Absolutely, I hate pre-contracts for that very reason, especially when it’s a player who’s coming/leaving for another side in the same league.
As for the remainder of the season you just have to wonder just what, if anything, we have to look forward too.
There is zero football in that squad and therefore zero entertainment for the support. At best we can be described as a workmanlike side but it’s awful to watch. We won’t be anywhere near relegation which, if the sole ambition is to avoid, then we have met our target but I can confidently say here and now that we won’t be in the hunt for the European spots and we won’t be going any distance in the Cup.
The best we can hope for is to manage to scrape our way to a top six finish, which I appreciate is commendable, but it’s going to be awful to watch.