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2021/22: A Season of Struggle?

Discussion in 'City Talk' started by Tight1-0Victory, Apr 30, 2021.

  1. Tight1-0Victory

    Tight1-0Victory Fringe Player

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    Be honest about it.

    We're heading into the Summer under a cloud. We have two managers who have lost 5 in a row. They kept us up, we hit some good form, but whatever 'new' they brought to the team is already feeling very very 'old'. Rigid. No variety. Predictable. I have no problem with managers bringing a philosophy full time that the club follow, but it doesn't have to be 90 minutes every single game, same subs, same time, same everything. They're scared to change, I don't know why. Maybe it's because Ryan Sparks told Trueman and Sellars that the club needed an identity and the message was taken a little too far. They're rookies after all, wanting to please their boss. Who knows.

    Sparks is appointing people he's mates with, this strategy was a disaster under Rhodes. No interview process, no real recruitment process, just lads from Featherstone. The recruitment guy was different, but he's only operated at a very low level. Better than nothing, but good enough?

    We have a load of rookies running our club and yes that includes Stefan. None of them know football inside out, not a single one, and if you say they do, you're lying.

    The cloud I'm talking about is a question: do we persist with Trueman and Sellars or not? The fanbase is split, it's a tough question to answer. Maybe we do, maybe we don't. Get it wrong, we're in for a season of struggle. You think we get it right, or are you putting a pound on relegation rather than promotion?

    Got to admit, I'm a bit worried.
     
  2. Ulysses S Grant

    Ulysses S Grant Squad Player
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    Me too. We haven't progressed on the field in four years and thats a worrying position to be in.
     
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  3. WilsdenBantam

    WilsdenBantam Squad Player
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    Every season we’ve regressed both on and off the pitch since Wembley, worrying Orient esk when they went from League 1 to non league. If you don’t have concerns then you’re deluded, our league position has got worse every year and season ticket sales have always been lower than the previous season. Let’s be honest this ownership has been a total disaster. Hope I’m wrong but until we get better stewardship at the top I can’t see us progressing very far.
     
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  4. XCIV_Bantam

    XCIV_Bantam Squad Player
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    good points these are worrying times.

    all I can say is even though personally sparks was an underwhelming appointment but he has surprised me. he seems to know what he wants. plus with the addition of turnbull sacking a manager won't be as destructive as it once was. do think the club is on the mend.
     
  5. Stafford Bantam

    Stafford Bantam Captain
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    Since the 1960s we have been promoted 6 times.

    The average final position in the season before promotion was 14th. Our current position is 14th.
     
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  6. king karl

    king karl Administrator
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    thing is well probably be 20th at the end of the season o_O
     
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  7. Ulysses S Grant

    Ulysses S Grant Squad Player
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    If only today were the 9th of May so we could take solace from that. How does finishing 18th affect that average ?
     
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  8. Dennis

    Dennis Captain
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    Fortunately, barring some freak scores in the last two games, we can't finish below 18th. :thumbup:

    But I don't see how that would impact on next season. Much will depend on who is in the manager's chair next year and how successful we are in recruiting a better squad for next season. Without some major improvements around the squad and a change in outlook and mindsets, I fear that this season's finish could be a high spot!
     
  9. Stafford Bantam

    Stafford Bantam Captain
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    2011/12 18th
    2012/13 promoted

    18th is the lowest ever position we've finished, where we've gone on to be promoted the following season.
     
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  10. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart Regular Starter
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    This kinda tells you that it's nigh on impossible to predict the lower leagues. Who would have thought Morecambe would be near the automatics or that Cambridge would have done so well. My concerns at Bradford are the complete football inexperience of the two managers and the CEO in charge. Nothing to say they won't be successful but none of them have any real experience of their roles in professional football. And as Parky showed, it takes a certain type of manager to get you out of the bottom division.
    Good luck to all concerned because they are gonna need it.
     
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  11. Ulysses S Grant

    Ulysses S Grant Squad Player
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    That's more like it.
     
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  12. Ulysses S Grant

    Ulysses S Grant Squad Player
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    Cambridge are the strange one. Adams fits the experienced Parky type role but isnt Bonners's background similar to T&S though not quite as swift ?
     
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  13. bantamdave41

    bantamdave41 Regular Starter
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    Some stat that. Is that plagiarism or of your own making?

    If it's the latter, fair game guvnor
     
  14. Stafford Bantam

    Stafford Bantam Captain
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    All my own work. Just waiting for someone to point out I've missed a promotion or I can't add up. ;)
     
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  15. bantamdave41

    bantamdave41 Regular Starter
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    @River_City_Bantam@River_City_Bantam.... He's your man for such!
     
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  16. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart Regular Starter
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    Over 300 hundred league games according to the font of all knowledges that is Wikipedia. Doesnt mean you can't be a successful manager but most have either built up a career through being an assistant like Jose or Mark Warburton or non league like the Cowleys. Otherwise it's mainly players who have experienced playing in the football leagues. Its where Trueman could do with some experience alongside him, someone who has been there when the bad spells undoubtedly come along.
     
  17. River_City_Bantam

    River_City_Bantam Squad Player
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    Live dangerously! Question a mod! Have you seen that photo of two gorillas to which people add various captions? One has G1 asking "Do you practice any dangerous sports?" to which G2 answers "I sometimes argue with the wife..."

    Of course, a, say, 2-hour ban covering the time of tomorrow's match has its attractions!:)

    But yes, one is concerned about next season, given the way players and managers together have wasted the good position they'd gotten us into. Will a handful of quality, in terms of playing ability and character, players be enough to raise the core we have to the appropriate level, or will the core itself need to be replaced? Will T&S mature into the first-team managers we need, and how long can we wait? And over all that the question of finances, and not just for the playing side.

    RCB
     
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  18. Ulysses S Grant

    Ulysses S Grant Squad Player
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    Ha ha, I can relate to that. My selective ban limited to the match day thread was extended to a month for arguing. All I will say on the matter is its a good job the mods weren't the judge at the trial of the Birmingham six.
     
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  19. Bantamtim

    Bantamtim Breakthrough Prospect

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    I think you might be getting your Mark Bonners mixed up - this one https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bonner played for Oldham/Cardiff but isn't the Cambridge coach https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Bonner_(football_manager)
     
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  20. hornseabantam

    hornseabantam Squad Player

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    My knee jerk Bradford City self wanted to disagree with this - but I can't. Your overview is correct. Season upon season, we have been moving backwards in terms of league positions, performances on the pitch, the overall character and identity of the club. Again, we go into an uncertain summer, many players likely (and mostly, rightly) to leave, another massive job of team rebuilding to do. Unless we get a good start to next season, I can see our support dropping big time. Wish I could feel more confident, but this is what it is.
     
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