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Sparks - T&A

Discussion in 'City Talk' started by How, Jun 26, 2020.

  1. How

    How Knows Football
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    A lot of articles coming out of the club today about rebuilding the relationship with fans and how far they have come in 12 months.

    I feel a bit skeptical that something is coming or am I wrong? Or are we being set up for a tough season?
     
  2. Foghornleghorn

    Foghornleghorn Squad Player
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    I think it will be tough for many in the lower league's.
    Let's face it dress the situation up with gimicks,offers and the like but football as we knew it will never be the same.
    Our club was damaged severely under Edins tenure.
    Unfortunately along came Coivid which will inevitably take it's toll on the club's valiant efforts to move forward.
    History he may be but but I for one will never ever forgive Edin or his regime.
    Everything the club built after the fire tragedy was wiped out by his inappropriate behaviour and decision making.
    I wish Ryan Sparks well in the coming months with his quest to build bridges and move the club forward but it's a task that's grown in size due to Coivid and it's baggage.
    Uncertainty in abundance at EFL headquarters doesn't help matters either.
     
    RCarol, Inspector, Jayteebee and 11 others like this.
  3. Keefly Bantam

    Keefly Bantam Important Player
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    I can understand your thoughts there and next season is going to be tough for everyone I feel.

    I hope we can attract better players in midfield as that is where the game is won IMO. We need a Jones or Wise type character in there to boss the game and get the team working as a unit and not the disjointed mess we have seen in recent seasons.
     
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  4. Bronco

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    Not read the article yet but fans are calling for more news and what the plans are with regards the future, so it cant be a bad thing for the majority, of course it wont be enough for the few who love knocking the club even in these testing times.
     
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  5. Faithful Bantam

    Faithful Bantam Squad Player

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    Next season is going to be sh*t. Let’s not dress it up. It’d have been a tough gig even if we were well run, but given the shambles we are....
     
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  6. How

    How Knows Football
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    It’s good we are getting more communication but feel it’s almost as though they are setting us up here for something. Do they know the outcome of the survey and it’s a lot asking for refunds? I’m not sure but still harping back to Rahic days but I don’t see much that has changed for the better. Obviously a control freak has gone but we have a much worse squad, which cost a lot to assemble. We’ve been through 2 managers last season. We have no long term plan for recruitment. No ideal succession if McCall was to walk tomorrow. The majority of the squad is only here ebecause of the length of contracts signed previously. A ceo who was only a short term gap but still here, probably because we can’t afford anyone else. The list goes on.

    All we have is a owner who says he will fund us going forward who ain’t really that interested it seems day to day. A man who signs the cheques it seems. But there is nothing to stop him turning off the taps and saying the clubs now for sale. Is there?

    We keep banging the drum before about how big our budget was but it seems we are now praying for a salary cap to stop that. It might help us who knows but I only see it as a detriment to a club our size to be level with others. We should be using our big gates and pull to get out of this league. Not trying to get a level playing field
     
    bantamdave41 and Idlebantam like this.
  7. Idlebantam

    Idlebantam Squad Player
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    It's unfortunate for McCall that the previous couple of years atrocious recruitment and planning has left him with a very lop sided squad

    I'm sure McCall would have preferred to bring in some of his own additions up front and central defence. Unless we manage to ship anybody out of those positions, his hands are tied, other than rebuilding central midfield and right back.

    I have an awful feeling that next season we will be treading mid table waters, and it will be 2021-22 season before we can give it a good go of getting out of this league in the right direction
     
  8. Bronco

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    I have since read the article and didn't read any negativity into it with regards where we are as a club Rupp has told us he will try to correct the Rahic days and I believe him, but I've always been a glass half full City fan.
    Reading that we were one of the leading clubs who paid out over £100,000 agents fees suggests we are prepared to pay those sort of agents fees to get the right quality players I'd say Rupps honouring his promise.
     
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  9. Tolly856

    Tolly856 Squad Player

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    Let’s face it, this whole issue of communication only crops up when we’re underperforming. Deliver on the pitch, give us a team we can be proud of and I’m not sure anyone is really interested in what the likes Sparks, Rhodes etc have to say.
     
  10. bantam2708

    bantam2708 Squad Player
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    Exactly. The performance on the pitch and activity in the transfer market is what does the talking.
     
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  11. Bronco

    Bronco Star Player
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    The former more than the latter as we saw last season the transfers we brought in looked above league two players but it was not to be.
     
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  12. Dennis

    Dennis Captain
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    For those who haven't read the T&A interview with Sparks, here it is ..

    https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/18542907.bradford-city-aim-work-closely-together-fans/?ref=eb

    It's just twaddle! We've already been referred to as the #bantamfamily (a somewhat dysfunctional family) and probably other hashtags which I've forgotten about. We have a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a club website. There is a Supporters Board, a Supporters Trust, various other travel clubs, fundraising bodies and at least a couple of City based websites. And it's just come to the attention of the Director of Communication that despite all of these potential channels of communication, the club and its fans haven't been communicating. I like his analogy of shouting across VP to the Midland Road and nothing being heard. I sit in the MR and I hear only a deafening silence. And yet it's taken a pandemic and the cancellation of a few games (and a squeeze on the club's finances!) for the club to realise and acknowledge that communication by the club towards its fans has been pitiful. I really do object to being taken for a mug.

    Some might well say that at least the club is trying. The same three key individuals - Rupp, Rhodes and Sparks - who have failed to engage with the fans in the past are still the same key individuals who are now saying they'll engage more with the fans in the future. What is changing? Communicating with the fans is a lot more than running a survey on whether fans want a refund or not. That's just a trivial issue for most. Until the club decides to engage in the important stuff - whether it's the club's own plans for the short and medium term or what is happening on our longer term future at VP or a mature debate on thhe future of the cheap ticketing strategy - then it will be just more of the same. When I see a change for the better, I'll acknowledge that things are improving but until then it really is just twaddle.
     
  13. How

    How Knows Football
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    Good post and I agree. They’ve had nearly 18 months to engage with fans and repair the damage. Like you said and the point I was alluding to I think they know they will be struggling, as will every club with the lack of fans at games and are buttering us up for some type of investment/ donation
     
    #13 How, Jun 26, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2020
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  14. Tennesseebantam

    Tennesseebantam Important Player
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    Haven't heard twaddle since, well a long time ago. Thanks Dennis.
     
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  15. Dennis

    Dennis Captain
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    You're welcome. I have changed my original description to something which is much less offensive! ;)
     
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  16. Bronco

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    Come on the quality Bowyer signed at the start of last season Paudie O'Connor, Ismail , Vaughan, Donaldson, along with the likes of Doyle, Scannell being already at the club cant be questioned, because Bowyer couldn't get them to perform constantly can't be put down to Rupp, Rhodes or Sparks.
     
    #16 Bronco, Jun 26, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 26, 2020
  17. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart Regular Starter
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    Bang on. We aren't stupid, give us something to get behind and we'll back it 100%. We're City fans, we know hollow truths, we know billy bullshitters. I know for a fact there is very little ambition and i suspect others know too despite the faux positivity. I actually like Ryan Sparks, the lad is giving it a go in almost impossible circumstances.
     
  18. How

    How Knows Football
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    Not sure this is about the quality of players but they are saying they are not engaging with fans. Doesn’t matter who they sign or play, as I said the budgets were high but with no clear plan on recruitment. Just chucked good money after bad.
     
  19. Bronco

    Bronco Star Player
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    I was replying with regards your "they will be struggling, as will every club with the lack of fans at games and are buttering us up for some type of investment/ donation" Rupp certainly didn't let us down last season, he's a lot of money invested in Bradford City I don't think it will be a begging bowl from the owner, I may be wrong ?.
     
  20. XCIV_Bantam

    XCIV_Bantam Squad Player
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    Compared to other League two clubs I don't think we will be tightening the strings as much. The club shop has a warning saying orders will be delayed due to customer demand! Great to see. We hopefully will get good season ticket numbers too.. But when you compare to other clubs that don't have millionaire owners, nor the fan base that we have I am expecting League two to be very very dross next season. I really do hope we take this advantage by the horns.
     

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