Bradford City boss declares state of emergency (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Battered...but not often bettered,so far!..Do hope that funds can be made available to shore up our relatively small squad.Can only be seen as an investment in ensuring the continued success, which is paramount in our struggle to get out of this division.Hopefully,f
urther progress in the F.A. cup,may help in balancing the Club's 'forever' fragile accounts.

we could do with being out of all the cups now!

cash in on the arsenal game and focus on the league. We have a high quality, but low numbers squad.

we could do with some blanks in the schedule. the cost of not going up would be far worse than losing a few grand in revenue for a cup run!

Agree with you old dave. It's hard to contemplate not being in there but we have to be realistic and everybody would agree I think that the priority is promotion. If the club have to choose then for me it's a no-brainer

Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

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Before these Cup Matches started -I said Managers going for Promotion, do not want the extra games. Because of the injuries that may occur. Chairmen want progress in Cup Matches, for the possible revenue they create.
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Now 'Parky' and the Board have a dilemma, that needs immediate/urgent response; if the Club want to progress further. The possible extra revenue that could result, from continuing in the THREE Cup Competitions, may offset the cost of obtaining, and paying, loan players.
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Any Loan Players must not be Cup-Tied; and be good enough to slot straight into a confident winning Team.
The question of loan players loyalty to the Team/Club, is another doubt that raises even further questions.
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I wish ALL of those concerned with resolving this dilemma--the best of luck , -more very tough decisions for BCFC.
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settler07 says...
9:20am Thu 15 Nov 12
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Good Team Selection. PROVIDING NO FURTHER INJURIES OCCUR TO YOUR SELCTION ?.
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The Squad is down to a minimum already. Blooding reserve youngsters etc. , would be a great risk. Plus loan players could be re-called, or reach the end of their loan period. which may not be extended.
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There are some excellent Players in Premier THIRD teams etc. Surely a few of those Players could be drafted in , to gain TOUGH League experience?.
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settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

Apart from there's no left back!!!Thats' ok, but it will be the sane on Tuesday, and the following saturday. The point is, we are playing 2.5 games a week at the moment and its taking its toll.

Mark and Julian (and Dave Baldwin) are running our club properly. This years approach is different to the one under Jacko (well Archie C) which was geta big squad full of less good players.

But it still needs to be said that at the moment our squad isnt equipped for a promotion push and extra time/ replays in three cup competitions.

As Steve PArkin said last week. The fixtures after Christmas get more spread out, so we really need to get through the next 6/7 weeks without any more casualties. BUt if we rely on the same 13-15 senior players twice a week, that will be a hard task, as the likes of Ste Darby are already playing through knocks!

The feel good factor, league position and outstanding results so far will hopefully make it a little easier to convince players to come to Bradford and join in the fun 100%. Gotta be easier taking loanees than if we were 4th bottom.

Old Dave wrote:

settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

Apart from there's no left back!!!Thats' ok, but it will be the sane on Tuesday, and the following saturday. The point is, we are playing 2.5 games a week at the moment and its taking its toll.

Mark and Julian (and Dave Baldwin) are running our club properly. This years approach is different to the one under Jacko (well Archie C) which was geta big squad full of less good players.

But it still needs to be said that at the moment our squad isnt equipped for a promotion push and extra time/ replays in three cup competitions.

As Steve PArkin said last week. The fixtures after Christmas get more spread out, so we really need to get through the next 6/7 weeks without any more casualties. BUt if we rely on the same 13-15 senior players twice a week, that will be a hard task, as the likes of Ste Darby are already playing through knocks!

Mchugh was actually signed as left back cover for Meredith as thats where he played for Reading reserves so even though he can play cebtre half as well he is more than capable of playing left back.

We also have Forsyth to come back in as well so although strecthed as the back everywhere else is not that bad and if needs be Doyle can play centre half and although I am not Ravenhills biggest fan he would likely get the nod alongside G.Jones.

Where's SHAUN these days??!!!!!!!!!.....
...I mean the clubs true DEADBEAT Shaun..........from.
..RICHMOND!!!!!!!!!!
.......Don't worry........a couple of defeats and he will be.......BACK!!!!!!!
!!!!!!.......Shaun..
...he's been to DUBAI you know...........and Torquay!!!!!!!!!!

settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning? Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster. Saturday we can still put out: Jonny Mac Darby McArdle Egan McHugh Atkinson Doyle Jones Thompson Hanson Wells Subs Duke Ravenhill Brown Jones Baker Connell Swain Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

And you are confident that all the players in your squad are 100% fit and ready to go?

please no unnecessary bookings c.

Ifwe are shot of bodies we have to ecll Hannah and get cott Brown more involved ith more starts

Have read that city are interested in taking on loan southamptons 18 year old Matt Young for defensive cover for Luke Oliver and Andrew Davies

tyker2 wrote:
please no unnecessary bookings c.

Ifwe are shot of bodies we have to ecll Hannah and get cott Brown more involved ith more starts

If we are short of bodies we need to offload Hannah and use his wage to bring in someone in a more necessay position

cookie_brighton wrote:
Have read that city are interested in taking on loan southamptons 18 year old Matt Young for defensive cover for Luke Oliver and Andrew Davies

Would Be hoping for somebody older than 18 with more experience in that important position.

Settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure.
Not sure to whom you address that fractious remark which I personally found 'unsettling'..
I wasn't moaning .... in fact the Board have done whatever they could to keep us afloat...but as the Chairmen have reminded us,this season will see a shortfall,mainly due to the 'School' project falling through and mentioned a debt of £4 million pounds.Therefore all decisions have to be measured against foreseeable revenues.

Peter300 wrote:
Where's SHAUN these days??!!!!!!!!!.....

...I mean the clubs true DEADBEAT Shaun..........from.

..RICHMOND!!!!!!!!!!

.......Don't worry........a couple of defeats and he will be.......BACK!!!!!!!

!!!!!!.......Shaun..

...he's been to DUBAI you know...........and Torquay!!!!!!!!!!

He's also played around with Jagger Jewell. Hmmm, lol.

The School money wasn't spent...BCFC went for a smaller but far better quality squad.....the club are not in debt other than loans agreed by the joint chairmen. The club are one of the best run in the league...well done to everyone from the joint chairmen, David Baldwin and the team management...add to that some of the best supporters in the UK and at the minute things are going as well as they could. I'm quite sure that if possible a couple more quality players will be added to the squad shortly.

**
We shout with pride....we'll never hide...Claret and Amber.

Bournemouth have got 35 first team players many of whom are surplus to quirements including Matt Tubbs and several defenders

Success breeds success. There's no guarantee that, if we were out of the cups, our league form would continue to prosper.

Playing games is better than mundane training sessions. Perhaps days off during the week and lighter sessions are the order of the day.

The player who has made me eat my words, Will Atkinson, seems to be able to cope and, even prosper, the more games he plays.

The problem arises when players who are carrying injuries are risked and aggravate them. I recall Luke Oliver staying on the pitch at half time to stop his achilles tightening, when perhaps he should have been subbed and given a few weeks off resting the problem.

PP has created an excellent team spirit and, if at all possible, I'd rather play a fully committed squad member than sign countless loan replacements. It's in these situations that someone, who may never have been given an opportunity, always steps up to the plate.

If we need to drop a cup competition let's throw the Arsenal game :-)).

Have no worries, Parky will bring in loan players who will do a great job for us. You only have to look at the quality he has brought to VP, and the benefits we are reaping. Would pay to take the foot off the pedal for next few league games and rest as many players as possible, and go for a few draws, and give the fringe players some much needed experience of first team football.

Come on you Bantams CTID?

Have no worries, Parky will bring in loan players who will do a great job for us. You only have to look at the quality he has brought to VP, and the benefits we are reaping. Would pay to take the foot off the pedal for next few league games and rest as many players as possible, and go for a few draws, and give the fringe players some much needed experience of first team football.

Come on you Bantams CTID?

settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

Agree but duke will play?

settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

Agree but duke will play?

COLATS wrote:

settler07 wrote:
Some of you talk rubbish. No one including Parky has said the chairmen are moaning. The club is run fantastically and financially secure. Loan signings had already been discussed and Parky says will now happen. Why is that cause for some idiot to say the chairmen are moaning?

Personally i think we have the players still, even with so many key ones out, to push on. The issue is the need to rotate and rest them though and that is why i agree we need to bolster.

Saturday we can still put out:
Jonny Mac
Darby
McArdle
Egan
McHugh
Atkinson
Doyle
Jones
Thompson
Hanson
Wells

Subs
Duke
Ravenhill
Brown
Jones
Baker
Connell
Swain

Nothing wrong with that matchday squad for me.

Agree but duke will play?

Oh and forsyth

This is the type of 'bad luck' I have referred to some of my previous posts. Would you choose to be a good manager or a lucky manager -if you had the choice- and isn't luck that often makes or breaks managers? McCall and Taylor had a lot of bad luck with long-term injuries. This is not the 'more I practice the luckier I get' (Gary Player) sort of luck. It's just pure and simple bad luck by the lorry load -again!

Can't see any logic in not playing to sneak it against Arsenal. A two legged sell out semi finals with two more games on sky plus the prize money could generate well over half a million pounds which would go a long way to boosting the squad for the promotion push. Thats my thoughts anyway and it never does any team any good to not play to win as momentum is often lost.

Bring in a full back who can play both sides, then we should hopefully have enough cover.

My above post was a "tongue in cheek" reply to Old Dave says...


"we could do with being out of all the cups now!

cash in on the arsenal game and focus on the league. We have a high quality, but low numbers squad.

we could do with some blanks in the schedule. the cost of not going up would be far worse than losing a few grand in revenue for a cup run!"

I'm not seriously suggesting throwing the game hence the smiley face :-)).

nowt fresh wrote:
If we need to drop a cup competition let's throw the Arsenal game :-)).

Hahahaha....PLAN!!!!

Pablo wrote:
Success breeds success. There's no guarantee that, if we were out of the cups, our league form would continue to prosper.

Playing games is better than mundane training sessions. Perhaps days off during the week and lighter sessions are the order of the day.

The player who has made me eat my words, Will Atkinson, seems to be able to cope and, even prosper, the more games he plays.

The problem arises when players who are carrying injuries are risked and aggravate them. I recall Luke Oliver staying on the pitch at half time to stop his achilles tightening, when perhaps he should have been subbed and given a few weeks off resting the problem.

PP has created an excellent team spirit and, if at all possible, I'd rather play a fully committed squad member than sign countless loan replacements. It's in these situations that someone, who may never have been given an opportunity, always steps up to the plate.

Agree with all five paragraphs, ask any player, would you rather be in the gym and doing grunts on the training pitch or Saturday/Tuesday/Sat
urday, answer would be 100% playing.

Spot on re Ollie's injury, he was out stretching and keeping his achillies warm, even if this isn't the injury he is now suffering from most there are transferred effects by favouring other parts of the body and becoming 'lopsided'.


I think your summary re Atkinson is also spot on, you weren't on your own, the lad has gone from strength to strength this season, he could be close to being the man with most pitch minutes this season if Meredith is out for any length of time.

Atkinson:player of the year?