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Midfielder has ball in his court as he looks to extend City contract (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Midfielder has ball in his court as he looks to extend City contract
7:30am Tuesday 18th August 2009
Steve O’Leary has promised the City faithful that he can make a big impact in a short time.
O’Leary, who joined on a five-month deal, aims to build on a decent debut when Lincoln visit Valley Parade tonight.
The former Hereford midfielder’s contract only runs until January 3 but he does not feel any added pressure to perform.
O’Leary said: “I tired towards the end on Saturday but was expecting that because I’d not played much football pre-season. But I’ve got a lot, lot more to show.
“The ball’s in my court with a short-term contract and I don’t think you can worry about it or let it affect you.
“You just try to settle in straight away and play the game without worrying about the next contract. That shouldn’t matter.
“Sometimes, short-term deals can be better because you don’t get time to sit back. I’m not that type of person anyway but I know I’ve got to crack on and work as hard as I can here.”
O’Leary needed a pain-killing injection at the weekend to numb a toe injury and is one of several doubts facing Stuart McCall.
But he is itching for another chance to step out in front of the “terrific” City home support.
O’Leary said: “You know this is a massive club. I couldn’t wait to get out there on Saturday and see all the fans and they were terrific.
“You can feel the buzz they bring to the place when we’re trying to push forward. It will be great for me to keep playing here.
“I had a trial in the summer at Crewe and other things were popping up but you’d be stupid not to want to play at this stadium every other week.
“It’s been a stop-start career for me so far. At Luton, things never really took off for one reason or another and then I got a bad injury last year with my back.
“I played the first eight games for Hereford and then was out for five months.
“I’m still only young, only 24, but it’s time I nailed down a spot and I’d love to do that with this club.”
Left back Luke O’Brien is City’s major worry after tweaking his knee. Matt Clarke is still sidelined with a thigh strain so 18-year-old Louis Horne could be thrown in.
McCall said: “It’s a big ask but he was a good, strong performer in the reserves last year.
“We’ve played a few youngsters this season already, so if he has to step up to the mark I’m sure Louis can handle it.”
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- Search on for a short-term replacement as McCall splits from his beloved Bantams
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Your Say YourBradford
jb bantam, Wibsey says...
9:31am Tue 18 Aug 09
Security Word pair note : Hanson with Evans with boulding playing wide.
fatbloke, eccleshill says...
9:33am Tue 18 Aug 09
However McCall needs a fine balance though of keeping the lad on his toes for a longer contract but also stop others getting him first. Good Luck.
waynus71, BD6 says...
9:47am Tue 18 Aug 09
dannbradfc, Wyke says...
9:51am Tue 18 Aug 09
Come on city. We obviously need a goal and if/when we score i feel we will go on to win and hopefuly we can see some smiles
fatbloke, eccleshill says...
10:09am Tue 18 Aug 09
Waynus I was trying to say the same as you and maybe you explained it better, yes keep him on his toes on short term and he will remain consistent. However if performs consistentley like saturday there could be a risk of others sniffing around and then decision time? offer him something which could have adverse effect?
gspot, halifax says...
10:48am Tue 18 Aug 09
looks like i might be able to make it tonight and i'm gutted to say the least!!!! Bloomin family and priorities stink!!!
am i right in saying it isn't on radio either?? apart from Bantams World?
fatbloke, eccleshill says...
10:58am Tue 18 Aug 09
valleyofshame, Bfd says...
11:26am Tue 18 Aug 09
dannbradfc wrote:I replied on the original post!
as iv'e said elsewhere Where is the praise for Stu and his backroom staff for finding these lads and getting them to sign for what will be very low wages. Some of you are all to easy to criticise his management. SO WHERE IS THE PRAISE? just remember when you are cheering these lads on, that stu brought them in and gave them a chance. Come on city. We obviously need a goal and if/when we score i feel we will go on to win and hopefuly we can see some smiles
Meat Pie, Milton Keynes says...
11:34am Tue 18 Aug 09
Can't make tonight - off to see Pearl Jam at the O2.
Didn't think it through when I booked the tickets - will be checking text for goal action though.
sec code "date-tour" - spooky!
gspot, halifax says...
11:49am Tue 18 Aug 09
gspot wrote:LOL....obviously meant I can't make it.
....all agreeing again!!! looks like i might be able to make it tonight and i'm gutted to say the least!!!! Bloomin family and priorities stink!!! am i right in saying it isn't on radio either?? apart from Bantams World?
nhenryv, shipley says...
12:40pm Tue 18 Aug 09
BigWookie, says...
1:19pm Tue 18 Aug 09
What an odd headline, is it seen as something out of the ordinary that a player gives his all?
"Clarke plans to give 45% of his all"
????????????????????
?????????????
waynus71, BD6 says...
1:40pm Tue 18 Aug 09
BigWookie wrote:LOL
"O'Leary plans to give his all" What an odd headline, is it seen as something out of the ordinary that a player gives his all? "Clarke plans to give 45% of his all" ???????????????????? ?????????????
:-)
waynus71, BD6 says...
1:45pm Tue 18 Aug 09
fatbloke wrote:I agree entirely. If O'Leary shows consistency over the next 3 months, I would expect McCall to sit down with him and renegotiate a new deal. If he continues to improve and puts in consistent performances, I would try to tie him down at least until the end of next season.
dannbradfc, I think you and Waynus must have been typing at the same time as he was praising McCall with this one. Waynus I was trying to say the same as you and maybe you explained it better, yes keep him on his toes on short term and he will remain consistent. However if performs consistentley like saturday there could be a risk of others sniffing around and then decision time? offer him something which could have adverse effect?
J4CKO, Apperley Bridge says...
1:56pm Tue 18 Aug 09
I like the look of the squad SM is putting together and I have everything crossed they gel quick enough for the fans because i am sure this season will be much better than last.
Scargutt, League Two says...
2:08pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Let's see whether he keeps his previous injury at bay and plays well for us, then we can review in 5 months. End of.
Message to T&A - what's with the Virgin Media video on every screen which is impossible to switch off ?
If I was interested in Chelsea, i'd look at their site myself - I don't need it thrust down my throat thanks.
yorkiewyke, wyke says...
3:45pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Meat Pie, Milton Keynes says...
4:26pm Tue 18 Aug 09
yorkiewyke wrote:Formed in Seattle in 1990.
Whose Pearl Jam?
One of key bands in grunge movement - you must have heard of Nirvana?
Sold 60m records world-wide.
www.pearljam.com
Get out more, mate - LOL
sec code - "tour-neck" - more spookiness!
yangy8, bradford says...
5:10pm Tue 18 Aug 09
dannbradfc wrote:yeah well done stuart, found these players from nowhere, my stepson knew who they were. hardly the find of the century!!!!
as iv'e said elsewhere Where is the praise for Stu and his backroom staff for finding these lads and getting them to sign for what will be very low wages. Some of you are all to easy to criticise his management. SO WHERE IS THE PRAISE? just remember when you are cheering these lads on, that stu brought them in and gave them a chance. Come on city. We obviously need a goal and if/when we score i feel we will go on to win and hopefuly we can see some smiles
get a grip.
c/pot, eccelshill says...
5:40pm Tue 18 Aug 09
Meat Pie wrote:Could be more entertaining than tonights game
O'Leary looked good on Saturday, I thought. Can't make tonight - off to see Pearl Jam at the O2. Didn't think it through when I booked the tickets - will be checking text for goal action though. sec code "date-tour" - spooky!
bantam blue, clayton says...
9:57pm Tue 18 Aug 09
gspot, halifax says...
10:15pm Tue 18 Aug 09
gspot, halifax says...
10:15pm Tue 18 Aug 09
fatbloke, eccleshill says...
10:18pm Tue 18 Aug 09
However what was going on with Flynn and Evans arguing over the penalty?? 1-0 we win easy!!! you cant take a pen after somone has cried like a baby in your ear.
Thorne has done nothing now so far and needs to be dropped, get Hanson up front with a quick man of him.
Why was Brandon taken off again?? The only thing that makes sense was before he got sent off because he played with passion.
Losing O'leary to Bullock before kick off was a big loss. Bullock didnt do much wrong but he is not as good as O'leary simple.
Bradford1903, The Kop says...
11:30pm Tue 18 Aug 09
I'm sure Jacko will come out with the usual bias saying they fully deserved their win, but we should've been at least 2-0 up at half time, and they would've been dead and buried.
Why a midfielder takes a pen over someone who has made a career out of putting the ball in the back of the net is beyond me.
The only way Lincoln looked like scoring was by our defensive mistakes, and we almost proceeded to give them a couple of goals before another misplaced clearance gifted them the penalty. It looked like a tackle from behind from Ramsden, and was a pen for me.
I just hope the understandable lack of confidence will not manifest us resorting to the long ball like last season, because I thought we at least tried to keep it on the floor, and pass and move.
The chance that Evans had that was cleared off the line, and who otherwise had a good game, was symptomatic of our night. We still wouldn't have scored if we had continued playing until the bus set off for Cheltenham.
All we need is a bit of luck, which we certainly didn't get tonight.
philthyr, liversedge says...
11:49pm Tue 18 Aug 09
bantam blue wrote:Oh, nice one. Flynn missing a penalty makes McCall clueless? Their goalie pulling off a couple of cracking saves makes McCall clueless? Williams falling on his backside to let them in for their second goal makes Mccall clueless? Do you think before posting? We were the better side for 90% of the game, and kept creating chances even after going behind. Heads didn't drop, or if they did, it was only for a couple of minutes. The result was dreadful, but the performance wasn't. As others have posted already, luck was not with us tonight. We could have been 3 goals to the good at half time.
time to go mccall you are clueless
valleyofshame, Bfd says...
12:16am Wed 19 Aug 09
Bradford1903 wrote:Just cause a striker is meant to score goals, doesnt mean they are naturally the best person to take a pen.
I'm afraid that's what you get if you don't take your chances. I'm sure Jacko will come out with the usual bias saying they fully deserved their win, but we should've been at least 2-0 up at half time, and they would've been dead and buried. Why a midfielder takes a pen over someone who has made a career out of putting the ball in the back of the net is beyond me. The only way Lincoln looked like scoring was by our defensive mistakes, and we almost proceeded to give them a couple of goals before another misplaced clearance gifted them the penalty. It looked like a tackle from behind from Ramsden, and was a pen for me. I just hope the understandable lack of confidence will not manifest us resorting to the long ball like last season, because I thought we at least tried to keep it on the floor, and pass and move. The chance that Evans had that was cleared off the line, and who otherwise had a good game, was symptomatic of our night. We still wouldn't have scored if we had continued playing until the bus set off for Cheltenham. All we need is a bit of luck, which we certainly didn't get tonight.
Do I need to list the midfielders (Gerrard, Lampard, etc), Defenders (Pearce, Tinnion, etc) and even goalkeepers (can't remember the south american lads name - i was struggling at this point!) who score from the spot? They are all ample in their ability in doing it.
My problem is the mess before it. It looked like 4 players were looking to take the pen, 22 of them were trying to convince the other to let them take it.
Why was a clear instruction not sent out before the game 'so and so, you are taking pens, x is taking corners and y is taking free kicks in certain positions.
I don't want to lead the McCaall out brigade in an assault on him, but it doesnt look like he is helping himself.
Bradford1903, The Kop says...
11:15pm Wed 19 Aug 09
True Lampard and Gerard are penalty takers, but they are midfielders with an eye for goal, who will get you at least 15 goals a season.
There are exceptions to the rule though, and one of the best penalty takers in the League is the full back Graham Alexander, who I believe is currently with Burnley.
Midfielder Steve O’Leary has been signed on an initial five-month deal as he tries to impress boss Stuart McCall
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gspot, halifax says...
9:02am Tue 18 Aug 09
Sign him up.