I understand that there is a long list of reasons and excuses why we are not positioned better in the table. tValid ones. But let’s not call it success until results are better than the last 5-6 seasons. That doesn’t mean I think ETH is doing a terrible or average job, just that it is too early to evaluate. As you say it will take time to improve, which also means we do not know yet if ETH is the man who can do it.
For me the biggest improvements are that we have a coach with a plan and a philosophy I like.
The context you say? And then you write that ETH has “achieved so much this season”. With context in mind, which achievements are you referring to? A brain dead and stupid writer like me could really learn a lot from you.
The achievements are being already on a better points total than last year while winning a Cup and in contention for 2 more. The context is the insane amount of injuries we've had and the Ronaldo situation. We have literally improved from last year. Can you deny this?
Ronaldo, while not being great, was our best striker last year and we lost him. Martial injured the whole year.
We have had no striker but Wout for most of the season. And even then we've had him since January. Is this fact wrong?
The many injuries we've had have happened to our best players. Is this wrong?
Our squad is one that you and most have called shit for the most part in the last few years and these are the players ETH has to rely on. Is this wrong?
Is that enough context for you?
We've played an enitire season with no striker. We've missed 2 of our best midfielders for half the season. We've only played 17 games where Bruno, Cas and Eriksen have played together and in those games we've won 15 and lost none. We now have Rashford and his natural back up (Garnacho) out. We're missing most of our defence right now for the run in. In all this time ETH has had to play players that for, at least, 3 years have been called 'shit' by the vast majority of our fan base. What more do you honestly want? Like what sort of incredible miracle do you want. I assume you think Maguire is shit, do you want ETH to turn him into Nesta? McTominay into Xavi? What do you, and posters like you want?
The context is the awful injuries, the Ronaldo and Greenwood situations and the ownership situation. The reality is that we are much better off than we were last season. Even if we fail in both cups and just get top 4 we have improved. That is why I am so impressed with ETH.
So what is your problem? What do you think he should be doing better? Are you one of 'those' posters who care more about a 7-0 freak result against Liverpool than the fact we are smashing them in points in the League. Please tell me what you think 'should' be better but don't try to say that injuries and everything else he's faced should not matter. That is the 'context'.
Take away 10 first team players from Pep for various parts of the season and let me know how he does. Hell take away Haaland for basically the entire season and let me know. Yet ETH has gotten on with the job, refused to blame injuries and the situation, gotten results in spite of that and yet you still doubt him.
What more do you want? But most of all why is it that when you judge ETH you seem to never take into account the amount of, out of his hands, difficulties he's faced?