One of the trends that I dislike in all these "clique sagas" surfacing now is that somehow there is always an excuse towards why things should be less optimal than just finding the right person for the right job.

If you settle for less in hopes of some magical outcome then don't make excuses afterwards. No one needs an explanation of why you thought your fuckup was supposed to work out differently. None is owed. Just say: "I fucked up". Don't mention any other name than your own.

Grow a pair and don't shift blame, or try to look good by claiming that other people made even worse decisions.