Pickford selected for upcoming England games

Kenny, Davies, Dowell, Lookman and Calvert-Lewin.

Shite our academy and youth recruitment, isn't it?

They're Championship level at best, doncha know?

(D'ya think we can claim six Everton players in the squad with Calvert-Lewin's double-barreled name...? Just askin' like...).

There were plenty of Blues fearful we simply couldn't move on so many ageing and/or underperforming players on inflated wages: who would be interested in them?

Yet in a much-foreshortened window, with both Brands and Silva new to the club, he has done just that.

He held his nerve in the market right up to the last day to land our targets and we have a leaner, younger, more dynamic and balanced squad as a result.

Yes, we've yet to see some of the new recruitments play so a tad premature to judge if they are up to it or not, but there was a clear plan and method in our recruitment and sales this summer – both for the short term and long term.

It sure beats the blindfolded 'pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey' approach of Koeman and Walsh who left us with plenty of Blackpool Beach equine material rather than the thoroughbreds we needed.