Bradford City: Fortnight’s hard labour for 'immense signing' Doyle (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

We will have a small squad the budget dictates that? We got told we wud have a strong budget a squad of 22 players? We currently have 20. How is that small? We need another winger and we have cover for all positions. On paper we have a decent squad, not convinced it is promotion quality but an improvement on last season. Using the right tactics can aid us in forming a promotion bid, which is down to pp. can pp deliver?

Still think we are thin in midfield. We were very poor last season with jones and ravenhill so for me i dont expect either to be first choice. Means we still only have Gary Jones and now Nathan Doyle. Think budget comment means "no" but i still think we need Taiwo if at all possible.

Feel that we are still short and will need to use the loan system, as its meant to be used. We have a number of players already carrying knocks and those at the older end may not be so reliable. We are still light in midfield both centre and right wing.

Overall is it a better squad than last year? Some of the names are better known and proven to a degree e.g. Thompson, but we lack severely in creative players thus were reid injured/suspended who provides the crosses? Thompson hopefully but we aren't even sure where he's playing yet, but it looks like its got to be right hand side, if fit. With no Syers driving forward and getting in the box, we may end up with a midfield whose job it is to sit deep and protect rather than take the game to the opposition.

I realy hope we have more intent this year and we are not relying on set-pieces and one nils scraps. Those suggesting promotion, whilst not wrong been positive, are basing their optimism on what exactly? On paper we have some decent players, Davies, Doyle, Thompson, Jones, Reid but as a team we'll have to wait and see. Fingers crossed injury wise for the season. Lets see how we are after 10 games and a settling period.

6 defenders if you include Doyle as one is that enough cover I know we have Bass and the injured Williams but I doubt any of those 2 will feature much so another defender is a must. As for the right wing postion with Thompson Atkinson and now Doyle can play there I dont expect PP to sign anyone for there but if he does hope its someone like McNamee also we need cover for Reid although I have a feeling we may play 4-3-3 at times as well as the usual 4-4-2 with Thompson and Reid either side of Hanson with the Jones boys and either Ricky or Doyle as the third midfielder but as a tight middle 3.

Just re-read this article. He states signings must improve the starting 11. So how does he explain signing Will atkinson on that basis? Prove us wrong Will though and we'll be right behind you.

settler07 wrote:
Just re-read this article. He states signings must improve the starting 11. So how does he explain signing Will atkinson on that basis? Prove us wrong Will though and we'll be right behind you.

My understanding of Will Atkinson signing as baffling as it is was he was promised a one year contract before he even kicked a ball on loan last season!
Which if ive understood it right is ridiculous.
What would be more rediculous is im wrong and we signed him based on performances last season which at best were awful at worst down right embarassing.
I hope he proves us all wrong and wish him luck but hes gotta lot to prove..

1 bingley bantam wrote:

settler07 wrote: Just re-read this article. He states signings must improve the starting 11. So how does he explain signing Will atkinson on that basis? Prove us wrong Will though and we'll be right behind you.

My understanding of Will Atkinson signing as baffling as it is was he was promised a one year contract before he even kicked a ball on loan last season! Which if ive understood it right is ridiculous. What would be more rediculous is im wrong and we signed him based on performances last season which at best were awful at worst down right embarassing. I hope he proves us all wrong and wish him luck but hes gotta lot to prove..

Highly dubious information here. Why not, just for once, get behind and support a Bradford City player who may not make an immediate impression in the team? Don't say, 'prove us wrong and we'll be right behind you'. Not much support there. Fair-weather support. And who is 'we' anyway? I'll support the player if he appears for City. I will encourage him.

Peter300 wrote:

1 bingley bantam wrote:

settler07 wrote: Just re-read this article. He states signings must improve the starting 11. So how does he explain signing Will atkinson on that basis? Prove us wrong Will though and we'll be right behind you.

My understanding of Will Atkinson signing as baffling as it is was he was promised a one year contract before he even kicked a ball on loan last season! Which if ive understood it right is ridiculous. What would be more rediculous is im wrong and we signed him based on performances last season which at best were awful at worst down right embarassing. I hope he proves us all wrong and wish him luck but hes gotta lot to prove..

Highly dubious information here. Why not, just for once, get behind and support a Bradford City player who may not make an immediate impression in the team? Don't say, 'prove us wrong and we'll be right behind you'. Not much support there. Fair-weather support. And who is 'we' anyway? I'll support the player if he appears for City. I will encourage him.

Fine, but Atkinson played 13 times last season and was poor in every game.

Hope he does better this time around but that is why people are wary.

It's hard to make a fair judgement until we see how the team perform in a competitive enviroment.

By the end of August we shall have a better idea where we stand, until then it's hard to say if we are any better or any worse than we were last season.

The signings on paper suggest we have a stronger side but I'm willing to wait a few weeks before jumping to conclusions.

would the Board back PP and start discussion with Carlisle over a deal:my info is that a deal is waiting to be completed

dannbradfc wrote:
Feel that we are still short and will need to use the loan system, as its meant to be used. We have a number of players already carrying knocks and those at the older end may not be so reliable. We are still light in midfield both centre and right wing.

Overall is it a better squad than last year? Some of the names are better known and proven to a degree e.g. Thompson, but we lack severely in creative players thus were reid injured/suspended who provides the crosses? Thompson hopefully but we aren't even sure where he's playing yet, but it looks like its got to be right hand side, if fit. With no Syers driving forward and getting in the box, we may end up with a midfield whose job it is to sit deep and protect rather than take the game to the opposition.

I realy hope we have more intent this year and we are not relying on set-pieces and one nils scraps. Those suggesting promotion, whilst not wrong been positive, are basing their optimism on what exactly? On paper we have some decent players, Davies, Doyle, Thompson, Jones, Reid but as a team we'll have to wait and see. Fingers crossed injury wise for the season. Lets see how we are after 10 games and a settling period.

Fear you may be right about midfield protecting rather than driving forward dann

hope we can get another winger to drive us forward like reid does so well hears hoping eny way

shoesman1 wrote:
hope we can get another winger to drive us forward like reid does so well hears hoping eny way

Reid is a good player for this league but is finally delivery is just as bad as Daleys was and there is nothing between them yet Daley got loads of stick by the fans

ricky76 wrote:

shoesman1 wrote:
hope we can get another winger to drive us forward like reid does so well hears hoping eny way

Reid is a good player for this league but is finally delivery is just as bad as Daleys was and there is nothing between them yet Daley got loads of stick by the fans

The main difference and possibly explains why Reid doesn't get as much stick is his work ethic in a defensive capacity. Daley would rarely be seen tracking back, whereas Reid is rarely seen not helping out.
.
In terms of attacking, I agree there is not much between them. Both have pace and skill (Daley better at both in my opinion), but are woeful at shooting and inconsistent at crossing.

Waynus1971 wrote:

ricky76 wrote:

shoesman1 wrote:
hope we can get another winger to drive us forward like reid does so well hears hoping eny way

Reid is a good player for this league but is finally delivery is just as bad as Daleys was and there is nothing between them yet Daley got loads of stick by the fans

The main difference and possibly explains why Reid doesn't get as much stick is his work ethic in a defensive capacity. Daley would rarely be seen tracking back, whereas Reid is rarely seen not helping out.
.
In terms of attacking, I agree there is not much between them. Both have pace and skill (Daley better at both in my opinion), but are woeful at shooting and inconsistent at crossing.

You are probably right on all accounts Waynus but it amazes me how many rate Reid for crossing and going forward