Finances are very different now to then, he also didn't just sign experienced players, would you like a list? I'm not arguing we should rely on the academy, just the opposite. We need a balanced approach to our recruitment; experience definitely, young players for the u23s definitely but also players in that 20-24 type bracket who can challenge for the first team and grow in value.
Players in the 20-24 age bracket that are 'ready made' to challenge for the first team are assets that every team is looking for, especially with our aspirations for the EPL and thus, we need players capable of stepping up, which therefore means we are going to face competition.
These clearly do not come cheap = Soh (£4m - with just a year on his contract at PSG).
The better 'UK' prospects, e.g. Cash £16m, are going for daft money and most clubs have such assets (as we do) on long contracts. Our dealings post covid, infer that we do not have the financial resources, without selling our own prized assets.
These signings also come with the risks that this won't work out = Zach Clough and arguably, Carvalho (& some of the other loanees we've had in recent years, Dowell, Semedo, Goncalves etc - list goes on).
Personally, I think we're doing more right than wrong, with the continued developmental recruitment at u23 level and then adding experience at Championship level, with cheaper (late 20's) foreign imports or the likes of Ameobi on 1yr deals.
The squad is definitely stronger and in the main, we have targetted our weaknesses - perhaps, with a few more to come?