The announcement of his arrival alone
may have brought more from the squad.
The [no-words] Anfield defeat
meant our season was written off in January,
meaning players were already playing for their careers, if not the club,
before the worrying times we're all now in took hold.
The interesting part of this though
is how one of Europe's most respected personnel in Brands
can work not only with money, but a big name coach
(plus the licence to bring in his own fitness and behind-the-scenes team).
Yes, there's only so much we can spend in one window,
but this time I can look with more than just hope -
with expectation -
that IF Brands and Ancelotti will be successful from where we stand right now,
a transfer window that, say 20-30 years down the line
was a big step in the right direction.
I'm not suggesting trophies or a Champions' League quarter-final,
but what I've seen so far:
the addressing of our players' fitness inferiorities
(vs the other six in the Premier League and overseas),
lack of European experience in our squad,
the willingness to change formations,
and... that new stadium,
painfully slow but steady progress is being made.