I can't believe I have to repeat this, but he was on record as saying that any outgoings needed to be replaced - Dybala, Mandzukic were both strongly in the frame at one point or another. There were also well documented links with Longstaff.
I'm not going to respond to your last point, because it's subjective, but respectfully, I disagree.
I get that replacements point, mate. My question is we really haven't been linked to a lot of players in the Summer. Mandzukic was available the whole summer even at deadline day, if he was an option/priority it's not like we couldn't get him.
Same with Longstaff - if he was a priority and rated high by the coaching stuff(fits the profile and would most likely have high resale value), why didn't we buy him? I'm not sure it's because the club would veto it otherwise we would hear something about it and it would leak.
We really haven't been linked with a lot of players this Summer which either means we were ok with what we've got or only had couple of targets - two of which didn't wanted to come (Sancho, Dybala).
Take Moyes Summer for example. We were linked with ton of players - unrealistic ones - Thiago, Fabregas, Bale, but still we have shown intent of buying someone. This Summer the strongest links we had(apart from Dybala) were players that we brought in.
Also Dybala was only a possibility after we entered negotiations with Juve, not our primary target for the summer from the off.
If you chose not to blame Ole, then the recruitment guys or scouting network should be next in line. We literally had no research coming into the Summer and our policy was based on already well known targets (Maguire), AWB and a guy that Giggs recommended.
You can't blame the board for not delivering Eriksen with 2 days to go, especially when the board has shown they can't do fast business since 5-6 years. You need better planning and Woodward is not the one to name and target players, at least I certainly hope he isn't.
It's unreal not to have other options in the transfer window.