I like Brucey, and I'd like to think that he could take us back up again next season, I just have a few niggles. My problems are that I can't get past the fact that he had such tunnel vision last season with the 3-5-2 formation, at times it cried out for a different formation, even a fool could see it, yet he stuck to his mantra of playing three centre backs. He usually then went on to change it when it was too late.
Simarlarly when leading a game he would take off our forward(s) and replace them with more defensive players, thereby negating our out ball and heaping pressure on the defence, usually culminating in us turning a winning position into one where we would lose or draw. He did this repeatedly, seemingly not learning from his previous errors, and Mike Phelan doesn't appear the answer or why didn't he address this?
And then there was Rosenior, one of the best defensive right backs that I've seen at City, who was totally under used, and in the main the reason went back to Bruce's favoured formation. Wasn't it? Surely it couldn't have been anything else. Granted he's not the best when attacking but with Elmo ahead of him in a 4-4-2 I can't help but feel that the right side would have been solid in attack and defence. How many times did he try that?
I have to agree with others when they say that because you have managed to get Brum back up it doesn't mean that you can automatically do the same with City, however the thought of creating another Phil Parkinson situation by appointing someone like Mark Wharburton fills me with dread.
I feel that Bruce KNOWS that he owes us, and the Allam's, I'm also convinced that 'some' of the players feel the same way. This is my one major reason that I'd want Bruce to stay, along with the fact that I think it would help us to retain the services of Dawson, Chezzy, Robertson, Elmo et al. I honestly feel that if Bruce were to leave that he could be followed closely out of the door by some players that are going to be fundemental to our first eleven if we are to bounce back at the first attempt.
Finally, all of this is academic as Assem Allam will do exactly what he wants to do, and I feel that will be to retain the services of Brucey, after all he appointed him. Needless to say I also feel that he'll play hardball in the extreme with any club that makes any attempt to buy any players that we wish to keep.
I'm torn but whichever way this falls I'll still support City, and I know that I won't be in the minority.
Interesting times.