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Most liked posts in thread: McCall IN/OUT (with new Poll)

  1. Andy10

    Andy10 Impact Sub

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    Let’s be honest, he should never have been appointed as manager for the third time. I love him as a bloke but he’s genuinely clueless. The team he’s built is awful, no balance, no character no nothing to be quite honest.

    The club is rotten. Rupp needs to sell up, Rhodes needs to be on his way and we need a top down strategy we can get behind. Totally fed up with this now.
     
  2. Mike Hunt

    Mike Hunt Impact Sub

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    Have some respect for the man and call him by his name will you? To call him Teflon is both churlish and immature and to suggest McCall gets a free ride is way wide of the mark. Stuart might not be getting great results, and some of the criticism is perfectly valid, but he deserves more respect than being called Teflon, he’s one of a handful of modern era players who are genuinely befitting of the title a Bradford City legend.
     
  3. Aaron Baker

    Aaron Baker Impact Sub

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    It was probably a genuine question by Stuart.

    McCall was probably hoping that Raynor had some ideas for him.
     
  4. Chris Withe

    Chris Withe Fringe Player

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    There's been 4 full time managers in the hot seat since McCall was last here. Not one has really delivered and looked like he could've been building something positive for the longer term. So, I'd conclude that a further change of manager is unlikely to radically improve results or performance. It would be akin to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

    The club has been in reverse since it was sold. It wasn't recognised immediately because the previous manager had built quite a strong squad. But now that the rot has well and truly set in, it's difficult to see just how the present owner hopes to return it to the position it was in when he bought it. He's either going to have to put in some considerable investment, which looks unlikely. Or sell at a loss and write it off as an incredibly poor decision. In my estimation, the club has now got an atmosphere surrounding it, similar to when it was last getting far too close to the bottom of this league for comfort. All is not lost, but the warning signs are very evident and worrying.
     
    Inspector, How, BSA Bantam and 9 others like this.
  5. Meltham Massive

    Meltham Massive Squad Player
    P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant P.L. 20/21 Top 20 Euro 2020

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    Last night Stuart hung his players out to dry, which in my mind is unforgivable......... I’ve read countless times on the match thread how bad Sutton, French, Evans even Wood played last night.
    French & Wood are both better suited to a wing back role, defensively not the best but great at bombing forward. Playing a diamond with flat back 4 is always going to leave your full backs exposed, anyone who’s even played Sunday football understands this, why doesn’t our manager or coaching staff get it?
    Sutton has shown previously he likes a tackle, can get round the pitch, I’ve been impressed with his attitude and work ethic, why oh why was he played right of the diamond in the first half then appeared at the tip in the second after Clarke went off? Completely out of position!!
    Evans....where do you start! Was Stuart being sarcastic about not realising he’d been playing right wing back for the last two seasons At Portsmouth? Why was he played on the left of a bloody diamond? He’s our only real leader on the pitch, at least accommodate him in a role from where he can influence the game.
    My big worry is many more tactical masterclasses like last night and the confidence will evaporate from the younger players.
    I just get the feeling that other clubs embrace new training ideas, focus on diet, employ sports nutritionists, conditioning & fitness coaches, sports psychologists, study and embrace playing techniques from around the world......
    We’ve got a couple of middle aged ex-pros, jumpers for goalposts and a bloke with a set of very high tech cones! Our players are every bit as good as the Harrogate players, it pains me to say it but our management set up is light years behind.
     
    Chad, JudgeMental, Idlebantam and 9 others like this.
  6. Idlebantam

    Idlebantam Squad Player
    P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant P.L. 20/21 Top 10

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    Last night was like going back in time to the end of McCall's first spell as manager.

    Formation that doesn't suit the players he has. Too many players asked to play out of position. He looked completely helpless on the touchline when we conceded allowing Harrogate to more or less cruise through the final 20 minutes protecting their lead.

    I didnt want him back for a third time, and it pains me to say, it is all going to end in tears again.

    The sooner we have a new owner or CEO with vision and a long term plan, the better,so they can identify a manager who can rescue us from the bowels of the football league.
     
    Ponty City, Zubair, Biker and 9 others like this.
  7. Faithful Bantam

    Faithful Bantam Squad Player

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    McCall certainly shouldn't be immune from criticism. For me though, tonight's fail, isn't just tonight's fail. Its the accumulation of what happens when you fundamentally mismanage a club, when you lack any sort of meaningful ambition and a plan to deliver. McCall plays a part in that, but accountability sits at the top. Rhodes and Rupp are a waste of space.

    I actually quite like McCall's interview last night. Yes he was clearly emotional, he was on the defensive and a bit of pressure and frustration is starting to come to the fore. He says too much, probably because he cares a bit too much. That can be a weakness, but i'll forgive him for it and I'd rather that, than someone like Bowyer who comes on to defend and even celebrate dire performances. Stuart should've swerved the press last night, given himself the night, and then delivered a more composed interview today. But hey ho. I don't really mind. And I agree that we need the right players in, and that we should judge our transfer window when it closes. I also think he's spot on when he talks about last nights performance - if I see a capable group of players that don't fit the system on display, or look tactically disjointed or unmotivated, I'll lay into the manager. But that isn't what last night was about. It was a combination of poor players in some positions, and a complete lack of aggression when it came to defending - That's on the players. And players swerve the focus too often. I'm sick of seeing the O'Connor twins make basic errors when defending, I'm sick of seeing no-one attack the ball when we have corners and free-kicks of our own, I'm sick of seeing Donaldson spend more time on his arse than his feet moaning that he wants a free kick.

    What's now on Stuart, is how he addresses the gaps in the squad that have now been laid bare. There are plenty of players still out there. We all see what we need - a centre back, right back, striker, winger, and probably a midfielder. 4-5 players in 3 weeks? That can be done. Ultimately though, this club won't move forward until we have an owner with vision.
     
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  8. Dubai bantam

    Dubai bantam Impact Sub
    P.L.22/23 Entrant

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    I fundamentally dislike threads like this after such a short period of time and only leads to instability at a time when the club really needs to stand together. Stuart cannot be judged from when he took over last season. The squad was a shower of shite. No matter what I think of Stuart, nobody could have turned it around last season. The mentality of last season was deeply engrained from bowyer, and that wasn’t going to disappear once bowyer had left. Stuart needs to be judged on this season alone. He has the rest of the transfer window to sort the squad out for the remaining 40 odd games that will be left. I liked his interview the other night. Some good questions were asked and he answered them honestly whilst trying not to criticise his current squad and damage morale. It will have already taken a hit from that performance. The last thing it needs is Stuart berating the players staring they’re not good enough. Fair enough, this transfer window hasn’t been good enough to date, but it’s not over and we have time to bring the players in we need. Stuart has acknowledged the need for reinforcements so he is fully aware of the squad failures. It would be a worry if he thought we were ok with what we have, but he hasn’t said that. In all fairness to him, the last 4 games we have played 2 teams from a higher division, and 2 teams tipped to be at the top end of league 2, where we aspire to be this season. We have had 2 draws, a win and a defeat. I don’t believe that’s a bad return considering the amount of time we have been out for, and the opposition we have played. The next 3 to 4 games will give us a better indication of where we’re at.
     
  9. Faithful Bantam

    Faithful Bantam Squad Player

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    Given the obvious mandate for consolidation that Stuart had, his approach in the summer and this season makes even less sense than I thought. If money was scaled back, and promotion not expected, and the likelihood that we’d need to include our young lads on a reasonably regular basis - why the hell did he bring in Billy Clarke and DMH? Top of his list should’ve been a nasty bastard midfielder who could battle when the chips were down, to give air cover to the younger lads. A Jim O’Brien type. If you know that you’re going to be saddled with Guthre, Novak and Donaldson, don’t plan on the basis of using a 352 system which needs your front two to be mobile and run the channels. Get a couple of wingers who can cross a ball and plan on the basis of keeping your front 2 in and around the opposition box as much as possible.

    He’s recruited on the basis of trying to play ‘expansively’ without having the forwards to do it. So we end up going sideways and nowhere, having no goal threat, and being a soft touch when we come under anything resembling pressure.

    I think there’ll be 2 worse sides. But only just. This has all the hall marks of a relegation side. Flaky at the back, no bite in midfield, no real leadership, midfielders who want to play but can’t do much with what’s around them and then find themselves exposed because of how we’re trying to play, no threat up front. Forget style - we’re not even functionally sound.
     
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  10. Bantam@{Lancs}

    Bantam@{Lancs} Impact Sub

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    It's a pretty grim state when the majority of fans pointed out our obvious weaknesses and raised concerns before a ball was kicked while the manager was happy with the squad!! And the fans end up being correct, you would hope your professional manager would be the most knowledgeable.. Dear o dear what a mess we're in.
     
  11. brisbanebantams

    brisbanebantams Impact Sub

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    SMc, "attracting players to bradford city won't be an issue."

    also SMc, "we put offers on the table for four strikers, none of them wanted to come."
     
    banbrotam, Andy10, Ponty City and 8 others like this.
  12. Aaron Baker

    Aaron Baker Impact Sub

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    Stuart McCall - 5th December - Its okay talking about Carlisle signing Rhys Bennett as a free agent but we don't need any centre halves.

    Stuart McCall - 12th December - We need centre halves.
     
  13. Faithful Bantam

    Faithful Bantam Squad Player

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  14. PlatinumChaosX

    PlatinumChaosX Squad Player
    P.L. 20/21 Entrant

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    I voted no, pointless changing managers at the moment. We’re in for a potential struggle no matter who is in the hot seat. Better that the club work with Stuart and give him the backing he needs.

    We need consistency, even if we aren’t pushing promotion this season.

    I would only look at sacking McCall if we’re facing relegation. I’m confident that won’t happen, but I do fully expect a mid table finish this season. Anything above that and I’ll see that as a positive, would be fantastic if we make the playoffs... maybe we’ll win the league though ? Still early days yet. :brig:

    COME ON CITY!!! :brig::brig::brig::brig::brig::brig::brig::brig:
     
    AJP, CRASS, Gardscoigne and 7 others like this.
  15. Ashton Bantam

    Ashton Bantam Fringe Player

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    Our inaction during summer was misguided at best, and once we did begin to sign players the recruitment was quite frankly garbage.

    The club have had us all on strings this summer;
    • JV won't be leaving without substantial compensation
    • JV will be replaced
    • 9k+ season tickets - we're in a better position that most
    • We don't need a scouting set up because we have a WYScout subscription - which anyone with a smart phone can set up
    To then be told once the season has started;
    • We we're never going to be Top 3

    We've all been had and McCalls delusion/failure to accept reality/spiky attitude is wearing thin and risks alienating decades-long fans.
     
  16. Parader

    Parader Impact Sub

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    Yes, connected because he delivered constant progress having taken over a shambles of a squad but was able to put his mark on it and be clear about what he wanted to do from the start.

    Giving a shit manager time won't make him a better manager.
     
    Chrisako, Inspector, Zubair and 7 others like this.
  17. JonButterfield

    JonButterfield Star Player
    Qatar 2022 Entrant P.L.22/23 Entrant P.L.23/24 Entrant

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  18. vin weasel

    vin weasel Squad Player
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    Tranmere with the mighty irreplacable Vaughan
    Bolton with the mighty irreplacable Doyle
    Mansfield with the Excellent Maynard apparently

    All below us and played a game more.
    All playing badly as well.
    Us on the other hand
    So unlucky not to beat Forest Green
    excellent at the weekend
    Deserved to beat Stevenage
    Unlucky at times last night but battled well
    Excellent away at Bolton in the cup

    Only 1 poor performance against Harrogate and a cup drubbing
    That to me says we play well and look the better team 75% of the time.
    Ive enjoyed watching us this season so far.
    I can see we have a style of play and we work hard and create chances
    I hated every game under Bowyer.
    It was slow and turgid
    some people have very short memories
     
  19. Jordan

    Jordan Impact Sub

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    Nowhere near McCall out levels, but he needs to stick to a style of play and quickly. Best thing about 2017 spell McCall was we had a brand of football and a formation that didn't really shift, bar the game against Sheff U away when he played Dieng over an attacker and we looked hopeless.

    So far this season we've played 532, 442, 433 and a diamond. Started playing it on the deck for a few, then resorted to a long ball game. Back to playing it on the deck for a couple then last night back to the good old hoof ball. This team seems to lack an identity in it's play and the manager being consistently inconsistent with his lineups and tactic isn't helping matters.
     
  20. Tyneside

    Tyneside Fringe Player

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    The old swapping manager every 10 minutes syndrome. Has worked really well hasn’t it??

    Have a manager, let him choose a few players that he has to try and settle into a team that’s already got a dozen players in that you’ve inherited from the previous incumbent who you can’t shift on......and repeat....and repeat.....and repeat.


    Doesn’t work.
     
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