My opinion got slated in another message board - here goes again ….
Yes The Investors Need to invest on players whom. An assistant the Managers style of play.
Pat is trying to create a more possessive based game - yet wants more goals too.

Afraid to say some players in his squad are not capable of doing it day in day out - Investors by all means buy other clubs but please buy some players - 1 attacking Mid -2 Attacking Defender - 3 scorer

My opinion

What a mad thread. Last season we conceded our fewest ever Premier League goals, scored our second most ever and played a far better brand of football than under Roy who, at times, made hari-kari seem an attractive option.

The simple fact is that we haven't backed Vieira anywhere near enough and we're being punished for it. I'd argue that we're overperforming actually.

We responded to the long term injury of James McArthur and the departure of Gallagher by signing Doucoure who, although I love him, is nowhere near enough. There is no way Schlupp should be starting in our midfield after 10 years in the division. At least two additional players are required there.

Then there is Ayew. Regardless of how hard he works, like Schlupp, he shouldn't be starting up front for us at this point. We haven't had a top class striker since Murray and he left 8 years ago.

Two key chances in the first half came to Ayew last night. The first, when he was played through, he miscontrolled and lost the ball. The second he opted to shoot from a tight position, rather than playing a short ball to Olise who was clear and would have been favourite to score. If we'd converted either of those chances it could have been a different game.

It is a disgrace that, with Mitchell injured, we have no left back cover and Joel Ward, who is a questionable choice at right back these days, has to fill in.

I legitimately think we need a decent striker, two midfielders, a right back, a left back and cover in central defence. Plus their is the looming spectre of Zaha leaving for nothing who won't be cheap to replace. There's no way we're doing this business in January and I am skeptical we will in the summer either.

Andersen, Guehi, Doucoure, Zaha, Eze and Olise is the core of an outstanding team but they need more support ASAP.

Vieira is doing a good job with his hands tied, like most of our managers have to, and without serious investment over the next couple of windows, I imagine he'll bugger off before long.

Ideal January? Gallagher back on loan and get Danny Ings who, although 30, is a year younger than Ayew and is a proven goalscorer in the Prem.

Edited by Canterbury Palace (05 Jan 2023 11.01am)

And that's precisely why there's a massive glut of experience in the squad.

Recruiting young and for value/re-sale is great, but it needs to be supplemented with experienced pros who are proven at this level - Ings is exactly that.

We can't make money on every transfer, nor should we be aiming to.

What a mad thread. Last season we conceded our fewest ever Premier League goals, scored our second most ever and played a far better brand of football than under Roy who, at times, made hari-kari seem an attractive option.

The simple fact is that we haven't backed Vieira anywhere near enough and we're being punished for it. I'd argue that we're overperforming actually.

We responded to the long term injury of James McArthur and the departure of Gallagher by signing Doucoure who, although I love him, is nowhere near enough. There is no way Schlupp should be starting in our midfield after 10 years in the division. At least two additional players are required there.

Then there is Ayew. Regardless of how hard he works, like Schlupp, he shouldn't be starting up front for us at this point. We haven't had a top class striker since Murray and he left 8 years ago.

Two key chances in the first half came to Ayew last night. The first, when he was played through, he miscontrolled and lost the ball. The second he opted to shoot from a tight position, rather than playing a short ball to Olise who was clear and would have been favourite to score. If we'd converted either of those chances it could have been a different game.

It is a disgrace that, with Mitchell injured, we have no left back cover and Joel Ward, who is a questionable choice at right back these days, has to fill in.

I legitimately think we need a decent striker, two midfielders, a right back, a left back and cover in central defence. Plus their is the looming spectre of Zaha leaving for nothing who won't be cheap to replace. There's no way we're doing this business in January and I am skeptical we will in the summer either.

Andersen, Guehi, Doucoure, Zaha, Eze and Olise is the core of an outstanding team but they need more support ASAP.

Vieira is doing a good job with his hands tied, like most of our managers have to, and without serious investment over the next couple of windows, I imagine he'll bugger off before long.

Ideal January? Gallagher back on loan and get Danny Ings who, although 30, is a year younger than Ayew and is a proven goalscorer in the Prem.

Edited by Canterbury Palace (05 Jan 2023 11.01am)

Sure we conceded fewer in alan smiths season 94/95.