How do we bridge the quality gap

I believe it was his duty as the owner to try and rectify what his partner had done to the club, you've posted on here many years and read what many were saying at the time with regards Rahic , the situation played out over a couple of season, during his tenure we have gone from a League One play off place prior to purchasing the clue to be (hopefully) in the same situation this season hence my 10 wasted years.

 

Thanks. I knew I’d seen/heard something. He was adamant that he didn’t need anybody else if we got promoted, and was quite blunt in his reply. “No”.

 

I suppose, what else was he supposed to say? I couldn't imagine him openly saying he'd take on another investor if we got there, just seems like something that might be a different answer in public than in private to me?

Dont get me wrong, I 100% have doubts he could fund a champ run. Mainly just because I cant see how in 18/24 months we can move from having a completely sustainable spending model, to knowing you're writing off £10m-£15m per season at that level. Just seems like such a completely different money mentality for a short space of time coming from the same fund.

 

I don't think he would be prepared to lose that kind of money.
I think he recognised that the sustainable route wouldn't work to get us out of league 2 so he relaxed the purse strings.
I think if we get to the championship then we would probably go back to a more sustainable model, maybe only losing 1 or 2 mil a season just to keep us in there.

 

I believe Rupp actually says that in the interview, which is a hard listen not the best English.

 

I'd keep Baldwin as I think he is key to how we build attacks and has improved each season. I'd also keep Metcalfe, Pointon, Sarcevic, Tyreik and Humphrys. I think they all have qualities that could do OK at the bottom end of the Championship

 

Should we go up......what do we realistically see the transfer kitty been and what sums do we see us spending on players?

250k-£300k players aint gunna cut it. Yeh we will pick up 1 or 2 nice freebies no doubt but can anyone see us going out and picking up 7 figure players?

It really would be a season of survival. Those that were just happy to stay in L1 this season would be in for a real shock.

 

IF we were to go up, staying in the Championship would obviously be a tall order, and make no mistake -a 4th bottom finish would be the clubs target, regardless of what was said publicly.
How close we'd get to that objective would, I think be down to how well we use the loan market (clearly no repeats of January please!), and obviously our home record. With the right kind of signings we can still make VP a difficult place to come.
I dont see us splashing out on big money signings and in all honesty I dont think that would be the right thing for us to do, given where we are as a club right now.

 

Loan market is the one we'd have to nail. Obviously the amount of PL loans were few in L2, bit more in L1 but the better PL youths are going to the Champ and we cant afford any Mullin or Sibley type deals in the league above.

Coventrys method was a good one this year, still had its flaws but they got the most out of their budgets. Think they said on sky at the weekend that Covs budget was in the lower third of the Champ, so probably 16th-19th ish range but watching them play you wouldn't know it. Picking up a few guys who were on the outs at PL clubs, few guys who could fit their system from CH clubs and then a few really good young lads from down the pyramid and on loan to mix with an experienced core who had been there a few years. Probably the way we'd have to do it, scan L1/L2 and see if there's a deal to be done for someone to step up, see if there's a few 29+ type CH experienced heads on the free agent market and then get 3 or 4 first teamers on loan rather than squad fillers.

 

Oh 100%. I'm not suggesting it's something we would or should copy fully, but that low budget building to a tactic is probably how we would go about things. It's a pill he's going to have to swallow though if we get there, surely?

Wasn't the average wage over £10k for the last financial year in that division? Even if we tried doing it at the bargain basement price, we'd still bring in at least 7 or 8 free agents who will be asking for i guess a £7k - £8k as a basic ballpark? As well as a handful of loans. I cant imagine we have many or any on over £5k at the minute? Everyone in the squad probably gets a 25-35% ish wage bump with a promotion too, so those remaining players are probably then on at least top end L1 money if we get promoted. Even running things as cheaply as you can in the Champ, the books would be millions in the red.

 

Preliminary talks must have taken place in the boardroom regarding further investment in our club regardless of how this season ends.
Its all down to how and where any much needed monies are spent and who decides to take the plunge, surely someone out there will have an eye on proceedings with a view to investing or am i being nieve?

 

Your correct it was quoted quite recently, I've noticed more Asian lads at games both home and away, with regards interest in the club we have become more professional in that department any interest not getting out into the public domain which in its self isn't a bad thing.
We'll still speculate when fans see the likes of John McEvoy and Charlie Methven at the same game sat with the hierarchy.

 

After all the cloak and dagger stuff with Mbanq not announcing stuff until the other sponsors have been informed I would hope there is a substantial amount coming from them.

 

I often wonder if it’s the city’s image to the outside world
Rarely do we get good news stories even the much proclaimed city of culture was a bit of a damp squib
We have a local authority about as much use as a chocolate fire guard, who have been safe in their comfy position due to voter demographics and lethargy
Bradford city are such a good thing for the city bringing vast amounts of people and money in on a match day
They can’t even be bothered to make it easy to park or enter or exit the stadium, would much prefer us to quit VP and throw our lot in at Odsal
Short sighted at it’s best

 

Well the season is technically over mate , so I am hoping we get this big announcement soon
Would be a major boost if it’s a big investment that could really help us move forward again
Somehow I doubt it though

 

When we were on our way home Saturday we spotted a young Asian man carrying his baby boy about 9 months at a guess both had this years shirts on. We smiled and nodded to him and he smiled back. When you see that you just know the heritage of Bradford City is in good hands.

 

I'd love to think a wealthy owner would come in, and inject material amounts of finance. The reality though, is I think we need to focus on a slightly smaller squad, with more quality, and a MUCH better use of the loan market. Look at the likes of Sissoko and Cozier-Duberry at Bolton; far better than anything we've landed on loan.

 

The two lads you mention above certainly gave our defenders a hard time and had us on the edge of our seats wondering if the next cross or shot would produce a goal.
But as we know Alexander doesn't set up with tricky wingers, if we were to go up would he stick with the wing back formation, I think we both know the answer to that, but as you say a Reece Burke and Josh Cullen wouldn't go a miss.