Both those Managers had us winning the Golden Boot at some point. We even had the 1 and 3 Rd highest goalscorers in the league, in the same team as one stage.
This only leaves one reason why we didn't challenge for anything. That was our defence. Those Managers won with everyone else but us. Do you really believe they couldn't have challenged given the defence we had playing today? Udogie, Romero, VdV and Porro owned the game. Almost everytime we were attacked they dispossessed the opponents and let the ball, beating a player or two and opening the game for the midfield.
Its not rocket science.