This is going to be the hardest season of MON's reign and whether we like it or not we are going to have a fight on our hands to get top 8.
The top 4 are, well they are the top 4
Man City, spent ridiculous money
Everton will no doubt have a solid season as per usual
Tottenham, if their form since redknapp arrived is anything to go by they will be consistent for the first time in a few years
Not to mention the threat of sunderland, fulham, west ham and possibly wigan?
There are only so many top 6 places to go around and most of the teams mentioned above will feel they can achieve one of those places.
If we slipped out of the top 8 or top 10 I wouldn't sack MON as succesful teams don't do that at the first hint of trouble. A manager does not become bad overnight, yes MON makes decisons that baffle everyone and he is rubbish in the transfer market but those methods have got us two top 6 finishes after a few years of being in the dumps. To restore us back to the top 6 positions was no easy feat given the state of the
squad and the challenge from other teams. OK he has spent a lot of money and it probably could have been spent better in places, but if anyone else thinks many other managers could have secured 2 top 6 finishes after the shambles we were in after the ellis/DOL days then I can't comprehend that.
I think O'Neil will walk when he feels he has taken us as far as he can, when that will be, who knows?