As always best to judge on what happens, or doesn't rather than what is said.... and certainly as things stand this doesn't look like an auto seeking squad. It's debatable, again as it stands, that we're as strong as the end of last season... you'd like to think we will get in some reinforcements, so that we can at least improve on 13th.
I'd say we look slightly more balanced than we did a year ago - in both season starts we were lacking upfront, but the bits behind that front two seem more well thought out I think you'd argue with me about the front line from two seasons ago being better than we have available for the first game this time around, but the rest of the squad looks far better composed than what Flitcroft had. If you take his back 4 and central midfield combinations, there can probably be little argument we've upgraded there.