Right, before Brands 😅
That doesn't change the fact we have a poor record. Brands has been here 2 years. Still 2 years without a replacement striker. Only Gbamin came in to replace Gana (after we had sold Gana too). As already said, no center back to replace Zouma. Jags left as well which left us with an injury prone Mina, an unstable Keane and a young Holgate who everyone had written off. We've been fortunate with DCL and Holgate finally coming good, but even that took time this season.
I like Brands and trust him far more than what we've had in the past, but this is one area that still needs proving. Letting Keane go without a replacement wouldn't be a good idea imo. It would leave us with a currently injured Mina and Holgate. And two kids we know nothing about at this level.