Andy Cook

Unfortunately, we don't have many other options.
I've been saying for a while, we cannot press and put teams under pressure because the guy who starts the press cannot run.

 

We can't bench him as we have no alternatives other than perhaps Elliott, not sure how long he is out for though?

Definitely need much better coming in this summer that's for sure

 

I keep reading this but since we were relegated to L2, the standard of player has been from good to damn right poor. Cook more towards the former.

With an inevitable fall in season ticket prices, especially if they go up (in the midst of an economic slide), where just does this "better" come from? Rupp?? No evidence whatsoever to suggest so... The fans??

Hughes may be a name. Adams was a name at this level. Was he backed? A fear similarities in budget will be our achilles heel again, throughout the tenure of Hughes.

"Better" costs. Wasn't it just a few months ago the club wanted supporters help towards hand dryers??

Not picking on your post, Idle but history at this club under Rupp, especially in L2 has a pattern. What has changed in the last 4 days

 

We've no wingers, so maybe we simply play Lavery and Robinson with Cooke (please not Daley) in a more forward role.

I like Cook, but I don't get the protection he gets for his numerous errors, i.e. missing a sitter against Forest Green - whereas Songo just gets abuse after abuse, when he's barely played more than four consecutive matches in his correct position.

Cook was terrible yesterday. Rawson, their No.6 dominated him more than I've ever seen a centre-half dominate a No.9. Put it into perspective, Hanson played better against the Swansea defenders 9 years ago in the Cup final (ah! the memories!!)

He should have buried that later chance and needs to stop feeling sorry for himself.

However, I expect Hughes, a former very effective striker, to get a tune out of him - so we'll see a different Cook against Swindon. He needs to shape up. None of them can live on a decent first half of the season.

 

Time to bench him and bring who in ?, even late in the game Hughes kept Cook on with Laverty along side him.

The two headers I can remember one was way off target and the other brought an outstanding save from Bishop, I'd be more worried who we play along side him, Jonesy said it all in his post match comments saying when Cook did win headers Robinson was not anticipating any flick on, I thought he won his fair share of headers regarding the way we played, far easier as defender to win those high balls than a target man (because that was how he was used yesterday) to either flick it on to a team mate or to control it and lay it off.
When Nahki played along side Hanson it wasn't because Hanson's flick on's always went to Nahki, when the ball was won he was anticipating and backing himself to outpace the defender, unfortunately we ain't got a Nahki in the side.

 

I'm still puzzled how you argue that our former managers weren't backed when they had one of the best budgets in L2.

We've underachieved vs our spending. Simple. Even in L1 when we got relegated it was a Top 6 budget.

Rupp carries the can, because ultimately he's taken on the managers who've wasted the money - but I don't get why some on here constantly moan about the money we've had.

Out of the clubs promoted during the last couple of seasons, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Crewe and Morecambe all got promoted whilst, spending less than us, Northampton won't have had much more if at all.

Only Bolton, Plymouth and Swindon - probably exceeded ours and that nearly put the latter out of business.

But other than Bolton they also all had managers that had a least 15 matches before their promotion season, to have a good look at the players they inherited and make changes. And that trend is likely to continue this season.

Unless you think that Rupp should be gambling on purchasing players, i.e. like Salford have (and where has it go them?) - I don't get what more you want.

I get the frustration - but we cannot moan about a lack of funds as the chief reason for our troubles. It's been a lack of foresight, i.e. changing the manager every 9 months that's been the issue.

And yes. That is 100% on Rupp.

So we hold our nose and like Jewell in 1998, allow the manager to make as many errors as they like from now until the end of the season (whilst keeping an eye on the bottom two) so he can make a proper assessment as to who he wants to keep, retain and recruit.

We then don't get all sniffy if next season starts slowly. Remember some fans actually wanted Jewell out just prior to that memorable sunny and hot September Sunday win at West Brom.

That of course means Rupp and Sparks need to keep their nerve. Back the manager like Lawn / Rhodes were doing with Parky ten years and actually run the club according to some kind of plan as opposed to reacting to the fan atmosphere, as though it was some kind of Hughie Green clapometer game show (sorry for those too young to remember )

 

Lets be honest they are not contracted for a reason, I'd suggest those two positions are possibly the most difficult to fill with regards non contracted players, although someone mentioned Andre Wisdom was training with Birmingham, if you never ask you never know.

 

Maybe out of desperation we are clinging onto resent comments from Mark himself and Ryan, ie Hughes on taking the job he would be backed, I know we've heard these comments in the past with regards a 5th 7th largest player budget in the league maybe this time it will happen, hopefully not by expecting the fans to pick up that tab with increased season ticket prices, the club show they are happy to invest and give Hughes a better chance then I'm sure the Bradford City faithful will happily pay more and back Hughes and the club as they did in numbers yesterday.

 

The war in Ukraine? Rupp may or indeed need to move some of his investments.

 

Hughie who?

Good reply. So in summary, we have enough to compete but through a combination of poor management, planning and holding our nerve, we have failed to challenge at the right end of the table?

 

I would gladly pay £50 more for my season ticket (even though I am 65 in May) if the extra cash went to Mark Hughes playing budget.
Yes we should do deals for families and father and young son/daughter tickets but Fordy is right on this one (hope he isn't reading this), we do need to start paying more. However the money does need to be spent well.
Andy Cook didn't have that "kebab gut" at the start of the season. His injury layoff and diet probably haven't helped. Players are generally where they are for a reason lifestyle (Andy Cook), attitude (Danny Rowe).
Having said all that we can criticise Andy Cook's weight/fitness/limitations but it really does amaze me how often defenders want to exchange shirts with him during the game rather than at the end of it. And when did it not become a foul for a defender to have a player in a headlock, probably because it is in the penalty area.

 

Your bottom paragraph sums up the basic need for this club.
Work to a plan. It's why clubs like Harrogate and Sutton with limitations are above us in the table. Because they work to a plan. We haven't had one of those for years. Guess what? That's seen us regress year on year without one.

 

I get all that and I have said in the past I'll pay what the club deemed to be the cost of a season ticket but not only the cost to fans alone Rupp has got to show when required he'll go that little bit extra.
That particular instance with Cook and the Mansfield defender the referee must have been the only person in the ground who thought the headlock was not a foul on Cook, although overall I thought Mr Kitchen had a reasonable game trying to give advantage when possible.

 

We definitely didn't want Hughie ever running this club!! Known to be one of the most hideous men in TV entertainment!!

Here is with his 'clapometer'!!




Would you buy a used player of this guy??





And 'yes' to your question

 

Is cook training? Might it be he’s carrying an injury and because we’ve no alternatives he’s playing matches but not much else-hence the weight gain?

 

The plan is get the right manager who then brings in the right players who get results Parky created an identity to because he+produced a winning team. overvto you Mr Hughes

 

Dave, a real statement of intent from Rupp would be to say in black and white - we are putting up season ticket prices to raise money for the club and equally I am personally pledging an extra £2-3M on wages and transfers to the cause to get us up next season.

 

Did you pick this picture because of contestant No 4?
I'd have him in our team in a heartbeat....