Like I've said a few times, providing we don't nosedive down the league or he doesn't lose the dressing room, he's my choice to take us into next season.
Does 2 points from 6 games and 1 win a 6 defeats in 7 away games not count as nosediving? That's why I'm posting on this thread so often, I can't work out why there aren't a lot more people who are concerned by this.
Bruce has succeeded in dumbing down expectations. Shit performances, results in a tail spin and throwing the cheque book at the problem.
Changing to 343 was particularly worrying at the weekend, as others have said we barely have three centre halves on the books so the recent transfer plunge surely should have considered another centre half.
Like any manager he needs results to improve but some consistency of tactics and team selection would surely help.
You do realise we've had 9 players come in, in the January transfer window alone, don't you? We've also had 8 out i think, with 3 sold and 5 loaned. I'd suggest it's pretty difficult given those numbers alone, to pick a consistent team. When some players have only actually been here for 1 or 2 games.
He experimented with what he inherited to try and get the best out of it, but the team was obviously not good enough in several areas, and we all knew it. He had a good initial effect but the same old problems kept cropping up. Injuries also dictated teams and tactics too.
Now he's had a fairly good transfer window with his choice of players, given the obvious constraints, and now he has to be given time to work with them. Personally i think we've now got a pretty good group of players, we messed up at Forrest (mostly through individual errors) but i saw a lot of potential in some of the performances and the partnerships that can be struck up.
I think the Dr is doing exactly the right thing too with his latest comments about using this season now as a springboard for the next. It takes the pressure off of the manager and players for a bit, which i think affects a lot of people when they come here, and will allow them to play with a bit more freedom and fluency. If we hit a good run and make the play offs all well and good, if not, we consolidate in the summer by shifting some more of the deadwood, get a few more shrewd acquisitions in and really go for it next season.
Obviously if things continue as they have and don't tangibly improve before the end of the season, then he has to go, but i just can't see that happening with his track record.