No one said "so much better" ffs. But I still wouldn't swap SR back for Gao.
Gao took over a club that finished the four previous seasons 8th, 7th, 6th, and 8th (and got to a cup final). His first managerial appointment was Pellegrino (!) and we only didn't get relegated in his first season because of one scrappy Gabbiadini goal.
Under Gao we sold Van Dijk and brought in the likes of Carillo, Hoedt, Lemina, Elyounoussi, Djenepo, Salisu, and Diallo.
Ralph and Ings helped gloss over the cracks for a while, but apart from one good season we were finishing on fewer points as each season passed.
Oh and we failed to offer Ings an adequate contract, which, lets face it, was the main reason for our decline. We replaced him with Adam Armstrong btw.
I mean I get being angry right now. I really do. But let's also be realistic. SR inherited a mess. Gao inherited a club in a far, far healthier position.