Seven weeks is all it has taken for the feelgood factor around Aberdeen to wear off.
The sense of frustration and unhappiness at the club’s poor start to the season is clear for all to see and hear.
Is it good enough? No, clearly it hasn’t been. But should it come as a surprise? Probably not.
It does feel as if Robson is a victim of his own success in many ways, but a quick revisit of what has led to this point is needed.
Robson’s ascension to Dons dugout
Robson effectively coached his way into landing the manager’s job on a permanent basis last season.
While chairman Dave Cormack and chief executive Alan Burrows were leading the search for Jim Goodwin’s successor, interim boss Robson got on with the job of improving the team’s fortunes.
As time went by, results got him the job – pure and simple.
He did so well he was confirmed as boss for the rest of the season at the end of March.
By transforming a team who failed to win three games in a row in the league from January to July, into a side who put together a seven-game winning run, he was given the job on a permanent basis on May 1.
One more win was all it took to ensure the fairytale finish of third place was achieved and the Dons got it with a 3-0 win against St Mirren in their final home game on May 24.
The mood around the club, city and the fanbase was one of unity and satisfaction – with a dose of excitement of what lay ahead this term, including in Europe, thrown in for good measure.
The summer of great expectations
The result of last season’s achievement, which seemed an impossible dream when Robson replaced Goodwin, means expectations have been heightened.
After all, if Robson can do that with a team who underperformed under the previous manager, imagine what he could do with his own squad…
So began a comprehensive summer overhaul of Aberdeen’s squad, one which few would have denied was needed.
There have been 13 new arrivals at the club, but the arrivals have come over a period of three months and it is not unreasonable of the manager to ask for patience to bed in all his new players.
One clean sheet, recorded on the opening day of the season, suggests the wait for a solid foundation continues and Robson is now repeatedly switching between a three-man defence and four at the back during games in the hope of finding a formula for success.
Reward of European football also brings added challenges
European football and the added challenges it brings also needs to be considered.
The Dons are struggling for a winning combination, but their two best performances have come in their Europa League play-off defeat by Swedish champions BK Hacken.
Two of their poorest displays have come in the league games after those two legs, a 2-2 draw at St Mirren and 2-0 home defeat by Hibernian.
That challenge will continue in the weeks ahead, starting with Thursday’s opening group match in the Conference League at Eintracht Frankfurt.
While Robson and his players are focused on that, Ross County, their opponents on Sunday, have a whole week to prepare for their Premiership trip to Pittodrie.
Take the European demands with the fact this Aberdeen team is undercooked and domestic rivals are rested and lying in wait, and it adds up to seriously challenging combination for Robson and his players.
Taking a measured view of why Aberdeen have not clicked yet does not let anyone off the hook – and Robson must know that.
The fans are waiting for a performance and a result to give them belief it will all turn out well in the end.
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