I get your point and always felt anything above 10th would probably be a push this season given our limited squad and European exertions, but I think people are entitled to be quite disappointed with a 6-1 defeat...
I think he's trying to be too clever. Making 9 changes every game, rotating keepers every two games, chucking in a teenager to make his debut away at one of the in-form teams in the league... we're just going to end up with two teams that lack any form of cohesion.