January transfer window

VP is actually a great setting for this sort of thing. We have some decent function rooms, we can cater and there's reasonable parking on site or nearby for the sort of numbers attending such events. We need to do more of this sort of stuff. Fair play to the club for openly supporting inclusive topics too.

 

Yeah, but they’re worth the wait…oh, wait!

 

It's taken watching Walker on Saturday to remember the benefit of getting this sort of loan deal in (and seeing some skill). He is at least a class above this division.

Another couple similar in key positions and we will be heading in the right direction.

Another alternative is bringing in promising players from the lower divisions/ or L2 smaller clubs. But my concern is at this time (January window) they may not take have time or be able to take the pressure of expectation at City and the size (and mood) of our support. I think these factors are contributing to the fickle performance of some our current players and any new comers need to be properly prepared or be used to it.

 

He’s a Man U fan - that’s from the horses mouth. Not sure where the Huddersfield link comes from as he’s from Pontefract. He might follow players of all local clubs in relation to his job.

 

Thats a lie, it was located in Boroughbridge!

 

Have we actually got any transfer rumours ?

 

Cheap ?.

 

We've seen that with a couple of players before. McCarthorse springs to mind. Walker has gone on record saying he relishes the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd. A quick check (not that easy actually, as it seems the BBC or their own website doesn't print attendances) shows they averaged 16k last season, so he's conditioned to playing in front of some big crowds, and looks to have the confidence and ability to match, but these boys from the lower leagues certainly aren't. Wolves have just signed some young lad from Portugal, and in his interview he's quoted as saying it's a scary thing coming to a big club and playing in front of large numbers. Something that often goes under the radar I think when signing a player that stands out in another team. Rowe perhaps is another example - nowhere to hide when there's 14k plus watching you plod around the pitch looking disinterested. Anyway, this is what we brought the scouting team in for. Lets hope it brings rewards, although with just two weeks left, it's looking like groundhog day again.

 

Charman set for Rochdale according to Darlo friend of mine

 

That's a shame Idle if true .....

 

I think Parkinson was the first of our modern managers to really address this, it’s a bigger issue than fans realise. Before Parkinson we just hired any player seemingly regardless of character or ability to perform on a bigger stage. Because when a player walks out at VP they aren’t thinking well these numbers are only here because of cheap tickets, they’re thinking it’s a big stadium and there’s near 15,000 eyes on me and will see any mistake I make. They’re humans first of all and a crowd that size unless you have the character can make someone go into their shell.

 

Now this is getting annoying. Not only are we not signing players, but League Two clubs around us are adding to their squad. We play Rochdale next. You know what's going to happen if they sign him today and he's available for Saturday....

 

Outbid us and paid him more?

 

Think he's still suspended on Saturday

 

A bit negative mate,we are about to make are 3rd signing and still 2 weeks to go - isn't Charman still suspended this weekend?

 

He's got a release clause and I don't think it's that high so if anyone is to sign him it likely won't be down to how much they bid.

 

Slightly off topic, but on the same vein - I played cricket for Hull in my early 20's and we used to get the usual crowd of families, friends and cricket fans with nothing better to do on a Saturday watching. I can't remember how it came about, but we played Durham University at Chester Le Street in some charity or cup game. There must have been about 3000 or 4000 watching, and I was absolutely conscious of the amount of spectators around me, especially when fielding on the boundary. I've played in some football matches with several hundred watching, but it's a bit different than cricket as you're always on the move. So yes - I agree it's something that 100% needs to be taken into account when interviewing a player to play for Bradford City. Kind of difficult to find out until he steps onto the pitch though!

In case you were wondering, I was out for a duck - bowled by Robin Martin Jenkins. Also in their team, they had Andrew Strauss and Ben Hutton (grandson of Len) opening the batting, along with Matt Windows coming in at number 3, who I was lucky enough to trap LBW. We lost heavily.

 

He's gonna sit in the stands?