Match Thread Bradford City V Salford - Tue 23 January 2024 7.45pm

Yeah, both of 'em very happy...

 

I don't want the club wasting money on tokenist signings.

Sparks needs to go or move sideways, or Rupp needs to sell.

 

I don't want token signings, I want a couple of signings that will help our season, probably a striker and midfielder. Sparks needs to be honest with the fans and Rupp needs to sell.

 

Another depressing game,
I’m just so bored of us being shite…

 

Let's not forget the dodgy Spanish trip to line his mate's pockets

 

Radio Leeds mentioned there’d be a Q & A session after the window closes with Sparks and Alexander. I’m not interested in what Alexander has to say, he’s been here 2 minutes and the problems at this club are not of his doing. Why can’t or won’t the owner front up to the fans? I want to question the puppet master, not the puppet.

 

I agree. Why should GA be pulled into answering questions about what has become a long standing issue.

 

To be fair Jamie Raynor said himself they have requested to speak to Rupp several times, so it sounds from their prospective it’s not for the want of trying.

They were very clear throughout last nights commentary about this attempt to interview owner and CEO. There felt a switch of the narrative regards the state of club affairs during last night’s commentary. Despite the weather, the attendance was a telling factor. I feel some sort of change ahead - probably not the size of change we hope (it’s a Bradford City after all) but something absolutely has to give now

 

I hope you're right because without a fundamental change to how this club is run, we are eventually heading out of the league.

 

Oldham and Rochdale actually win games now. …. I also think there are ten teams in that league who would beat us.

 

At this current time there are probably 23 teams in that league who could beat us.
When we lost to Millwall in 2017, Scunthorpe finished above us that season. Where are they now?
That’s how easily we could fall to where they are if we don’t stand up now and do something.

 

I said in the summer we should have said thank you and goodbye to Gilliead because it was obvious he and Smallwood would end up as our main central midfield pairing again and it would create exactly the same problems it created (or should I say, didn't create) last season. What really worries me is that the club will activate the one year extension on Smallwood's contract in the summer and we will be in exactly the same predicament next season.

 

The club is Broken and it starts at the top.
There is a fundamental reason we are failing and it starts and ends with our German owner - End of Chat.

The sooner he is out of the club the better!!!!!

how we do it I don’t know but sitting back and letting him ruin us isn’t the way!!!!!

 

I think for all but the most stubborn or wilfully blind, reality has been laid bare. The WOAP report from last night is spot on, both in its assessment of the game and of the clubs predicament.

A 39% pass completion rate. Bloody hell.

 

Every time we had possession, it was leathered up field for someone to chase, which usually failed.
The few times we got it down, had players close to eachother and in the final third, we actually looked ok and created chances.
Apart from those moments both teams played ping ball between each others 40 yard lines.

 

GA saying it’s the missed chances that is killing us. Tonight similar to other draws. We have the top league scorer sat in the stand. I believe GA wants him to stay but the club won’t allow him to play due to the 2 club rule. The club can’t communicate this as it weakens their negotiating hand but everyone knows that is the case. Rock and a hard place to a degree. But what planning is going on to replace such a goal scorer. We won’t know until 1st Feb when Young is gone. The club may save the money for the next window. That might cost thousands of ST renewals and prove net negative. The problem is they will be asking people to invest in a club where the owner won’t and in the CEO that has overseen decline. In any other business after a prolonged period of regression there would be change. Allow Sparks to concentrate on bringing sponsors to the club. Bring in an experienced CEO and director of football. Establish a coherent plan in the football side. If a sparks ambitions and or ego doesn’t allow for this then let him go. Change is required.

 

We started slow again. We always do. Which is irritating.

We were better in the second half and if Wright and Chapman score those two golden chances we win 3-1. I don't blame Alexander. He is trying to fit a team together which is balanced and one he can trust. Hopefully he sees that we are better if we play a more 4-3-3 with wingers instead of wing backs..

The fans booing Walker after 35 minutes because his goal kick took too long was a new low of toxicity. If you did that feck off.

Cook was awful. He held it up once and won a free kick all game. If he doesn't score or assist by it hitting him and falling to someone else he doesn't really add a lot other than roll around on the floor or moan at his team mates.

Wright did well I thought, will take a couple of games to fit properly.

Keeper not to blame for the goal. It was a decent save and he palmed it far enough away that it should have been mopped up but it was a good finish. I said to my mate that if Lewis was in goal it would have gone in from the first shot at near post

It wasn't great. But still better than under Hughes. I think this football will work if we have the right players, it's very parky esque.

 

and yet some in the crowd still gave him a standing ovation when he was subbed! Maybe it was for old times sake.

 

Fear not, he hasn't scored for a while. Next time he does the pounds will fall off him and he'll turn into Linford Christie. #toomanydonners

I'm starting to wonder is Hughes didn't like/ rate Cook because of his lack of footballing physique (Hughes was a pretty fit for the time he played in) and brought Oliver in with the intent of ditching him, but couldn't because of his start to the season.