Bradford City snap up Jones (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Normally I would be unimpressed with the capture of a 35 yr old player coming to the end of his career, but if he played 50 games last year and Keigh Hill singled him out as being their most important player, I suppose you can't complain, he must be as fit as he's ever been. Time will tell if he's the right player for us, but I will certainly reserve judgement until I've seen him play.

Still need a couple of wingers though Phil....

good signing a little long in the tooth but he managed to play 50 games last season which most young players struggle to do. between mcardle davis and this guy we will be tough to beat in any more brawls :)

quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

A bit underwhelmed by this, a 35 year old to replace a 24 year old, time will tell, let's hope for the best.

Thorne was said to be past it when he joined and the rest is history

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

I beg to differ, this guy is an absolutely brilliant player, very much in the same mould as syers but with more quality and experience. Have you seen him play seasidebantam or are you going purely on age?

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

Gary Jones and Ritchie Jones in midfield, that'll make it tough for commentators ;)

That aside, this a great signing, full of experience and goals. I think Steve Parkin was key in this deal.
As said above Peter Thorne is a great example of a "past it" player who has turned out to be probably the best signing for us in League 2. Those who are slating this guy already for his age only do need to look at the bigger picture.

Just the signing we needed to get out of this league.........he is a good strong player and chips in with his fair share of goals........rochdal
e must be upset at losing their most influential player and captain.

Looks like a very good short term signing (1 to 2 seasons). Building for the future seems to have taken a back seat for another all-or-nothing attempt at promotion.

Jones is a class act at this level and a great signing well done PP

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

I dont think we can be sure he is a replacement for Syers though can we? Maybe he's a replacement for Flynn? A very good signing, a leader, a very good player and just because he's 35 should not put people off. He chips in with the goals as well. Another strong character who also happens to be a good footballer. Davies, McArdle and now Jones. Its all building nicely.

seasidebantam wrote:

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

He's an all action combative player, of course he'll excite the fans. Your use of an expletive for emphasis followed by exclamation marks is perhaps why people considered it negative. I'm just waiting for the motley crew to point out how we still only have a squad of 3 man and a dog and that we're all dooooooooooomed! Dooooomed I tell ya. Keep the signings coming in PP, you are starting to win me over.

Excellent signing. Well done Mr P. We now have a very strong spine of players right from the back to the forwards. Bit more flair on the wing/experience up front and he's cracked it. Keep em coming...

seasidebantam wrote:

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

Clueless the only question mark will be if he can maintain his fitness. Good passer busy and has an eye for goal. Likes a tackle and is a good leader you obviously aint seen him that often or your no judge of a player.

to be the best player for rochdale in league 1 must be better than a player who struggled to make our side when he is fit to play. good things are coming i can assure you

to be the best player for rochdale in league 1 must be better than a player who struggled to make our side when he is fit to play. good things are coming i can assure you

to be the best player for rochdale in league 1 must be better than a player who struggled to make our side when he is fit to play. good things are coming i can assure you

to be the best player for rochdale in league 1 must be better than a player who struggled to make our side when he is fit to play. good things are coming i can assure you

We've needed to someone to boss the midfield for long enough. Looks like he's the man for the job.
Yes, at 35 he is a bit over't hill but lets hope he's more McCall and Thorne and less Branston and Conlon in that regard.

Oliver's shinpad wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

He's an all action combative player, of course he'll excite the fans. Your use of an expletive for emphasis followed by exclamation marks is perhaps why people considered it negative. I'm just waiting for the motley crew to point out how we still only have a squad of 3 man and a dog and that we're all dooooooooooomed! Dooooomed I tell ya. Keep the signings coming in PP, you are starting to win me over.

living in blackpool i can get to a match every sat if city are playing down south i need to be back in blackpool by 7.45pm for work so i go and watch bolton, wigan, blackpool preston, burnley and even morecambe and still have a season tkt for city!and every home game is a 130 mile round trip for me, so i see a lot of players i watched rochdale 3 times last year and they were nowhere near as good as the team that got promoted city have been linked with bogdanovitch of blackpool this also would be a very bad move, a lazy sulky player just after a payday, this is my personel judge of players and the beauty of these blogs is that we don't all agree we all have opinions, iam and always have been city through and through please don't doubt my passion for bradford city
ctid

Apologies, I meant to tell you about this before lunch.

As regards his age and the usual start of the moaning, he played 50 games in L1 last season, he scored 18 goals from CM the season before in this division, he drives teams on by virtue of how he plays and his aggressive attitude and will to win.

I am assuming the same underwhelmed folk complained when Deano came back at 34 or when Thorne arrived at 35, the trick is keeping the older lads injury free but 50 games last season suggests there is nowt wrong with his fitness levels. Syers is 10 years younger and missed a big part of last season through injury, his move to Donny is more of a gamble for them than this is for us.

This is a sensational astute signing by Parky, and has a great goal scoring rate (for a midfielder), and will create alot of goals for our strikers. Has alot of guile and skill, and a better player than Syers. Well done Parky.

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

Because some people hate Phil Parkinson for no good reason.

seasidebantam wrote:

Oliver's shinpad wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:
quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!!
the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

He's an all action combative player, of course he'll excite the fans. Your use of an expletive for emphasis followed by exclamation marks is perhaps why people considered it negative. I'm just waiting for the motley crew to point out how we still only have a squad of 3 man and a dog and that we're all dooooooooooomed! Dooooomed I tell ya. Keep the signings coming in PP, you are starting to win me over.

living in blackpool i can get to a match every sat if city are playing down south i need to be back in blackpool by 7.45pm for work so i go and watch bolton, wigan, blackpool preston, burnley and even morecambe and still have a season tkt for city!and every home game is a 130 mile round trip for me, so i see a lot of players i watched rochdale 3 times last year and they were nowhere near as good as the team that got promoted city have been linked with bogdanovitch of blackpool this also would be a very bad move, a lazy sulky player just after a payday, this is my personel judge of players and the beauty of these blogs is that we don't all agree we all have opinions, iam and always have been city through and through please don't doubt my passion for bradford city
ctid

Nobody is doubting your passion for city, nor the sacrafises you have to make to come watch the team. My doomed comment was aimed at the select few regulars who put a negative spin on everything, which I do not consider you to be one of. We now have JMC, Duke (probably moving on), Rambo (still unconfirmed), Oliver, McArdle, Davies, Branston (looking for new home) Reid, Jones, Jones, Ravenhill, Hannah, Wells, Hanson, plus youngsters baker, swain, bass, so we probably need between another 6-8 senior players depending on the number of further exits (Hoping Rambo stays).

Jones is an old team mate of ramsdens, so maybe he might sign on the dotted line too now.

irish bantam wrote:
Jones is an old team mate of ramsdens, so maybe he might sign on the dotted line too now.

Good shout, I hope so...

whisky1 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote:

Jacko1990 wrote:

seasidebantam wrote: quote "it is up to me to sign someone better and more exciting to replace david syers"!! well you f***ing havn't!!!!!

this is a very negative comment!! the player we have signed is a proven player at bradford's level... so why be so negative?

i don't think it is a negative comment, there is no doubt that jones has been an immense player for rochdale ive seen him play, for me he is in the same mould as guy branston was a couple of years ago, but it was parkinson's quote that he would bring in someone better and more exciting than syers and jones simply is not, yes he has more experience but i can't see him exciting the fans like syers did

Clueless the only question mark will be if he can maintain his fitness. Good passer busy and has an eye for goal. Likes a tackle and is a good leader you obviously aint seen him that often or your no judge of a player.

hahaha you really do make me laugh... he cant be that much of a boring player if he has managed to stay at 1 club for the last 10 years and do well?
like you said hes a hard tackler and gives his all... i think watching someone get stuck in does excit the fans... but clear not mr negative (you)!!

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Apologies, I meant to tell you about this before lunch.

As regards his age and the usual start of the moaning, he played 50 games in L1 last season, he scored 18 goals from CM the season before in this division, he drives teams on by virtue of how he plays and his aggressive attitude and will to win.

I am assuming the same underwhelmed folk complained when Deano came back at 34 or when Thorne arrived at 35, the trick is keeping the older lads injury free but 50 games last season suggests there is nowt wrong with his fitness levels. Syers is 10 years younger and missed a big part of last season through injury, his move to Donny is more of a gamble for them than this is for us.

Lol...PCBA, apology accepted - are you going to apologise for not telling us about Oliver as well?

Botswana Bantam wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Apologies, I meant to tell you about this before lunch.

As regards his age and the usual start of the moaning, he played 50 games in L1 last season, he scored 18 goals from CM the season before in this division, he drives teams on by virtue of how he plays and his aggressive attitude and will to win.

I am assuming the same underwhelmed folk complained when Deano came back at 34 or when Thorne arrived at 35, the trick is keeping the older lads injury free but 50 games last season suggests there is nowt wrong with his fitness levels. Syers is 10 years younger and missed a big part of last season through injury, his move to Donny is more of a gamble for them than this is for us.

Lol...PCBA, apology accepted - are you going to apologise for not telling us about Oliver as well?

Any chance you give us the result of the England V Italy game on Sunday before kick-off, rather than after?

1-0 England. :)

I was talking to a Dale fan who told me Jones left this am and we were favourites to take him. Even when I mentioned he was more or less signed a couple of seasons ago but backed out last minute. I tried to post this info, went into a meeting and had no access, otherwise it would have been here.

What I am as pleased about is it maybe dispells the 'bust up' rumour between board, chair and manager that was circling yesterday. That may still hold water but this signing makes me think not.

citywin10 wrote:

Botswana Bantam wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Apologies, I meant to tell you about this before lunch.

As regards his age and the usual start of the moaning, he played 50 games in L1 last season, he scored 18 goals from CM the season before in this division, he drives teams on by virtue of how he plays and his aggressive attitude and will to win.

I am assuming the same underwhelmed folk complained when Deano came back at 34 or when Thorne arrived at 35, the trick is keeping the older lads injury free but 50 games last season suggests there is nowt wrong with his fitness levels. Syers is 10 years younger and missed a big part of last season through injury, his move to Donny is more of a gamble for them than this is for us.

Lol...PCBA, apology accepted - are you going to apologise for not telling us about Oliver as well?

Any chance you give us the result of the England V Italy game on Sunday before kick-off, rather than after?

I am predicting a positive result against Italy.

A disgrace of a,signing from parkinson.
Jones didnt want to come to cty last year, why now?
money.
Hes no syers, an at 35, no dean windass.
Parky likes to press the opposition, jones's legs will go.
Is this one of the exciting signings chairman lawn was chirping about?
If thats the case we may as well wave the white flag now!!!!.
Riddiculous parky looking to the future

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

Fao Prince. The clue is there somewhere, were you expecting Modric?

prince35 wrote:
A disgrace of a,signing from parkinson.
Jones didnt want to come to cty last year, why now?
money.
Hes no syers, an at 35, no dean windass.
Parky likes to press the opposition, jones's legs will go.
Is this one of the exciting signings chairman lawn was chirping about?
If thats the case we may as well wave the white flag now!!!!.
Riddiculous parky looking to the future

Come on prince, spill the beans. there must be a valid reason for your posts. Leeds fan? fancied Syers ? Parkinson slept with your wife?, Lawn ran over your dog?

A proven midfield engine scores goals to born leader. better than money grabber syers oliver committed too give pp n the board a break building a great team

If all you bantams are happy because we sign a 35 year old central midfield player, who according to phil parkinson is a better player than syers.
Whats become of this great club.
quick fix signing for me, no thought of squad building , desperation

I have got to admit that this is another signing that, on paper, seems a good deal. However, like McArdle, I want to see himperform before I judge him.
.
Some are claiming it to be a brilliant signing. Why? Okay, he played 50 times last season for Dale and has played consistently over the past 10 years or so. I, though, can't remember him against us, so I can't say he is a 'ball-winner', 'good passer', etc. He may be all those adjectives, but I just don't know.
.
But, the claim he is a goal-scoring midfielder is a bit weak. In 321 games, he has netted 50 times. That is 1 in every 6.4 games (7 per season). This is even more bizarre when you look at his scoring record over the past 4 seasons.
.
In 2008/09 (L2), he scored 0 in 34
In 2009/10 (L2), he scored 4 in 37
In 2010/11 (L1), he scored 19 in 49
In 2011/12 (L1), he scored 6 in 50
.
This shows a return of 1 in 4 over the last 2 seasons, ironically when he was playing in a league higher. But if you take out those seasons, he has managed just 25 goals in 222 games. Not a great return is it?
.
So why did Jones have such a special season in 2010/11? Did he take their pens, free-kicks etc? Seems amazking that in that 1 season he managed to score nearly 5 times more than his normal average.
.
Best of luck to him and let's hope some of our more knowlegeable fans (in relation to the player) are right that he can pass, tackle and score.

Waynus1971 wrote:
I have got to admit that this is another signing that, on paper, seems a good deal. However, like McArdle, I want to see himperform before I judge him.
.
Some are claiming it to be a brilliant signing. Why? Okay, he played 50 times last season for Dale and has played consistently over the past 10 years or so. I, though, can't remember him against us, so I can't say he is a 'ball-winner', 'good passer', etc. He may be all those adjectives, but I just don't know.
.
But, the claim he is a goal-scoring midfielder is a bit weak. In 321 games, he has netted 50 times. That is 1 in every 6.4 games (7 per season). This is even more bizarre when you look at his scoring record over the past 4 seasons.
.
In 2008/09 (L2), he scored 0 in 34
In 2009/10 (L2), he scored 4 in 37
In 2010/11 (L1), he scored 19 in 49
In 2011/12 (L1), he scored 6 in 50
.
This shows a return of 1 in 4 over the last 2 seasons, ironically when he was playing in a league higher. But if you take out those seasons, he has managed just 25 goals in 222 games. Not a great return is it?
.
So why did Jones have such a special season in 2010/11? Did he take their pens, free-kicks etc? Seems amazking that in that 1 season he managed to score nearly 5 times more than his normal average.
.
Best of luck to him and let's hope some of our more knowlegeable fans (in relation to the player) are right that he can pass, tackle and score.

This video has a few he scored in his 19 goal season... http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=AVTJOiahC
pg

Powerful shot, will and drive to get onto the end of things and self belief and belief in his team mates as Dale improved during his time there. I am just guessing but those would be my reasons for the slight upturn in his season returns. he may also have changed his role during this period and been encouraged to push on more and finding he was adept at reading the game, much like Syers.

prince, you are indeed correct, a quick fix, we have been told this was going to be the case, not a build for the future but an attempt to get quality and experience, with a more experienced man in charge and try get promoted. Any bantam that doesn't want that, not at the expense of failing and struggling for the next couple of seasons agan but to succeed this time. Then as this is a w year contract, look to improve on the quality from this season and replace/build on that.

When it is your millions on the table and not your 200 quid make the decisions, until then at least try see a positive and not every negative.

Someone said we want grafters, GJones is that but with added hope he will bag us a few from midfield, I do remember him and also remember him on tv for Dale in an FA CUP match in which he was head and shoulders the best on the pitch.

My concerns are based on the system of play, parky likes to play.
Pressing opposition all over the pitch, central midfield players, do so much running that I fear jones at 35,will struggle with the tempo, and will we,see jones as a regular starter at the expense of ritchie jones?.
Yes hes played at lge1 level and to my knowledge had a,few good seasons.
Playing for bradford cty is nothing like playing for anyother at lge2 level simply because of the shear effort, teams put into coming to vp.
yes windass,mcall, etc were good signings at around the same age but jones isnt in the same class.

like WAynus i wanna see him before i judge him. however also like waynus i question those claiming him as a goal scoring midfielder. he had one great season but also did conlon on paper with us. he also spent most of his time in league 2 so claiming he is a league 1 player could also be questioned.

my greater concern is akin to PRINCE. we are gambling on one season again. i year contracts on aging players suggests this. IF we fail to go up and even if we do we find our selves having to build another squad next year. DAVIES is a 1 year contract as well. A younger squad on contract enables us to build season on season. We will have to wait n see i guess but its short termism from the board each and every year.

Syers or Jones? its Syers for me but he's gone now so we will have to hope that Jones can drive us onwards and upwards.....

The Davies deal on one year also makes perfect sesne. He will be far and away top earner, don't think anyone will doubt that, so if we fail to go up we probably won't be able to keep him and therefore won't be locked into a 3 year deal.

This brings me to certain posters who claim that giving anyone anything more than. One year rolling contract is madness in our position.

Put it this way, if we don't go up PP will be on his way anyway and another rebuild would begin so it isn't actually as bad as it could be. We haven't the time nor patience to build a young energetic sqaud that could compete next season, we were going to try it but it was consigned to history. This will be our model for the foreseeable future, may as well suck it up and discuss sumat else.

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

HE PLAYED 50 GAMES IN L1 LAST SEASON

Fao Prince. The clue is there somewhere, were you expecting Modric?

And 'lead' Rochdale to relegation?

fair point but this gamble has failed season on season. There no gradual build or momentum. Maybe i'm been sentimental but i remember the way we rose with the likes of McCALL, hendrie, Abbot arriving young and free around seasoned pro's. We had no money then but built a team who could take on anyone.....