Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson to put league before cup

7:50am Friday 10th August 2012 in Bantams Photograph of the Author By Ross Heppenstall, Bradford Bulls Reporter

Andrew Davies is one of four players out through injury Andrew Davies is one of four players out through injury

Phil Parkinson has admitted he will pick his team for tomorrow’s Capital One Cup clash at Notts County with next week’s trip to Gillingham in mind.

The City boss is missing a clutch of players through injury in Ricky Ravenhill, Andrew Davies, Ritchie Jones and new recruit Nathan Doyle.

And he will not gamble on players working their way towards full fitness ahead of the League Two opener at Gillingham.

Parkinson said: “Everybody in Bradford knows that the priority for us this year is the league. We certainly won’t play anyone tomorrow who we feel isn’t quite ready to play and will detract from what they could do the following week.

“The team is being selected with one eye on the Gillingham game and I think people will expect that.”

Parkinson could hand debuts to a number of new recruits at Meadow Lane, with Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle, James Meredith, Gary Jones, Garry Thompson and Alan Connell all in contention to feature.

Yet the City boss remains keen to add more new faces to his squad and will step up his efforts in the coming days.

Former West Ham and Burnley winger Zavon Hines, Marc Gallego, Jack Mills and Gavin Hoolahan have all been on trial and played in Tuesday’s friendly defeat at Park Avenue.

Of that quartet, only Hines trained with the Bantams yesterday but Parkinson did not completely write off the remaining trio’s hopes.

He added: “Zavon was in this morning and he’s the only out of the four who played the other night who were in today.

“We’re looking to arrange another game next week.

“We haven’t finalised that yet but it’s another option we’ve got.

“There is still the possibility that a couple of them could play again or we could be bringing a couple of others in to have a look at.

“We’ve still got a bit more to do because we’re still a bit light on numbers.

“I think we’ve got quality but we need a bit more quantity to bulk the squad out.”

Comments(15)

dannbradfc says...
8:53am Fri 10 Aug 12

Those questioning waynus, i and others concerns earlier in the summer about the numbers coming in should heed Parkinson's own fears. leaving it to the final week to finish the sqaud isn't ideal. many of the players aren't upto fitness having been brought in late. All things we said really but some don't listen.....;-)

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Scholemoor Rovers says...
9:44am Fri 10 Aug 12

Just a little bit worried that we're already down to the bear bones and the season hasn't even kicked off. If those available on free's aren't good enough or out of reach then surely we should have brought in a short or long term loan player by now.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
9:45am Fri 10 Aug 12

Dann, I was one of those saying, no stating, that there was no need to panic, and that our numbers wouldn't increase by many. I also said we would still be picking players up after the 30/06 contract deadline day for most. As a 4th division club we cannot carry two full teams of full time pros, this doesn't change. I also believe the bulking will now be done by loanees and possibly Mr Hines if he can impress further.
We have cover for just about every position in duplicate, with some players being able to cover more than one position.

I am not overly happy we will not be 'going' for it in the cups this year but understand that the league is our priority, will the same statement on no intent be made if we beat County and get a plum home draw? The line from he club to get supporters in best not be 'we ARE going for it' as I will be mighty pst off then.

I will leave all City fans with this thought: In the 70s Liverpool won the title using only 14 players one season, the next time they won the title they used 16 players. You don't need to have 'horses for courses' differing formations for differing opponenets, you just need 11 lads on the pitch who can do the business and enough on the bench to replace for injuries or Atkinson. :)

Some will say the game is different these days and that is true but so are players, the modern game has changed from that of the 70s, so have players and both sides only have 11 each on the pitch.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
9:51am Fri 10 Aug 12

They also played 42 top flight games in those days, and for Liverpool all the way in the European cup that season, plus addtion of League Cup and Fa Cup which they got to the semi. What I am trying to say is both players and managers should man up and do the job they get paid for and not roll out the 'tired after 3 games on the trot' excuse, it';s boring and insulting to those crawling about under floors, digging roads, tiling roofs.

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KnightMcCall says...
10:15am Fri 10 Aug 12

dannbradfc wrote:
Those questioning waynus, i and others concerns earlier in the summer about the numbers coming in should heed Parkinson's own fears. leaving it to the final week to finish the sqaud isn't ideal. many of the players aren't upto fitness having been brought in late. All things we said really but some don't listen.....;-)
Dann, saying it is easy; doing it is not. PCBA is correct in what he is saying with regards to paying wages during the summer and in terms of being able to get the players that we acually want to sign for us. It's not Championship Manager where you just sign who you want and if you read the stories for MOST Div 2 teams then you will see that they are still looking for more players. PP has a budget; I don't want to see him blow it before the season has even kicked off just so that we can win game number 1. There will be 45 more games to go after Gillingham and we don't need a squad of 22 or so to compete in game 1.

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Peter300 says...
10:29am Fri 10 Aug 12

dannbradfc wrote:
Those questioning waynus, i and others concerns earlier in the summer about the numbers coming in should heed Parkinson's own fears. leaving it to the final week to finish the sqaud isn't ideal. many of the players aren't upto fitness having been brought in late. All things we said really but some don't listen.....;-)
If you look at the other 92 clubs and the efforts they are making to try and finalise their squads before the August 31st deadline it is obvious that yourself and Pensioner Waynus are completely out of touch. Luckily, the people who matter when signing players at the 92 clubs do not take any notice of you and Pensioner Waynus. I am pleased about that. One cannot have out-of-touch people deciding these things.

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seasidebantam says...
1:41pm Fri 10 Aug 12

well i was all prepared to go watch my first city match of the season, travel all the way down to county from blackpool
but if he is putting out a weakend team against notts county i think i will save my money, we should go out in every cup and league game to win, i understand he has an ambition to get promoted havn't we all, but bloody hell this is the first game of the season and half the squad is injured!!
good luck cuty for tmrw
city till i die

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Pablo says...
3:49pm Fri 10 Aug 12

dannbradfc wrote:
Those questioning waynus, i and others concerns earlier in the summer about the numbers coming in should heed Parkinson's own fears. leaving it to the final week to finish the sqaud isn't ideal. many of the players aren't upto fitness having been brought in late. All things we said really but some don't listen.....;-)
dann, I think two things have influenced the size of he squad. Reduced income from "actual" season ticket sales and the fact that some of our signings, viz Davies, Jones, Thompson and Connell will be well paid.

There is a slight imbalance in that, if we are including Thompson as a striker, we do appear to be well off in that department, compared to other areas. In a way, I'm pleased it's a leaner squad, because last season I regularly criticised PP for constantly tinkering and, with reduced options, we may get a more settled side.

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parader no1 says...
4:26pm Fri 10 Aug 12

seasidebantam wrote:
well i was all prepared to go watch my first city match of the season, travel all the way down to county from blackpool
but if he is putting out a weakend team against notts county i think i will save my money, we should go out in every cup and league game to win, i understand he has an ambition to get promoted havn't we all, but bloody hell this is the first game of the season and half the squad is injured!!
good luck cuty for tmrw
city till i die
Me too, I`ll stay in Kendal

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Brisbane Bantam says...
7:03pm Fri 10 Aug 12

I know we might have some niggling little injuries that he doesn't want to risk to some of our first team senior players but why aren't we giving some of the younger players a go because Brown & Baker are both midfielders and looked ready for a proper game during pre-season and I'd rather watch them than some full back or striker filling in...

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Cityman23 says...
7:10pm Fri 10 Aug 12

Looking at League Two this year, with the new teams that have joined (promoted/relegted) it looks as if itwill be a 'harder' eague to get out of than season 2011/12.

The friendlies are 'over' and the serious 'stuff' starts from 3pm tomorrow. Have City got better players/a better squad than last term?
We are about to find out over the next couple of months.

Lat year The Bantams did well enough in the cups but poorly in the League. Most would prefr the opposite if given a straight choice. Yet, it doesn't always work out like that. In truth, City need to make a 'decent start tomorrow (at least in terms of performance). The team have a big support wiling them to do well and 'PP' despite lat season, etains the goodwill of most fans.

Season 2012/13 is set to become a crucial one in the club's history. We really needto gt out of this division ths year or (at the very least)make real strides towards doing so.

Anything less, will not be good enough. So-no pressurethenguys!!

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Freddy says...
8:02pm Fri 10 Aug 12

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seasidebantam says...
1:41pm Fri 10 Aug 12

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parader no1 says...
4:26pm Fri 10 Aug 12

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I agree with you both. I am only 25 Miles from Nottingham. I have been really looking forward to the Match at Notts. Cty. tomorrow. But I feel that 'Parky's ' decision and self inflicted dilemma, prevents him from fielding a full strength Team.
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Notts Cty. will be wholly aware of this City problem. It will give their Manager great scope for his pre-match team talk; Outlining City's team weakness.
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In the past, Clubs/Managers going for Promotion. Have wanted to be out of all the Cup Competitions. They do not want the injuries or extra matches that are incurred. Even though Chairmen want good Cup Runs--for the extra revenue they can produce.
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I will not go now.-- But I will be at the first few Home Matches, in the hope that a full strength team, makes a good start to this season. It is so important to make a good start, and good finish(Run-In) -at the end of a season.
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LS9BANTAM says...
8:43pm Fri 10 Aug 12

why wouldn't you go to the game tomorrow ? what has changed from every previous league cup 1st round game that has caused this change in decision ? Parkinson isn't picking a weakened team, he's picking from thos fit and available, so pretty much the strongest available to him under the circumstances. Notts Couny, likewise wont risk any player if it means they are at risk for the season opener next Saturday. Just go, have a good day out, cast your eye over a few of the new signings and pop into Hooters :-) I've seen enough dancing horses these last few days to warrant a football fix, whatever the outcome.

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Bradford1903 says...
1:21am Sat 11 Aug 12

Personally I'm quite happy to forget about football for 3 months, but what I hate is these increasingly invented transfer rumours, as some people appear to can't bear to be without the game during the summer; so it's good to get back to the real thing.

Actually think it's a good time to be playing County, as they'll be searching for form and fitness with it being the 1st game, so it should hopefully be a bit of a leveller.

I am a bit concerned that we will be a bit lightweight in central midfield, if as suggested Atkinson is playing there, which is no disrespect to him, but he's a winger.

I appreciate we've got injuries in the middle of the park, but if there's no-one else who could partner Jones, then I'd probably go with a 4-3-3, playing Thompson inside to give us any extra man in there, with Wells and Reid either side of Hanson .

As far as the squad goes, I think we need another left back, and a winger who can play either side, plus possibly a centre midfielder on loan to cover for Ravenhill.

If we get certainly the first two, then we will have a good squad that should challenge for the play offs, but how many times have I said that before, and it's not materialised.

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Prisoner Cell Block A says...
4:57pm Mon 13 Aug 12

I'm glad I went. Rovrum next up for my away trip, I'd love to go to the Gills game but finances and a rum motor are my drawbacks.

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