Phil Parkinson in rallying cry to cure Bradford City home sickness

6:30am Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport Photograph of the Author By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter

Phil Parkinson wants to create a 'vociferous' atmosphere to help City regain their home form Phil Parkinson wants to create a 'vociferous' atmosphere to help City regain their home form

Phil Parkinson wants City to raise the bar and the roof tomorrow to make Valley Parade a place where opponents fear to tread once again.

The Bantams aim to wipe out a four-game home drought with victory over Aldershot and continue the momentum for a play-off push.

After two good away results, Parkinson is determined they convert that into the home form that typified the first half of the season. City have taken only one point on their own soil since Boxing Day.

Nineteenth-placed Aldershot are unbeaten since Andy Scott took over in the scrap for survival at the bottom. But Parkinson is not in the mood for any excuses.

The City chief said: “Teams may well raise their game when they come here because of the surroundings. They might look at our cup exploits and raise their game again.

“But we’ve got to overcome that. We’ve got to go another step above and beyond that in my eyes.

“Expect it, don’t moan about it, rise above it.

“We’ve got to go back to the start of the season and back end of last year when we made Valley Parade a difficult place to play.”

City boasted the best home record in the division up to Christmas. But Rochdale, Oxford and leaders Gillingham have all since won at Valley Parade before last week’s draw with Dagenham.

Parkinson admitted: “We’ve lost our way a bit.

“At this stage of the season, the staff who sit down and work out how we can get more out of each individual player ultimately go on to be the most successful. We’re trying to do that.

“It’s the same with the team as a whole. Everyone has to understand what’s required – just enough is not enough.

“We need to be right on it and get the crowd to make it a really vociferous atmosphere. We want everybody out their seats appealing every decision and cheering every run and tackle that the players make.

“We have to make sure that every player runs themselves into the ground and shows that incredible desire which we’ve done in the last two games on our travels because we need that at home.”

Parkinson has also assured Alan Connell that he will have his part to play in the run-in.

Connell has found himself the odd one out as the City boss rotates his strikers. Garry Thompson replaced Nahki Wells at Port Vale and Andy Gray has also been used to give James Hanson a breather in the targetman role.

But Connell, Swindon’s top-scorer in their title win last season, has made only two sub appearances in the nine games since his last start against Crewe in the JPT. He did not come off the bench at either York or Vale.

Parkinson said: “Al’s probably been a bit unlucky but it could be his turn now until the end of the season. I’m sure he’ll have his moments.

“He came on last week against Dagenham and I thought he looked really bright. He’s kept his spirit going and his attitude right.

“Hanson and Wells have got 28 goals between them which isn’t a bad return. Obviously we brought Andy (Gray) in to give us that hold-up strength and him and Thommo have had a good spell.

“Andy hasn’t scored but Thommo has and I firmly believe it will come for Andy. Combinations are important with strikers and Alan has ended up outside of that but he will get a chance.

“Alan’s worked hard, he’s training well and he’s been fine. I’m sure he will be an asset for the rest of the season.”

Comments(21)

Dave2610 says...
8:45am Fri 8 Mar 13

take the shackles off Parkie
Let the defenders do their own job and stop been over cautious with them.
Tell the midfielders to get further forward to support the strikers more and put the away team on the back foot from the off!!

Report this post »

tyker2 says...
10:01am Fri 8 Mar 13

Dave2610 wrote:
take the shackles off Parkie
Let the defenders do their own job and stop been over cautious with them.
Tell the midfielders to get further forward to support the strikers more and put the away team on the back foot from the off!!
spot on mate

Report this post »

Peter300 says...
10:12am Fri 8 Mar 13

Dave2610 wrote:
take the shackles off Parkie Let the defenders do their own job and stop been over cautious with them. Tell the midfielders to get further forward to support the strikers more and put the away team on the back foot from the off!!
Yeah, and leave the back gate open. Then you will start moaning about the defence (or lack of it)

Report this post »

fantam says...
3:23pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Not with our goal-hy forwards!!!!

Report this post »

macca1969 says...
5:51pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Peter300 wrote:
Dave2610 wrote:
take the shackles off Parkie Let the defenders do their own job and stop been over cautious with them. Tell the midfielders to get further forward to support the strikers more and put the away team on the back foot from the off!!
Yeah, and leave the back gate open. Then you will start moaning about the defence (or lack of it)
Looks like Peter escaped his padded cell again

Report this post »

Freddy says...
6:01pm Fri 8 Mar 13

*

Looks like Peter escaped his padded cell again.
*
Great comment Macca-69. !!!
*
My pessimism is returning. I do not want another " Banana Skin " Match tomorrow. This is another Cup Final match. With the 'Shots' fighting for survival.
*

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
6:07pm Fri 8 Mar 13

we can win tomoz and beat Plymouth n ve 3 home games on bounce shud do us really good ( I hope )

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
6:09pm Fri 8 Mar 13

wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week

Report this post »

balbrigganfc says...
8:21pm Fri 8 Mar 13

bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
Probably not, as many who went travelled far to go to the final, and then there are those who wouldn;t go as they might support another team or sport, and can't afford to do both, and there are those who wanted to share in that unique and historic moment

Report this post »

balbrigganfc says...
8:22pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Underestimate Aldershot at our peril, they have hit a bit of form recently, and they will raise their game against City

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
8:38pm Fri 8 Mar 13

balbrigganfc wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
Probably not, as many who went travelled far to go to the final, and then there are those who wouldn;t go as they might support another team or sport, and can't afford to do both, and there are those who wanted to share in that unique and historic moment
if we get to play off final are 23.000 may appear lol

Report this post »

Birky_Neil says...
8:53pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Is that another amazing prediction of yours!

Report this post »

tingleyb says...
9:12pm Fri 8 Mar 13

bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
9:43pm Fri 8 Mar 13

tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
they don't come has we are bottom tier vey are 101% plastic fans not city fans and wont ever pay 20 quid into see bottom tier footy
END OF STORY

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
9:46pm Fri 8 Mar 13

tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
if we don't get in play offs vis season we will get below 8.000 next season
FACT

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
9:46pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Birky_Neil wrote:
Is that another amazing prediction of yours!
NO ITS A FACT PAL

Report this post »

bantam59 says...
9:51pm Fri 8 Mar 13

tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
WERE WAS THE NON PLASTICS AT PORT VALE 381 LOYAL CITY THERE

Report this post »

Waynus1971 says...
10:25pm Fri 8 Mar 13

bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
I'm a season ticket holder and I missed the Daggenham game.... AS I WAS WITH OTHER CITY SUPPORTERS IN YORK...!

If you are going to have a cheap shot at 'non-regular' supporters, at least get your facts right so you don't look a total buffoon...!

Report this post »

Waynus1971 says...
10:28pm Fri 8 Mar 13

bantam59 wrote:
tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
they don't come has we are bottom tier vey are 101% plastic fans not city fans and wont ever pay 20 quid into see bottom tier footy
END OF STORY
I won't ever pay £20 to watch 4th division football (at home) either. Does that also make me a plastic?

Report this post »

Onebrianmitchell says...
10:57pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Waynus1971 wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
they don't come has we are bottom tier vey are 101% plastic fans not city fans and wont ever pay 20 quid into see bottom tier footy
END OF STORY
I won't ever pay £20 to watch 4th division football (at home) either. Does that also make me a plastic?
No it doesn't.

Just tight.

Ha ha !!

Report this post »

Michael Clayton says...
11:57am Mon 11 Mar 13

Onebrianmitchell wrote:
Waynus1971 wrote:
bantam59 wrote:
tingleyb wrote:
bantam59 wrote: wonder if we get any of the 23.000 that were missing against daggers last week
as far as I see it - it is this very comment and attitude that keeps many of the 23,000 away - please don't forget it was the none plastics who took the plastics to wembley so they need to pull there finger out and get their mates to VP. If we get to Wembley again this season (unlikely) then the Board will do the same again and all the plastics will come out to play again !
they don't come has we are bottom tier vey are 101% plastic fans not city fans and wont ever pay 20 quid into see bottom tier footy END OF STORY
I won't ever pay £20 to watch 4th division football (at home) either. Does that also make me a plastic?
No it doesn't. Just tight. Ha ha !!
I think that the attitude of the City fans is generally 'tight'. The club has bent over backwards to accommodate floating supporters and this generosity is now seen as something of a right.

All I have heard are calls for discounts (i.e. deals similar to Torquay and Hereford from last season). These were privilegies.

Unless it is Wembley, or a freebie, it is like rats down a drainpipe.

Report this post »

click2find

Get Adobe Flash player
About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree