Still striker light but a good window in other areas

So that's over then. The loan signing of Alex Kral on loan is another welcome boost to the squad — plus he has the best curly Barnet since Christian Dailly. His surname is also reminiscent of a Doctor Who monster, as in the Tom Baker story The Power of Kroll. The 6ft 2in defensive midfielder will provide cover for Rice and Soucek and Czechs don't let us down. Vlasic looks a quality attacking midfielder and Zouma will give WHU four centre backs to choose from, while Areola is a fine keeper. 

But clearly strikers are now passé. The decision not to sign a front player to cover for Antonio, who has been called up by Jamaica and will at some stage get injured, is baffling. Particularly as strikers like Adam Armstrong, Danny Ings and Salomon Rondon have all found clubs. Odubeko has gone on loan to Huddersfield, so when Antonio gets injured we'll be down to Bowen or Yarmolenko playing as an emergency striker, or perhaps Vlasic playing as a false nine. Still, on the positive side, the squad is looking much better defensively and in midfield with four new players and the board has backed the manager's judgment with £60m worth of signings. The test will come on Thursday nights followed by Sunday games.