Avoiding relegation is the aim for this squad and it always was. I suggest that time is needed for success. By that I mean at least 6 transfer windows, to turn things around. Other managers may take less time to do so elsewhere, but Westley has done some major surgery on the playing staff at Deepdale, and even though he doesn't say it, he must look at his squad and think "what the fuck?", and breath a disbelieving sigh of relief that the team has accumulated 29 points.
I reckon that Westley has performed a miracle already in keeping this squad in mid-table. This includes regular performances where the side looks absolutely dreadful.
Out of all of the previous managers of North End post Moyes, I'm prepared to watch and wait as Westley prepares his next squad in January and indeed, in the summer. North End must stick by a bloke for a period of 3 years, or else the club will continue towards oblivion.
Westley seeks the right formula, and he is brave in going for it.
Christ, take a look down the road at Ewood Park. They've just sign Josh King. I reckon you could see Rovers, Bolton and Blackpool slumping south in the next 12 months or so, so why not just hang on to the current bloke, build a little bit of fan/manager rapport, in anticipation of some derbies to come.
For the simple reason of what Westley has had to work with he deserves acknowledgement for what he has done, and has earned his right to continue at Deepdale until he finds the right formula.
If he fails, he will fail, but right now the current status does not represent failure in my eyes.