As it is, the new manager is now discovering what it's like to be our boss. Each time you try and buy a player, we f*** about so much that it doesn't happen. We didn't get Texeira, we may not get Goetze, it now appears we may not get Zeilinski either.
I disagree with this Mick. Firstly I think with Teixeira it was Jürgen who pulled the plug, granted if we had a bigger budget it would have been easier to continue with transfer at a fee he thought wasn't 'value' but we understand that we have owners who apply limits to our budget and until that changes then there will always need to be a choice. Jürgen made that choice to stop, which is different from the past.
In the case of Gotze I think it's his Dad having a word in his ear, by all accounts we threw the kitchen sink at this one, willing to go above and beyond any rival offer, we can ask no more of the owners than that. Much like you I can't stand the owners but I think it would be unfair to criticise on this occasion (it's valid on most others
)
Zeilinski I've not heard enough from reliable people to make a judgement.
And I do think it's legitimate to ask, if things are sooooooo much better than they were previously, then why aren't our expectations soooooo much higher too?
I'll explain from my point of view Mick:
This is Jürgen's first year with his new signings, I know people are suggesting he's had a long bedding in period and it should smooth the transition of new players but I believe the cuts will be deeper and further reaching than many seem to be suggesting. If he is to change just 1 or 2 of the starting XI then this will be less of a case but I believe it will be 4 or 5 and with that a vastly different bench. So to be fair to Jürgen I'm judging this as his first 'proper' season and in that case I don't think expecting consistency, which a title challenge requires, would be fair. I'm prepared to afford him the occasional hiccup, of course I hope to challenge but I try to keep hope and expectations separate.
It's also due to the fact that of the teams already above us will strengthen on numerous fronts.
Arsenal: They've spent well already, about time Wenger loosened the purse strings, when he does he doesn't generally get too many of the big signings wrong.
Man City: I think Guardiola, as we all expect, will spend massively on 'proven talent', money we simply can't compete with and therefore it would be harsh to expect our 'bargain basement' buys to reach that level immediately. Jürgen needs a chance to turn these less obvious talents into the world beaters, he doesn't do that simply by buying them he needs time to coach them. When considering City you must also understand they start ahead of us and their players clearly weren't performing to their best at the end of Pelligrini's time, you'd expect Guardiola to get much more out of what is already there too.
Man United: Mourinho is a c**t but he also has a track record of buying the best and winning, so that will probably continue. They were a mess under LvG and Maureen will hopefully leave them in a mess he seems to leave clubs in but to expect that we can compete with a team likely to spend £200m is a tough ask when we're starting from behind them also.
Spurs: A team definitely going places, I rate their manager very highly indeed, while he's not right now considered one of the top managers in the world I think time will tell he is making his way up that ladder very quickly. They should not be underestimated at all. Starting behind them is also a tough task to overhaul.
Chelsea: I'd expect to stay ahead of Chelsea.
West Ham: I think they've done very well, I'd expect to pass them but wouldn't underestimate what Bilic is doing there and they are most certainly emerging as a threat to the top 4.
Southampton: I think we'll pass them without issue.
Leicester: I think will find themselves back in the pack this season, it feels like everyone is underestimating their challenge next season which has me a little suspicious but hey I'll go along with that. I think this season was the perfect storm, they'll no longer have teams approaching games against them as they did this year (much like Kopite78 explained) and they'll struggle with the extra games, so we'll pass them.
Which means realistically we're 5th but with Jürgen I think we will progress quicker than the others but even with Jürgen it takes time to gel and polish the edges. From my personal perspective he gets as long as it takes because I know he'll get it right soon enough and I'm going to enjoy that journey but from an expectation standpoint 4th or above would be an excellent next step any higher and he's exceeding my expectations, that simple really.
