Interesting post, this. And, personally, I think the various elements are linked. Here's why:
When Yussef arrived, I thought it was an "OK" signing. Player with experience at the level, also ex-pro, and maybe that person we needed to hold the ball up and use a bit of canniness in the final third. But my impression was that he wasn't going to be our "main striker", and that we had someone else in mind to make up the final piece of the summer transfer business.
But two things quickly transpired:
1. Yussef wasn't up to the task. From the very first friendly, his ability was being cross-examined, and since then his work rate has seriously come under question too. Sadly, it's resulted in an empty shirt every week, with no goal threat and no hold up capability.
2. There was never another striker coming. He was brought in as first choice and, what's more, we're committed to him for the season with a contract and (rumoured) big wages.
So Penn's hands are tied. He's forced to try and find a system that works around this - including thrusting KD into an unfamiliar striker's role - and on Saturday we saw a tombola of tactics. You can visibly see the frustration on the players as they have to huff and puff in various positions to try and find a system that works without a striker.
As for his refusal to sign better players, they simple answer is - he can't! The budget is gone and, until we somehow manage to offload Yussef (unlikely, and very costly, I'd imagine) we don't have the space to do so. So again, we're gambling in the transfer market too - trying to find offcuts and cheap options in the hope of unturfing a diamond.
All that said, and depressing as it is, I do think we've got more than enough capability in this squad. We found a system that worked at one point (wing backs), but we HAVE to solve the above and find a striker who can do a job. Like I've said elsewhere, though - this needs some brutal, honest and structural changes, rather than crossed fingers and praying for luck.
