Or two thirds of the relegated sides last year.

I think it's obvious our recruitment policy is extremely poor, thus handicapping us.

For every potential gem like Meyer we have Sorloth, Rakip, Jach, Ayew etc. Not a good ratio.

We also don't seem to be able to get a good defensive coach. Our players on paper seem decent at the back but put them all together and collectively they are way less than the sum of their parts.

Our manager recruitment has also not been the best since Pulis. Hodgson seems decent but he's 71! I don't think there's ever been a manager who brings his best in his 70's.

Simply we need to recruit better quality on the pitch and in the backroom staff. Then we'll see some progress.

You'll be forever in my family's memories and it was an honor and privilege to play and lead in the red and blue
Yours sincerely
Mile Jedinak

We have had a high turnover in managers with different philosophies about how football should be played and this does not promote stability or assist in recruitment terms.
There is no doubt we have a better quality of player in the squad than five years ago but it could be argued that we don’t have the same character and grit.
We have lost characters such as Jedi, Delaney and Murray but we may well have struggled if they had stayed in any event.
The flaw has been in trying to replace Murray in particular.
We have spent a large part of our budget on Benteke and Sako.
On paper 2 quality players at a good age but there are still question marks against both.
If you haven’t got a reliable scorer you are always likely to be looking over your shoulder rather than pushing into the top ten.

There's been huge progress from relegation certainties to established premier league club but unless you're top six the trap door always beckons.

Like many I've been frustrated by the transfer chaos but let's not forget the stories that Pulis didn't want Wilf and Puncheon was a ridiculous success in the first two seasons.