we did have the money but we went for quantity over quality again
true, but you could still find the funds - selling Bonucci and Pepe doesn't seem to be that diff, find a suitor for Amauri and you would have 18-20 mil, at least, just from here.
Anyways, chances are, you still have close to 20 mil left from the transfer kitty for this year. Signing Lugano for CB would have been ideal in getting an experienced leader in defense, while saving money, which could have been used for a star signing like Mata.
Anyways, that ship's sailed now ... if you get Afellay or Malouda, you would still be getting a quality player, if not, I'd delay the big-money purchase for the winter when more opoortunities for signign a quality player - Afellay, Nani, etc - could well come about as opposed to spend 10+ mil now on another average player.