Phil Parkinson awards full marks to his Bradford City players for passing endurance test (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Bradford City players show great fortytude!
7:20am Monday 21st January 2013 in Bantams
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson has applauded his tireless players
Phil Parkinson cannot believe how City’s marathon men can keep going after an “unprecedented” schedule.
The weekend freeze allowed a much-needed breather after the trip to Port Vale was an early victim of the winter blast.
City still trained on Saturday as they build up for tomorrow’s potential date with destiny in the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Aston Villa.
But the postponement – their second this season – was welcome news for the club who have played more games than anyone else.
Last week’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Crewe was their 40th game of the season – it is usually the middle of March by the time they have played that many.
There have been only three times in the previous 25 years when City hit the 40 mark in February – the last in 2006 when Colin Todd’s side drew 1-1 at Swansea. So to reach that landmark by mid-January is unheard of.
Parkinson admitted: “It’s an unprecedented season with the amount of games we’ve played. That’s why the lads deserve so much credit to keep going week in, week out.
"It’s difficult mentally as much as physically. Don’t forget three of those games will have been the biggest ones many of these players have played in their lives.
“You look at some of the youngsters like Carl McHugh, Stephen Darby and Nahki Wells and the way they have conducted themselves through this period has been outstanding.
"We haven’t won every week and we’ve dropped down the league a little bit but we’ll get back there.
“They’ve given us everything and that’s why we’ve brought a couple of new players in and are trying to get one or two more just to help the existing ones we’ve got.
“They need a boost and we’ll certainly do everything we can to give them it.”
It has been just as relentless for Parkinson and his coaching staff. But he would not swap the excitement and insists there is plenty more to come yet.
Parkinson added: “Some times as a manager you need time to go away and reflect and I’ve not had that, apart from on the motorway!
“But it’s been great. You look at this time last year and where we are now. We’re in the semi-final of a major cup competition and still in a challenging position in the league. There’s so much to play for, no matter what happens against Villa tomorrow.
“We want to really push on and the lads we’re bringing in, Andy Gray, Ryan Dickson and Michael Nelson, are buying in to what we want to do.”
Comments(24)
Dancinfeet
says...
8:41am Mon 21 Jan 13
CasualBantam
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9:31am Mon 21 Jan 13
Freddy wrote:I can't see there being any issues with tomorrow's game. Their game with WBA went ahead on Saturday teatime and The Hawthorns is only a few miles from Villa Park. They've had no more snow down there since, nor is any more forecasted before tomorrow night. As long as the areas around the ground are gritted (which I'm sure won't be overlooked), this game will definitely be ON!
* Out of UK this week. Will the weather affect Villa Match?. Coaching staff --brilliant!!
CasualBantam
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9:32am Mon 21 Jan 13
macca1969
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9:35am Mon 21 Jan 13
Dancinfeet
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9:41am Mon 21 Jan 13
basil fawlty
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10:05am Mon 21 Jan 13
Citygentleman1968
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10:36am Mon 21 Jan 13
Citygentleman1968
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10:42am Mon 21 Jan 13
Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann is available after illness for the Capital One Cup semi-final second leg against Bradford at Villa Park tomorrow.
But defender Nathan Baker (hamstring) has been ruled out, midfielder Ashley Westwood is cup-tied, while Villa manager Paul Lambert will make late fitness checks on goalkeeper Shay Given (hamstring) and midfielder Fabian Delph (ankle).
shaun from richmond
says...
11:01am Mon 21 Jan 13
For goodness sake, 2 GAMES A WEEK is not much to ask!.
ANYWAY.......Having a big night in Brum tonight.....LETS HOPE its a MUCH BIGGER NIGHT, tomorow!!.
CANT WAIT!!.
lawsonio123
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11:19am Mon 21 Jan 13
irish bantam
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11:40am Mon 21 Jan 13
Citygentleman1968 wrote:Lets get it right.........6500 city fans...lol
Tomorrow evening for me, is the most defining moment of BCFC's history. Whether we make it to the final or not, or whether we get promotion or not, this cup run has defined our season. So lads, 19:45pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013, is your moment of fate. It's in your hands. Chests out, heads held high and the battle cry from 6000 BCFC fans. Leave it all on the pitch, don't come off thinking you could have done more. Whatever the outcome, Bradford are proud of you all. Dare we dream?
sing your hearts out guys and gals!!!!
macca1969
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11:54am Mon 21 Jan 13
lawsonio123 wrote:Of course two games a week is not a big ask and our players have proved it consistently. The problem is the huge mental effort in getting up for these big games. Adrenaline pumping gets these players through the big games but when things go wrong or it becomes a normal league game as with Oxford the players can become mentally shattered rather than physically tired.
Oh Dear I have to agree with you on the 2 games a week.They are fit young men. Now if these young men get to the Final tomorrow night will you Publicly call Mr Parkinson a Good Manager and humbly withdraw your past utterings of Dead Beat.keep Smiling GOOD LUCK CITY
macca1969
says...
11:54am Mon 21 Jan 13
lawsonio123 wrote:Of course two games a week is not a big ask and our players have proved it consistently. The problem is the huge mental effort in getting up for these big games. Adrenaline pumping gets these players through the big games but when things go wrong or it becomes a normal league game as with Oxford the players can become mentally shattered rather than physically tired.
Oh Dear I have to agree with you on the 2 games a week.They are fit young men. Now if these young men get to the Final tomorrow night will you Publicly call Mr Parkinson a Good Manager and humbly withdraw your past utterings of Dead Beat.keep Smiling GOOD LUCK CITY
gspot01
says...
12:50pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Dancinfeet wrote:I've been speaking to a customer of mine in Aston and the area is very bad apparently so i'm not holding out much hope.
Seriously cannot see this game going ahead. Anyone know if it would be a straight turnaround next week?
Prisoner Cell Block A
says...
12:54pm Mon 21 Jan 13
lawsonio123 wrote:That's as maybe but no-one else is doing this so therefore the extra games put us at a disadvantage. All players should be able to play twice a week minimum but if one team plays once per week at full pelt then rests or trains and the other plays twice a week full pelt then trains as no time for rest who has the advantage??
Oh Dear I have to agree with you on the 2 games a week.They are fit young men. Now if these young men get to the Final tomorrow night will you Publicly call Mr Parkinson a Good Manager and humbly withdraw your past utterings of Dead Beat.keep Smiling GOOD LUCK CITY
Rambo
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12:56pm Mon 21 Jan 13
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basil fawlty
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1:40pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:I think you shouldnt overlook the fact that many players will get knocks and strains etc and need recovery time to be 100% fit.
lawsonio123 wrote: Oh Dear I have to agree with you on the 2 games a week.They are fit young men. Now if these young men get to the Final tomorrow night will you Publicly call Mr Parkinson a Good Manager and humbly withdraw your past utterings of Dead Beat.keep Smiling GOOD LUCK CITYThat's as maybe but no-one else is doing this so therefore the extra games put us at a disadvantage. All players should be able to play twice a week minimum but if one team plays once per week at full pelt then rests or trains and the other plays twice a week full pelt then trains as no time for rest who has the advantage??
Peter300
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2:02pm Mon 21 Jan 13
shaun from richmond wrote:How silly, but then shaun has no real interest in the team I SUPPORT!!!.......but thanks for donating money to BRADFORD CITY......... it is so very kind of you..... you are a very GENEROUS DEADBEAT shaun!!!!!....Thanks once again....!!!!
I do wish "Parky" would stop telling the players how tired they should be!!. For goodness sake, 2 GAMES A WEEK is not much to ask!. ANYWAY.......Having a big night in Brum tonight.....LETS HOPE its a MUCH BIGGER NIGHT, tomorow!!. CANT WAIT!!.
shaun from richmond
says...
6:39pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Peter300 wrote:CHEERS!!.....PETER( I USED TO PLAY FOR CITY, I DID!)300.
shaun from richmond wrote: I do wish "Parky" would stop telling the players how tired they should be!!. For goodness sake, 2 GAMES A WEEK is not much to ask!. ANYWAY.......Having a big night in Brum tonight.....LETS HOPE its a MUCH BIGGER NIGHT, tomorow!!. CANT WAIT!!.How silly, but then shaun has no real interest in the team I SUPPORT!!!.......but thanks for donating money to BRADFORD CITY......... it is so very kind of you..... you are a very GENEROUS DEADBEAT shaun!!!!!....Thanks once again....!!!!
shoesmaker4
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6:46pm Mon 21 Jan 13
bcfc1903
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7:25pm Mon 21 Jan 13
**
We shout with pride...we'll never hide...Claret and Amber!!!!!
KnightMcCall
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10:14pm Mon 21 Jan 13
Whoisevans?
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9:27am Tue 22 Jan 13
shoesmaker4 wrote:Terrible spelling agree with you about the advantage is in our favour players need to keep calm and treat the game as any other we can get through. THE MATCH IS ON just given it out on Sky. City didn't train this morning. Roads should be no problem as most of the travel is by major roads.
just to say well done to phill and the lads , stay focast totally determined to cary out your jobs to the end it wont be easy at villa thay will have to stay blinkerd from the crowd to and also remember thay can not winn this game if thay dont score three also if we could get another at villa thay will realey be in trouble to this is the stuff of ledgends its a level playing feild im rooting for a great winn me and two freands will be watching it on sky and thay are rooting for you to come on city
Freddy says...
8:14am Mon 21 Jan 13
Out of UK this week. Will the weather affect Villa Match?.
Coaching staff --brilliant!!