Ian

Im not getting too hung up on psf results for the very reasons that youve highlighted ( changing line ups, mass substitutions, hot conditions ( in Hong Kong) and lack of real competitiveness.
Cast your mind back 2 years. How many of us said then after preseason ' yeah this lot can win the league'

However I do share your concerns re creativity and lack of goals. Our simmer signings so far are a central defender ( much needed) a defensive midfielder ( an unknown quantity) and a back up keeper ( well backup unless the club know something about Kasper that we dont, or theyve taken Nevs comments on board).

Id like to see more attacling flair, and it looks like the club want that too. Hopefully Ian Acho will help with the goalscoring department and theyve already bid 40 million fot Gylfi, so they know there is a requirement there.

Bring on the season (proper football) and the end of the window. Then we will see where we are.

UTF

Yes definitely. We were lacking a creative spark towards the back end of last season and it seems to have continued over pre-season.

I quite enjoyed the Liverpool match especially the 1st half but since then we haven't really demonstrated much decisiveness that was in abundance prior, of which i was hoping we'd see again.

Yes it's only pre-season but there seems to be a glaring miss. To sign Gylfi Sigurdsson and Iheanacho would take this team forward. Just getting KI would only bolster an already inflated mediocre strike force in need of quality to supply it.

Also coming up against a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 massively stifles us. And more teams are adopting this was of playing, which worries me a little, as we are well behind in being able to match it up

All I can add here is yes,
We lack flair and we have always struggled to break teams down especially those that park the bus,

The mercury article sums it up perfectly. We shouldn't worry, but we can't help but worry!!

I don't think it's a problem. Our style of play relies on fast tempo, pressing and countering. It's hard to play like that in pre season when you want to avoid injury and build up fitness.

So no, we shouldn't worry, but we do need Nacho in as a minimum. His pace and finishing would help a lot.

That was some pretty shocking defending to allow Cavaleiro all that space to score! Dreadful.

I am worried yes, especially if Mahrez leaves. Even if we sign Ihenacho, I think we need another centre back, a winger and a creative midfielder personally.

Regarding a new centre-back, City have been linked with 18yr old Malang Sarr of Nice for a rumoured £20,000,000. Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid & Barcelona reportedly keen also.
Any substance in this, i don't honestly know. Looks fairly decent though, Can play centre-back or on the left side of defence.
Release clause supposedly 40 million Euros.

West Brom linked with a number of CB's - does this mean Evans is on his way somewhere?

West Brom have made him club captain, I doubt he's going anywhere.