Parkinson set to boost Bradford City with loan deal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

I've mentioned the lack of creation from the beggining of the season and Parky is effectively admitting this. our system relies completely on been able to get the ball in the box from out wide. Reid whilst often brilliant can be hit and miss in this department but more worryingly Atkinson and Hines rarely cross the ball and seemingly don't appear capable of doing so on a consistent basis. Thus we become reliant on set-pieces and/or creating something from Hanson's flicks etc. One of our best crossers of the ball Thompson is not getting game time. More and more it must be questioned why he was bought. Surely a player who as done well at an higher level should be capable of playing at this level. I still wonder if he is a parky signing considering the manager admits that Thompson see's himself a striker but we need him on the wing. Why sign him then? Strange one for me.....

I've stated how with the current system we are reliant on a very few players for our source of goals. The system can still be effective but it needs good service from out wide and this as been not good enough at times.

Thus once we go a goal down its difficult to come back playing how we set-up as all the opposition have to do is then concentrate on stopping our wide players.

Too Little too late city. Their 3rd goal killed us with bad marking by Hanson who in my opinion let their guy get in front of him.
Hines as i have said before on here is just a poor omar daley and does not bring enough to the table for me.Maybe parkie could play connell and Hanson up front and nahki with just a free role .A lot of hard work ahead is needed and this result will hopefully wake the players up, you dont usually score 3 goals away from home and lose!!!

dannbradfc wrote:
I've mentioned the lack of creation from the beggining of the season and Parky is effectively admitting this. our system relies completely on been able to get the ball in the box from out wide. Reid whilst often brilliant can be hit and miss in this department but more worryingly Atkinson and Hines rarely cross the ball and seemingly don't appear capable of doing so on a consistent basis. Thus we become reliant on set-pieces and/or creating something from Hanson's flicks etc. One of our best crossers of the ball Thompson is not getting game time. More and more it must be questioned why he was bought. Surely a player who as done well at an higher level should be capable of playing at this level. I still wonder if he is a parky signing considering the manager admits that Thompson see's himself a striker but we need him on the wing. Why sign him then? Strange one for me..... I've stated how with the current system we are reliant on a very few players for our source of goals. The system can still be effective but it needs good service from out wide and this as been not good enough at times. Thus once we go a goal down its difficult to come back playing how we set-up as all the opposition have to do is then concentrate on stopping our wide players.

PS allow the full backs to over-lap and interchange passes and then we can create more service for better crosses.

Reid gets the ball with 2 players on him. Stop been so rigid and let the full back over lap and take a player with them thus giving more chance of a better cross......often too cautious when have a better team on paper than most of the sides we play.....

thought we had a squad strong enough torely on loans; are we in for another season of fale hopes with four five week loans?

"HAPPY VALLEY-EXCESS ALL AREAS!!"

Be afraid,be verrrrrrrrrrrry afraid!!
Just when you thought it was safe o take your seat in the stands at 'VP' to watch the team-THE RETURN OF....
THE....CRISIS..... LOAN SIGNING!!!!
AAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
aaghhhhhh!!

Simon Parker says on another stream there are but TWO questions to be asked re: City at the moment.

I'd say there's a few more than that!!

eg

1) Is our defence as good as we thought it was?

2)) Specifically, is Andrew Davies as good as we thought he was, after being presnt in two games where we leaked four goals in each?

3) Have we got enough strikers with just Hansen, Wells and Connell?

4) Are we right to totally depend on a 35 year old player, Gary Jones,as our' lynch pin' to be ever present (who is good) when fit but at his age could be more vulnerable to being out injured and for longer?

5) Are either Jon McLaughlin or Matt Duke good enough?


6) Are Zavon Hines and Will Atkinson good enough?

7) What accounts for the disparity between home and away form?

8)Should Ross Hannah be out on loan, when we could perhaps use him as an option right now?

9) Have we, (in our 'eternally- optimistic- partisan-for- the- club frame of mind(s) overestimated the merits of the present City side? (not sursprisingly, after years of having poor sides)

10) Is this present sqaud with- no other players added-REALLY good enough to make a genuine, sustained promotion challenge? (How many promotion sides lose three/four goals in matches?) That's really TWO questions in one!!

Cityman23 wrote:
Simon Parker says on another stream there are but TWO questions to be asked re: City at the moment.

I'd say there's a few more than that!!

eg

1) Is our defence as good as we thought it was?

2)) Specifically, is Andrew Davies as good as we thought he was, after being presnt in two games where we leaked four goals in each?

3) Have we got enough strikers with just Hansen, Wells and Connell?

4) Are we right to totally depend on a 35 year old player, Gary Jones,as our' lynch pin' to be ever present (who is good) when fit but at his age could be more vulnerable to being out injured and for longer?

5) Are either Jon McLaughlin or Matt Duke good enough?


6) Are Zavon Hines and Will Atkinson good enough?

7) What accounts for the disparity between home and away form?

8)Should Ross Hannah be out on loan, when we could perhaps use him as an option right now?

9) Have we, (in our 'eternally- optimistic- partisan-for- the- club frame of mind(s) overestimated the merits of the present City side? (not sursprisingly, after years of having poor sides)

10) Is this present sqaud with- no other players added-REALLY good enough to make a genuine, sustained promotion challenge? (How many promotion sides lose three/four goals in matches?) That's really TWO questions in one!!

1/2 - The problem with the defence is they have AWOL moments where they look totally clueless in stark contrast to very solid performances.

3 - I think so, all 3 are scoring regularly at the moment.

4 - Not sure. Lets see how he gets to Xmas and see if he picks up any more niggling injuries. Windass managed to keep fit at a similar age.

5 - No. Nice enough guys, but I don't think either they are reliable enough to be the backbone of a promotion team.

6 - ZH - Don't think so - a lot of expectation with Reid being injured but has been off the pace in the last few games. WA - not sure, been ok when I've seen him at home.

7 - If I knew that, I'd be a manager. I do think its the reliance on Hanson and tactics that are built around him.

8 - Not sure how he would fit in with the other 3 strikers having 15(?) between them.

9 - No, we set a standard with some of the results and performances (especially the PV and RFC ones), but a terrible performance and result like at RUFC or D&R feels like 1 step forwards, 2 back,

10 - Possibly, if we stay injury free. Which won't happen.

I thought,due to the loanees that we had last season, being that loanees dont really care about the club, only there for the wages, that Parkinson was going to get a strong team with cover in all areas.
A few games into the season.....look where we are in respect of players...hmmm.
Parkinson why not recall Ross Hannah and let the lad have a go......you may be surprised.
ctid

Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I don't see the swooning for Hannah. Seems like a nice guy and all that, but like I said, the other 3 strikers have 15 (I think) between them so unless one gets injured or has a severe nosedive in form who would deserve to get dropped?

Re a short term replacement for Reid i have no problems with that a natrual left sided player gives balance to the team, whilst it is a loss with Reid & Garry Jones being out i would be more concerned if James Hanson was out for a similar period of time.

Re the defence, nothing much wrong with the defence at home 3 goals conceded in 5 league games,its the away defensive form that needs looking at.

And finally promoted teams are occasionally on the wrong end of a "Hammering", last season Crawley Town who were up at the top early in the season lost 6-0 at Morecambe and still went up!

Onwards & Upwards!

Of subject but why was Lewington not sent off for giving Connell a punch in the face when conceding a penalty? if he had chased out of goal and brought Connell down he would have more than likely been shown a red card, so what could be deemed as violent conduct only justifed a yellow ?.

Looking at the goals on tv I have to ask what the heck McArdle and Davies were up to for their last goal. Seriously why they allow the Daggers striker to run through the middle unopposed baffles me...I am sure anyone on here could have got a foot in and nick the ball away. I also have reservations about Jonny Mc who at times seems to easily beaten or palms shoots back to the opposition to shoot back at him !. Not saying its all coming unstuck but a few need ask themselves a question or two. Come on lads this is school boy defending.

Cityman23 wrote:
Simon Parker says on another stream there are but TWO questions to be asked re: City at the moment. I'd say there's a few more than that!! eg 1) Is our defence as good as we thought it was? 2)) Specifically, is Andrew Davies as good as we thought he was, after being presnt in two games where we leaked four goals in each? 3) Have we got enough strikers with just Hansen, Wells and Connell? 4) Are we right to totally depend on a 35 year old player, Gary Jones,as our' lynch pin' to be ever present (who is good) when fit but at his age could be more vulnerable to being out injured and for longer? 5) Are either Jon McLaughlin or Matt Duke good enough? 6) Are Zavon Hines and Will Atkinson good enough? 7) What accounts for the disparity between home and away form? 8)Should Ross Hannah be out on loan, when we could perhaps use him as an option right now? 9) Have we, (in our 'eternally- optimistic- partisan-for- the- club frame of mind(s) overestimated the merits of the present City side? (not sursprisingly, after years of having poor sides) 10) Is this present sqaud with- no other players added-REALLY good enough to make a genuine, sustained promotion challenge? (How many promotion sides lose three/four goals in matches?) That's really TWO questions in one!!

Interesting and maybe right. more goals going past our defence than should be for a side expecting to go up.I did say wait while Christmas to judge and that still remains the time to do so. BUT CITY MAN VERY VERY INTERESTING

Re Loans, it has never been said we won't be using the loan system, we have wanted to move away from having half a squad on loan, we have done that. We now need to bring in a left sided player and this will be as short term cover, nothing wrong with that, we have all known this is a small squad.

Nothing wrong with JM parrying shots back out, he more often than not pushes them into wide areas or around the posts, if he does palm back into play he has saved a certain goal, the defence need to be shaping up to block any further attempts. Many keepers, Reina especially use the parry to good effect, it is often more dangerous to try hold the ball than get strong fists on it.

As Parky is wanting to try give starts to Hanson, Wells and Connell how about utilising the true Xmas Tree formation 4-3-2-1, with JH as the sole forward and Wells Connel being free to work between him and the midfield, this means no wide men as such but gives plenty of fluidity around the middle and forward ares.

cookie_brighton wrote:
I thought,due to the loanees that we had last season, being that loanees dont really care about the club, only there for the wages, that Parkinson was going to get a strong team with cover in all areas.
A few games into the season.....look where we are in respect of players...hmmm.
Parkinson why not recall Ross Hannah and let the lad have a go......you may be surprised.
ctid

Because he doesn't play on the bl00dy wing. Stop this clamouring for a bit-part player. He isn't good enough for a regular spot.

He scored goals four levels below us, but then, so did that thug that joined us after biting his girlfriend. Where is he these days?

Bit of a strange situation we find ourselves in (looking for winger no.5!) considering we have 3 other "wingers" at the club in Reids absence...

Atkinson was signed as cover for BOTH sides, it can't be denied he has improved this season, but the fact he isn't able to beat a man, cross a ball or have any pace would suggest this is not his best position . We then have right winger Gary Thompson who is now a self confessed centre forward??... and then Hines, who at the moment is looking like a player who tried hard when he wanted a contract, but since then has shown very little.

So out of 4 wingers at the club we can only trust Reid to actually do what a winger is supposed to do??

Waynus1971 says...
3:12pm Mon 8 Oct 12 e scored goals four levels below us, but then, so did that thug that joined us after biting his girlfriend. Where is he these days?”

Presumably you are referring to Jake Speight? I believe hes now back at Mansfield Town from whence we signed him.

And so it begins. A fantastic start to the season is followed by a disappointing stumble and the doom-mongers are back in force with their "insight" into why PP doesn't know what he is doing and how all the players who were fantastic three matches ago are now all cr$p. So many who post on here have absolutely no idea about anything. No doubt you will all disappear again when we get back to winning ways and sit waiting for the next slip up. Losing is part of football and if you can't accept that; then find something else to occupy your time as you will never be happy supporting an average team like City.

Call me old fashioned but I thought a 'good' manager improved the players he already had, changed tactics to suit and got results?

We're 4th division, having two or more players for each position is a joke and fans that see it as a given must be like Parkinson, living in cuckoo land.

Like 'Dann', I've always thought our style of play with two wingers hoping to supply Hanson is one dimensional. The thing is, Parkinson sees it as the only way to play and wants to bring in loanees to cover Reid and Jones absence. But hold on, after failing to score in two and a half games with two wingers on the pitch we went and scored THREE goals in less than 30 minutes with no width whatsoever!

Forget about loanees, use some nous and get it sorted Parkinson!

parader no1 wrote:
Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

parader no1 wrote:
Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless.

It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

waynus 1971...WHAT A KNOB.....I never mentioned Ross Hannah played on the wing, if you run along to specsavers. then read my post again.......I suggested that Parkinson recalls Ross and let him have a go.
I have a gut feeling that Ross Hannah was brought to city as a sell - on, and, has someone has already posted I feel that he may move on in january.

Getting back to Ross Hannah.......how can ppl make comments on how he plays in this division when Parkinson has not given him a chance to prove himself.....placing him on the bench and letting him play for 10 minutes or 7 minutes does not give anyone time to assess the lad.
ctid

cookie_brighton wrote:
Getting back to Ross Hannah.......how can ppl make comments on how he plays in this division when Parkinson has not given him a chance to prove himself.....placing him on the bench and letting him play for 10 minutes or 7 minutes does not give anyone time to assess the lad. ctid

and yet you can assess him by listening to the radio? He has had more time on the pitch than that and has struggled to make an impact. Poor first touch, not quick enough and not strong enough. He is an excellent finisher but he will not get enough chances to show his finishing skills in pro-football to make up for his failings in other areas. When he would be competing with Wells anyway; i don't see why anybody cares.

dannbradfc wrote:
I've mentioned the lack of creation from the beggining of the season and Parky is effectively admitting this. our system relies completely on been able to get the ball in the box from out wide. Reid whilst often brilliant can be hit and miss in this department but more worryingly Atkinson and Hines rarely cross the ball and seemingly don't appear capable of doing so on a consistent basis. Thus we become reliant on set-pieces and/or creating something from Hanson's flicks etc. One of our best crossers of the ball Thompson is not getting game time. More and more it must be questioned why he was bought. Surely a player who as done well at an higher level should be capable of playing at this level. I still wonder if he is a parky signing considering the manager admits that Thompson see's himself a striker but we need him on the wing. Why sign him then? Strange one for me.....

I've stated how with the current system we are reliant on a very few players for our source of goals. The system can still be effective but it needs good service from out wide and this as been not good enough at times.

Thus once we go a goal down its difficult to come back playing how we set-up as all the opposition have to do is then concentrate on stopping our wide players.

Why not play the side we finished with at Dagenham. I for one don't think that Atkinson is up to the job. We did at least score when we changed and played Connell and Thompson with Well's. We shouldn't need to go into the loan market that was the reason why we have a bigger squad. I think the wing play will work but we could do with some quality from out wide. Imagine Hanson playing in the side with someone of Beag's or Waddle's ability he would be unstoppable.

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless.

It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

This is just my opnion and i have been biting my tongue but here we go.
Yes i think we have a far superior quality squad than we have had for many years.
But in the summer there was about 4 things i thought needed addressing.
1.A right winger Atkinson if hes a winger im chuffing father christmas! Hines 1 of 2 things IMO arrogant got a contract so stuff it or a confidence player whos had it knocked out of him (not for the first time at our club has this happened to a good player).Thompson am starting to doubt like a lot of you that he is not Parkies signing am i a winger am i a striker well you aint a striker mate.Mission failed.
Top drawer keeper all good teams are built on a great keeper and solid defence Jonny Macs ok but.Mission failed.
3.back up for reid .Mission failed.
4.A creative midfielder poss being a bit harsh could be the tactics as i think let of his leash now hes fit Doyle could be a box to box midfielder.
A glaring weakness we have had for years now is the incessant need to launch every dead ball goal kick and throwing up to hansons head.He aint that good at heading the ball.Yeah 9 times out of ten he gets it but theres no direction or purpose to it it comes off his head and goes god knows where it will go! Not slagging Hanson off totally but he dont half miss a lot of easy chances.
Like i started with we have a basis of a chance but IMO these glaring weaknesses need addressing

As long as Hanson is your main threat City will not get promoted. I agree w/ previous post. I say bring in a very talented kid name JONTE SMITH.... This kid is the real deal. 18 years old in the Crawley farm system. He scored 2 goals 2 weeks ago, scored 5 goals in one **** game out on loan for Metropolitan Police. I do not care what league he's in, that kid is the real deal. And scored 3 more this last couple games. He'll be the next Ronaldo.... Believe that

Period Drama wrote:
Re Loans, it has never been said we won't be using the loan system, we have wanted to move away from having half a squad on loan, we have done that. We now need to bring in a left sided player and this will be as short term cover, nothing wrong with that, we have all known this is a small squad.

Nothing wrong with JM parrying shots back out, he more often than not pushes them into wide areas or around the posts, if he does palm back into play he has saved a certain goal, the defence need to be shaping up to block any further attempts. Many keepers, Reina especially use the parry to good effect, it is often more dangerous to try hold the ball than get strong fists on it.

As Parky is wanting to try give starts to Hanson, Wells and Connell how about utilising the true Xmas Tree formation 4-3-2-1, with JH as the sole forward and Wells Connel being free to work between him and the midfield, this means no wide men as such but gives plenty of fluidity around the middle and forward ares.

Not a bad formation mate. Hanson could knock it down to the oncoming Connell or wells or even have a shot at goal himself.

Shadrach Dingle wrote:
Call me old fashioned but I thought a 'good' manager improved the players he already had, changed tactics to suit and got results? We're 4th division, having two or more players for each position is a joke and fans that see it as a given must be like Parkinson, living in cuckoo land. Like 'Dann', I've always thought our style of play with two wingers hoping to supply Hanson is one dimensional. The thing is, Parkinson sees it as the only way to play and wants to bring in loanees to cover Reid and Jones absence. But hold on, after failing to score in two and a half games with two wingers on the pitch we went and scored THREE goals in less than 30 minutes with no width whatsoever! Forget about loanees, use some nous and get it sorted Parkinson!

I do want and wide players and have continually asked for this. I just feel that the only genuine wide players are Reid and Thompson (back in the day ;-)). If we play this system then the wide players must be capable of attempting to cross the ball. Both Atkinson and HInes have not shown the desire or consistency in this area that say Compton did imo.

Furthermore the full backs must be allowed to over-lap and they clearly aren't encouraged to do so. For instance against Port Vale reid was often surrounded by two even 3 playrs at times. meanwhile Meredith was stood ten yards behind. All it needs his him to over-lap, make a dummy run etc and this allows Reid to do his stuff. Without an attacking central midfield player this is vital.

Theres nothing wrong with using wide -players as our creation but they need to be capable of doing it. Atkinson is disciplined, can play a short passing game but rarely beats his man, crosses the ball or switches play etc.....Hines looks light-weight to me and also rarely offers a cross thus we are left with Reid and set-pieces for 'real' created opportunities....

Whoisevans? wrote:

dannbradfc wrote: I've mentioned the lack of creation from the beggining of the season and Parky is effectively admitting this. our system relies completely on been able to get the ball in the box from out wide. Reid whilst often brilliant can be hit and miss in this department but more worryingly Atkinson and Hines rarely cross the ball and seemingly don't appear capable of doing so on a consistent basis. Thus we become reliant on set-pieces and/or creating something from Hanson's flicks etc. One of our best crossers of the ball Thompson is not getting game time. More and more it must be questioned why he was bought. Surely a player who as done well at an higher level should be capable of playing at this level. I still wonder if he is a parky signing considering the manager admits that Thompson see's himself a striker but we need him on the wing. Why sign him then? Strange one for me..... I've stated how with the current system we are reliant on a very few players for our source of goals. The system can still be effective but it needs good service from out wide and this as been not good enough at times. Thus once we go a goal down its difficult to come back playing how we set-up as all the opposition have to do is then concentrate on stopping our wide players.

Why not play the side we finished with at Dagenham. I for one don't think that Atkinson is up to the job. We did at least score when we changed and played Connell and Thompson with Well's. We shouldn't need to go into the loan market that was the reason why we have a bigger squad. I think the wing play will work but we could do with some quality from out wide. Imagine Hanson playing in the side with someone of Beag's or Waddle's ability he would be unstoppable.

Agreed but would only go with the three strikers when we need to change the game.....Its the quality of the wide players that is the issue i feel....

macca1969 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

Think your wrong on this one macca. Its the quality of cross thats the problem for me. Some of the players can't do it. Reid is our best supply from out wide and he's very hard to read whether its going near post or back , high or low. Therein lies the problem for me. Hanson does a great job for me and we have no other player capable of offering the same role. He'll still hit 20 for me but needs better service. Some of the stats stated as crosses don't account for their head-ability.

I respect your view Dan but he has missed simple headers in all the matches he has played this season. I don't think he is in great form, its not that I don't think he has a role to play,just no competition for his place and thus makes him complacent

Macca, in this last week alone I have seen players who earn 50k+ per week miss easier chances than Hanson has. Can't pull a player for being in the correct position to make a chance a chance, can have a little groan as he puts it wide or over, or in Jimmy's case, at the keeper.

Where I think the problem lies at present is a mix of a couple of things.

Jimmy needs good early crosses to move onto before the defence is set, this is not happening, what is happening is, he makes his run into the box, then waits and waits and waits, eventually a cross arrives, sometimes at a perfect height, sometimes at knee height, sometimes too deep. The problem then is that as the ball takes ages to come over the defence have a man behind him and a man jumping into his chest in front thus making it impossible to generate much more than a powder puff header as he is stood still and the defence are barging him as he tries to rise.

Add on top of this that JH is having a little dip in form in front of net and it makes it seem like a massive problem when it actually isn't, we are not totally reliant on him for goals but we are totally reliant on him in our build up play. He also seems to be 'attacking' the ball incorrectly, where he was getting across men and making their job hard early season he now seems to be standing and his markers are getting in front of him instead. This may be part and parcel of a dip in form, that is all it is, or maybe some minor injury he is keeping quiet which is stopping him making better and more aggressive movement.

macca1969 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

Actually, i was referring to your statement that "40 attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problem lies". These 40 attempts at goal were from the team and it is the team that is one of the divisions top scorers hence my suggestion that scoring goals is NOT a problem. I was not referring to Hanson as being one of the top scorers but the team as being one of the top scorers. In reality, we have had little issue with creating and scoring goals if you look at the 14 games played rather than just two of them.

I also did NOT say that we will command a fee for Hannah I was indicating that the club extended his contract as it would strengthen their position and could mean that they command a fee without actually paying his wages now that he is on loan. The club are hedging their bets on Ross and why not. He is currently playing in an attack that consists of Scott Neilson and Joe Colbeck; two players who City commanded fees for...Hannah is a goal machine at non-league level so there is every chance that a conference team will pay a fee to take him off our hands in January; I guess we will see. If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost?

As for Hanson; you don't rate him and never have. When he was scoring a few at the beginning of the season you said nothing. Now he is struggling a bit you are on his back. Every single striker in football could and should score more goals...chances get missed. You however choose not to see what Hanson brings to the team. That's up to you.

dannbradfc wrote:

Shadrach Dingle wrote: Call me old fashioned but I thought a 'good' manager improved the players he already had, changed tactics to suit and got results? We're 4th division, having two or more players for each position is a joke and fans that see it as a given must be like Parkinson, living in cuckoo land. Like 'Dann', I've always thought our style of play with two wingers hoping to supply Hanson is one dimensional. The thing is, Parkinson sees it as the only way to play and wants to bring in loanees to cover Reid and Jones absence. But hold on, after failing to score in two and a half games with two wingers on the pitch we went and scored THREE goals in less than 30 minutes with no width whatsoever! Forget about loanees, use some nous and get it sorted Parkinson!

I do want and wide players and have continually asked for this. I just feel that the only genuine wide players are Reid and Thompson (back in the day ;-)). If we play this system then the wide players must be capable of attempting to cross the ball. Both Atkinson and HInes have not shown the desire or consistency in this area that say Compton did imo. Furthermore the full backs must be allowed to over-lap and they clearly aren't encouraged to do so. For instance against Port Vale reid was often surrounded by two even 3 playrs at times. meanwhile Meredith was stood ten yards behind. All it needs his him to over-lap, make a dummy run etc and this allows Reid to do his stuff. Without an attacking central midfield player this is vital. Theres nothing wrong with using wide -players as our creation but they need to be capable of doing it. Atkinson is disciplined, can play a short passing game but rarely beats his man, crosses the ball or switches play etc.....Hines looks light-weight to me and also rarely offers a cross thus we are left with Reid and set-pieces for 'real' created opportunities....

I understand what you are saying about Meredith overlapping, but I don't agree that it is our tactics or the player himself. There has been a few occasions when Meredith has gone on the over-lap and Reid has just ignored him, running into trouble himself. It is then left to Meredith to try to get back to cover the break.

This became even more apparent last Tuesday at Dale. When Reid went off injured, Meredith got forward quite a bit and ended up crossing more than Hines. I genuinely believe that Meredith doesn't get forward because Reid ignores him and then puts him in trouble when he invariably loses the ball trying to take on 2/3 players...!

cookie_brighton wrote:
waynus 1971...WHAT A KNOB.....I never mentioned Ross Hannah played on the wing, if you run along to specsavers. then read my post again.......I suggested that Parkinson recalls Ross and let him have a go. I have a gut feeling that Ross Hannah was brought to city as a sell - on, and, has someone has already posted I feel that he may move on in january.

What's with the abusive post? I wasn't abusive to you, so why use that kind of wording?

I know you didn't say Hannah was a winger. However, you suggested recalling him. WHY?? We have lost an influential central midfielder and an (on his day) excellent left-winger, why do we need to recall an unproven striker?

I appreciate he is unproven because he hasn't been given a lot of game time, but if I was choosing between him and Wells, I would choose the latter every time. He excites because of his pace and direct style. Hannah just gets lost in a game. After a bright start at Grimsby, what has he done since? He even got subbed on Saturday after unimpressing....!

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

I agree with some of your comments, but what a riddiculous comment to make regarding Hannah. The lad will be on at least £600 a week and over the course of a season, will be paid in excess of £31k. Are you REALLY suggesting we gave him a 12mth contract in the hope we MAY get back a fee for him? Do you REALLY believe we would get more than £31k for him (especially after you have just 'rated' him in your post)?

I agree with you that Macca was a little harsh on Hanson. I'm not Hanson's biggest fan and I genuinely believe that had we got a striker of Pope's, Cureton's or Howe's ability, he would have had double figures by now. Instead, Hanson has scored just 4 league goals in 11 games. Even Davies has 3 in 10.

That said, his game isn't just about scoring goals. He flicks on, holds the ball up and genuinely gives defenders a tough time. I just think for a big lad, he just be scoring more gaos with his head.

Bredon Bantam wrote:
Waynus1971 says... 3:12pm Mon 8 Oct 12 e scored goals four levels below us, but then, so did that thug that joined us after biting his girlfriend. Where is he these days?” Presumably you are referring to Jake Speight? I believe hes now back at Mansfield Town from whence we signed him.

That's him. I see that he left us to join Wrexham and scored over 20 goals for them last season. Despite that, they released him and, as you stated above, he rejoined Mansfield. He has scored a few for them already.

For all those clamouring for Hannah to return and start games, perhaps we should try getting Speight back instead as he also scores goals for fun in the pub leagues too....!!!!!!!

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

Actually, i was referring to your statement that "40 attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problem lies". These 40 attempts at goal were from the team and it is the team that is one of the divisions top scorers hence my suggestion that scoring goals is NOT a problem. I was not referring to Hanson as being one of the top scorers but the team as being one of the top scorers. In reality, we have had little issue with creating and scoring goals if you look at the 14 games played rather than just two of them. I also did NOT say that we will command a fee for Hannah I was indicating that the club extended his contract as it would strengthen their position and could mean that they command a fee without actually paying his wages now that he is on loan. The club are hedging their bets on Ross and why not. He is currently playing in an attack that consists of Scott Neilson and Joe Colbeck; two players who City commanded fees for...Hannah is a goal machine at non-league level so there is every chance that a conference team will pay a fee to take him off our hands in January; I guess we will see. If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost? As for Hanson; you don't rate him and never have. When he was scoring a few at the beginning of the season you said nothing. Now he is struggling a bit you are on his back. Every single striker in football could and should score more goals...chances get missed. You however choose not to see what Hanson brings to the team. That's up to you.

"If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost?"

What about the wages WE paid prior to allowing him out on loan? Don't they count?

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Macca, in this last week alone I have seen players who earn 50k+ per week miss easier chances than Hanson has. Can't pull a player for being in the correct position to make a chance a chance, can have a little groan as he puts it wide or over, or in Jimmy's case, at the keeper. Where I think the problem lies at present is a mix of a couple of things. Jimmy needs good early crosses to move onto before the defence is set, this is not happening, what is happening is, he makes his run into the box, then waits and waits and waits, eventually a cross arrives, sometimes at a perfect height, sometimes at knee height, sometimes too deep. The problem then is that as the ball takes ages to come over the defence have a man behind him and a man jumping into his chest in front thus making it impossible to generate much more than a powder puff header as he is stood still and the defence are barging him as he tries to rise. Add on top of this that JH is having a little dip in form in front of net and it makes it seem like a massive problem when it actually isn't, we are not totally reliant on him for goals but we are totally reliant on him in our build up play. He also seems to be 'attacking' the ball incorrectly, where he was getting across men and making their job hard early season he now seems to be standing and his markers are getting in front of him instead. This may be part and parcel of a dip in form, that is all it is, or maybe some minor injury he is keeping quiet which is stopping him making better and more aggressive movement.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Jimmy is not scoring goals because he is not attacking the ball correctly, because,
a) he is getting marked out of the game before te cross comes in
b) he has a dip in form
c) he is carrying a knock?

Your post is thus contradictory. You start by defending him over the time it takes to put in a cross to him(which, in fair, is a good point). However, you then state he doesn't attack the ball well enough and come up with possible reasons for this.

The fact is, he DOESN'T attack the ball enough for such a dominant header of a ball. And there lies one of his biggest weaknesses.

Waynus1971 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

I agree with some of your comments, but what a riddiculous comment to make regarding Hannah. The lad will be on at least £600 a week and over the course of a season, will be paid in excess of £31k. Are you REALLY suggesting we gave him a 12mth contract in the hope we MAY get back a fee for him? Do you REALLY believe we would get more than £31k for him (especially after you have just 'rated' him in your post)? I agree with you that Macca was a little harsh on Hanson. I'm not Hanson's biggest fan and I genuinely believe that had we got a striker of Pope's, Cureton's or Howe's ability, he would have had double figures by now. Instead, Hanson has scored just 4 league goals in 11 games. Even Davies has 3 in 10. That said, his game isn't just about scoring goals. He flicks on, holds the ball up and genuinely gives defenders a tough time. I just think for a big lad, he just be scoring more gaos with his head.

Another interesting stat for you to consider. JH has had one of the most attempts at goal so far this season. In league games alone, he has had 12 on and 14 off target, scoring just 4 times. Meanwhile, Tom Pope has scored 11 times, despite just 14 efforts on target and 4 off...!

Perhaps Hanson needs to be more accurate, get more substance on his efforts and not try shooting when he has 5 players in front of him blocking his path..?

Just a thought

Or may be Jimmy should start dropping the opposition goalie and defenders a couple of quid to stop making saves and goal line clearances, then he would have scored loads!!!!!!!
only a thought this!!!!!!

Waynus1971 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

Actually, i was referring to your statement that "40 attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problem lies". These 40 attempts at goal were from the team and it is the team that is one of the divisions top scorers hence my suggestion that scoring goals is NOT a problem. I was not referring to Hanson as being one of the top scorers but the team as being one of the top scorers. In reality, we have had little issue with creating and scoring goals if you look at the 14 games played rather than just two of them. I also did NOT say that we will command a fee for Hannah I was indicating that the club extended his contract as it would strengthen their position and could mean that they command a fee without actually paying his wages now that he is on loan. The club are hedging their bets on Ross and why not. He is currently playing in an attack that consists of Scott Neilson and Joe Colbeck; two players who City commanded fees for...Hannah is a goal machine at non-league level so there is every chance that a conference team will pay a fee to take him off our hands in January; I guess we will see. If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost? As for Hanson; you don't rate him and never have. When he was scoring a few at the beginning of the season you said nothing. Now he is struggling a bit you are on his back. Every single striker in football could and should score more goals...chances get missed. You however choose not to see what Hanson brings to the team. That's up to you.

"If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost?" What about the wages WE paid prior to allowing him out on loan? Don't they count?

Whilst I may not be explaining myself very well Waynus; I simply mean that giving him a longer deal "could have" been PP hedging his bets. He needed support in the striking role; Hannah may be able to cut it at this level (but I don't personally think so); we didn't know how well Nakhi and James would do at the start of the season (but they have done OK so Ross hasn't had a look in) and he COULD have a value. It's all speculation on my part but now that we own him and Grimsby are paying for him; we can't really lose. I am sure that there is some good reason why PP took the option of a second year on Ross. Time will tell if it was a good decision or not.

Waynus1971 wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote:
Macca, in this last week alone I have seen players who earn 50k+ per week miss easier chances than Hanson has. Can't pull a player for being in the correct position to make a chance a chance, can have a little groan as he puts it wide or over, or in Jimmy's case, at the keeper. Where I think the problem lies at present is a mix of a couple of things. Jimmy needs good early crosses to move onto before the defence is set, this is not happening, what is happening is, he makes his run into the box, then waits and waits and waits, eventually a cross arrives, sometimes at a perfect height, sometimes at knee height, sometimes too deep. The problem then is that as the ball takes ages to come over the defence have a man behind him and a man jumping into his chest in front thus making it impossible to generate much more than a powder puff header as he is stood still and the defence are barging him as he tries to rise. Add on top of this that JH is having a little dip in form in front of net and it makes it seem like a massive problem when it actually isn't, we are not totally reliant on him for goals but we are totally reliant on him in our build up play. He also seems to be 'attacking' the ball incorrectly, where he was getting across men and making their job hard early season he now seems to be standing and his markers are getting in front of him instead. This may be part and parcel of a dip in form, that is all it is, or maybe some minor injury he is keeping quiet which is stopping him making better and more aggressive movement.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Jimmy is not scoring goals because he is not attacking the ball correctly, because,
a) he is getting marked out of the game before te cross comes in
b) he has a dip in form
c) he is carrying a knock?

Your post is thus contradictory. You start by defending him over the time it takes to put in a cross to him(which, in fair, is a good point). However, you then state he doesn't attack the ball well enough and come up with possible reasons for this.

The fact is, he DOESN'T attack the ball enough for such a dominant header of a ball. And there lies one of his biggest weaknesses.

Not contradictory in anyway, cumulative. You know I am a fan of JH he just seems to have lost a little form in front of goal and is also struggling a bit due to the dallying prior to balls being crossed in. The attacking the ball statement was qualified by adding my own thoughts as to why this has changed from early season to now. I gave the reasoning behind my thinking and an accumulation of 'marked up' , stood waiting, and possible injury could all be reasons as to why this is happening now and wasn't in the first 7 or 8 matches when he was getting across his markers and making/scoring chances.

Once he becomes stationary in the box, which has been very noticable in the last 4 or 5 games he generates no power in his headers, being stationary is one reason, having a man jump in front and one behind is another reason, a recurrence of his back problem COULD be another. Balls being crossed like shuttlecocks and not driven is another reason. Whatever the reason our top scorer of the last few seasons and leading scorer in early games is not having the impact I expected afetr his start. With the striking options available would he want to risk his place by informing the manager he was feeling twinges?

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

KnightMcCall wrote:

macca1969 wrote:

parader no1 wrote: Parky does not rate Hannah and will not play him, expect him to leave in January

I think you must be right but then this just shows parky to be a real Muppet. Why did he give Ross another twelve months then ship him out to Halifax? Why then build the lad up in pre season after Ross scored more than any other striker, to then bench him and give him no game time at all. Now he is on loan again and scoring. I'm saying if he don't rate him why doesn't he just get rid and let the lad get on and have a fair crack somewhere else. After all we are so blessed at Bradford with world class strikers he is never going to get in. Wells has pace and Connell a brain and Hanson has erm erm that's it two left feet and a fifty pence for a head. Who can compete with that. Hanson for England Hanson for England. Best thing about him is his work rate and helping out his defence. He looked like Rio Ferdinand when defending that corner for the third on Saturday. We need four strikers so we have options when players lose form and at the moment we only have three and a youth kid. Thompson isn't a striker so we can't include him. Bring back Ross or get someone in parky because if we have to rely on what we have we won't get to the playoffs. Forty attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problems lie

Being one of the top scorers in our division suggests you're wrong. Things go wrong in football; League two players lose form and bad results happen to every team at this level. If you seriously think that City would be in a better position with Ross Hannah in the side then you don't have much of an eye for a player. If you are really going to slag off Hanson then you don't have much of an eye for a player in fact; if you are going to be so negative after such a good overall start to the season then you are clueless. It is pretty obvious why PP extended Hannah's deal...MONEY. With no contract offer then Hannah leaves for nothing. With a contract in place then he may command a fee in January from a non-league side because it won't be from a league side; he's not good enough for professional football. Now that Grimsby are paying his wages; it's not a problem that he is contracted to us. If he does very well at Grimsby then he may be worth a second chance at City but i don't see it myself.

Being one of the top scorers means nothing. Barry conlon scored more in less game time than James. I am more concerned James has lost form and has no real competition, I think he needs it and he is only an average player as all the strikers are. Hanson needs ten chances per goal,his heading ability at the moment is not what it should be for such a big man. I think you are deluded if you think we could get a fee for someone you have said has no league ability and you say I don't have a clue. What a contradiction that is, a player with only one strength,not good enough or strong enough for league football and we think he might command a fee, Jesus you make me laugh. I may seem hard on Hanson but he is a league two player in my eyes and when he is out if form he isn't even that. How many times does he bag a brace? He gets one and thinks he has done a job. If he had converted just half the sitters he has this season he would be top scorer. Wells has more goals in half the game time. He has to have competition, I never said it should be Ross as I agree he has some weaknesses, but he should never have given him another. Contract because you can't say on one hand he isn't good enough for this league and expect a fee.

Actually, i was referring to your statement that "40 attempts at goal and no goals shows exactly where the problem lies". These 40 attempts at goal were from the team and it is the team that is one of the divisions top scorers hence my suggestion that scoring goals is NOT a problem. I was not referring to Hanson as being one of the top scorers but the team as being one of the top scorers. In reality, we have had little issue with creating and scoring goals if you look at the 14 games played rather than just two of them.

I also did NOT say that we will command a fee for Hannah I was indicating that the club extended his contract as it would strengthen their position and could mean that they command a fee without actually paying his wages now that he is on loan. The club are hedging their bets on Ross and why not. He is currently playing in an attack that consists of Scott Neilson and Joe Colbeck; two players who City commanded fees for...Hannah is a goal machine at non-league level so there is every chance that a conference team will pay a fee to take him off our hands in January; I guess we will see. If he goes for nothing and Grimsby pay his wages then what exactly have City lost?

As for Hanson; you don't rate him and never have. When he was scoring a few at the beginning of the season you said nothing. Now he is struggling a bit you are on his back. Every single striker in football could and should score more goals...chances get missed. You however choose not to see what Hanson brings to the team. That's up to you.

I have said already that he has lost form and that having no competition for his role is unhealthy. I am not his biggest fan nor his biggest critic. He has all the attributes and in some matches he has been immense. I praise him when he plays well and say it as it is when I feel he is not in great nick. Even Davies says he should have scored more but obviously I'm not entitled to my opinion. Hanson is no better than Conlon who also won the majority of his headers too and also with little direction as to where it was going. If James wasn't a local lad he would have had the same level of abuse as conlon had and you know it. Personally I love having a pop at James because every time I do he plays a blinder scores and we win. I'll take it every time him ramming my views down my throat, anything that helps the club ;-)

Can I just point out that I am not a Hanson lover or hater and support him as well as any other city player, no less and no more. The just of my argument is we have no real competition for him, that goes for injury or lack of form. I just don't think this is healthy. James Hanson on form is a league two player possibly league one but only when in form,otherwise he struggles at this level. I want him to do well and on Saturday he will only receive support from me

macca1969 wrote:
Can I just point out that I am not a Hanson lover or hater and support him as well as any other city player, no less and no more. The just of my argument is we have no real competition for him, that goes for injury or lack of form. I just don't think this is healthy. James Hanson on form is a league two player possibly league one but only when in form,otherwise he struggles at this level. I want him to do well and on Saturday he will only receive support from me

The fact is he has had more attempts than most of the strikers in this league, yet has scored just 4 league goals. We can claim keepers are doing well and that he has had efforts cleared off the line, but isn't that the same for other strikers, especially in our side?

I also understand, to a point, where PCBA is coming from. However, taking away the crosses in normal play, how many times do we see JH attacking dead-balls? Davies has scored more from set-pieces and does get his head to more crosses than JH. Why? Hanson wins most of his headers, so why isn't he making the keepers work more, especially from corners and/or free-kicks?

Waynus1971 wrote:

Prisoner Cell Block A wrote: Macca, in this last week alone I have seen players who earn 50k+ per week miss easier chances than Hanson has. Can't pull a player for being in the correct position to make a chance a chance, can have a little groan as he puts it wide or over, or in Jimmy's case, at the keeper. Where I think the problem lies at present is a mix of a couple of things. Jimmy needs good early crosses to move onto before the defence is set, this is not happening, what is happening is, he makes his run into the box, then waits and waits and waits, eventually a cross arrives, sometimes at a perfect height, sometimes at knee height, sometimes too deep. The problem then is that as the ball takes ages to come over the defence have a man behind him and a man jumping into his chest in front thus making it impossible to generate much more than a powder puff header as he is stood still and the defence are barging him as he tries to rise. Add on top of this that JH is having a little dip in form in front of net and it makes it seem like a massive problem when it actually isn't, we are not totally reliant on him for goals but we are totally reliant on him in our build up play. He also seems to be 'attacking' the ball incorrectly, where he was getting across men and making their job hard early season he now seems to be standing and his markers are getting in front of him instead. This may be part and parcel of a dip in form, that is all it is, or maybe some minor injury he is keeping quiet which is stopping him making better and more aggressive movement.

I'm confused. Are you saying that Jimmy is not scoring goals because he is not attacking the ball correctly, because, a) he is getting marked out of the game before te cross comes in b) he has a dip in form c) he is carrying a knock? Your post is thus contradictory. You start by defending him over the time it takes to put in a cross to him(which, in fair, is a good point). However, you then state he doesn't attack the ball well enough and come up with possible reasons for this. The fact is, he DOESN'T attack the ball enough for such a dominant header of a ball. And there lies one of his biggest weaknesses.

there is rarely anything to attack waynus. Against Port Vale jimmy had approx four headers from slow paced lofty crosses. he had to generate the power himself back across the goal with the keeper making the save each time due to the lack of power. Each header was on target. These then go down as a chance when inreality it wasn't much of a chance. Stats can proove anything you want to if you play around with them. The quality of chance is the thing here for me.......

PS ask all the ex-city players watching and commentating on the radio and they all rate Hanson and recognise his importance to the team.......

Dan, against Port Vale he also had an absolute sitter of a chance with half the goal staring at him from a few yards out and he didn't even get it anywhere near the target? how did you rate the quality of that chance?

I think Hanson does well as the target man, and in that respect he is important to the team as he can relieve a lot of pressure knowing he is likely to get on the end of a hopeful punt upfield, but as a centre forward his main job is to put the ball in the back of the net which at the moment he's struggling, any centre forward worth his salt should be bagging minimum 15 goals a season, which I still expect him to do as I don't think he's suddenly become a bad player.

He could do more though..I said after the Rochdale game that he doesn't look good with the half chances that come his way. You would never fancy him to score in this situation, not sure whether he just isn't able to think or react quick enough when these chances come his way or as pcba says isn't getting himself in the right position to give it a proper go, its like he's in the pre game warm up. When was the last time we saw Hanson giving the ball a good crack? with a frame like his he should be able to get some power behind it, he does get shots/headers away that he will no doubt get a round of applause for, but in the same token it never looks like beating the keeper, as Macca says, we rarely see him getting a brace. I think he gets in a comfort zone too easily as he has no competition. He has been dropped by every manager he has played under and it has proved not to do him any harm as when he comes back he starts getting on the scoresheet again.

I can see where your coming from Macca, and a kick up the **** wouldn't do him any harm as proved in the past, and maybe a chance to look at a Connell Wells partnership

NYB, many higher paid, higher regarded players miss easier chances, we cannot use this as a stick to beat him. I know exactly the chance you mean and it was also on his stronger foot.

Last time he really cracked one in? The volley as it was driven into him from roughly the edge of the penalty box, last time he picked up a ball and ran at someone and cracked one in? Not his style, not something he would do or would be expected to do.

I, myself have had many thoughts re JH over the last couple of games and do not think he is doing the same things he was at the start of the season. I have tried to figure out why and have only come up with, slow/poor delivery thus allowing him to be marked prior to delivery, lack of movement by him to create a bit of space to enable him to get free headers in, possible injury or knock thereby now allowing him to make the jumps or get across his man as he was doing time and again in the first half dozen matches.

It isn't panic time as he is doing all the other aspects required of him to his usual high standard, target man, defensive support, closing down just a blip in front of net but Nahki has picked up the mantle recently so if one of the two is knocking em in we really can't be too far off.

I expect Jimmy to knock one in v York and hopefully see him kick on again then as a striker going a few games without goals plays on their mind and makes it harder to come by the next goal.

I take your points PD and I too hope he gets on the scoresheet against York, confidence will be a big factor with Jimmy. The Port Vale miss was just an example that he does still get chances though, even though they may be at a premium, whether good ones or half ones and at the mo I think he is struggling even with the good ones.

He has a tough job up there and he does the target man stuff well, and to be fair it must take a lot out of him being the battering ram. I just think theres a lot of scope for doing better in front of goal, so its not all bad, if he could improve his finishing by say 20% he could be a very dangerous player. When I say give it a good crack, come on I wouldn't expect him to go on a jinking run at a defender and crack it in...thats Atkinsons job ;)...I would just like him to sometimes put a bit more meat on some of his efforts in or around the box and be a bit more aggressive attacking the ball, instead of a safe, but tame shot at the keeper, and your right better movement could be key to buying himself an extra second to get in better shape for it.

If he was carrying an injury I dont think he would playing, particularly in a JPT match and with Parky wanting to fit Connell in somehow, but if he's still going through a rough patch in a couple of games there's no harm in giving him a breather for his own benefit, and sticking Connell in there for a run of games.

Anyhow I'm sure its something Parky has seen and is working on in training.

*PCBA not PD!

northyorksbantam wrote:
Dan, against Port Vale he also had an absolute sitter of a chance with half the goal staring at him from a few yards out and he didn't even get it anywhere near the target? how did you rate the quality of that chance? I think Hanson does well as the target man, and in that respect he is important to the team as he can relieve a lot of pressure knowing he is likely to get on the end of a hopeful punt upfield, but as a centre forward his main job is to put the ball in the back of the net which at the moment he's struggling, any centre forward worth his salt should be bagging minimum 15 goals a season, which I still expect him to do as I don't think he's suddenly become a bad player. He could do more though..I said after the Rochdale game that he doesn't look good with the half chances that come his way. You would never fancy him to score in this situation, not sure whether he just isn't able to think or react quick enough when these chances come his way or as pcba says isn't getting himself in the right position to give it a proper go, its like he's in the pre game warm up. When was the last time we saw Hanson giving the ball a good crack? with a frame like his he should be able to get some power behind it, he does get shots/headers away that he will no doubt get a round of applause for, but in the same token it never looks like beating the keeper, as Macca says, we rarely see him getting a brace. I think he gets in a comfort zone too easily as he has no competition. He has been dropped by every manager he has played under and it has proved not to do him any harm as when he comes back he starts getting on the scoresheet again. I can see where your coming from Macca, and a kick up the **** wouldn't do him any harm as proved in the past, and maybe a chance to look at a Connell Wells partnership

I've mentioned that chance elsewhere and said that the ball came at him quick, he hit it first time and missed. many other strikers would have had the same result. He also scored a couple of beauty's this season created pretty much by himself, perhaps others might have missed these.

Why hasn't the same focus been placed on two great one on ones with the keeper that Connell totally messed up?

Connel scored 13 in a promotion winning team which i presume created chances. He mainly played from the bench. Point been if injury free Jimmy will get 20 goals this season and in essence done his job on that side of things i believe. He will reach this total more comfortably with decent service that he can run onto. Even some of our corners haven't been that good in the main, often hitting the first man. We are still having tetthing issues with this side in many ways but there are a few things that need to be improved to challenge the top three and thats service from out wide.....

Think we did remark at the time re Connell's 1 on 1s mate.

What I think is happening here is a few of us can see that Jimmy is just losing a bit of form in front of net. And discussing it rather than having a go at the player.

NYB, one and the same pal ;)

Period Drama wrote:
Think we did remark at the time re Connell's 1 on 1s mate. What I think is happening here is a few of us can see that Jimmy is just losing a bit of form in front of net. And discussing it rather than having a go at the player. NYB, one and the same pal ;)

Not everyone is though. hanson has had critics from day one often with no basis of argument. Those clamouring for Hannah are basing this on what? Same with Connell to some extent. A couple of his goals have been scrambled efforts. yes he's got to be there but he as yet to show when starting a game justification for his inclusion above Hanson. I can't see what some are basing things on.

Rooney can go ten games without a goal then scores in batches. This suggests a confidence type player. hanson whilst cetainly not Rooney, brings other things to the table as well as goals. Wells has 7 and some of that is down to jimmy.......

Period Drama wrote:
Think we did remark at the time re Connell's 1 on 1s mate. What I think is happening here is a few of us can see that Jimmy is just losing a bit of form in front of net. And discussing it rather than having a go at the player. NYB, one and the same pal ;)

Thought as much with that familiar writing style ;)..

A lot of views on Hanson, he's always a good source of debate!

One of my favourites so I try look for reasons as to why his performance is differing from early season. I don't like to pull any of our players apart and have backtracked on the Will Atkinson viewpoint I held last season and pre-season, although recently he also seems to be slipping. Whilst not being a dynamic winger, flying past ,men and delivering crosses I have appreciated his retention and graft, think we need a bit more from a wide outlet though.