I am guessing the manager had an input into the players that were signed, otherwise he should have walked back then if he has so little input into the team he is to manage.
Any team needs to learn to stop losing before you learn to start winning.
The City game showed that we can defend and be difficult to play against and that we can pick up points. I think that if we are going to avoid relegation this season the price we will pay is watching dull defensive football , not conceding much at all and scoring a little more than that.
I think if we try to do anything else we will be relegated for sure.... of course that does depend on no splurging of cash in this window.