New additions

Fine if a decent player becomes available that gives us something extra.
That's entirely different to our current situation of desperately scratching around for bodies to put straight in to our first team so we don't have to pay a bunch of callow kids. How can you not see there is a stark difference between the two scenarios?

 

If you want to use facts, most of the players who were integral to our success under PP were permananent signings. McArdle, Darby, Meredith, Hanson, Wells, Jones, Doyle etc etc. In addition to that, we also used the loan market very well. We've done neither under the current regime.

 

Isn't Michael Collins a free agent or is he still registered with Halifax Town? 32 year old and experienced - ticks all the boxes.

 

No one was doubting that.

The point was when we got injuries we never had this phantom massive squad everyone goes on about. We just got loans in to fill the gaps

 

Even with the old system, you were still limited in the amount of loan players you could bring in and play on a match day, as you are now. That aside, I don't actually recall us having massive strength in depth under PP, especially strength in depth which consisted primarily of loan market. The difference is that most of our first teamers would play 40+ games a season. In contrast, the amount of injuries we seem to pick up under the current regime and the general overall fitneness of the players is poor. Really poor. Something clearly needs to change in that regard and I wouldn't just attribute most of our current fitness woes on and off the pitch to a change in loan system

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-staggering-cost-curtis-goods-14867144.amp

 

Still a free agent I believe?

 

That wasn't the situation in Parky's final year, when we got in the play-offs.

Did we have fewer injury's under Parky, then in the last 18 months?

Yes or No?

 

Not putting it down to the change in loan system.

The bench was never amazing under PP and as I said when we got injuries to key players we used the loan system to plug those gaps.

However as you say we had a core who played a lot and they were usually down the spine of the team.

I think you always get injuries regardless of level. But I think what hasn’t helped our boys this year is they will almost be doing another pre season now under Hopkin. He will want them fitter and is doing double sessions to work on tactics etc. That surely takes its toll on them?

 

Hopefully not. We have a fitness coach and he will know when enough is enough.

 

It certainly seems that we had much fewer injuries when PP and Nick Allemby were here. Hopefully the new fitness coach from Man City will be able to help us

 

I’d suggest not. History just tends to cloud the memory a bit.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10951893.Bradford_City__This_is_my_worst_time_as_a_manager__reveals_Parkinson/

http://www.ilkleygazette.co.uk/sport/9865846.Bradford_City_boss_Parkinson_to_put_league_before_cup/


https://www.efl.com/news/2014/january/bradford-citys-andrew-davies-nearing-return-from-injury/

 

Read back over my original post. I'll leave it there.

 

I mentioned out of contract experience players yesterday. If this is true it's a brilliant news. Ok these out of contract players are a bit slower but at the moment we need experience. This transfer policy avabo bringing young players in is ok but it's not worked, ok if you are Man United and have excellent youth set up but we don't.

 

Yes, that may be, J L
However ........ I'm sure there'll be just as many posts which state there are 'still a few holes' to be filled.
Those holes were not addressed, even in the loan window (It shouldn't even come to that !), as our laid back Super Coach was 'at ease' as the final exit slammed firmly shut, until January.
We now have to hope we can find some affordable quality in the crap pool, but I for one won't be holding my breath.

 

Add names like Thompson, Davies and Reid to that list and compare to what we have now and it’s easy to see how bad a job Abbott / Rahic are doing and why we are heading into league 2

 

We should contact that Novichok agent.. should calm our nerves.

 

Brilliant post, although it repeats what most have been saying for ages.
You know what, RT ?
I can't recall a pre-season before this one, where our fanbase has had nothing good to say about our preparation.
Where are we ? Oh, yes ! Poor Hopkin is handicapped by having to start his own pre-season, now - which is about as damaging as the EFL deducting us 10 points, before a ball was kicked.
I hate to say it, but I suspect we will experience a bottom four place, before we see mid table again.

 

A poor example in Scannell, didnt we pay a substantial fee for Scannell according to those nearer the inner workings of our club ?.