As said above though it seems to be modern football . People were genuinely ranting out wanting him gone unless we won at Burnley , we’ve had Martinez , Koeman , unsworth and Sam and Walsh as dof all kinds of players bought by all kinds of people and managed in various styles . To put all that behind you and build in a style you want doesn’t happen over night .
We finished behind Burnley last year , we might have been eighth but we were poor . I’ve been saying to mates from the early games, it’s next season I’m excited about . We’re going on the right direction but it’s going to take time . Because city got to the top table quickly , because we’ve spent money, because a few years ago we were next and next with spurs and probably because the RS are doing well all seem to be ramping up the pressure on a manager who has literally just arrived .
I expect that if we really do want to challenge for Europe (say Champions League) then it's going to take at least two to three seasons of development, if not more.
That's not saying that we should be complacent and not expect improvements along the way, but it's naive and unrealistic to expect it to simply happen overnight.
This season is about adapting to a new style of football, embedding new players into the system (including removing previous shackles) and clearing the decks.
Over time, with the correct additions and the subsequent improvement of strength in depth, alongside the exodus of some of the dross, then we will get better.
People will obviously throw last year's and other season's points totals as a benchmark, however really what I am looking for is an improvement in our play.
Personally, I'm currently hoping Silva places a focus on a push for the FA Cup and improving our record away from home against many of the top teams.
The first can bring recognition while our record away is something that's been a bogey for a long, long time; if we want to challenge, it needs challenging ASAP.
