This is why those of us who have backed Ole and 'the plan' from the start always expected that this was a 2 to 3 year process. People underestimate what he inherited and how difficult it would be to make progress. The wage bill. The balance of the squad. The 'deadwood'. Most important of all, the culture. We have made massive steps forwards in all of those areas, but we arent there yet.
In terms of this 2 to 3 year process, I personally thought we finished last season a year ahead of schedule. A strong first team, better culture, reduced wage bill, back in the CL. An outstanding effort. This summer has been far from a complete bust. We've cleared out some more players, and signed a cracking midfielder for a great price, BUT, the lack of so far being able to land our targets has been a setback. That might change in the coming days.
The point being, where people see a shambles, a joke of a club, a club being run into the ground, run by clowns, or cnuts, or PE teachers, or all of the other bile that is posted here by the hour, I still see a club that is moving forwards. No more stupid mistakes in the transfer market. No more mercenaries. The correct due diligence on all of our targets. Holes rather than arseholes, as Ole wonderfully stated. All it takes is patience, and layering the progress brick by brick. Its the only way to get there