Anyone else listen to Bruce's interview on tigersplayer? It was pretty good. He clearly expects to be given at least 2 years to complete the job and get the team situated to make a real push for promotion. I know he is signed for 3 years but that clearly doesnt mean much these days.
This year and next year is how I took it. He talked about us not having enough grit in the midfield and that with the transfer widows being so small he couldn't get what we needed. He said that it would take a couple more windows to get the players that he thought we were missing.
I also saw it, and agree it was a good interview. I got the feeling he wasn't saying it will take 2 years, but that in 2 years time you can judge whether he has done a good job or not. I thought the point he made saying that the balance had now swung a bit to far to attacking side, as he was trying to address the goal famine, which he now has none, the balance has to be brought back slightly to sort out the defensive problems. I thought Burnsey's comment that we had the best record for the least amount of fouls committed, maybe showed we lacked bite in mid-field, and SB agreed and said we need a hard man ideally, to add bite to that area. Overall I thought he is saying that progress has been made, but it needs tweaking to now get the balance right between attack and defense.
I think he's had to re-assess with the injuries to Hobbs, Chester, Cairney & Fryatt. Getting the right "enforcer" isn't easy - he had at Sunderland/Wigan with Cattermole but he's often injured too.. and you don't want a Simon Walton. people know Ash but there were also proper hard footballers in Gary Brabin plus natural leaders like Justin Whittle, David D'Auria, Warren Joyce & Stan McEwan before him..