Jazz, it all depends where you draw the line on what is realistic. For me, that's a mid table finish and a season of consolidation. I don't believe any fans expectations are higher than that. Certainly not on here.
As regards the transfer window, my version of realistic is acceptance of the monetary constraints we are working under, and that some of our business will be done at the end of the window. I believe it is realistic to say that we will bring in another DM and one, quite possibly two strikers by the end of the window. The quality of those players dependant upon selling Gordon or not.
I understand that other peoples take on reality will be different to mine. Some will be less optimistic, some possibly slightly more, and some will simply not accept the financial situation we find ourselves in, or even think we should disregard them and just face the consequences later. I'm absolutely fine with that. People will also have different opinions on the players we bring in and those we have allegedly missed out on. Again, perfectly fine. No issues from me. I totally respect peoples right to hold a different opinion, so long as they are civil and relatively polite in expressing it.
I don't object to the negativity and pessimism in the Everton forum, even though I get frustrated by the sheer volume of it. But I do object to some of the toxicity which I believe is OTT at times. But what is really getting on my tits right now is that the same posters are repeating the same message time after time after time. They are like a broken bloody record and there are lots doing it. The same post 10 times a day or more every day. I can't believe we still haven't bought a striker. The third game of the season and we still haven't got a striker. Richy was sold a month ago and he still hasn't been replaced. We should have known DCL would get injured. We're going to lose every game in August and get relegated. Rinse and reoeat. It's like when you've had an argument with the missus and she won't let it go. ?