Any Topic Going formerly Transfer Rumour s

organised and hard working team that we used to play as a pre season warm up completely outplayed, outfought and outhought us. had to do better than we did, however the Mansfield game was a brilliant response and they deserve credit like they deserved a few pelters for the harrogate result.

 

Yeah, an organised and hardworking team that have been playing under the same manager for some team, taught our dreadful development team an absolute lesson in football not so long since, and then beat our current first team after earning promotion to the football league

Who cares that we used to play them in friendlies?

It's irrelevant.

We weren't playing Guiseley, who are in the Vanarama North, we were playing a League Two team in the top half of the division who are there for a reason, and the reason is they deserve to be there.

 

The small team aspect didn’t help, but it’s not the only reason, City were poorly organised, or didn’t follow instructions against Harrogate. Losing is understandable, every team loses, that performance was appalling though. They won’t play well every week and I think most fans understand that, but the Harrogate performance was so far short of what was acceptable some of the criticism was justified. Came back well against Mansfield, have to give credit for that.

 

Trying something way off the cuff like McCall did against Harrogate would be get the plaudits if it results in a good performance but equally the stick will come flying in if it doesn't. To be fair to Harrogate they took advantage of the opportunity our disjointed line up gave them. A lot of teams in this division arent good enough to take that advantage.

 

To be fair and not bigging up Harrogate. with the ludicrous team formation and player selection we would have been hard pressed to beat most teams in this division,You cannot go in to any match with such a poor set up and expect anything from a game

 

I cant see how that performance can be defended for me it's not a matter of we used to play them pre-season or where they have come from, they needed respecting for being where they are league two opposition on a par with ourselves.
I and others commented about the way they took Bolton apart second half without getting the equaliser, you'd think Stuart & Kenny would have done their home work especially as our game with Grimsby that day had be postponed.
It wasnt a matter of Harrogate having a 20 minute purple patch, they bossed the first half, just what did Stuart say to the team at half time, I'll always support the manager but Stuart doesn't help himself at times, I was a little disappointed post match against Mansfield that he let Kenny do the interview surely it would have given him a chance to voice his opinion with regards the Harrogate game after a few days reflection.
Years ago fans didnt have the means of voicing their opinions today is a different world and although there will be a few who go completely OTT very few could defend that performance to his and the squads credit they've started to put it right the only way they can on the football pitch.
Unfortunately with Covid we couldnt get to Mansfield and "get behind the lads" but if we could I'm sure there would have been a travelling army of Bradford City fans cheering the team on.

 

I can't see why people are still hung up about a game from 8 days ago.
we've won since.
Lets move on for the good of everyones mental health.

 

Because apparently Stuart brought it up in a blog and interview he did.

https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/any-topic-going-formerly-transfer-rumour-s.4119/page-210#post-410164

https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/any-topic-going-formerly-transfer-rumour-s.4119/page-210#post-410165

 

I think he was right as with just about every defeat these days there is a massive over reaction.

 

Unfortunatly its a different world we live in mate no longer do we have to stand outside the news paper shop awaiting the "Pink" delivering to read Don Aldreds version of the game and discussing it with our work mates on a Monday morning, fan's can give their opinions instantly on social media if Stuart reads the vast majority of comments after the Mansfield game they were very positive, you have your opinion and a place to voice it, with regards the Harrogate game he didnt help himself IMO.

 

If he keeps tinkering every game for no justifiable reason and we keep on losing, he'd better get used to 'massive over reactions'.

 

Stuart, the club, Parker and the rest can chunter about social media all they want, and they’re right to some extent, but it’s here and here to stay and they have to get used to it. I’m not justifying any abuse, but every fan has a voice now if they want it. Like it or not, it’s not going away.

 

Stuart has passion and is no doubt reflecting the frustrations we all feel.He admitted he made a mistake on the day and accepts responsibility. He knows the team have to perform better and it is apparent that he backs himself and his players to come good, given time. It will be easy for all of us if he can nurture a run of results that build on the Mansfield result.

 

He deserved the criticism for that against Harrogate, he set us up horrendously bad. On the other hand he deserves the praise from the Mansfield game for setting us up well. It’s football, everything is under a microscope. He’s in the wrong job if he can’t handle a few skeptics.

 

At least it's early days yet and all is not lost. Plenty to play for..then we judge.

 

As McCall has himself publicly admitted to for the Harrogate game.

 

this was the team for Harrogate. O’Connor returned after suspension Guthrie was replaced by Donaldson most people wanted him moved out and new signing Evans came in who can play right across midfield. All the players in this team were in familiar positions


1. Richard O’Donnell (c)

6. Anthony O’Connor

9. Lee Novak

10. Clayton Donaldson

15. Tyler French

16. Billy Clarke

17. Gareth Evans

18. Elliot Watt

21. Reece Staunton

22. Levi Sutton

23. Connor Wood

 

We lost a match against a team from our own league , who are in reasonable form. it happens. we have no divine right to win games. we have to earn it and on this occasion we were just not good enough all round.