Re timing of the transfers.
Let's not forget our horrible season forces us to play the third qualifying round of the Europa League. This means that we start playing competitive football on 29 July 2010 (i.e. a month earlier than usual). It will be important that we can bring a well prepared team to that match as a bad result there could mean no European football at all.
It's therefore good that we get at least the major part of the team ready before that date. We can still make a couple of moves in August, but the core of the team needs to be ready by 29 July.
I think Marotta takes this into account. We appear to be one of the most active teams in Europe in the early transfer period, and that's a good thing.