How does McCall change this?

The memories of that season on and off the pitch were of a team on top of its game. I remember Edin having a face like a slapped arse at the POTYA as Stuart was getting all the attention, it was in stark contrast to the year before where Parky had the players off at ten o'clock and Lawn went off on one at the prize auction. It was like being at a formal business meeting as opposed to being at a piss up with your mates.

 

Excellent post mate!

1 win in 7..McCall tends to have no idea of how to get out of a mess and this post highlights many reasons why.

 

Honestly. Apart from play off final and maybe the 3-3 game against Sheffield (if it was that year) I can't remember a single game from it. I couldn't even tell you who we beat in the play off semi final.

But yeah, that's probably a decent analogy right there. One is all business, the other is pleasure and matey.

To me it's a secondary issue. If all the other things I mentioned fell into place then I wouldn't care less but it's one little detail in a wider view over 6 years that I've watched his management. Not one commanding centre half signed, not one midfielder in his own image, not one "Jamie Lawrence" to set the tone. Just a load of 'nice' lads who look completely unfussed if they're getting shafted by Barrow and bullied on every part of the pitch.

 

Tuesday is a must win game for macall if we lose he should walk away

 

The Bolton home game for the atmosphere alone, very rarely does Valley parade rock like that. But yeah, i guess most of the games just past us by. A bit like Parkys promotion season, the cup run was ace but i can't remember most of the league games. Funny because i can remember more of the games from 87/88 season. Although that could be because i'm getting old.

 

Have to disagree. I remember much more of Parkys tenure as he assembled a group of players which he and his team managed, coached, organised and inspired into maintaining a winning mentality. I also remember it was horrific to watch at times, but I rarely left a game thinking the players didn’t care or understand what their roles were. Most of all, I could relate to the model the club was on and synergy between all made for a ‘relatively’ successful period for the club.

I see none of the above within Bradford City football club right now.

 

The Bolton game for sure.....although that was to do with Parky rather than the football. Rahic himself could have been the manager that day and the atmosphere would have been the same.

Very true about Parkys promotion season. Obviously remember the cup games, Burton away and the play off final but the rest of the games......nope.....not a thing!

 

It's not about losing one game, Barrow, or winning one game, Southend, it is about wether Shirley is the right person to manage Bradford City and the answer to that is no.

Even Shirleys supporters only have a single argument. We should wait for the new CEO and then make the call. It's not a good idea to change right now.

 

Shouldn’t somebody from the top be speaking to the fans?

We’ve had 2 bad defeats to teams coming from the National League, we’ve no structure to our play, we’ve lost 3 on the trot, fans are calling for the manager to go yet not a dickie bird from above, either in support or condemnation.

What the hell is going on at Valley Parade. Surely the owner can’t be happy seeing his investment decrease in value. Why won’t they talk to us?

 

Totally agree. Until I thought back about how much communication they've done in the past. Almost nothing. Rhodes still has the same press photo from ten years ago for gods sake! Rupp is probably too embarrassed, because if he did talk, he'd have to explain why he's gone back on his word the last time he talked.
Heads in the sand is much easier.

 

Agree very much with your post. It feels like heresy suggesting that McCall should go, with everything that he means to the club. But this is is a reality business. TBH, I'd much prefer he fell on his shield and packed it in, than the club have to sack him if results continue to be pisspoor. Southend and the FA Cup match are must wins for him. If we lose both of those, it all becomes untenable.

 

Shouldn’t somebody from the top be speaking to the fans?

We’ve had 2 bad defeats to teams coming from the National League, we’ve no structure to our play, we’ve lost 3 on the trot, fans are calling for the manager to go yet not a dickie bird from above, either in support or condemnation.

What the hell is going on at Valley Parade. Surely the owner can’t be happy seeing his investment decrease in value. Why won’t they talk to us?

When we had Mason, you couldn’t shut him up. There were campaigns going on, left right and centre. Compare those years to now and there’s a massive lack of communication. Somethings going on...

 

They can't voice support, or it becomes the dread 'vote of confidence'.

I'll tell you what, though, for supporters of other clubs taking cursory glances at our results, the thing that will stand out alongside losing to ex-non league outfits is this:

Fans are asking for the manager sacking because we've been losing 1-0 a couple of times, and got pumped at runaway leaders Newport.

If I ran the club, I'll tell you now results aren't anywhere near bad enough to be considering a vote of confidence, much less a sacking.

However, look, I concede performances have been poor, results disappointing, and Stuart is right to feel a little pressure. We don't LOOK like we're going to turn the tide. But if we are going to get some confidence going, there cannot be two better back-to-back games than Southend and Tonbridge.

 

Where is the rallying cry for everyone to stick together to get through this, either from McCall or the higher management? There’s such a disconnect at the moment that it feels like something’s going on.

What happens if we don’t get 2 wins from the games you’ve mentioned? It’s entirely plausible that we could get beat in both because we don’t have the wherewithal to defend and attack as one (against Southend) or the team spirit and bottle to beat what will be a spirited Tonbridge side.

 

We could easily lose both these games. The fact our two wins this season have come against two teams with one win between them in 20 games speaks volumes for where this team currently sits.

 

Southend also haven't won.

You can't ignore the other team just because you're down on City.

Your thought process actually suggests we should beat Southend, but your post is set out to present the opposite...

 

McCall actually mentions how 'several of our players have experienced relegation before' in todays T&A. Its clearly set in that he's left himself massively short with this squad. He needs to be bringing in a couple of free agents. Theres definitely better quality out there than we have right now. Act now, because by Jan we'll already be in the dogfight.

 

The powers that be at this club have a track record of not spotting problems anywhere nearly early enough, and the mismanaging the problem when it's there to see. Too many 'rose tinted specs' in the boardroom. And with some fans too. You can't knee jerk your way to decisions. But it was clear before a ball was kicked where our squad was deficient. Our performances have proved it, and we've only really claimed wins against similarly poor opposition.

Sacking the manager now, isnt the right call, because it needs to be a change that's part of a much wider rebuild, planned for during the remainder of this season under a new CEO. But bringing in 2 or 3 additional from the free market, is essential and must be done this week.

 

Jon, you are either completely missing the point or deliberately ignoring it.

It is no about winning at Barrow or losing against Newport as stand alone games. It's about what has happened overall. Have we improved since February?

I vehemently disagreed with the appointment of Shirley but when the argument is thrown out that the club needed a lift I can, begrudgingly, admit that there might have been some value in that (as a 6 month caretaker role).

But none of that has happened. There was no result bounce, no bounce in confidence in the club or feel good factor. It has simply limped along as it was pre the third coming.

The question is more fundamental.

Do we believe that Shirley is the manager that can pick the playing side of this club up and move it forward?

If we all put our emotions to one side and answered that question completely objectively the vast majority would in my opinion vote 'No'.

There is nothing in Shirleys career as a manager that even vaguely suggests he is the type of person who builds or rebuilds teams and can turn a frown into a smile...football result wise.

So it is time to bite the bullet. Get someone in who we believe can lay the groundwork, plant the seeds and lets all move forward.

Shirley rather than bringing a feel good factor back to the club is now coming dangerously close to being a source of division.

 

Shirley?

Agree with the rest though. But the new manager MUST be the appointment of the new CEO, aligned to his specific plan.