Royal Lady .... I love McD and even if we are relegated with a lower points tally than Derby had, you won't see me screaming for his head. I think his hands have still been tied to some extent. I don't think having a rich owner will have made any difference whatsoever. ....
I don't believe his hands were tied. I'm pretty sure there was a jointly agreed strategy not to go mad pre-season, to stick with (show loyalty to, as you said) the squad that got us there, knowing there was money to change things later. (I mean expectations for that squad need only have been to avoid relegation, holding our own in the top half like last time would be a surprise bonus. Finding ourselves bottom is the worst case scenario now, but it's better than being bottom next May.
Part of the risk in that strategy is being unable to do much about it (except source and plan possibilities) until January. But fair do's for having the courage to go with that strategy. As we saw with Roberts last season, one key signing can change the fortunes of a team - again we're only talking about avoiding relegation first season up.