I'm not so sure Gerry. I don't think you have read the article the right way.
I don't think the implication was that we expected to limp into the finals and hope we play a vic team to get a home final. Michael states, "but a home final has to be our goal this year, if not top four." Considering he is linking that aim to just below a top four spot then I think he is talking about a guaranteed home final based on ladder position, either fifth or sixth. That should cover your win more games than you lose query and move towards the 14 wins goal.
The fact that Michael also states that (well according to the author anyway) that the final losses, ''have left a bitter taste in the players' mouths" and that he '' believes there is plenty to suggest the Blues can go deeper into September'' would indicate to me that they fully expect to win a final. Which knocks off another of your requests.
Possibly a valid critcism is the aim of top four, although he does say, ''if not top four"
I really do think the article was actually about us expecting to do better than last season, rather than some sort of stagnation.
One of us is wrong anyway
Or both partly right 