Not sure how you come to that conclusion, the fact that we failed to sign a midfielder doesn't mean we weren't trying.
You can say well we tried, but did we really try hard enough? Not for me, we seemed more worried about what wages we may have to pay, than seriously addressing any weaknesses.
Jones may have been necessary to stop others getting him, but tbh, was signing him more important than strengthening a midfield that was already our weakest area? That weakness was further compounded last summer when we lost the services of Scholes, Hargo, and O'Shea and had serious doubts about Fletcher.
Has Scholes not returned in Jan, god knows where we would have finished, but i doubt very much we would still have had a chance of winning the title on the last day. It is quite sobering really that a 38 yr old who had been retired for 6 months, can come back and still be so much better than anything else we have.
Little wonder we have performed so poorly in Europe this season with what we had at our disposal. Only one DM for all season, i mean come on! Can there be any top team anywhere who would risk leaving themselves so short? Let's hope, should we lose the title today, that it serves as a kick up the arse to Fergie, and a harsh reminder that 'making do' is simply not good enough.
There may be little value in the market, but there is even less value in going out of the CL so early, being embarrassed in the Europa league, and potentially ending the season trophyless.