Papercut
Jermaine Jenas
I don't think they are ignorant to this, but I do think that they really can't deal with it and are struggling to cope with the expectations and the pressure. It's a Spurs thing, which our inexperience only adds to.
We can help by not adding any more expectations to the list already upon them. Top four first, title talk is premature and, given our weaknesses, more than a bit short-sighted. Top four is achievable, but is also surprisingly challenging: as I mentioned, we'll need 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses to get to 70, and 5 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses to get to 73. That isn't a cakewalk, not when you look at our fixture list.
If we keep labouring under title delusions and (consequently) suffering from pressure, we might fall between two stools and not make the top four either. It's not impossible, given United's climb and the unpredictability of this season.
That would be an utter disaster. Hence, focus on securing what we have first (which, by itself, would be a great achievement, more so if we finish on 73 points and achieve our record points total) before indulging in flights of fancy.
That's why I (in the same post you quoted) said "This season is transitional (it really is!) and if we make it into the ECL then more the joy for us."
But we are still in a title race!