A gulf in quality which was not that evident in Peps first season? Plus we've still given Jose the resources to bridge that gap in quality, spending record fees on a striker and midfielder. Pep bought Ederson, Silva, Mendy, Walker, Danilo in his second season, Mendy and Danilo barely featuring in their season . We got Lukaku, Matic, Lindelof and later Sanchez. One team has gone on to win the EPL with record points total while one is still playing hoofball to Fellaini. Other teams who finished below us are now competing with City despite this 'gulf in quality' while we are looking worse off
Again, you're putting the entirety of transfer blame on Jose when there is an evidently shit scouting set up and lack of DoF at the club, but even noting your point, Pep was able to spunk £50m a pop on each of his defenders. His goalkeeper was more than Lindelof/Bailey IIRC. The level that Pep can afford to spend is far more than what Jose has, which is clear as day. Do you really think if Jose had City's resources he'd go in for Lindelof? Get out.
As for the bit in bold, as CA1 has already mentioned, City will likely run away with it again. It's fecking October, stop acting like you know who is and isn't in the title race because its far too early for that yet. The only side that's tipped to win the title ahead of City spent more than us anyway.
Yeah, because we were managed by a clueless clown and a past-it lunatic, they hardly set the standards high.
Zero title challenges and went out with a whimper against Sevilla in the CL. And we're all but out of the title race this season and could easily get eliminated from the CL in the group stage as well. And to top it off we play shite football. Not nearly good enough for Manchester United.
It's very deniable. I know you might love him, but we aren't any more relevant than we've been at any point since SAF retired.
I didn't ask why we finished there did I? The fact is, we did. We were pretty much lost side outside of Champions League and a terribly disjointed squad. Ageing, no striker, no proper defense and resting all hopes on a 20year old Frenchman and an 18 year old academy kid. Jose made some changes and took us back on the map, whether you like it or not.
Again, I don't really give a shit about Sevilla anymore. It was terrible and Jose is responsible, but it's 180 mins that doesn't outdo his managerial pedigree. This is another season and there's a lot yet to salvage so I'd rather back the manager and the team than act like a spoilt brat wanting change for the sake of change.