It was. We created far less and conceded more when he was out. We couldn't get ball forward as well. I thought they'd have a plan to fix the getting the ball forward from the back stuff but they don't. And to make if worse they even replaced Robertson, who's a very good passer, with someone who can't pass anywhere near as well.
That's on Hughes/Edwards. They won't sack themselves.
Most people seemed to want another class centre midfielder about February last year. Everyone wanted a Diaz replacement when there was talk of him leaving. Everyone wanted another centre back.