I agree.
There will be some serious bumps in the road but as long as we have a team spirit and don't get too downhearted when we get done by a few of the big did then we will be fine.

The reality is we appear to have made some smart acquisitions , but not at this stage in attacking areas.
Olise looks talented, but is unproven at this stage.
It may be that the only two further additions will be Will Hughes and Lookman or other wide player (loan).
This still leaves a lack of cutting edge up front and very heavily reliant on Zaha and Benteke.
The problem is quality strikers are at a premium and cheaper options like Sorloth and Mateta are a gamble which don’t appear to have paid off.
The likes of Abraham cost £40 million which we’re not going to spend.
Edouard has been linked, but again is unproven.
Oh for a Glen Murray of a few years ago.

The cutting edge up front as you rightly point out is missing, but for me it is and has been our totally pedestrian midfield that is seriously lacking in anything approaching creativity and supplying the forward line with anything to work with. Hodgson has to take a lot of the blame here, often playing with three defensive midfielders whilst still getting tonked. I hope that Vieira can apply his influence and knowledge of this area on the tactics and also welcome back to fitness Eze, who can make a difference creatively.

I think the one that got away was Callum Wilson, Free, and only on £46,154 a week a the Toon ( if you believe the sites )

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

Mr Hodgson was being sensible and had to be to allow us the opportunity to see a new manager come in with new players around him and to be able to provide us this opportunity to change our play, Mr Hodgson's task was always this and nothing else.
Against Chelsea it was totally hopeless to expect any sort of coherence and confidence from our squad, as it stands Chelsea are the finished article and will probably win this league and all the cups.

Yes, I think he cost Newcastle much the same as we paid for Eze.