Sick of this

[ex_pat_magpie]

Rafa had money to spend.
He bought in players that he believed he needed whilst leaving other players out in the cold.
He might not have had a kings ransom but he did have the funds to tweak the squad after the championship.

The squad he has is more than capable of avoiding relegation but when you continue to play players that are just not doing the job in favour of players that can do a job, then you'll come unstuck.

All Rafa has been able to do is to sell off a few players who he felt wouldn't make the Prem and replace with bare bones and certainly not top choice and not enough quality or quantity.

As TopToon rightly pointed out two posts above, under investment over years has decimated the core of the squad and if Rafa can use the players we have plus what comes in next window to keep us up, hopefully comfortably, then the main work will begin then.

And that is even if it takes plying unexciting football over the rest of this season. Stay up and this season's job is done and ready to build from there. Then we will see what Rafa is made of and what he can do.
This is where Rafa is right now.

He spent over 45 million on players.
It doesn't matter about offsetting with thauvin and a few cheap players for the odd 2 million and such. He still spent 45 million.

If the team stays up, you say it'll be because of Rafa but if it goes down it'll be because of Ashley. Right?

Rafa had the money to spend so it's very simple. If the team goes down it's because of all of them collectively, not just one man.

You can't come up from the Championship and build a top squad in one window from limited means.

Rafa has had only one window on limited funds and hasn't been able to bring in his first choices. As Toptoon posted two posts ago, under investment for years has been the problem. All Rafa has been able to do is move on a few players he felt weren't good enough for the Prem and replace with 3rd and 4th choices.

If he can keep us up, hopefully comfortably, this season then for the time being that is job done for now and the main work begins next window.