O'Brien set for deadline-day move from Bradford City to Exeter (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

sad to see ob go .i would like to thank him for been a loyal city player and i wish him all the best for the future.pp never really gave him a good chance so hopefully exeter will.all the best ob

Wishing you all the very best Luke.

Hope you prove City wrong in letting you go.

Shame on you Mr Lawn,both Stewart and O'Brien in one week,both players were class(given the chance)shame on the people at the top making these wrong decisions.

So this transfer window has seen:

OUT:
Williams on loan to Inverness
Stewart on loan to Hamilton
Compton leaving-now with St Johnstone
O'Brien-expected to sign for Exeter
Taylor loan-in for a month/back at Leeds

IN:

Taylor loan-in for a month/now out
Haworth loan-in-shortly out again
Atkinson in
Smalley in

What happened to the money that was earmarked for Benson/or other key signing(s)?

So, on the 'balance sheet' of skill/ability in/out at the club:

We seem to have lost MORE than what we've brought in!

(Even taking account of the fact Ravenhill has been 'secured' on a longer term deal/Davies stays till season's end)

So, according to John Hendrie through his connections with RIASA we are in a hot spot area surrounded by a wealth of talent, now without appearing to sound too flippant may i ask how many will be persuaded to negotiate with City and join the development squad ? On another issue, how on earth have we reached the stage where the 36th player will be wearing the shirt this season ?? Ridiculous !!

"Will Atkinson became the 36th player this season to appear in a City shirt"

That's an astonishing stat.

astounding: effectively 3 teams including one sub and still we are in a relegation battle.

THE TURNOVER OF LOAN PLAYERS CANNOT BE GOOD FOR STABILITY IN ANY CLUB: THIS HAS TO STOP AND LOANS ONLY MADE ON EMERGENCY BASIS ONLY: most of the loan players this season have been at management whim! worst thatn Taylor by a country mile in this respect

Obviously changing manager so quickly into the season hasn't helped matters, but I thought the club said they were not going to rely on loan players as much?
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Don't get me wrong. Players like Andrew Davies are a clear exception to that, he has been massively beneficial to the team compared to when we were playing without him, and at this level you will inevitably have to sign some loan players.
But the revolving door policy (yet again...) implies we are just trying to tread water this season; hope we don't get relegated (which is a possibility should a freak set of results occur), just let the season fizzle out and start again in August.
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And good luck to LOB. Its a very long move to make for a 4th division footballer, where the earnings are nowhere near what they are in the higher leagues.

Exeter are a division above bradford...

Luke was in the same club as Jones Compton Hannah Stewart Mitchell threlfall etc etc....the ones that however well they play there just one mistake away from being dumped from the squad,people such as Fagan Reid are in the other half.

pretty sure we will have a new LB next season,considering we are currently playing a right footer there when we have had 3! Specialists in OB RF and Taylor avaiible for the last few matches but none now considered good enough. Threlfall was consistantly ok prior to his injury had a couple of poor games 1 against a championship side on his rtn and has now dropped,OB has never really had a chance, I thought him and Reid would be a good combination down the left in an attacking way,granted he needed to tidy up defensively but as someone said yesterday this is what coaching is about,not just replacing.

this is one thing that is irritating me about pp's management, he has played seip at LB when personally I think he should have played him at CB whilst oli injured as he had 3 specialists ready to step in at LB but they all seem to be out of favour despite one being on loan but actually no better than the other 2, and this has been to the detriment of the team as seip is not a natural LB.

Some players just cant get a look in whatever they do (Compton Jones Stewart are good examples) whilst others such as fagan can be going through the motions at best but yet keep there place. It stands out a mile and not great mangement imo.

To me it's obvious that O'Brien making his 150th appearance for the club would have triggered some clause within his contract. If I'm wrong and there is no contractual clause around appearance numbers then why bring in Taylor from Leeds who's a full-back that can play as a winger - exactly the same as O'Brien whose contract has now been taken over by a League 1 club which removes any doubt about his ability to do the job?
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Ultimately, I'm sorry to see the lad go as I've always been a fan of his because he gave everything and as a supporter of a League 2 team that is all I expect. I pay good money to watch my team and it's un-realistic to expect us to sign amazing players, I just want us to sign players who give their all and understand that most of the people watching them would give their right arm to do what they do of a Saturday.
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I've not commented for a while and whilst I'm disappointed with O'Brien leaving, to me it seems clear that Parkinson's hands are tied. For me he's been getting a bit of unfair stick and whilst I agree the table doesn't lie, December was the first time Parkinson could pick his best and first choice XI and look what happened? He's been unlucky with injuries to key players like Oliver and Ramsden which has unsettled the back four which was getting rave reviews from everyone over the festive period, he's lost Reid to injury and the Compton situation is understandable but perhaps could have been different.
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Overall I'm happy to keep the stability of having a manager that has a plan and is working towards something longer term rather than the stop start short term goals we've been used to. I saw a poster yesterday suggesting the board sack Parkinson. What would that achieve? What does it say about us as a club that just over half way through the season we'd be on to our third manager.
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Keep the faith, keep supporting and once we've got our best XI out there we're a good team and we won't go down.
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Good luck Luke - all the best.

Interesting to note PP states "i should'
n't think there will be anyone coming in"
Will there be anyone going out apart from OB ?
I too wish him all the best and thank him for all his efforts at BCFC.
He is going to a nice part of the country ,to a good team with a good manager.
Just a shame they did not pay us a transfer fee out of the money they received from Barnsley ?

Sick to death of reading negative posts from negative people.
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This club has many issues for the last 10 years or so and the main problem these never get ironed out is the instability, yet it won't be long before these negatrons are demanding further instability.
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Too many loan players/or having to rely on them is a bad thing and to have had 36 players at this stage of the season is ridiculous. But Parky is building a squad and he needs to take advantage of the loan market to assess these players first hand because he doesn't have the resources to buy proven/established players. For all I care he can do what he wants this season in order to build for next season and write this season off - providing he has a picture of next season in mind.
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People say 'what has happened to the Benson money'....maybe PP has had it added to next seasons budget or will spend pre-season. U thought about that possibility???
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The OB subject - OB has declined has a player over the last 12 months and from what i've seen in them 12 months (which is nearly every game) the guy needs a fresh start. I wish him all the best but to say things like 'I hope he proves PP wrong' is ridiculous - the guy has stagnated and needs a change.
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The club has been in a mess for 10 years and personally along with other sensible fans I am slowly starting to see a bit of light, we are improving and will continue to do so under PP.

tyker2 wrote:
astounding: effectively 3 teams including one sub and still we are in a relegation battle. THE TURNOVER OF LOAN PLAYERS CANNOT BE GOOD FOR STABILITY IN ANY CLUB: THIS HAS TO STOP AND LOANS ONLY MADE ON EMERGENCY BASIS ONLY: most of the loan players this season have been at management whim! worst thatn Taylor by a country mile in this respect

Taylor had a pre season, whereas Parkinson didnt.Big big factor!!

You can't sign players outside of the Transfer window other than on loan or if they are free agents

Luke O'Brien is an excellent left-back who won player of the season 2 years ago,and was close to winning it last season.

This season we get 2 managers who don't rate him and prefer crap Robbie Threlfall over him.He's only had a few sub appearances this season that weren't that good,but once he gets going he's excellent.

90% of city fans love him.If he has been crap like a few people keep saying,how did he win player of the season,come 2nd behind Syers last season and manage to get signed by Exeter in the league above?

gspot01 wrote:
Sick to death of reading negative posts from negative people. . This club has many issues for the last 10 years or so and the main problem these never get ironed out is the instability, yet it won't be long before these negatrons are demanding further instability. . Too many loan players/or having to rely on them is a bad thing and to have had 36 players at this stage of the season is ridiculous. But Parky is building a squad and he needs to take advantage of the loan market to assess these players first hand because he doesn't have the resources to buy proven/established players. For all I care he can do what he wants this season in order to build for next season and write this season off - providing he has a picture of next season in mind. . People say 'what has happened to the Benson money'....maybe PP has had it added to next seasons budget or will spend pre-season. U thought about that possibility??? . The OB subject - OB has declined has a player over the last 12 months and from what i've seen in them 12 months (which is nearly every game) the guy needs a fresh start. I wish him all the best but to say things like 'I hope he proves PP wrong' is ridiculous - the guy has stagnated and needs a change. . The club has been in a mess for 10 years and personally along with other sensible fans I am slowly starting to see a bit of light, we are improving and will continue to do so under PP.

Seeing as I was the 'one who mentioned the Benson money' I think a response is due here.

It was Mark Lawn/'PP' who initially fuelled expectations of a 'money' signing (after the Benson move fell through) ..in the transfer window. Yet, more players have LEFT than arrived at the club in that 'window'!! (I would also say BETTER players have left than the ones who've arrived!!)

If eg 'PP' had said after the 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury on 31-01-11 (the highpoint of our season so far-well he did get the MOTM award on the basis of December's results!!!) "I want to keep these players together..we look to have the basis of a winning side", I would have supported this. But he didn't!! He let Compton go, then proceeded to bring in what turned out to be 'inferior' replacements. As each of these failed, yet another arrived-Taylor, Howarth now Atkinson. (plus a striker who has a lot of 'convincing' to do!) In addition he moved Williams out on loan..and we have had had to play with a midfielder at centre back ie Bulloch. Then he let Stewart go, despite constantly playing Fagin..who (to use 'PP's words) is often "in/out of games"-words he used to describe Compton!! Now 'OB' has been despatched, despite the fact we don't have a good replacement. (Seip is best at centre back/RB. Threlfall is unconvincing/often injured.

I agree that 'PP's era so far saw improvement (up to New Year) but it seems to have stalled and some of his selections of players/toleration of certain ones' mediocre play/desperation to get rid of others who might improve things seems strange at times.

Yes, it might 'all work out' in the end.
There may be 'method' in some of ..what appears as 'madness'!!

But I think, supporters who pay their dues (season tickets) support the club financially in other ways, are ENTITLED to comment on/criticise/praise where they think appropriate.

Some on here would like to 'close down all dissenting voices/criticism'.
WHY? What are you scared of?

The 'garden' IS NOT LOVELY at the moment!! We are still well down the league/have not won in 2012/5 wins in 22. I am NOT looking for 'PP' to resign or be sacked but I do believe he should and I am sure IS capable of accepting criticism/praise when it is given SO LONG AS IT IS NOT ABUSE.

Perhaps if 'PP' had not been so quick to get rid of what seemed decent players eg Compton/Stewart and incredibly 'long-suffering/pati
ent with others eg Duke/Fagin, less criticism would have appeared!!

Overall, mistakes HAVE been made in players going out/coming in/retained!!

Finally, this site would be very dull/boring if we all 'agreed' on everything. We're not living in a dictatorship-those who dissent 'negatrons'-your word, SHOULD be allowed to do so.

With 'argument' we're more likely to get at ..the truth of the situation!!

Cityman23 wrote:

gspot01 wrote: Sick to death of reading negative posts from negative people. . This club has many issues for the last 10 years or so and the main problem these never get ironed out is the instability, yet it won't be long before these negatrons are demanding further instability. . Too many loan players/or having to rely on them is a bad thing and to have had 36 players at this stage of the season is ridiculous. But Parky is building a squad and he needs to take advantage of the loan market to assess these players first hand because he doesn't have the resources to buy proven/established players. For all I care he can do what he wants this season in order to build for next season and write this season off - providing he has a picture of next season in mind. . People say 'what has happened to the Benson money'....maybe PP has had it added to next seasons budget or will spend pre-season. U thought about that possibility??? . The OB subject - OB has declined has a player over the last 12 months and from what i've seen in them 12 months (which is nearly every game) the guy needs a fresh start. I wish him all the best but to say things like 'I hope he proves PP wrong' is ridiculous - the guy has stagnated and needs a change. . The club has been in a mess for 10 years and personally along with other sensible fans I am slowly starting to see a bit of light, we are improving and will continue to do so under PP.

Seeing as I was the 'one who mentioned the Benson money' I think a response is due here. It was Mark Lawn/'PP' who initially fuelled expectations of a 'money' signing (after the Benson move fell through) ..in the transfer window. Yet, more players have LEFT than arrived at the club in that 'window'!! (I would also say BETTER players have left than the ones who've arrived!!) If eg 'PP' had said after the 3-1 victory over Shrewsbury on 31-01-11 (the highpoint of our season so far-well he did get the MOTM award on the basis of December's results!!!) "I want to keep these players together..we look to have the basis of a winning side", I would have supported this. But he didn't!! He let Compton go, then proceeded to bring in what turned out to be 'inferior' replacements. As each of these failed, yet another arrived-Taylor, Howarth now Atkinson. (plus a striker who has a lot of 'convincing' to do!) In addition he moved Williams out on loan..and we have had had to play with a midfielder at centre back ie Bulloch. Then he let Stewart go, despite constantly playing Fagin..who (to use 'PP's words) is often "in/out of games"-words he used to describe Compton!! Now 'OB' has been despatched, despite the fact we don't have a good replacement. (Seip is best at centre back/RB. Threlfall is unconvincing/often injured. I agree that 'PP's era so far saw improvement (up to New Year) but it seems to have stalled and some of his selections of players/toleration of certain ones' mediocre play/desperation to get rid of others who might improve things seems strange at times. Yes, it might 'all work out' in the end. There may be 'method' in some of ..what appears as 'madness'!! But I think, supporters who pay their dues (season tickets) support the club financially in other ways, are ENTITLED to comment on/criticise/praise where they think appropriate. Some on here would like to 'close down all dissenting voices/criticism'. WHY? What are you scared of? The 'garden' IS NOT LOVELY at the moment!! We are still well down the league/have not won in 2012/5 wins in 22. I am NOT looking for 'PP' to resign or be sacked but I do believe he should and I am sure IS capable of accepting criticism/praise when it is given SO LONG AS IT IS NOT ABUSE. Perhaps if 'PP' had not been so quick to get rid of what seemed decent players eg Compton/Stewart and incredibly 'long-suffering/pati ent with others eg Duke/Fagin, less criticism would have appeared!! Overall, mistakes HAVE been made in players going out/coming in/retained!! Finally, this site would be very dull/boring if we all 'agreed' on everything. We're not living in a dictatorship-those who dissent 'negatrons'-your word, SHOULD be allowed to do so. With 'argument' we're more likely to get at ..the truth of the situation!!

Great post , constructive, thoughtfull and well ballanced.

Ross Hannah leaves city!

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I really wish people would get over Compton!!!! And stop using the words PP 'let him go'. He didn't let him go - he offered him a contract and he refused it....simples.

northyorksbantam wrote:
Luke was in the same club as Jones Compton Hannah Stewart Mitchell threlfall etc etc....the ones that however well they play there just one mistake away from being dumped from the squad,people such as Fagan Reid are in the other half. pretty sure we will have a new LB next season,considering we are currently playing a right footer there when we have had 3! Specialists in OB RF and Taylor avaiible for the last few matches but none now considered good enough. Threlfall was consistantly ok prior to his injury had a couple of poor games 1 against a championship side on his rtn and has now dropped,OB has never really had a chance, I thought him and Reid would be a good combination down the left in an attacking way,granted he needed to tidy up defensively but as someone said yesterday this is what coaching is about,not just replacing. this is one thing that is irritating me about pp's management, he has played seip at LB when personally I think he should have played him at CB whilst oli injured as he had 3 specialists ready to step in at LB but they all seem to be out of favour despite one being on loan but actually no better than the other 2, and this has been to the detriment of the team as seip is not a natural LB. Some players just cant get a look in whatever they do (Compton Jones Stewart are good examples) whilst others such as fagan can be going through the motions at best but yet keep there place. It stands out a mile and not great mangement imo.

Exactly what i've been seeing and saying.....no wonder people accuse Parkinson of favouritism.

The board take responsibility for the loans. they stated that there would be a change in policy and direction but that was quickly abandoned. Loans should just be used to cover a squads injuries not when you already have 2 left backs at the club.

Reed is still my prime example of everythign that is wrong with this club. We already had two central midfielders but brought in a one month loan then moved Jones out wide right to accomodate him. Reed then adds nothing really starts 3 games then we send him back when he is still eligible to play one more game ????? bonkers management and board decision all round. We are effectively giving trials in games. Why not try our own??

Its a bit of a coincidence how the loans started appearing and our own players frozen out after Lawns assesment of the squad. Thus did parkinson adoptthis policy or Lawn/rhodes??