Presumably the fans using these figures as a stick to beat Poyet with in terms of his playing budget v non promotion will do the same with Oscar Garcia, who, as we know, enjoyed a slight increase on playing budget compared to last season.
The reality of the situation is that, in almost 90 per cent of cases, teams finish in the division in roughly the same place they would if the table was ranked on playing budget. Ours may have increased, but it is still not near the top end. Certainly not, I would imagine, in the top six. Poyet over-achieved significantly. Oscar will, I imagine, do the same - albeit perhaps not as drastic an over-achievement as finishing fourth with a mid table budget.
This is key and everyone keeps ignoring it when looking back on his reign.