Three years ago today, Steve Bruce was appointed as our new manager. please log in to view this image The story so far... June 8: Bruce unveiled FOLLOWING Nicky Barmby's controversial departure as manager at the end of the 2011-12 season, it was always going to take a big-name boss to get City fans back onside. For a club the size of the Tigers, they didn't – and still don't – come much bigger than Steve Bruce. Addressing the media three years ago today, Bruce spoke of his desire to return top-flight football to East Yorkshire. Alongside him, a beaming Tigers' owner Assem Allam spoke glowingly of his new manager and made a point of stating just how expensive he was. July 2012: First transfer activity HAVING assessed his squad in pre-season, Bruce immediately set about overhauling a team which he felt wasn't good enough for the challenge of promotion. The first port of call was to get Andy Dawson signed on a new one-year deal with the club, but on July 9, goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic signed a two-year contract to become Bruce's official first full signing as City manager. Son, Alex Bruce followed soon after with Sone Aluko, but it was the £2.6m record-breaking acquisition of Nick Proschwitz which had fans excited. The Tigers were paying big money for a man to provide the necessary goals, but the signing will remain one of Bruce's misses. September 2012: Slow, quick, slow A STUTTERING start of one win in the opening three games of the Championship saw the arrivals of Ahmed Elmohamady and Stephen Quinn on deadline day to give the Tigers a fresh impetus in attack. The pair helped brush aside Bolton Wanderers a day later as Bruce's boys ran out 3-1 winners at the KC. City followed up that success with equally impressive victories over Millwall and Leeds and fans had never had it so good, with the first seeds sown for a potential promotion. However, three defeats in a row against Leicester, Peterborough and Blackpool brought them back down to earth with a bump, with Bruce being sent to the stands at the King Power Stadium. December 29: Win over Leeds please log in to view this image FOR many fans, this was the stand-out performance of the Tigers' season, as the promotion bandwagon really clicked into gear in what proved a perfect month, the result finishing a run of five wins in six games. It was all City. Aluko was in irresistible form as the visitors struggled to cope. The scores were level at half-time but on 52 minutes, Corry Evans picked up a through-ball from Robbie Koren before slotting home. Just three minutes later, City doubled their lead when David Meyler headed in a Robbie Brady corner. The result completed the Tigers' first league double over Leeds in 25 years. January 8: Transfer success AS days in the transfer market go, Bruce enjoyed one of his best in the January window of the 2012-13 season. Bringing in Brady from Manchester United and Meyler from Sunderland on long-term deals looked great business at the time and certainly nobody is arguing two and a half years later. May 4: Promotion against Cardiff please log in to view this image THE dateline of May 4, 2013 won't be forgotten in a hurry around these parts, but in reality it could easily have been avoided. Going down 2-0 at Barnsley a week earlier, Bruce's men blew their early chance of promotion and it all came down to the last game of the season. A frantic afternoon saw City go behind against Cardiff, take the lead, miss a last-minute penalty and concede a last-minute spot-kick. And even when the full-time whistle went, we still didn't know whether they'd done enough, as Watford, the only side who could overtake City, were still in action against Leeds. A late, late Ross McCormack goal sparked wild celebrations back at the KC. Bruce had – albeit by the skin of his teeth – delivered on his promise. City were back in the big time. 2013-14 SEASON August 24: Win over Norwich THE summer transfer activity was significant but minimal as George Boyd signed after his loan move, and Allan McGregor, Steve Harper and Maynor Figueroa joined him on board. The one deal to make people sit up and take notice was Tom Huddlestone from Tottenham and with the midfielder on board City were ready to tackle the Premier League. The Tigers' first win back in the top flight didn't take too much waiting around for. After a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on the opening day, City welcomed Norwich to the KC on August 24 as Yannick Sagbo enjoyed an eventful home debut. The Ivorian international won the penalty that decided the fixture on 22 minutes after being felled by ex-Tiger Michael Turner before being sent off for head-butting Russell Martin. The ten men of City held on for a vital three points. December 1: First-ever win over Liverpool LIVERPOOL were the first of the so-called big boys to come to town during the 2013-14 season, and they left the KC empty-handed. Jake Livermore's deflected opener was cancelled out by a Steven Gerrard free-kick and the two sides went in level at the break. Meyler swept home City's second on 72 minutes before a Martin Skrtel own goal sealed City's first-ever win against the Reds. Liverpool got their revenge on New Year's Day, but City soon had reason to smile with Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long arriving in the January window for £14m. May 17: FA Cup final please log in to view this image AFTER losing at Aston Villa two weeks previously, City headed into the FA Cup final on May 17, 2014 with their top-flight status secure and ready to enjoy their biggest day in the spotlight. The opening 10 minutes at Wembley delivered the type of drama and excitement which left Tigers' fans pinching themselves. City raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from James Chester and Curtis Davies, and they almost added a third when Alex Bruce's header was cleared off the line. Alas, it wasn't to be and you know how the story ends. Goals from Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and an extra-time winner from Aaron Ramsey broke City hearts on a day that will forever live in the memory of everyone who was there. 2014-15 SEASON July 31: Europa League debut CITY'S exploits in the FA Cup delivered a maiden European adventure. Unfortunately, the momentous achievement was marked by a less-than-momentous first result: a 0-0 against Slovakian side AS Trencin. Tom Huddlestone's missed penalty and subsequent ballooning of the rebound over the bar will be the abiding memory. City got the job done when Trencin returned to the KC but couldn't reach the promised land of the group stages after a play-off defeat at the hands of KSC Lokeren. It was a shock result to the Belgians that left a sense of deflation and a feeling of a great opportunity being missed. September 1: Deadline day IF the pundits were to be believed, City "won" transfer deadline day last September. The arrivals of Abel Hernandez (£10m) and Mohamed Diame (£3.5m), coupled with the loan signings of Gaston Ramirez and Hatem Ben Arfa, left fans drooling and giddy about what was to come. It was supposed to mark the start of a new dawn for City but instead they ended up trying to run before they could walk, tripping up badly in the process. Ben Arfa's Tigers career was nothing short of disastrous, while Ramirez and Hernandez have blown hot and cold (mainly the latter) and not justified the money spent. It remains to be seen whether Diame will end up being a shrewd move. May 15: Livermore drugs test "SHOCKED", "saddened", "disappointed" and "angry" were the words used by Bruce after Livermore failed a drugs test. The midfielder tested positive for cocaine after City's win at Crystal Palace in April and was subsequently suspended by the club. Judging by his reaction, Bruce was as shocked as the rest of the footballing world. May 24: Relegation from Premier League please log in to view this image AFTER a hugely disappointing season, City slipped through the relegation trapdoor following a 0-0 draw with Manchester United at the KC. Bruce knew only a win would suffice against his former side. As it was, not even three points would have been enough after Newcastle's 2-0 win over West Ham. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Stev...tory-26652147-detail/story.html#ixzz3cSNtnShc
He needs to change his tactics for next season, if he doesn't I can't see him being here to see his 4th anniversary at the club.
He'll be here until he either has heart attack or a new owner sacks him. If you really want him out, you should demand the Allams keep him.
We've only kept him because of his record in the Championship, if we are midtable and we're playing **** football, he'll be receiving his P45 in his Christmas card from Allam.
We didn't really, the earnings are fixed for three years, but it's actually still just a one year rolling deal.
