2 out of the 3 have had a consistent manager in place with one vision of playing football. Parish on the other hand has had a multiple of different views on how the game is played, where he has then brought in players to suit each managers way.

Are you suggesting that Parish makes the final decision regards transfers having been in consultation with his scouting team then presents them to the manager as a 'Fait accompli' ? My understanding is that this is not the procedure that is followed.

In terms of pre-season spending of the teams highlighted, Watford spent £25 Mill but brought in £45 Mill primarily on account of the Richarlison sale.
Brighton spent over £60 Mill and brought in £11 Mill.
Bournemouth spent £46 Mill and brought in around £20 Mill.

Edited by Willo (05 Nov 2018 11.02am)

Yet despite our obvious need for a striker we spent just £9m on a midfielder in Kouyate who has not impressed so far, Meyer on a free and brought in the awful Ayew on loan. Why is that? In the previous window we just brought in Jach (who has disappeared on a season's loan) and Sorloth who again has not impressed. Why can't we sign promising British players like we used to and like Bournemouth did with Brooks?

Edited by cpj (05 Nov 2018 11.15am)

Unusually for us, we were poor defensively, even allowing for the cheating (holding) by Chelsea at free kicks. Really disappointed at PVA for the third goal - no excuse to give up like that and killed off any chance of a comeback. The midfield is lacking in real quality, pace and speed of thought. At both Everton and Chelsea, we have made quick breaks which have come to nothing due to lack of support

Finally, people say Zaha goes to ground easily - maybe they should take a look at Hazard and the way he tumbles to the ground at the slightest touch.

I think that since Hodgson joined, the transfer expenditure (Excluding any loan fees) has been some £21 Mill rising to £28 Mill if one includes the add-ons.

I think there's a strong case to be made that Parish has not given Roy the players that he wants for his style - Hodgson made a point of not including Rakip last season, and the Meyer transfer really seems like Parish going 'great prospect on a free, we'll have him' rather than bringing in someone who fits Roy's style - as evidenced by Roy's reluctance to use such a promising player and the difficulty finding a way to fit him into the system. Our best transfer windows - the January transfer windows under Pulis and Allardyce - have been when a proven manager comes in and knows who they want, while Parish in emergency mode acquiesces. You are right that managerial turnover has resulted in a bit of a jumble of players, but I think the Meyer transfer in particular shows the club bringing in a good-looking player rather than considering what we need for the manager's style - someone physical and dynamic (like RLC) rather than intricate and neat.