I think things are definitely improving ............ no sometimes it isnt pretty or even very good .......... but we are winning games more often and that has to be good. The more we win the more confident the players will be......... but equally there seems to me to be a growing expectation amongst the fans that we can go into games with a realistic chance of at least 1 point or that 3 points is not unreasonable to expect (it used to be unreasonable all too often).
MR has changed the ethos of the club to some degree (still ways to go yet) from a nice place to have a kick around to a more professional place of work. The players may not be performing to their best but they are working, do understand the formation, know the standards their manager expects and are growing into a team.
Will we make play offs etc ......... personally i think it is too soon to tell so i am not expecting it to happen. We are 10 points behind the 6th team who have a game in hand, It doesnt look much but if those top six match our points tally till Xmas we will still be 10 points behind but with half the games played. Of course it can be done, but right now i am just relaxing in the knowledge that we seem to have a team that doesnt get beat anything like as often as it used to ..... a team that is heading upwards finally with a growing confidence ..... and a manager that knows how to mould a team and get results.
I think if you look at what was there to begin the season and what is there now there are significant and important differences. The team is more cohesive, there is a better blend and balance, the players understand the system and can play it, ok sometimes it isnt quality but we get results, fullbacks are starting to get forward, there have been 12 scorers this season already, we have a target man in form which gives us a chance and keeps some pressure off the defence, the team is younger with growing energy (ok not as young as last season that was too young but younger than what AT had in mind for this season), we keep a tighter more solid shape better organised, there is only one man in charge and he appears to know his job (ie getting results). Wins breed confidence and for once the future looks far more positive. Long way to go and a lot to change but yes far more positive
still not convinced we will make playoffs this season.......... but if we dont I think i could almost bank on us going up automatically next season.