The perils of lacking GENERATIONAL....

Talented playmaking force Callum Hudson-Odoi at one's disposal to consistently initiate attacks, dictate play (pulling the strings) and manufacture openings against compact sides in the final third...is glaringly obvious.

Genuine premium tempo-setter quality in Cal' mould (few and far between) elevates the side, which was the case last season when we were riding high top of the league...with Hudson-Odoi having his first run of matches in attack, team displaying pulsating football and creating at a much higher rate.

https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1528437095156555781/vid/720x900/-Ur0oMwtqzltH5FZ.mp4
This graph just perfectly illustrated and amplified the importance of the transformative effect he had between the lines & half-spaces in attack from the moment he started matches before being inexplicably dropped...team performances took a sharp rapid downturn (dropped to 3rd).
The correlation was no coincidence.
None can influence matches like the real "number 10" by definition can on the offensive - http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Flbf7viXkAEFEMR.jpg

(Forest lightwork for him - Pre Injury: https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1089202215665971202/vid/480x480/Zme-QgBqIY5m21Wl.mp4
&
Post: https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1214273608257802241/pu/vid/1280x720/9RmGZAQQu-m01aDN.mp4?tag=10 )



Profile like Enzo Fernandez may be tasked with doing just that from midfield, but he alone is not enough. Kante' return (and revamped medical department) cannot come soon enough, always has and always will be our best midfielder.
Fofana will add fresh impetus going forward and Santos (provided work permit approved), if he's as good as is being spoken about - https://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/andrey-santos-chelsea-why-vasco-da-gama-greats-so-frustrated-seeing-wonderkid-depart-4441828

The perils of (backing the) predecessors indefensible actions in squad management outgoings & incomings coming home to roost.
Managers that only look out for themselves, never having the best interests of the club' future at heart and cause close to irreparable catastrophic damage...which takes years to undo.
Paying the price for long-running neglection + failure to address accordingly in key areas & misplaced trust in ill-assorted mismashed profiles. (This cannot be stressed enough).