Its a competitive game both on and off the field, meaning to be the best we need the best / smartest operations, to find the best quality in the world you have to scour the world.
Before someone says it, we will never be the best because of resources, but we DO need to be better than those we are competing with, If we currently consider our competition to be Dirty Leeds / Boring Boro / Mensheep.... we have to ask is our recruitment better than those guys?
Leeds, basket case chopping and changing every few months, but seems the latest owner is bringing some stability, larger resources than us, therefore we have to out smart them
Boro, I almost typed "an interesting one" how ironic!!, we know what TP wants (Big / Brit, Biddable) will he find it? the pool is getting smaller and more expensive, but, TP does what TP does, we need to out smart him - tough ask over 46 games
Derby, Fat frank has been backed to the hilt and there are some parallels to Darrens situation, I personally doubt DM will have the resources available to him that Lampard will - need to outsmart them
If we can finish this season competing with these 3 it will be either because we kept enough quality post relegation, or, because everyone at the club (on & off pitch) has combined to out perform the opposition, I think we can run them close but it will be fine margins which decide how this season plays out IMO.