Bradford City: Start is going to be pretty tricky, says Ricky (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford City: Start is going to be pretty tricky, says Ricky
7:00am Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Sport
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Gillingham are first up in the league for City. Ricky Ravenhill is pictured during the 0-0 draw at Priestfield in November last season
Ricky Ravenhill has vowed to come charging out of the blocks after City were handed a tough start to next season.
Phil Parkinson’s men kick off the campaign with a long trip to Gillingham, last term’s leading scorers in League Two.
And they also face two of the promotion favourites in the first four games – big-spending Fleetwood in the Valley Parade opener and Steve Evans’ ambitious Rotherham.
On the back of the Capital One Cup clash at Notts County, the Bantams could not have asked for a much sterner examination in the opening weeks.
But midfield scrapper Ravenhill sees it as a good platform to show the doubters that City will be a different proposition to the strugglers of recent seasons.
Ravenhill said: “We are taking it seriously this year and want to be up there with the best.
It is a tough start. Gilling-ham under-achieved last year but they are always one of the strongest sides in the league, especially at home
Ricky Ravenhill
“After the last few years, a lot of people are going to be a bit dubious when we say we’re going to have a good team and do well but this is a good benchmark for us to show where we want to be.
“It is a tough start. Gillingham under-achieved last year but they are always one of the strongest sides in the league, especially at home.
“Fleetwood have got a lot of money but they haven’t proved themselves at this level yet. The pressure is on them.
“They look like this year’s Crawley and the bookies fancy them.
“Rotherham have signed some experienced players and they are moving into a new stadium so they’re going to be fired up.
“They’re all hard games but those are the ones you want to be playing in and should thrive on.
“You want to get off to a strong start and if we can get some good early results then people will take notice of us.”
Ravenhill admitted the arrival of the new fixtures – which begin with the Meadow Lane cup trip against his old club – has whetted his appetite. The players are back in the training ground next week for fitness checks to make sure they are keeping to the summer programmes.
He added: “We’ve all had a break and now your thoughts start turning towards coming back and preparing for pre-season. Seeing the fixtures out makes everything seem a lot nearer.
“We’ve got five or six weeks of pre-season to make sure we are ready to go. We know what’s coming up now and I’m sure we will be prepared.”
Parkinson, meanwhile, is not anticipating any transfer activity this week. He also dismissed rumours that City were looking at former Leeds midfielder Tom Taiwo, who recently quit Carlisle.
Comments(41)
i miss stallard & murray
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7:59am Tue 19 Jun 12
Correctness
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8:13am Tue 19 Jun 12
Correctness
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8:13am Tue 19 Jun 12
bigang02
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8:14am Tue 19 Jun 12
ricky76
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8:16am Tue 19 Jun 12
prince35
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8:16am Tue 19 Jun 12
Out the traps running is how they saw the start to this season.
Seems a good talker pp, but as yet no action.
irish bantam
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8:46am Tue 19 Jun 12
dy gray would be a decent signing at this level but not one who will have the fans too over excited..in the club we have to trust and just have to wait and see.1st of july onwards we will hopefully see a few signings when a lot of contracts are up, and im sure talks with agents etc have been going on a while.
ALEXIMO.56.
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9:05am Tue 19 Jun 12
total90
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9:27am Tue 19 Jun 12
bobbyo
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10:47am Tue 19 Jun 12
Edinburgh -bantam
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11:14am Tue 19 Jun 12
The players don't start training for a fortnight so there's time to persuade potential targets and their families that a move to Bradford City makes sense.
Perhaps Simon could fill more column inches with an interview with Jon McLaughlin on standing out in the cold at Morecambe on New Year's Day?
Edinburgh -bantam
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11:30am Tue 19 Jun 12
Edinburgh -bantam wrote:Correction it's Allamby.
Simon is probably holding back the signing of fitness coach Nick Allenby on a full-time contract for tomorrow's headline. The players don't start training for a fortnight so there's time to persuade potential targets and their families that a move to Bradford City makes sense. Perhaps Simon could fill more column inches with an interview with Jon McLaughlin on standing out in the cold at Morecambe on New Year's Day?
claretstripe
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11:33am Tue 19 Jun 12
total90 wrote:And the award for most clichés in a post goes toooooo…………
Gentlemen, gentlemen. Get a grip. You are working yourselves into a lather. You are starting to froth at the mouth. Children who can't wait for christmas to come, springs to mind. Take a deep breath and a pint of patience. Players will turn up. They might be the players you wanted and once here don't come up withh the goods. They may be players you have never heard of and turn out to be brilliant when they play in claret and amber. That's football. Posters above, your thurst for something to happen is admirable but you let yourselves down with your negative take on it all. The club is doing it's best, the manager is doing his best, why wouldn't they. What good can possibly come from anything that's been uttored above. It's not us against them, supporters against all concerned with running the club. Have a go at talking the club up, in the pub, street and in your postings. There's enough people in the world out there, busting a gut to rubbish all that's Bradford ,City and Bradford itself. Defend our club and City, show the rest that no matter what state we find ourselves in at the moment, we are a proud people. Don't be guilty of biting your own foot.
……………..
total90
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12:25pm Tue 19 Jun 12
BigFigure
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12:33pm Tue 19 Jun 12
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=JC8nyBr9_
-8
BigFigure
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12:37pm Tue 19 Jun 12
claretstripe
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1:03pm Tue 19 Jun 12
total90 wrote:afternoon, glad i made you chuckle :-)
Afternoon Claretstripe. It does make me chuckle when accademics like you pull a poster up for his style of delivery but rarely comment on the point being made. Have a go yourself at posting a point that is relevant to the clubs attempts at securing players that will get us out of this division. Try and avoid using sentances only fit for a text message quip. P.S no apologies for any spelling or gramatical errors.
dannbradfc
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1:15pm Tue 19 Jun 12
dannbradfc
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1:22pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Seriously its a good job season tickets weren't on sale at the mo. Plenty of time to go but i repeat that this rebuild should have been happening last season. Thats one of the excuses for abandoning the season so early that was banded about.
I'd love to be as optimistic as some about our prospects but where they getting their info/belief from is beyond me.
If solely based on blind faith then god help us....pardon the pun.
If based on the t and a reports from PP,Lawn et al then these must be the same people who believe their politicians.
There is still time to get a squad together and i'm hanging on in there....
dannbradfc
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1:25pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Its true that most activity will take place after the end of June. Contracts etc.....also by hanging on the club are saving wages and anyone not thinking that this would be reason needs to remember the players who weren't allowed to reach a certain number of appearances due to clauses etc
theoutsider
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1:25pm Tue 19 Jun 12
dannbradfc wrote:My thoughts exactly...IF IF we're serious about promotion this season - and we have to be then we need to be going to Gills and taking on the likes on 'non league' Fleetwood and turning them over and some. Thats what I am demanding over to you, ML, JR, PP and the rest.
Talk about getting excuses in early ricky ;-)!!!!!!
Seriously its a good job season tickets weren't on sale at the mo. Plenty of time to go but i repeat that this rebuild should have been happening last season. Thats one of the excuses for abandoning the season so early that was banded about.
I'd love to be as optimistic as some about our prospects but where they getting their info/belief from is beyond me.
If solely based on blind faith then god help us....pardon the pun.
If based on the t and a reports from PP,Lawn et al then these must be the same people who believe their politicians.
There is still time to get a squad together and i'm hanging on in there....
dannbradfc
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1:27pm Tue 19 Jun 12
bantam1911
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1:45pm Tue 19 Jun 12
bantam1911
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1:45pm Tue 19 Jun 12
bantam1911
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1:49pm Tue 19 Jun 12
total90
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2:13pm Tue 19 Jun 12
claretstripe
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2:33pm Tue 19 Jun 12
citygent1978
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2:44pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Meat Pie
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3:05pm Tue 19 Jun 12
total90 wrote:I think it's better IF YOU WRITE IN BIG LETTERS LIKE SOME DO ON HERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK and just in case some people can't hear what you're writing.
Afternoon Claretstripe. It does make me chuckle when accademics like you pull a poster up for his style of delivery but rarely comment on the point being made. Have a go yourself at posting a point that is relevant to the clubs attempts at securing players that will get us out of this division. Try and avoid using sentances only fit for a text message quip. P.S no apologies for any spelling or gramatical errors.
seasidebantam
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4:06pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Danstarr69 wrote:totally agree there is a lot of transfer movement in div 2 and some great signings by "small clubs" city are gonna be left wth players who nobody wants city say they are activly seeking players but there is no news???
No transfers this week.
I wonder if PP thinks the phrase "Saving the best 'til last" applies in football. All the best players are getting signed up bow. We'll be left with the scraps if he doesn't move soon.
We need 18-22 players minimum but atm we only have about 7...not even enough for a team!
we need to know what's happening!!!!
shaun from richmond
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4:11pm Tue 19 Jun 12
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:WELL SAID!!....In "Deadbeat" YOU trust!!
There are people who come on here that are more bothered about the other clubs signing 7 or 8 players. It doesn't matter what other clubs do, it just matters what we do. I'm sure everyone is aware that most contracts seem to end at the end of June. Parky may have players on his wanted list that might be ready to sign for city when their contracts finally run out then. I'm fed up of listening to rumours about players wanting out or players on their way in. I now wait until it is officially announced and not before.
northyorksbantam
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5:48pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Would be nice to see some movement now though, we need at least 5 to make a team never mind a squad
ALEXIMO.56.
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7:05pm Tue 19 Jun 12
shaun from richmond wrote:You know I do Shaun. I don't think I ever asked you the question, but (we all know you don't love PP all that much) If you were chairman and you got rid of PP, Please tell me who would YOU bring in as manager?
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:WELL SAID!!....In "Deadbeat" YOU trust!!
There are people who come on here that are more bothered about the other clubs signing 7 or 8 players. It doesn't matter what other clubs do, it just matters what we do. I'm sure everyone is aware that most contracts seem to end at the end of June. Parky may have players on his wanted list that might be ready to sign for city when their contracts finally run out then. I'm fed up of listening to rumours about players wanting out or players on their way in. I now wait until it is officially announced and not before.
prince35
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7:15pm Tue 19 Jun 12
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:Well said aleximo ,shaun comes on here and offers very little in terms of solutions or inputt, just takes the micky out of posters and dead beat this dead beat that.
shaun from richmond wrote:You know I do Shaun. I don't think I ever asked you the question, but (we all know you don't love PP all that much) If you were chairman and you got rid of PP, Please tell me who would YOU bring in as manager?
ALEXIMO.56. wrote:WELL SAID!!....In "Deadbeat" YOU trust!!
There are people who come on here that are more bothered about the other clubs signing 7 or 8 players. It doesn't matter what other clubs do, it just matters what we do. I'm sure everyone is aware that most contracts seem to end at the end of June. Parky may have players on his wanted list that might be ready to sign for city when their contracts finally run out then. I'm fed up of listening to rumours about players wanting out or players on their way in. I now wait until it is officially announced and not before.
Waynus1971
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7:18pm Tue 19 Jun 12
.
Have our fans never heard of pre-contracts or signing new contracts for when the existing ones expire? Perhaps we should speak to Dave Syers, who as 'signed' for Donnie, but is still contracted to us until 1 July...!
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The longer Parkinson's transfer targets fail to sign, the less I believe they will. Have they already told him and that is why he doesn't expect movement this week? Is he already talking to the players on his 2nd list and that's why he doesn't expect to hear anything else this week?
.
Yes we still have 2 months to go, but pre-season starts shortly and haven't got a team, let alone a squad. Perhaps this is the plan. Save money on the numbers travelling to Ireland...? LOL
Correctness
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7:47pm Tue 19 Jun 12
pudseykid
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8:04pm Tue 19 Jun 12
Danstarr69 wrote:Dear Mr Ravenhill, your comments dont inspire me-a season ticket holder who lives 230 miles from the stadium. I also wrote a similar note to Mr Syers a few weeks ago, he took my advice-he left! no wishing to be a "bit part player" U havent impressed me yet. I have looked at the map and note where "gill" is compared to me, but if U think its gunna be too hard 4 U, then perhaps i shud save the money & not go? I sincerely hope that come "mid season" U will be able to ram my comments back down my throat, and prove me wrong..but i dont see U leading a team that fights for the TOP7.
No transfers this week. I wonder if PP thinks the phrase "Saving the best 'til last" applies in football. All the best players are getting signed up bow. We'll be left with the scraps if he doesn't move soon. We need 18-22 players minimum but atm we only have about 7...not even enough for a team!
dannbradfc
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8:35am Wed 20 Jun 12
As for contracts, yes pre-contracts can obviously take place but it is a fact that most activity occurs after June. Indeed just watch the uptake. Players do look at their options and rightly so, alot go on holiday and again rightly so. training begins after this month etc.....so most transfers happen after june......
dannbradfc
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8:41am Wed 20 Jun 12
gspot01
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4:26pm Wed 20 Jun 12
.
I found it funny when Davies said he signed because the fans had been brilliant - he must have been smoking somet last season.
Danstarr69 says...
7:28am Tue 19 Jun 12
I wonder if PP thinks the phrase "Saving the best 'til last" applies in football. All the best players are getting signed up bow. We'll be left with the scraps if he doesn't move soon.
We need 18-22 players minimum but atm we only have about 7...not even enough for a team!