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McCall lays down four-game gauntlet (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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McCall lays down four-game gauntlet
10:24pm Thursday 21st January 2010 in Bantams
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
Omar Daley is set for his first start in 11 months
Stuart McCall has told City: The next four games will make or break our season.
Starting at Lincoln on Saturday, the Bantams face three sides below them and the return clash with Bury, who they ran close in midweek.
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCallThe players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places
Stuart McCall
And McCall insists it is the perfect opportunity to stop the rot.
The City boss has thrown down the gauntlet by demanding at least three wins to breathe much-needed life into their drifting hopes of a play-off push.
He said: “We’re in a position where we don’t want to be. The only way to get out of that is by winning games.
“If we’re looking at getting anywhere near the fringes of the play-offs, we’ve got to do it in these next few games.
“I normally look no further than the next one but these four are an opportunity to get going again.
“I’m not looking at the teams below us as easy fodder, certainly not. You saw that the other night with Darlington winning at Rotherham.
“But they are below us in the table for a reason. The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places.”
Omar Daley is likely to get his first start for 11 months after his half-hour appearance from the bench at Gigg Lane. Steve Williams is back from suspension and McCall is hopeful that at least one of injured duo Lee Bullock and James Hanson will be fit.
Having lost five of their last seven games, City’s form does not suggest an immediate revival but McCall points to the way they have been playing, particularly at Gigg Lane.
McCall added: “Watching the Bury game again, we’ve performed well enough to take something but we haven’t done that, like numerous occasions this season.
“The bottom line is that the players and me personally will get judged on results. And the results aren’t good enough.
“There’s certainly not a lack of spirit there or belief. It’s about taking the chances that come along.
“The big positive is that nobody at the club thinks it’s a foregone conclusion that we won’t get there. But we’ve got to start doing it now and take the bull by the horns.
“The fans have given great support and nobody is more appreciative than the players. We’ve talked about it long enough and now it’s down to us as a group to get out on that pitch and do it.
“The aim in the next 360 minutes of football is to give everything we’ve got. If we can produce nine or ten points we’re back on the edges of the play-offs, and that’s all I’ve asked.”
Lincoln, who won 2-0 at Valley Parade in August, are the only side in the bottom six that City have not beaten.
Back-to-back wins have eased the Imps clear of the relegation zone as new boss Chris Sutton looks to youth.
Sutton, who succeeded Peter Jackson, has used his contacts to bring in a host of untried faces from Fulham and Aston Villa. The average age of the side that hung on to beat Barnet last week was just over 21.
Midfielder Stefan Oakes is back in the squad after a hamstring strain.
- City’s home game against Notts County will now be played on Tuesday, March 23.
Comments(18)
fatbloke
says...
11:07pm Thu 21 Jan 10
Bcfc Boyz On Tour
says...
12:04am Fri 22 Jan 10
GK Glennon
RB Ramsden
CB Clarke
CB Williams
LB O Brien
LW OLeary / brandon
CM Bullock
CM M Flynn
RW O Daley
CF M Boulding/P thorne
CF Hansen/R Boulding
No long ball crap.
just sexy football.
fatbloke
says...
12:11am Fri 22 Jan 10
I do agree Hanson and M Boulding is probably our best pairing but Hanson will not be fit, hence the reason I have picked Brandon just behind M Boulding and given Nielsen another chance.
albion
says...
6:47am Fri 22 Jan 10
No! Really? What a clever lad he is.
fairweather fan
says...
8:20am Fri 22 Jan 10
The line up is irrelevant. This squad cannot be coached to success by SM and his assistants, no matter who you pick. We have played variations on the long ball game for three years because the players are not confident enough to play on the ground; yet we have a squad fudamentally ill- equipped to play the long ball. That in turn is due to the coaching and management.
In this division we will continue to get mashed up by big, tall boys with no particular skill but a lot of beef. Darlington won away the other day, and the bottom is getting closer. Change is needed FAST.
BigWookie
says...
10:21am Fri 22 Jan 10
We can repeat this rubbish in the paper ad infinitum, but the side is not good enough to meet any of these fantasy targets.
And they are not good enough because they are not trained correctly, they are less fit than other sides, they are not drilled correctly, they are clueless at dead ball situations, be they our corners/free kicks or the oppositions.
The tactics are always bad and never fitted to the opposition.
The team do not fear the manager, favourites and cliques exist in the squad.
The whole thing is a big mess and we are not going anywhere until the inevitable bullet is bitten by the chairman.
cookie_brighton
says...
10:43am Fri 22 Jan 10
umpty...go now
shaun from richmond
says...
11:29am Fri 22 Jan 10
spanglishbull.uk wrote:The blokes totally lost!!. Hes so used to people blowing smoke up his backside at Valley Parade.
Wait a minute,last week he said we had 23 games to go,now he is setting the next 4 games as making or breaking our season.What a guy,numbskull or what.
Putting ANOTHER target in place just makes him look stupid, and his assistants darnt tell him so!!
Its like death by a thousand cuts !!
Once hes gone (and it cant be much longer) we can start to move forward!!
pudsey.bantam
says...
11:47am Fri 22 Jan 10
pride of yorkshire
says...
11:59am Fri 22 Jan 10
Paulvh
says...
12:26pm Fri 22 Jan 10
rio8uk
says...
2:22pm Fri 22 Jan 10
k/sport1/hi/football
/teams/b/bradford_ci
ty/default.stm.Im still rooting for the lads and i hope they can turn it round.Security words,FIRM-WARN.Mayb
e some of the players need some of that.Most of them are playing ok but they are being let down by certain ones.
essmbee
says...
9:59pm Fri 22 Jan 10
Did SM say something sismilar to this last season around this time ?
Up with the partridge
says...
12:01am Sat 23 Jan 10
essmbee wrote:They'd have a better chance if they fielded Girls Aloud as a team. At least they'd distract the opposition. Another defeat for city tomorrow.
The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places. Did SM say something sismilar to this last season around this time ?
waynus71
says...
2:39am Sat 23 Jan 10
fatbloke wrote:I have tried having reasoned debates about formations etc, but I just get criticised for my views. However, to answer your post, thes are my thoughts. Thorne & O'Leary are out injured and hanson is very doubtful, therefore I have chosen the following in a formation I feel has been our most successful;
Can we change the tune?
If you were in charge what would be your starting 11 and formation on Saturday based on who you think will be fit, which 11 can get us the much needed 3 points
Here is mine in a? 4411 formation.
GK Glennon
RB Bateson
CB Ramsden
CB ?
LB Horne
RW Daley
CM O'Leary if fit/Bullock
CM Flynn
LW
AMC Brandon
CF Hanson if fit / M Boulding
Anyone 1 fom 3 for the other CB spot, on the other wing would have to go with Nielson but I dont think he deserves it. Very much doubt Hanson is going to be fit, so M Boulding if not Rory, but not evans.
GK - Glennon
LB - L O'Brien
RB - Ramsden
CB - Rehman
CB - Williams
DM - Bullock
CM - Flynn
CM - J O'Brien
LF - Daley
RF - Neilson
CF - M Boulding
When we have the ball and are attacking, our formation is effectively 4-3-3. However, when we haven't got the ball, both Neilson & Daley drop into the wide midfield positions, meaning we are playing 4-5-1.
lonniejockstrap
says...
5:46am Sat 23 Jan 10
Up with the partridge wrote:You might be needing Girls Aloud to put on a fund raising concert for your Team. Twenty three million pounds worth of debt is a lot of debt for the Canaries. Hope you still have a Team in a years time and if you have to sell your ground and rent it back I hope you dont get charged as much as us. I hope no one pokes fun at YOUR Club during the hard times ahead -that would be just spiteful and immature .... would it not? Eeee, yer just don't know whats around the corner do ya!
essmbee wrote: The players have got to realise – and I’m sure they do – that this is an opportunity to get back on the heels of the play-off places. Did SM say something sismilar to this last season around this time ?They'd have a better chance if they fielded Girls Aloud as a team. At least they'd distract the opposition. Another defeat for city tomorrow.
KnightMcCall
says...
10:51am Sat 23 Jan 10
waynus71 wrote:Waynus that's utter nonsense (just kidding).
fatbloke wrote: Can we change the tune? If you were in charge what would be your starting 11 and formation on Saturday based on who you think will be fit, which 11 can get us the much needed 3 points Here is mine in a? 4411 formation. GK Glennon RB Bateson CB Ramsden CB ? LB Horne RW Daley CM O'Leary if fit/Bullock CM Flynn LW AMC Brandon CF Hanson if fit / M Boulding Anyone 1 fom 3 for the other CB spot, on the other wing would have to go with Nielson but I dont think he deserves it. Very much doubt Hanson is going to be fit, so M Boulding if not Rory, but not evans.I have tried having reasoned debates about formations etc, but I just get criticised for my views. However, to answer your post, thes are my thoughts. Thorne & O'Leary are out injured and hanson is very doubtful, therefore I have chosen the following in a formation I feel has been our most successful; GK - Glennon LB - L O'Brien RB - Ramsden CB - Rehman CB - Williams DM - Bullock CM - Flynn CM - J O'Brien LF - Daley RF - Neilson CF - M Boulding When we have the ball and are attacking, our formation is effectively 4-3-3. However, when we haven't got the ball, both Neilson & Daley drop into the wide midfield positions, meaning we are playing 4-5-1.
I think if we want to win games then we have to play 4-4-2. Ot at Least 4-4-1-1.
The players need simple jobs. I also think that it's time that Ramsden was given the Centre Back role because no other combination seems to work. Bateson played well on Tuesday (I think he's a good player) so can fill in at right back. Tricky choice for the other Centre Back but Zesh would probably get the nod.
Brandon also has to play, he got involved at Bury and should playing of the front man so no no J O'B for me (too may misplaced first time passes when we need to keep the ball).
GK - Glennon
LB - L OB
RC - Bateson
CB - Ramsden
CB - Rehman
DM - Bully
CM - Flynn
LM - Daley (please don't be cr*p)
RM - Neilson
AM - Brandon
CF - Micky B
come on city!!
fatbloke says...
11:03pm Thu 21 Jan 10
If you were in charge what would be your starting 11 and formation on Saturday based on who you think will be fit, which 11 can get us the much needed 3 points
Here is mine in a? 4411 formation.
GK Glennon
RB Bateson
CB Ramsden
CB ?
LB Horne
RW Daley
CM O'Leary if fit/Bullock
CM Flynn
LW
AMC Brandon
CF Hanson if fit / M Boulding
Anyone 1 fom 3 for the other CB spot, on the other wing would have to go with Nielson but I dont think he deserves it. Very much doubt Hanson is going to be fit, so M Boulding if not Rory, but not evans.