Indeed.
One of the charges laid against Roberto last season and which I subscribed to from Hammers at home onwards was that he was incapable of getting the best out of what the vast majority on here regarded as a very talented squad.
But now that our new manager actually has the team playing worse than it was this time last year we are being told Bobby had in fact assembled a "crap" squad so poor old Ronald cannot be held to account for the generally boring, increasingly awful and as of last Saturday totally gutless style of play we have witnessed since the referee blew the whistle to start the second half in the Spurs game on opening day.
The kindest thing I can say about the Koeman era, more than a quarter of a season in, is that if he did indeed inherit a "crap" squad then he has only succeeded in making it worse.
Khal, we're higher now than we have been at pretty much any stage for the past two years...
You know I was one of RM's supporters and my argument always was that the squad needed to step up as well as the manager.
However, the simple fact remains that he got fired because he underachieved with another bottom-half finish.
Koeman, in the brief time he's been here, has so far got us into the top 7 and we have stayed there all season so far - albeit it is still very early days.
The football hasn't been great, but compared to the dross that was served up from March onwards, then barring the other night it's been much better.
The style hasn't been crap at all and it's clear what the coaches are tying to implement in terms of a pressing game.
He has made a few mistakes, but in general I'd say 7th-9th is where (on paper) this squad belongs.
I'm yet to see a team below us that frightens me, let's put it that way.
The key now is getting rid of the deadwood (of which there is far too much) and bringing in fresh faces who fit the style.
Whatever people's thoughts on the summer window, the one thing we have done is bring in players who fit the style Koeman wants to go for in terms of solidity and intensity - a mix that more often than not he had at S'ton.
Williams - no nonsense, leader at the back. Needs a ball player next to him now as him and Jags are too 'one-paced', and it looks like Jags' legs have gone.
Gueye - high-intensity, always on top of the play. Showed just how key he's been for us the other day when he was missing.
Bolasie - already formed a great partnership with Lukaku. Inconsistent and very frustrating, but I can't see how people can't realise that this is the level of winger a club that currently is aiming for top 7 has to have. When on form he's electric, and he still leads the way in terms of the entire league for chances created. He's also sixth (though technically, second behind five players on five) in terms of assists.
Stek - At the start of the season he was winning us games with some great saves. Had the game of his life vs City but three clear errors in his last two games have rightly seen his place called into question. He's not the level we need and we should have done better in the summer. Ultimately it may be a position that we have to wait on though as despite what some people think we aren't going to go and get Pickford or Heaton or anybody else who is a first-choice goalkeeper at their club's (unless they have an amazing back-up obviously) in the middle of the season.
