don't think we can count Mousinho at this point in his career); that's the same number as last year and it cost us in the end. Taking account of injuries, suspensions, losses of form and nowadays presumably a bunch of Covid cases, I think it's madness to go into the season with fewer than seven senior defenders.
At CDM - there's no way that Gorrin is fit for the start of the season. He's played, what, 20 minutes in pre-season friendlies? Hopefully he'll be ready by September.
So at the moment our options are Smyth and McGuane, both of whom were available the second half of last season, but were viewed as inferior options to Herbie Kane - despite the fact that he clearly wasn't strong enough defensively to play the role effectively in games we weren't dominating.
If we don't bring in someone else there, then we are relying on McGuane turning into a defensive asset and/or Smyth growing up very quickly. Hopefully one will happen, but it's a big risk. And, from all reports about the level of funding available at the moment, an unnecessary one.
KR's signings so far this summer have been absolutely outstanding - but there's still more to do. Ideally RB, LB, CDM, ST + Jones.
Still a month to go, so no panic, but the task ahead should be clear.......if he gets it done, then big applause and much congratulation is due.
But if he doesn't, and he goes into the season with a massively unbalanced squad again (for the fourth year in a row) then there's going to be a ton of frustration.
We shall see.......