Although Bruce's awful record for us is a huge factor for the fan's hostility towards Bruce, I think something else is contributing massively to it. We haven't been successful for years. So why all of a sudden is the crap we get served acceptable? Because of the false hope we were fed. We've got a rich owner and we were supposed to making huge steps forward. We were assured that this wasn't a false dawn, we were all excited before this season, the season before this season & the one before. I personally felt slightly let down the previous two seasons, despite us finishing tenth last year, because I thought we could have achieved a lot more. I don't remember any of this hostility towards Mick McCarthy, but I wasn't very old when he was in charge. We didn't expect much out of Mick's reign, why? He didn't have any money and we weren't told to expect much. I think that Bruce is a victim of high expectations (like he loves to repeat) but I don't think he has anyone to blame but himself & the club for the fans' expectations, there is nothing wrong with being optimistic, but you have to live up to the talk and imo Bruce has failed to do that which is why he should leave.
There is of course value in your increased expectations argument. For me though his main downfall is playing in a way that is so out of kilter to what the fans expect. Playing one up front at home? Using Sess as a striker? Bringing poor Noble on for two minuets? Just a few recent examples of what some have been warning about for months. Bruce is just tactically inept.
Mick McCarthy had a ****e squad and had 4 million to spend. But we still went for it and the players gave 100%. 2 completely different scenarios. I've seen worse peformances with this talented squad than I had ever under the 2004/2005 season.
This 100%. I've said as much several times and you are completelycorrect. I also agree with Vaughans false dawns and broken promises. When Bent was allowed to leave, we bought into the line we were going to wait until the summer and then break the bank if necessary to replace him. Niall and Bruce came out with this line and built up our expectations, then dashed them after we all renewed again. Bruce is certainly feeling this backlash and no Micks team didn't get it and neither did he because he did the best he could with the pittance he was afforded at the time. We all knew this. It's the total feeling of being had again that has hurt of so much. That said, Bruce hasn't helped himself with his little boy in the sweetie shop player recruitment, poor tactics and woeful decision making. All in all, its a total **** up.
Simple really results are not good enough, this is our 5th year back in the prem and relegation shouldn't even be on our minds. I also thought that was Ellis' benchmark as well (apparently not) Results in the last calendar year suggest we will go down unless there is a change. Over to you Mr Short.
This thread says exactly what I have been thinking of late. Raising expectations by the club is a tricky act to pull off especially when you don't deliver.
