I too have the same concerns, so when the rebuild and Pay are mentioned in the same sentence I get an attack of the butterflies and a wave of uncertainty hits me but I find solace in the thought that Chris Anderson, Steve Mortimer, Warren McDonnell and hopefully Mark Hughes are involved in the recruitment and retention guiding Pay.
Feel the same. Pay could/should have sorted the players and best positions well before this. He is playing favourites without a doubt in Priest and lesser extent Lichaa (he dropped him but he isn't playing any better so why) and not playing unfavourites in Renouf and Brown and most supporters were seeing the potential in trying Lewis/Martin even last year. Dean's rotation policy is off kilter as well in most games and he hasn't remedied the constant right side defensive leaks.
Yes he has had a very hard and challenging first year...but...a guy in his position should be improving those issues that he does have influence over. He hasn't to this point. Doesn't help that his assistant coaches seem to be pretty average though.
He may drastically improve next year and start making the correct calls but it is not accurate, or fair to the club, to say that he has done the best that he can to this point or that he can't be judged now on what we've seen already.
We all wish him well and congratulate him for what he has done well but like the players, the coach is accountable.
