..we can see the difference between the two sides purely by looking at the stadiums and this is reflected nicely in the teams, we are very safe in this league. I wish we would start very soon with rebuilding because I put this above anything on the pitch.

You may or may not be right. My point is that there is not any realistically available alternative candidate who can make us a fundamentally better performing side.

Where, in all honesty, and in the presence of probably (at least) ten better sides than us, do you think we should be?

I've already said Big Sam would be better as an example. I think we should be lower to middle and middle at best. However, based on form in 2016 (as I has mentioned numerous times) I think we'all be pulled into the bottom 5 ... sooner rather than later! Have a look at the recent post by someone with some useful stats. There's a worrying and very obvious trend that people seem intent on ignoring / excusing IMO

Not going to read the whole thread as I don't like arguments

Thought there were mistakes in the starting 11. AP knew that Liverpool would press hard but played Ledley who is not good under pressure and hasn't played well in the last 3 games. If Puncheon wasn't fit enough then Lee should have come into Punch's position as his energy and touch would have helped the midfield.

Not starting Townsend was also a mistake, as it limited our outballs with Chungy coming inside all the time (which is where he naturally wants to be). With Andros and Wilf in the side you have width and that could have helped when we were under the kosh at times today. So many balls came out of the defence and straight to a Liverpool player in the middle of the park, particularly in the first half.

Last glaring error was starting Kelly against Mane. I don't believe Kelly can play at LB as he is clearly not comfortable using his left foot. I think Ward is a better option at LB and put Kelly on the right. Or alternatively start Fryers, because Kelly is not up to playing on the wrong side. I rate him as a RB and think he could do a job in the middle but it's not working and AP needs to see that.

Apart from that, terrible defending, poor refereeing, and lukewarm chips from the chippy on the way back. But I'm not complaining.

"Brighton are talking about how they're coming for us. And it's like, we've been waiting in the Premier League for you for ages." Wilfried Zaha, 2017.

I'm getting older tho Cucking! Me ol' ticker can't take the roller coaster anymore

Al's use of the word transition at the start of the season did sound like, give me more time, after a terrible second half of sesaon league run.It's clear though that he has been trying to change our way of playing and now I think it is right to give him more time and more importantantly give our players more time to adjust to this syle. There will be inevitable mistakes when looking for passes rather than hoofing out wide.
It's better than his talk of encouraging mavericks when first appointed, which seemed to just rely on Wilf and Yala.
Also, obviously. Work on f***ing defending.

It's good to keep an opened mind, but not so open that your brains fall out.