If Cardiff City's squad ever needed a revamp, it was this summer. This time last year, which seems like lightyears away, there was little chance of that happening.
Twelve months ago, City had a group of senior players on bloated wages, clinging on to the best contract they will likely have in their careers again, more than willing to stay with the Welsh capital city club for their final season. Even if other clubs were keen and came in for them, it was not in their interest to leave and few could blame them for that given the financial uncertainty brought on by Covid-19.
This wage cull was very much needed and the timing could not have been better from a Cardiff City standpoint. Given the reasons mentioned above, Cardiff's only work in the window last summer was to bring in Mark McGuinness, Ryan Wintle and James Collins permanently, while Ryan Giles came in from Wolves on loan.
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A few additions, yes, but enough to really inject new life and legs into a squad which was another year older and feeling the effects of the chasm between senior stars and Championship rookies?
That wasn't all Mick McCarthy's fault, in his defence. His hands were tied to a certain extent. But, having seen the football he played with the players he had, it's perhaps a blessing he didn't have the opportunity to overhaul the squad like Steve Morison has.
Eight players left upon the expiration of their contracts. James Collins could soon follow them, with Derby County leading a host of League One clubs interested in his signature, while the futures of Tom Sang and Gavin Whyte remain shrouded in uncertainty.
The Bluebirds' squad last season looked lopsided. Far too many defensive-minded players, a sterile midfield and an attack which was heavily reliant on an undercooked Kieffer Moore, who was struggling to recover mentally from a failed Premier League move.
It was also wrong in terms of its age profile, too, which Steve Morison addressed before heading into the summer window. The more experienced players failed to inject pace, while the teenaged whippersnappers too often showed a lack of clinical edge or decision-making nouse, which will come in time.
Andy Rinomhota (25), Mahlon Romeo (26), Ebou Adams (26), Jamilu Collins (27) and Callum O'Dowda (27) will play important roles for the Bluebirds this season and all boast a wealth of experience but, crucially, have legs and energy. They are in that sweet spot in the primes of their careers for the positions in which they play. Already it all looks far more dynamic.
Ollie Tanner, at 20, could be anything and it will be intriguing to watch him in pre-season to see what level he is operating at, but he's already impressed one or two, including Perry Ng, in his first few sessions with the club. While Cardiff's most-recent signing, Romaine Sawyers, is a seasoned midfielder who adds creativity and poise, a fine complement to the extremely talented but raw Rubin Colwill who City already have within their ranks.
There are also three senior goalkeepers all vying for one spot, too, what a luxury that is. Whether all three remain in situ upon the closure of the transfer window, mind you, remains to be seen.
Whispers at the club are that Jamilu Collins might just spring a surprise on a lot of people this season, having sneaked under the radar a little due to him being relatively unknown, while Ebou Adams has also impressed and has not been at the front and centre of many conversations on social media and the like.
Now, as ever in this digital age, there will be revisionist, screenshot, "I told you so" merchants on social media begging for this all to go terribly wrong, but, if we are reading the room correctly, Bluebirds fans, by and large, are happy with the overhaul so far. Slashed wages, a more fit-for-purpose age profile and a midfield genuinely bursting with options now.
How on earth do you pick that midfield now? Ryan Wintle was exceptional last year, Joe Ralls is a real leader, Rinomhota comes with great pedigree, Adams was in the League Two team of the season last year and was wanted by a number of Championship clubs, Sawyers adds a sprinkle of creativity and Colwill's ceiling is so, so high. It gives Steve Morison the capability of playing in a variety of different ways and it is a far cry from the unimaginative and uninspired midfield of seasons past.
That is not to say the work is complete. Not by a long stretch.
In fear of stating the obvious, Cardiff's success will be built on keeping goals out and putting them in at the other end. They need another centre-back, at least, given Aden Flint has left the club and Sean Morrison remains on the treatment bench, and it is understood that is on the wish list.
But the final jigsaw piece, and the one so many Championship campaigns hinge on, is the quality City get in up top. They filled the Kieffer Moore void relatively capably with Jordan Hugill and Uche Ikpeazu at the back end of the last campaign, but will want to go one better this upcoming season, no doubt.
With James Collins likely out the exit door, relying on goals from Isaak Davies, Mark Harris and Max Watters is impractical and too risky and the club know that. A striker or two is very high on the agenda now and whether they are via the free agent or loan markets, or a combination of both, remains to be seen.
For all of the excellent work done in changing the dynamic of this Cardiff squad in three-quarters of the pitch, it is that final quarter which will likely have the biggest say on where Cardiff's fate lies this season. All too rarely have Cardiff strikers taken a campaign by the scruff of the neck and driven the club up the table. Even Kieffer Moore's 20-goal effort only landed City in eighth two seasons ago.
But the midfield, and wing-backs, look far better equipped to consistently provide more opportunities, at least on paper. They also look as though they can provide a stable and pacey base, too. However, getting quality additions in to notch up that goal tally will make or break this season and will ultimately shift the needle on the barometer as to whether this transfer window is viewed as a complete success or not.
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