Of course there is a difference between Madrid/Barca and us, but the principle still stands. Mertesacker didn´t sign thinking he may be third choice only a couple of months later. He isn´t, yet, but he may very well be when Jenkinson/Sagna come back. Gervinho didn´t sign to be a player off the bench. I am pretty sure he was until Nasri was sold though.
My point was that a lot of players go to clubs fully confident that they will be first choice, if not immediately then within a few months. I think most players think they are better than they really are.
