While I seem to be out on a limb over this, still think that we needed an extra defender. Probably a throwback to last season when Knight-Percival was always injured and we were playing Clarke non-stop. Understand Byrne’s sale was needed to raise funds to bring in elsewhere, but Challinor worked with him at Pools and knows what he’s getting, seems to have worked out so far. If Hockenhull hadn’t been deemed so far off a squad place as to need exiling to Warrington to build himself up, it would feel more comfortable.
Still too early to write Saunders off.
Think you are touching on a fundamental difference in strategy here.
Apart from the youth fad Palios had which went into overdrive last summer, with disastrous effect. People need to wise up, you could have been 7th choice at Goodison or a 20 year old on a Prem books, that doesn't mean you will ever make a professional career. When Warwick and Dario G were selling on millions and millions to the top level, they were sourcing all their talent from the rejects of the big 2/3 locally. Everton's 7th choice keeper would never have got a contract anywhere. It was always a case of trying to turn around a talent that the big ones had passed over, it was very successful.
The secondary strategy now is an old one, sign a player who is far above your standard but has some baggage normally physical sometimes mental. A spin to win tactic.Mellon seems to overplay this, Mumbungo with Swedish interest at international level and Nolan clearly talented are the latest to just confirm their underperformance.
Byrne was an odd signing and never looked the part. Chally among his well financed squad clearly pursues a tactic of signing up reliable pros. Reliability is in the eyes of the beholder of course, but Tranmere have few players that you can rely on. You trade reliability for potential but in the current state, Tranmere have a great imbalance.
Your spare centre half needs to be accomplished, anyone with just potential won't progress by not playing. Jamieson needs to be out on loan and playing a full season, but that can be said for most of the entire squad.