Agree 100%I'd find it hard to accept that we couldn't find players who would both improve us, and want to play for us, too. They might not be your first choices, but wouldn't be naive to be going into this thinking otherwise?
They can't wait until the final week of August for this realisation to hit home. If we're being brushed off by the likes of Luiz and McAtee, then it's time - now - to actively pursue alternatives. That's just basic planning and organisation, surely.
If the plan is to wait and wait till the end of the window then that's no better than we've had in recent years and suggests there isn't really a plan at all.