Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Away v Leyton Tue Nov 24 7.00pm

As is said many times in many arenas, it is unfair to single out individuals as opinions differ so much.
Personally I am now free of any Statute of Limitation from my time on the Board so the following little story about DMH and the Club.
Firstly DMH would have been around in SM's first spell as Manager so he has known the players capabilities for a very long time, capabilities which assuming they exist, appear to get left on the training ground, in my opinion.
Secondly, I watched Dylan several times for the Youth and 'Reserve' teams, electric speed was his attribute.
Thirdly, fast forward to PP as Manager and Board Meetings which featured a regular hour of PP running through injuries, players personal issues, potential loan or permanent signings, moral of backroom staff and so on, very professional. At one particular meeting Mark Lawn asked about DMH and especially was he one we could sell on for big bucks. PP sat for a few seconds and the response is stuck with me (and I recall maybe in the minutes). "Dylan's main strength is his pace but sadly he doesn't really understand the game", asked by ML "what the **** does that mean" PP pointed down to the pitch, "If I asked him to run down the line with the ball, he would. If we opened the gate (to Holywell Ash Lane) and I didn't tell him to stop he would finish in Forster Square, he doesn't understand or think for himself"
Moving on, I was surprised when DMH popped up at Barnsley with Xander McBurnie but good luck to the lad, perhaps PP was wrong. No and back he is now, no change, no improvement, perhaps a tad slower and still having to be told his every move by SM. This is not me saying it, although I hear it every game with no crowds. There is a post on WOAP from the Remembrance Day musician who sat behind SM and heard just the same.
I have no doubt DMH is on low money, possibly topped up by appearance bonus which may explain his regular last 5 minute cameos but really this is a waste of salary cap.
Nothing personal against the lad, he has done well to get a job but it does say something, leave you to figure what.

 

A couple of seasons ago, people were laughing about the idea of City being in the same league as Harrogate Town. Well folks, the way things are going, look forward to the City v Park Avenue local derby fairly soon. As shit shows go, we are currently the diarrhea of League Two football. We are two points off the relegation places into non-league football, with a clueless managerial and coaching staff, who recruited or retained a squad of players with no balance or depth of ability and continue to live in the past tactically, seemingly having no understanding of new advances in the game. An owner who's desperate to sell, a temporary CEO who doesn't want to be here, a ground we don't own, an embarrassing lack of communication towards the few diehard fans we still have from a man who's meant to be a media expert, to keep supporters on board. I've been supporting City for 50 years. My dad and grandad were avid fans before me. They suffered the re-election days in the 1960s. The bankruptcies. But in my lifetime, I have never known my club to be in such an horrendous state. From top to bottom, it's a complete mess. I wish I could deliver some words of hope. But I can't. This is my club, our club. I've supported it all my life through thick and thin - and thin and thin. As you all have. I can't NOT support Bradford City Football Club because it's in my DNA. But the pain I feel right now alongside all of you fellow fans, just breaks my heart. We are a complete mess.

 

McCalls failure to identify and aquire the quality needed is the reason we are where we are. As mentioned previously, despite the covid situation in the spring and summer, he failed to get rid of the deadwood, made mind-boggling decisions such as the DMH contract offer (and insists on playing him), said we don't need a captain we've 11 out on the pitch (and then selects the goalkeeper), releases Vaughan then signs a kid he first sees the night before without knowing anything about him, starts the season being happy with a squad that most, if not all fans can see is woefully short in quality, tells the fans that there'll be lots of players available in the market and fails to bring anyone in, plays multiple formations without knowing his best (despite having a small settled squad).

With a salary cap in place can we trust someone who, has absolutely no idea how to recruit in the transfer market and identify where that money should be spent? Once it's gone it's gone and you can't overspend to save your skin.

 

Don't talk utter rubbish it was Stuart who gave him his contract. He was rubbish when he left for Barnsley, was rubbish last season, was still rubbish when Stuart offered him a contract and is still rubbish right now. Nobody forced Stuart to give him a contract that was yet more poor judgement from a manager with a poor eye for a player.

 

I just don't get McCall. 1-0 down and chasing the game. Zeli fit enough to be on the bench and can actually play football and he brings DMH on for Samuels (who was at least making some runs and beating men). Just why?

 

I like this Radio Leeds commentators questioning, proper journalist, not shirking from asking McCall tough questions.

 

Love this interviewer...Top draw this bloke.

NO DANCER!!!!

 

Absolutely correct, the Width of a post were up in arms about the transfer committee and Abbott recruiting. McCall himself was never slow to hint how unhappy he was with the situation. Moaned about selling Hanson and replacing him with Wyke, yet that was a great move. Now he has full control it’s like his first spell when he hadn’t a clue in the transfer market.

 

This time last season we drew 0-0 at Orient and we were in the play offs, Bowyer got hysterical dogs abuse after that result, yet some people think Stu is doing a good job. He is a dreadful manager and we should stop pussy footing around and sack him tomorrow.

 

I'm not sure intelligence is the issue, I see people on here, and twitter etc, who are clearly intelligent people, usually reasonable in their views on most things going on in the world - but are for some reason blind to any failing on the part of Stuart McCall.

The only sporting memorabilia I possess is a City shirt signed by him, with a hand stitched number 4 on it as it pre-dated squad numbers. It hangs proudly in my home office, I feel and understand the attachment to McCall the player, but his managerial failings speak for themselves and I find it bewildering so may refuse to see or accept it.

 

Samuels just said he heard about our interest the day after he scored.Final piece of jigsaw my arse.

 

Does that mean that in 18 months we'll be back in League Two?

 

Sorry, no I was at home and didn't watch on ifollow. I have been to a lot of games but didn't fancy close contact on the London Tube to be honest.
I did post some of my thinking on BT under the Injuries thread yesterday if that helps, otherwise I agree with much on here regarding signings, style of play, formations and quality.

 

That's awkward.

 

Remember @wetherbywhaler take on Bolton. Ian Evatt and all that...

What's your take on McCall and the demise of this football club under Rupp?

 

40 + years for me, watching mostly rubbish but this is the worse team i can remember. mccall has to go now, closely followed by rhodes and rupp, they are killing this football club , with there inactivity on all fronts, the silence from those in charge is deafening, apart from stuart , who just spouts nonsense.

 

The criminally bad window has come back to bite us on the arse. Everything we have done since the lockdown has shown we are not learning. We had 5 months off and we did nothing. We sat still and cried about the salary cap when other clubs signed players before it came in.
We knew our weaknesses and still didn’t even sign the right players. Whatever the choice either McCall or the board we cannot turn around and lie about the budget. Just be honest with us. The proof is in the performances.

There are so many things wrong. We haven’t scored a goal in 7 of our 13 league games. We can’t defend. There’s no passion. We don’t look fit. We have a keeper as captain. A manager who has failed here twice and is failing again for a third. A new CEO if rumours are to be believed who is part of this shambles we are seeing week jn and week out. I hope the board realise the fans feeling on how bad this is, my worry without fans is we don’t have any sort of immediate backlash.


It’s soul destroying all around. There is so much wrong and we are told to be happy with a new tunnel and some new seats? Get gone

 

STU: Gutted for the lads. We limited them to one shot. We had good first half. We deserved a point. Can’t be angry with them tonight. They all put a shift in. Saturday was really poor. This better. Nothing in the game in second half. Says Evans pulled out at last minute due to personal issue. We got in good areas but sick for the players. On tonight’s performance showed commitment. Reporter says growing concern. Stu says do you want us to walk away, give it in. No we play like we did tonight. We didn’t look like a defeated team tonight? It was a close game. We’ve got to keep at it. We need a few more players back. Understand fans’ frustration. But, we didn’t deserve to lose. Reporter says fans think we are heading to National League. Stu says players come back will improve us. It’s not good enough at moment but mitigating factors. Understands feeling. Give me 18 months and club will be where we want it to be. I understand where club is, but I believe we can improve. There will be changes at end if season, maybe January. I am not at stage of wanting to give in. It makes me more determined. I want to help this club. Tough times call for tough people. I know where we need to improve, but won’t name names. Understands anger and frustrations. Do you have belief in what’s going on behind the scenes? He does. We need a couple of results to lift spirits, etc. Things can change quickly. Yes a loss, but some positives to take, but understands results must change. Samuels came off - he was exhausted.