A question to the people who are still defending, haven't been critical of LVG, and aren't yet, concerned, frustrated at the lack of results, progress etc etc etc. What or how long will it take before you start to get worried, annoyed, frustrated?
Read my posts and you will see that I do not criticize LVG, so I will answer from my view.
I was well happy when LVG got the job, he plays a style of football that I like and has the ego that I think is necessary to take on a big role. My expectations, were that we get top 4. Not a title challenge, and I don't care how much he has spent. We are competing with Arsenal, City and Chelsea to name a few that have had a fairly consistent squad for a number of years with the odd fine tuning. Though, Moyes, took over what people could also argue was a fairly stable squad, LVG didn't. He lost 3 of his most experienced defenders, and arguably our only creative midfielder in Giggs. Therefore, I accepted that whoever he brought in would have to gel. We have seen at Spurs, and previously at Chelsea too much change causes problems. It is a bit of a myth that you can just buy good players and they will gel day 1.
So, I initially expected us to be fighting with Spurs, Liverpool and Everton for that final place. I always think that Spurs have a mental block against the big teams, even when they are in form, so I usually expect them to drop off. Everton, OK when they have their first 11, but again, seem to have a mental block against the big teams. So that leaves us and Liverpool. Now regardless of how well they played last year, their confidence was high an I think they played above their level on many occasions. Take Suarez aside, and I think they are probably 1 gear down at least. Add all their changes and all of a sudden they don't look so hot. So I still have expectations of 4th this year.
As for concern, I think the doomsayers are well OTT. Nobody will argue that they are happy with the points total, but relative to our challengers we are all in the mix a quarter of the way through the season. Do I see disorganization that so many mention, NO. Do I see unbalance that so many mention, NO. It may all sound good to say that, but I do think it is a load of ****. I see a team, that since Leicester has played as a team, I think they have been well organized. Have players made mistakes Rafael & Co for WBA, Smalling for City, Rooney for WHU, YES. However, I do not attribute any of that to LVG. I see a heart in the team, even though I still think we are short of a leader. As for our attacking threat, it has not helped that RVP has been a bit off form, and Falcao has been injured, however we would not be better with Danny or Hernandez.
When would I get worried, when the players don't look as thought they are playing for LVG. If, we keep on dropping points against the lower teams in second half of the year then I will really be worried. I don't see that happening, and I also expect the challenge for 4th to go to the wire. So as long as we are there or there abouts I am happy. Next year is a different story, but I set my expectations for 4th, so that why I am not too concerned at the moment. We are not better or worse than any of our challengers.
