Proud Bradford City boss turns his attention to promotion (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Watched the game in here Sydney and despite it not been our best game - how could you be critical?.

I can only imagine the atmosphere in the ground - The last ten minutes of the game was amazing - I had tears of pride rolling down my face as the supporters went in to overdive - just brilliant well done to everyone involved in the club - now what price a return to Wembley for the play off final? - I've already negotiated that trip home with the wife!!!!!.
See you all in May "Wembley 2" Just when they thought it was safe!!!

"stage fright" maybe I wish they had scored at least 1 goal. swansea outplayed city but I hope city can get some new players with the money now.

It was the worst case scenario, so sad.

Fantastic day, brilliant achievement and Swansea were best team I have ever seen. Don't want to mention team selection and lack of any pace down the flanks, but I have. My only gripe is I wish we had put one of out wing men on to have a go, probably still been stuffed but at least we would have given them something to think about and an outlet for us.

Still a day I will never forget so thanks to all concerned. Had a great weekend and now believe we will be back in May, this time to win

macca1969 wrote:
Fantastic day, brilliant achievement and Swansea were best team I have ever seen. Don't want to mention team selection and lack of any pace down the flanks, but I have. My only gripe is I wish we had put one of out wing men on to have a go, probably still been stuffed but at least we would have given them something to think about and an outlet for us.

Still a day I will never forget so thanks to all concerned. Had a great weekend and now believe we will be back in May, this time to win

fans were fantastic, manager went negative again!
for the amount of time and effort us fans put in yesterday they could have at least give it a go.
season over now.
i don't give a sh-ite what replies i get parky was a joke.
playing like he does will never get you anywhere in the league.
get you a good cup run but thats it.
rant over.

I agree! We gave Swansea nothing to worry about tactically and should have had a least one offensive winger! Just didn't get in their faces at all! Should have gone in hard on one of them in the first 5 minutes to send a message out that yes you might get a lot of the ball but your not going to have to get rid quick cos we're on you! The team was like a rabbit in the headlights! Absolutely frozen! A very disappointing end to a fantastic cup run! However unlike the team and management the fans were immense and deserve promotion for being so!

Got to agree with some of the comments. Fans showed tons of pride and passion but where was it on the pitch ? Swansea were brilliant but why oh why didn't the team give it a real go and at least gone down fighting. Very negative team selection, based purely on loyalty to those players who got us there and not necessarily the ones in form.

Roll on Wednesday and hopefully a successful run for promotion.

To think what that stadium cost to build..personally i thought it a joke of a place for that kind of money...Reid should have played, was my only thought..on the day we just turned up and watched a multi-million pound team "strut it stuff"...we paid good money to support our team and the sacrifices it cost for many to be there - for no reward..we cannot say a good team performance, they simply didnt..i dont know who was to blame for that..but lets remember: NO Man U, no Arsenal, No Villa, No Chelsea, No Liverpool..and Swansea have had to SPEND BIG to win..unlike us...The real winners on the day were CITY FANS..faithful to the last - I was honoured to stand with U, its a shame on the day that the team just didnt play..

Come on fellas; be realistic. The game was a disappointment and I also wish that we could have got at Swansea more but they were superb.

We SHOULD NOT forget the efforts it took to get us to the Final in the first place or what these players did against Wigan, Arsenal and Villa (twice). I would rather that we had lost the final 5-0 rather than any of the previous three rounds and lets' be honest; it could have happened. Well done to the players and management for getting us to a major final; it is an amazing acheivement and should be the springboard to league success in the next couple of seasons.

Having said that;

The FA are a disgrace. 8000 empty seats for a game that was "sold out". The only thing that the FA have sold out is football. Both teams could have sold more tickets but oh on; Club Wembley generates cash for the FA s stuff the small guy and who cares if the game doesn't actually sell out. There were people desperate to share in the occasion yesterday but were unable to do so.

Thought Wembley as a sporting venue was a big disappointment too. No atmosphere even when 80,000 people are singing.

Froze on the big stage.however credit for getting to the Final. Now to the leauge but the facts do not suggest promotion can be won far to few wins so far. I Hope i am wrong and City go up Mr Parkinson now has his chance to deliver with his team i wish him and City a successful end to the season but goals are the answer here and leaving poor Hanson up front alone without support will not score those goals Over to you Mr Parkinson.

i agree with both the last two points 1) wembley has no atmosphere, oh and the fact that 82000 turned up and SO many empty seats...2) i dont think PP had much choice at Wembley but to take wells off, he was very ineffective, but Hanson has to play with another striker, he won many balls at wembley but no one there to support him..

Sat here with my head in my boots, dejected, downbeat but knowing come Wednesday tea time I'll be fired up to 'go again'. Three points is the first step to the cure, six and this will be a good/bad memory.

macca, more or less same re selection but I don't want to dwell on any of that.

The fans, all of them, were magnificent from first to last minute, our opponents showed class on the field but also off the field with their manager giving due grace and their supporters fair and acknowledging our achievement and ultimate disappointment.

Only 4 teams per season get to a major cup final in England, only two can be winners, none have ever done it from the 4th tier with all the 92 league clubs playing.

In the words of 'that song'

We shout with pride, we never hide.

Let's give the lads a warm welcome on Wednesday and show em we appreciate what they have done and hopefully bolster them to help get us back to Wembley in May.

That would be an achievement

KnightMcCall wrote:
Having said that;

The FA are a disgrace. 8000 empty seats for a game that was "sold out". The only thing that the FA have sold out is football. Both teams could have sold more tickets but oh on; Club Wembley generates cash for the FA s stuff the small guy and who cares if the game doesn't actually sell out. There were people desperate to share in the occasion yesterday but were unable to do so.

Thought Wembley as a sporting venue was a big disappointment too. No atmosphere even when 80,000 people are singing.

Totally agree Knight the sponsors should realise it is not good P.R to have a stadium part empty as it doesnt give credit to the competition or the spectacle.
The tickets that were give to sponsors sould go on general sale if they are not taken up by the promotion they are running. Both Swansea and City could have sold that allocation easly. Well done all thoes Bradford City fans for sticking with the team through out. Were proud of you all. It looks like some players were over awed by the occasion. Back to brass tax now get on track for promotion. Maybe one day in the future Bradfod City could be the Swansea of the future Well done Swansea. Poor referee Kevin Feind. allowed their players too long arguing who's taking a penalty and Duke did what he is piad to do put a tackle in seen worse fouls and not get sent off. 3-0 down and 30 minutes to play bad Refereeing.

You can complain all you want about the tactics employed yesterday but it was those tactics that got us to the Capital One Cup Final.

Against the 2 teams from the Premier League that we have played in this competition who pass the ball around (Wigan and Arsenal) we have sat back and soaked up the pressure and i think you'll agree that it worked well on those days.

I'm certain that Parky sent the team out with the same game plan.

We all agree it didn't work for more than 1 reason. Swansea were exceptional, the pitch is a lot bigger than any other and they exploited those spaces.

It looked to me as though Parky was getting ready to send Hines and Reid/Turgott on but that had to change when Duke got Sent off.

Having a go at Parky is taking it a bit far when he has just guided a League 2 side to a major cup final don't you think.

I'd have loved for us to have had a go at Swansea and the result would probably have been the same, but you can't moan at the tactics when they have served us so well in this competition.

Roll on Wednesday night when we HAVE to get our league season back on track.

Thought the BCFC fans were magnificent, unfortunately it never happened for the BCFC players, out fought and out thought. In hindsight BCFC had to play with five in midfield I'm sure if Phil had his time to pick a team again he'd pack midfield.

Great day out but no surprise there was a huge understandable gulf in quality that was too far for the team whatever Parkinson had done. Main point is that Parky can pick them up and refocus for Wednesday. Maybe freshen up a bit and give the patient subs a start ! Weed need to get back to winning games ...

The Bradford end of the stadium was a sight to see, so proud to be part of the bantam army.
I wont go into the selection thing, but those who are, what team would you have picked?

The Bradford end of the stadium was a sight to see, so proud to be part of the bantam army.
I wont go into the selection thing, but those who are, what team would you have picked?

for me richbar62-REID at the start instead of Atkinson...Had we stayed with 11 throughout...Davies for Good...Connell for Wells...I wouldnt have taken Thompson off, i thought he was our best outfield player

richbar62 wrote:
The Bradford end of the stadium was a sight to see, so proud to be part of the bantam army.
I wont go into the selection thing, but those who are, what team would you have picked?

Hindsights a great thing, but using that lol.... i'd have played Duke, McHugh, Davies, McArdle, Darby, Reid, Atkinson, Doyle, Jones, Hines, with Wells up top. five across he middle with Hines and Reid breaking from midfield with pace to support Wells in a lone striker role. We'd have probably still lost but may have caused them more problems. Basically matching the Swansea line up.

So, in the end it was a 'mighty step too far for the team, but a giant leap of magnificence from the fans!'

Yes, City were totally outclassed from start to finish in this match and the only things I'll recall with pleasure on-field were Jonny Mac's save and Gary Jones' shot near the end which got a huge cheer.

We can argue about whether a winger should have been played rom the start? why Curtis Good started at left back? Was the pitch too big?

But if we choose instead to fous on the positives:

The FANS meeting up (for me in the Interchange) and the cameraderie on the coach on the way down

Walking round the stadium, sampling the atomosphere

Inside, bumping into people you knew

The brilliant 'spectacle' on field beforehand and in the stands

The prematch tension

The flagwaving and singing, particularly after City went 4-0 down and City fans showed the
Swansea fans 'how to do it' and surprised the TV audience around the country I am sure

The stoicism and good humour after the game, yes, and 'even gallows humour' too!

It was a day we can look back on, at least with some happy memories.

Now we must look forward.

The team STILL has so hope in the 'promotion' push. It would be good to think ome of those who were prepared to brave the cold for hours trying to get tickets for the final would come along to swell our numbers at home.

Tip to Mark Lawn: Make a 'package' where the final six home games are priced at a 'discount' deal!

We have the chance to welcome the team with rousing applause on Wednesday night. Okay, they fell way short in the the final, but, they overperformed in many matches in the League Cup competition and so should not feel badly in any way.

From now till the end of the season, all league games will be cup finals!!

won 5 league games since october, promotion form?

You asked:

Dixon instead of Good, Davies instead of McHugh and Reid or Hines in place of Atkinson. (All in hindsight but I was slightly surprised by the original selection)

Now the reasons why he didn't;

The containing set up worked against ALL the other prem teams, most notably Wigan who out of the three are most similar to Swansea and against the other two sides we pressed enough to create free kick and corner opportunities.

Swansea were just too good for us and it wouldn't have mattered if we could have called on 'Dad's Army' from 2000, they would have made that side look like mugs too.

This final must be remembered for how we got there and the ride we have all been on, not the final outcome, our final outcome may yet be back at Wembley playing a team of our peers for the right to promotion.

In other words, a really quick chance to put yesterday right and make this the best season ever in the history of Bradford City.

Heads up, let's get at em.

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
You asked:

Dixon instead of Good, Davies instead of McHugh and Reid or Hines in place of Atkinson. (All in hindsight but I was slightly surprised by the original selection)

Now the reasons why he didn't;

The containing set up worked against ALL the other prem teams, most notably Wigan who out of the three are most similar to Swansea and against the other two sides we pressed enough to create free kick and corner opportunities.

Swansea were just too good for us and it wouldn't have mattered if we could have called on 'Dad's Army' from 2000, they would have made that side look like mugs too.

This final must be remembered for how we got there and the ride we have all been on, not the final outcome, our final outcome may yet be back at Wembley playing a team of our peers for the right to promotion.

In other words, a really quick chance to put yesterday right and make this the best season ever in the history of Bradford City.

Heads up, let's get at em.

The last sentence should be rintd up and emblazoned in the home dressing room!

tinytoonster wrote:
won 5 league games since october, promotion form?

exactly

Lucky cup run aside and lets face it they have been lucky the team have performed worse than average this year. Parky isn't all he is cracked up to be and where's the money being spent that the cup run brought?

Lining Lawn's pockets that's where

We carried our league form into the final ......unfortunately this final outside of Bradford will only be remembered for being totally one sided and for the biggest losing margin in this cup under its various names....pity the team didn't play with the same passion shown by the supporters......but its now time to put this game behind us forget about it and get on with the league .......

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
You asked: Dixon instead of Good, Davies instead of McHugh and Reid or Hines in place of Atkinson. (All in hindsight but I was slightly surprised by the original selection) Now the reasons why he didn't; The containing set up worked against ALL the other prem teams, most notably Wigan who out of the three are most similar to Swansea and against the other two sides we pressed enough to create free kick and corner opportunities. Swansea were just too good for us and it wouldn't have mattered if we could have called on 'Dad's Army' from 2000, they would have made that side look like mugs too. This final must be remembered for how we got there and the ride we have all been on, not the final outcome, our final outcome may yet be back at Wembley playing a team of our peers for the right to promotion. In other words, a really quick chance to put yesterday right and make this the best season ever in the history of Bradford City. Heads up, let's get at em.

I'd have picked same team as you with Hines instead of Thompson. Hines played against Wigan and was brilliant. Don't blame parky and I.believe now starting Wednesday we will go on a run and be back in May. Wembley 2013 act 2

I would like to say just two words to Bradford City

THANK YOU

I thought I could moan a bit, but some of the comments on here are out of my league.

superb day out with the family but ruined by a rather inept performance caused, I think, by wrong team selection. A big wide pitch meant we should have started with one wide man at least. We were like crabs moving side to side and then backward wit little of no possession.

Effectively we were killed off by a thousand passed with no one capable from our team of breaking up their possession

Watched MIchu carefully and could not believe how lazy he looked but he kept moving the defence around and his game came to light when the ball was around the edge of the box and then no one could get near to him.

City should start again when we are safe and learn to play the type of football played by Swansea for the rest of the season and onward. It is ,to my mind, the only way to play football.

tyker2 wrote:
superb day out with the family but ruined by a rather inept performance caused, I think, by wrong team selection. A big wide pitch meant we should have started with one wide man at least. We were like crabs moving side to side and then backward wit little of no possession. Effectively we were killed off by a thousand passed with no one capable from our team of breaking up their possession Watched MIchu carefully and could not believe how lazy he looked but he kept moving the defence around and his game came to light when the ball was around the edge of the box and then no one could get near to him. City should start again when we are safe and learn to play the type of football played by Swansea for the rest of the season and onward. It is ,to my mind, the only way to play football.

no offence tyker, but IMO there is no possible combination of BCFC players that could beat an on song prem team. they are leagues better than us!

Was more disappointed with the performance than the result.. To lose 5-0 against a premiership team whilst being hard to take it happens. To not put up a fight is the hard part to swallow

Watched the game here in local bar which was full all hoping for a City win.Accepted completely outclassed,but why oh why did we not give it a go.We lost 5-0 but lets face it if Swansea had stepped out of third gear it would have been double figures.Fans were absolutely superb but the team showed why we are in the lowest division.

It doesn't atter what team PP should have put out, we'd still have been beaten.

Swansea were a class act and PP put out a team that had basically got us to the final. No complaints from me about his selections. The wide open spaces of Wembley and Swansea's passing and movement were too much for us.

The fans were brilliant, we all had a day out that we'd no right to expect, and the club has made a shed load of cash.

My fear is the team will be physically and mentally shattered and defeat on Wednesday night would not surprise me. If so, I don't care too hoots because it was an incredible achievement to get to Wembley.

Victor Clayton wrote:

tyker2 wrote:
superb day out with the family but ruined by a rather inept performance caused, I think, by wrong team selection. A big wide pitch meant we should have started with one wide man at least. We were like crabs moving side to side and then backward wit little of no possession. Effectively we were killed off by a thousand passed with no one capable from our team of breaking up their possession Watched MIchu carefully and could not believe how lazy he looked but he kept moving the defence around and his game came to light when the ball was around the edge of the box and then no one could get near to him. City should start again when we are safe and learn to play the type of football played by Swansea for the rest of the season and onward. It is ,to my mind, the only way to play football.

no offence tyker, but IMO there is no possible combination of BCFC players that could beat an on song prem team. they are leagues better than us!

we beat 3 to get there by TRYING!!

tinytoonster wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote:

tyker2 wrote: superb day out with the family but ruined by a rather inept performance caused, I think, by wrong team selection. A big wide pitch meant we should have started with one wide man at least. We were like crabs moving side to side and then backward wit little of no possession. Effectively we were killed off by a thousand passed with no one capable from our team of breaking up their possession Watched MIchu carefully and could not believe how lazy he looked but he kept moving the defence around and his game came to light when the ball was around the edge of the box and then no one could get near to him. City should start again when we are safe and learn to play the type of football played by Swansea for the rest of the season and onward. It is ,to my mind, the only way to play football.

no offence tyker, but IMO there is no possible combination of BCFC players that could beat an on song prem team. they are leagues better than us!

we beat 3 to get there by TRYING!!

well if you dont think they tried then there is no argument i can put, except to say i strongly disagree.

Predicting City to up the ante, and start to make progress towards a play off place. Come on you Bantams, ctid

Pitch size is negligible in this, Wembley is not as big as it appears from the stands....115x75

Valley Parade 113x70


We were just outclassed really, no blame to apportion, let's face it, Swans kicked off, kept possession for 1m35s and had a shot from our l/h side. This set the tone for the whole game, they got the ball, kept the ball and came at us, time and again, we couldn't repel them.

The only bit of light I saw was that Hanson, as always won his headers, we were never close enough to capitalise, once again, no blame, it was one of those days when we needed Swansea to have 4 or 5 players way below par and all of ours playing like supermen.

fantastic swansea team ...carefully re-built to stay in the premiership and playing football ..

that is what we now have to slowly aspire to ... they got back to the top flight ...by inching forward back to the premiership ..

now city can do the same ...under the new passionate but caring stewardship that exists ...

now 2 games in hand ...wednesdays game is bigger than wembley ... we need to win both games in hand and then we are in the play offs pack ..

I want to go back to Wembey this year to see if we could in fact take 50,000 fans ..

a brilliant day on Sunday ..... totally outclassed on the pitch ..but so what ..

It was like Ali versus Richard Dunn !!



but as the song goes ...

Its only the cup ..so who gives a **** ...

lets make sure we go up ...


ps - can i bring my flag on Wednesday night ??

pudseykid wrote:
To think what that stadium cost to build..personally i thought it a joke of a place for that kind of money...Reid should have played, was my only thought..on the day we just turned up and watched a multi-million pound team "strut it stuff"...we paid good money to support our team and the sacrifices it cost for many to be there - for no reward..we cannot say a good team performance, they simply didnt..i dont know who was to blame for that..but lets remember: NO Man U, no Arsenal, No Villa, No Chelsea, No Liverpool..and Swansea have had to SPEND BIG to win..unlike us...The real winners on the day were CITY FANS..faithful to the last - I was honoured to stand with U, its a shame on the day that the team just didnt play..

Hey, people! We're all disappointed, but let's not fall out with each other. Yes, we're hurting! Yes, Zavon Hines and Kyel Reid ought to have started, but remember folks, how far Phil parkinson has taken the club? Is not the fans' response at Wembley suggest, he should be given further support and, longer period to progress? Listen how he talks bout our BRADFORD! H's got my vote.

Bravo to the last comment..and i would not have said that in September last year!..He got us there, he can take us further..its what we ALL want...I just put 1 comment on FACEBOOK...simply this "Swansea bought the cup" they didnt win it! They used BIG bucks to buy big players to win big matches, just like Man City and Chelsea..the money that has been made has to go on strengthening this squad with talent...to win matches otherwise this "run" will be in vain..I dont agree with the comment about "lining Lawns pockets" HE really is CITY Til I Die! unless i am mistaken. we have a small budget and look where that took 32000 of us!!!

NorthernBull wrote:
fantastic swansea team ...carefully re-built to stay in the premiership and playing football ..

that is what we now have to slowly aspire to ... they got back to the top flight ...by inching forward back to the premiership ..

now city can do the same ...under the new passionate but caring stewardship that exists ...

now 2 games in hand ...wednesdays game is bigger than wembley ... we need to win both games in hand and then we are in the play offs pack ..

I want to go back to Wembey this year to see if we could in fact take 50,000 fans ..

a brilliant day on Sunday ..... totally outclassed on the pitch ..but so what ..

It was like Ali versus Richard Dunn !!



but as the song goes ...

Its only the cup ..so who gives a **** ...

lets make sure we go up ...


ps - can i bring my flag on Wednesday night ??

i think every fan should bring their flag on weds,lets make valley parade a mini wembley and cheer the lads to a victory

pudseykid wrote:
Bravo to the last comment..and i would not have said that in September last year!..He got us there, he can take us further..its what we ALL want...I just put 1 comment on FACEBOOK...simply this "Swansea bought the cup" they didnt win it! They used BIG bucks to buy big players to win big matches, just like Man City and Chelsea..the money that has been made has to go on strengthening this squad with talent...to win matches otherwise this "run" will be in vain..I dont agree with the comment about "lining Lawns pockets" HE really is CITY Til I Die! unless i am mistaken. we have a small budget and look where that took 32000 of us!!!

Not only has Mark Lawn bankrolled us at certain times he has done his work this season and through the previous months with a horrible family situation to contend with also.

Give the guy a break, how many of us would be forever putting our foot in our mouth trying to give humorous soundbites etc.

He has also supported City since the mid sixties which is a couple of years more than myself and to then go on and move from fan to financial backer/chairman deserves plaudits not insults.

As a "Club WEMBLEY" member I never thought I would see my beloved City in a final !. I get to see most of the Finals.
TWO THINGS STOOD OUT!!
NEVER witnessed anything like the CITY FANS .....SIMPLY AWSOME!!....I got quite emotional!!.
The other was, NEVER have I seen a team "FREEZE" the way City did!!.....it was quite shocking!.....nobody froze more than "PARKY"......who frankly hadnt a clue......A GREAT SHAME!!.
Have a funny feeling we will be back at Wembley this year though!!

Spenvalleyspartan wrote:
I agree! We gave Swansea nothing to worry about tactically and should have had a least one offensive winger! Just didn't get in their faces at all! Should have gone in hard on one of them in the first 5 minutes to send a message out that yes you might get a lot of the ball but your not going to have to get rid quick cos we're on you! The team was like a rabbit in the headlights! Absolutely frozen! A very disappointing end to a fantastic cup run! However unlike the team and management the fans were immense and deserve promotion for being so!

I was actually cringing with how poor we were. We let ourselves down after some good performances earlier in the cup. The swans were nothing special.
We made them look good.
Davis should of been on from the start and At least have Kyle on the pitch as a fast wing man.
Think we need to bring some players in and let a few go as still don't think this squad is good enough to get promoted but maybe I am wrong.

pudseykid wrote:
Bravo to the last comment..and i would not have said that in September last year!..He got us there, he can take us further..its what we ALL want...I just put 1 comment on FACEBOOK...simply this "Swansea bought the cup" they didnt win it! They used BIG bucks to buy big players to win big matches, just like Man City and Chelsea..the money that has been made has to go on strengthening this squad with talent...to win matches otherwise this "run" will be in vain..I dont agree with the comment about "lining Lawns pockets" HE really is CITY Til I Die! unless i am mistaken. we have a small budget and look where that took 32000 of us!!!

and what did they sell to get these players?

good look for the rest of the season to the lads phill and all are great fans,keep the faith come on city

Afraid I have to agree with those who decry the negative tactics. We employed similar tactics in the first half of the Villa Park game and were fortunate to be only 1 down having created nothing. On that occasion it was not too late to change the approach. At Wembly we weren't so lucky.
Yes we might still have been stuffed by a superior team but far better to make a game of it rather than hope for a 0-0 draw from the first minute and show no ambition whatsoever.

lets hope its in the t& a tomorrow ...that city have said its £5 on the gate on wed night and free for kids with a wembley flag ..

that would make wed a remarkable home coming.. and im sure the players are motivated to do well ..

nervous energy on the big stage took all the fight away and a huge skill gap ...not lack of trying as some none fa coacing badged moaners allege on here ..

the football experts on here who go on about tactics ...simply dont know football ... no combination of the current city players could have troubled Swansea at Wembley ..

they are too fast and too skilled ..and will do well in Europe next year ..

im just hoping city announce a special attendance incentive on wed night...

Imagine if Dagenham came out to 20000 city fans in vp .....

Tom Flockett - Superstar wrote:
Afraid I have to agree with those who decry the negative tactics. We employed similar tactics in the first half of the Villa Park game and were fortunate to be only 1 down having created nothing. On that occasion it was not too late to change the approach. At Wembly we weren't so lucky.
Yes we might still have been stuffed by a superior team but far better to make a game of it rather than hope for a 0-0 draw from the first minute and show no ambition whatsoever.

BCFC not deploying five in midfield was on this occasion fatal, looking at it in the cold light of day we had to go like for like, putting three in central midfield with both Hines and Reid wide midfield with Wells the sole stricker. I'm sure that lineup would have caused Swansea more problems.

I had great day out with my four year old son, his first game. I have had to wait 40 years for a proper cup final!

I prefer to look at what is a magnificent achievement and made Bradford the talk of a lot of the footballing world. I picked up the Wall street Journal in an airport last week and there was even a full page on Bradford and Swansea in that. We have achieved history and done something that may never happen again.

Everybody has the right to an opinion but I think all the City Players deserve all the credit they get. Was I a bit dissapointed that we did not get at Swansea a bit more ? Yes. However, Swansea took the game very seriously and played a second team against Liverpool the week before, losing 5-0. That's a massive mark of respect to City and I also think Swansea will do well in Europe next year.

Well done to all at BCFC and all the fans who did us proud yesterday.

Wrose bantam wrote:
I had great day out with my four year old son, his first game. I have had to wait 40 years for a proper cup final!

I prefer to look at what is a magnificent achievement and made Bradford the talk of a lot of the footballing world. I picked up the Wall street Journal in an airport last week and there was even a full page on Bradford and Swansea in that. We have achieved history and done something that may never happen again.

Everybody has the right to an opinion but I think all the City Players deserve all the credit they get. Was I a bit dissapointed that we did not get at Swansea a bit more ? Yes. However, Swansea took the game very seriously and played a second team against Liverpool the week before, losing 5-0. That's a massive mark of respect to City and I also think Swansea will do well in Europe next year.

Well done to all at BCFC and all the fans who did us proud yesterday.

Pretty much what i think too.

Just a thought for everyone, my friends and i who are season ticket holders are taking our Wembley flags on Wednesday night. If more people did this then maybe we could recreate the atmosphere of Wembley and spur the boys on for the final push. With hopefully another few thousand from Sundays game......

tinytoonster wrote:

macca1969 wrote: Fantastic day, brilliant achievement and Swansea were best team I have ever seen. Don't want to mention team selection and lack of any pace down the flanks, but I have. My only gripe is I wish we had put one of out wing men on to have a go, probably still been stuffed but at least we would have given them something to think about and an outlet for us. Still a day I will never forget so thanks to all concerned. Had a great weekend and now believe we will be back in May, this time to win

fans were fantastic, manager went negative again! for the amount of time and effort us fans put in yesterday they could have at least give it a go. season over now. i don't give a sh-ite what replies i get parky was a joke. playing like he does will never get you anywhere in the league. get you a good cup run but thats it. rant over.

What a gomper!

shaun from richmond wrote:
As a "Club WEMBLEY" member I never thought I would see my beloved City in a final !. I get to see most of the Finals.
TWO THINGS STOOD OUT!!
NEVER witnessed anything like the CITY FANS .....SIMPLY AWSOME!!....I got quite emotional!!.
The other was, NEVER have I seen a team "FREEZE" the way City did!!.....it was quite shocking!.....nobody froze more than "PARKY"......who frankly hadnt a clue......A GREAT SHAME!!.
Have a funny feeling we will be back at Wembley this year though!!

Club Wembley member eh? Oh aye.

We were rubbish and it's cost us promotion. Ctid

Very disapointed still at the way we whimpered out but ultmately proud of the acheivement.

For the first time in the cup we appeared to play with fear. Forget the word frozen, it was fear i saw in the style of how we were set-up. For example i disagree with those saying we set-up as we did in other cup games. hanson and wells in previous games were constantly at their back four. Yesterday instead of chasing the defendrs down they were attempting to position themselves between the passing options to midfield. Thats just one example.

Parkinson could be praised for picking the same players who had contributed in getting us there thus fostering team spirit etc but having no wing outlet he basically set-us up to hang on as long as wecould. Once they scored we had no answer and it appeared the one plan/tactic we had was kaput. I've mentioned no plan b for numerous weeks and tonight on talksport they were saying the same.

Back to fear......to not have a shot or corner is one thing but the real stat thats stands out is conceding no fouls in the entire first half. We should have been in their faces, full steam ahead but weren't. We let them play and thats their game so we played into their hands. We didn't turn them around and hit the channels. Considering we required corners and set-pieces this was a mistake. Again down to having no Reidy (or attacking wide player). Swansea played all the game facing the front which was easy for them to do.

Ok they might still have scored a few but the fans deserved something to shout about. A surging run, corner anything. It was our one chance and we went negative and considering everything that we had done so well previously it was a shame we just didn't give it a go and lose than have the one shot. I looked around at the kids and families and it was a very anti-climatic performance.

Moving on......Parky says we can still go up. I say to do so we must be more positive. One point is not enough and we must set-up to create more and be positive. Attempting to win via scoring first and shutting up or relying on set-pieces will not be enough, i feel. We made a mistake in the transfer window not adding an attacking central midfielder imo who can at least come from the bench and offer us something different. We are far too predictable and have very few scoring options in the side.

Cup exploits aside Parky has had the highest wage budget for many a season and says we are a good side. We now have to show this more consistently and should expect to be around the play-offs all things considered. For me its simply the cautious approach to games that contributes to any downfall. When system works it does well but we have also seen how sides have sussed us out. We have also seen in patches how well we can play and knock the ball about. Allow the players to play without fear and be more attacking and we could yet still find ourselves in with a shout this season. Continue been cautious first and we won't gain enough points......

Be brave and positive Parky and city.......

The 56 would ALL have been. proud of what the team have achived this Season......And Absoulty Proud of what our City fans have given to the World on Sunday 24 th February 2013. I believe it will live long in peoples memorys ....And to that end the Cup will be forever Ours....For 25 mins l felt Football had found its voice. at the West End of. Wembley

NorthernBull wrote:
lets hope its in the t& a tomorrow ...that city have said its £5 on the gate on wed night and free for kids with a wembley flag ..

that would make wed a remarkable home coming.. and im sure the players are motivated to do well ..

nervous energy on the big stage took all the fight away and a huge skill gap ...not lack of trying as some none fa coacing badged moaners allege on here ..

the football experts on here who go on about tactics ...simply dont know football ... no combination of the current city players could have troubled Swansea at Wembley ..

they are too fast and too skilled ..and will do well in Europe next year ..

im just hoping city announce a special attendance incentive on wed night...

Imagine if Dagenham came out to 20000 city fans in vp .....

are swansea better than arsenal then? the table still says otherwise. They are a good side but i think some are getting carried away how good. We trobled and beat other prem sides so what makes Swansea any harder. before you say wembly pitch it isn't as big as some would have you believe. The occasion definately had an effect but to that degree? did the occasion stop us employing an attacking wide outlet?

The tactics did contrbute i feel, how much is open to debate. Should swansea beat us? yes Are they better than us? yes. But so are Gillingham according to the tables, so were Notts count and others before swansea but we beat them so why not swansea? you advertise the fear i spoke of above. Have respcet yes but not to a detrimental and self defeating effect. I think we could have done and have done better, may still have lost but it may have encouraged those extra fans you speak of to support us in league games as well.......

Nice one. It would appear that my misgivings about team selection and the performance weren't misguided.

The words 'proud' and 'pride' were bandied about a lot prior to the final and rightly so. Unfortunately all I felt on Sunday was embarrassment, humiliation and shame. Thank God I was at all the previous games to enjoy the ride to the final.

My heart sank when I heard that both Atkinson and Thompson would start as it meant we had zero options going forward other than the long ball upto Hanson in the hope that Wells could feed off the scraps. WHY??? Throughout our glorious cup run we've had Turgott, Hines and Reid who were able to carry the ball deep into the oppos half and pose a threat, and more importantly, relieve the pressure being exerted on our over worked defence. So why change a winning formula?

Parkinsons negativity and our shortcomings were highlighted in the 18th minute when the ball ballooned to Thompson. He was near the edge of the Swansea box and had 40 square yards of space to carry the ball into yet the thought of getting forward and attacking the byline never entered his head. All he did was look backwards, get possession and play it ultra safe with a pass back to Darby who was stood near the halfway line. Tragic!

It really does pain me to say it but on reflection all I can do is agree with all the negatives that have already been mentioned. I've no idea why but imho the team looked beat before they started. Apart from a couple of tackles made by McArdle and McHugh no one put their foot in or looked 'feisty'. Duke could have done better with two of the goals. Good looked like he did at Villa, out of his depth and ultimately the manager got it so unfathomably wrong it's untrue.

The pain and abject misery I'm feeling will be with me a long, long, time. Thanks Phil.

Oh, and I'll be very surprised if Kyle Reid is with us next season. For a bloke touted as our 'best/most skilful player' to not get on the pitch at Wembley must have been soul destroying for the lad and I for one wouldn't blame him for getting the hump and wanting to leave for pastures new.

Disappointing end really.

We just never closed them down and got amongst them.

I think this was perfectly illustrated by the fact that we only committed 2 fouls the whole game.

If you give a team like Swansea time and space they are obviously going to hurt you.

I must admit it was difficult to watch after Duke got sent off.

Still it's a magnificent achievement to reach a major final, and our run to it has created memories that will last us a lifetime. I'm just bitterly disappointed that we didn't turn up on the day.

Shadrach Dingle wrote:
Nice one. It would appear that my misgivings about team selection and the performance weren't misguided. The words 'proud' and 'pride' were bandied about a lot prior to the final and rightly so. Unfortunately all I felt on Sunday was embarrassment, humiliation and shame. Thank God I was at all the previous games to enjoy the ride to the final. My heart sank when I heard that both Atkinson and Thompson would start as it meant we had zero options going forward other than the long ball upto Hanson in the hope that Wells could feed off the scraps. WHY??? Throughout our glorious cup run we've had Turgott, Hines and Reid who were able to carry the ball deep into the oppos half and pose a threat, and more importantly, relieve the pressure being exerted on our over worked defence. So why change a winning formula? Parkinsons negativity and our shortcomings were highlighted in the 18th minute when the ball ballooned to Thompson. He was near the edge of the Swansea box and had 40 square yards of space to carry the ball into yet the thought of getting forward and attacking the byline never entered his head. All he did was look backwards, get possession and play it ultra safe with a pass back to Darby who was stood near the halfway line. Tragic! It really does pain me to say it but on reflection all I can do is agree with all the negatives that have already been mentioned. I've no idea why but imho the team looked beat before they started. Apart from a couple of tackles made by McArdle and McHugh no one put their foot in or looked 'feisty'. Duke could have done better with two of the goals. Good looked like he did at Villa, out of his depth and ultimately the manager got it so unfathomably wrong it's untrue. The pain and abject misery I'm feeling will be with me a long, long, time. Thanks Phil. Oh, and I'll be very surprised if Kyle Reid is with us next season. For a bloke touted as our 'best/most skilful player' to not get on the pitch at Wembley must have been soul destroying for the lad and I for one wouldn't blame him for getting the hump and wanting to leave for pastures new.

a decent sumation. Think Reid will understand howeevr that he hasn't played much part recently in getting us there. We would have in effect be making another player us as 'peeved'.

Can't argue with the assesment though.

Too often instead of bombing to the bye-line we are hesitant to do so, more so on Sunday. I do think even parky listening to his soundbites realises he messed -up slightly.....

I can't believe some of the comments on here, cheer up you miserable moaning sods!

Our team Bradford City has just taken part in a major cup final despite being in the fourth tier of English football, the fact we managed to beat Villa Arsenal and Wigan on the way shows that we can take apart any League 2 side, starting with Dagenham tomorrow!

We will go back to Wembley in May and I will be there, hopefully some of you miserable gits who think the season is over, Wembley has no atmopshere etc etc won't bother coming to that one and will let some other desperate fans who missed out this time come along!

Bradford City under Parky are a team on the up and it won't be long until we are a couple of divisions higher challenging with the bigger teams again!

CTID!!

I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Victor Clayton wrote:
I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Exactly

The cup run was simply down to good luck

I shall be happy never to see those flags again. Waived by tourist supporter who is not concentrating on the match. Better off leaving them on an empty Club Wembley seat; in the hope that one will eventually goes up someone's backside.

Victor Clayton wrote:
I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Notts County did too with three minutes to go.

The point is?

Luck?

Big part of any sport, it goes for you and against.

Whose to say if Kevin Friend had only decided to book Duke instead of sending him off ( Hart an hour earlier escaped a booking for a worse offence, stayed on the pitch and saved the penalty) he wouldn't have saved it, kept it at 3-0, given PP a chance to bring on Reid and Hines andwe may have made it a more flattering scoreline 3-0, 3-1 etc etc??

many facets to the overall outcome of any football match, not just the obvious ones of 'the goals'

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote:
I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Notts County did too with three minutes to go.

The point is?

Luck?

Big part of any sport, it goes for you and against.

Whose to say if Kevin Friend had only decided to book Duke instead of sending him off ( Hart an hour earlier escaped a booking for a worse offence, stayed on the pitch and saved the penalty) he wouldn't have saved it, kept it at 3-0, given PP a chance to bring on Reid and Hines andwe may have made it a more flattering scoreline 3-0, 3-1 etc etc??

many facets to the overall outcome of any football match, not just the obvious ones of 'the goals'

The point is, if a premiership team plays to its potential there is nothing a 2nd division side can do about it. Wigan, arsenal and villa didn't. Swansea did.

Victor Clayton wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote: I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Notts County did too with three minutes to go. The point is? Luck? Big part of any sport, it goes for you and against. Whose to say if Kevin Friend had only decided to book Duke instead of sending him off ( Hart an hour earlier escaped a booking for a worse offence, stayed on the pitch and saved the penalty) he wouldn't have saved it, kept it at 3-0, given PP a chance to bring on Reid and Hines andwe may have made it a more flattering scoreline 3-0, 3-1 etc etc?? many facets to the overall outcome of any football match, not just the obvious ones of 'the goals'

The point is, if a premiership team plays to its potential there is nothing a 2nd division side can do about it. Wigan, arsenal and villa didn't. Swansea did.

ALL teams miss chances as we did in the games you mention. The fact was not in the conceding but the fact we had in the previous games you cite both created and scored chances. In this game we had one shot and thats been generous. There was a radical difference in this side of our play.

If you don't create chances to even miss you won't win.....FACT.

TPremiership sides will always create more chances as you say everyone knows that but there was a marked difference in what we did.......this int turn allows them to do what they do best......

dannbradfc wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote: I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Notts County did too with three minutes to go. The point is? Luck? Big part of any sport, it goes for you and against. Whose to say if Kevin Friend had only decided to book Duke instead of sending him off ( Hart an hour earlier escaped a booking for a worse offence, stayed on the pitch and saved the penalty) he wouldn't have saved it, kept it at 3-0, given PP a chance to bring on Reid and Hines andwe may have made it a more flattering scoreline 3-0, 3-1 etc etc?? many facets to the overall outcome of any football match, not just the obvious ones of 'the goals'

The point is, if a premiership team plays to its potential there is nothing a 2nd division side can do about it. Wigan, arsenal and villa didn't. Swansea did.

ALL teams miss chances as we did in the games you mention. The fact was not in the conceding but the fact we had in the previous games you cite both created and scored chances. In this game we had one shot and thats been generous. There was a radical difference in this side of our play. If you don't create chances to even miss you won't win.....FACT. TPremiership sides will always create more chances as you say everyone knows that but there was a marked difference in what we did.......this int turn allows them to do what they do best......

PS our previous games weren't just luck. there was determination, effort, no little skill etc etc our goals scored weren't just down to luck. its a ridiculous thing to say really........what is LUCK anyway?

over to you....and good luck defining that.....

LUCK

The culmination of hard work and skill to create a favoured outcome( in football terms anyway)

personal definition.

dannbradfc wrote:

dannbradfc wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:

Victor Clayton wrote: I think a few of you are forgeting the fact that Wigan, Arsenal and Villa all missed excellent chances, ones which they should not have missed to score. Swansea didn't - simple as that.

Notts County did too with three minutes to go. The point is? Luck? Big part of any sport, it goes for you and against. Whose to say if Kevin Friend had only decided to book Duke instead of sending him off ( Hart an hour earlier escaped a booking for a worse offence, stayed on the pitch and saved the penalty) he wouldn't have saved it, kept it at 3-0, given PP a chance to bring on Reid and Hines andwe may have made it a more flattering scoreline 3-0, 3-1 etc etc?? many facets to the overall outcome of any football match, not just the obvious ones of 'the goals'

The point is, if a premiership team plays to its potential there is nothing a 2nd division side can do about it. Wigan, arsenal and villa didn't. Swansea did.

ALL teams miss chances as we did in the games you mention. The fact was not in the conceding but the fact we had in the previous games you cite both created and scored chances. In this game we had one shot and thats been generous. There was a radical difference in this side of our play. If you don't create chances to even miss you won't win.....FACT. TPremiership sides will always create more chances as you say everyone knows that but there was a marked difference in what we did.......this int turn allows them to do what they do best......

PS our previous games weren't just luck. there was determination, effort, no little skill etc etc our goals scored weren't just down to luck. its a ridiculous thing to say really........what is LUCK anyway? over to you....and good luck defining that.....

I haven't mentioned luck, but seeing as you have. i don't think it was the only factor but IMO we were lucky that Jervinho and Bent missed sitters. if they hadn't - who knows? in fact we rode our luck in most of the Arsenal and Villa (home) games. I feel we are not as good a side as wigan, Arsenal or Aston Villa (or maybe even port vale) and sooner or later it would tell. personally i am very happy with our cup run and think its a shame some fans feel the need to pike about it afterwards.

A good cup run but promotion I do not think so.