I think each and every alliance has expectations and why not, right? But if you want to keep Travian going its in your best interest to "spoon feed" some of those players. Like you say yourself.. not all of them, but if they have potential it's simple... If you don't water your plants they die.... I think its safe to say that its better to put in some of that guidance if you want to keep growing as an alliance, meta... or want to keep Travian alive as a whole.
If you don't teach some players that are curious and "seek" the guidance themselves. Than at the end of the day you are constantly playing the same players and celebrating your win on players who don't even know how to defend themselves. You cannot truly be proud about that after so many years of experience?
I do agree however that if players decide to go in the greyzone they should at least know what they are up against and the Travian guide is not exactly advanced reading And if you are not going to help your players out you might aswell tell them not to settle there at all. I think each ally has every right to make very specific ground rules about that. If you decided to settle outside the zones of the alliance, you do know that you are mostly on your own... or last in line to get help. But that is the decision you made for yourself, knowing fully well what was decided by the leaders.