Pretty much.It's just not something you'd ever say even with a terrible list. This regime absolutely loves to preload excuses for players and team performance, stripping away belief in the process. Maybe it works on some players who want to prove you wrong, but I think it's fair to say that our mental preparation has been absolutely horrendous over the last decade.
The team should only ever hear that they're good enough to beat anyone if they work hard and execute.
You have to be realistic but you should be constantly talking up your list within reason.
IIRC both Kenny Average and Chris 'No Idea' Davies called into question the list mid season. They didn't outright pan it but they did what they usually do and hedged all bets with jargon and nothing really to say but implying the list wasn't good enough.
Most of the time they do this because they don't have any skills in determining where the team and players are at.
The only time they are confident is when things are plainly obvious to all such as last year, Davies mid year talking about needing a KPD in the age bracket of the team. He said it with a benign confidence but if he had any real knowledge, he would know why that happened in the first place.
As you've said Scorched One, the preloading of excuses is just not conducive to good administration and coaching and sends the wrong message to the players.
It's like after the Showdown, instead of enjoying the win, Koch was basically auditioning for AFL house with the rubbish came out with.
Its finals and we are half a chance. Lets play a straight bat.