New Manager

It's just gut instinct. Our ceiling is much higher than Stevenage, I think he's fancied having. Crack at us for years. Stevenage have started well though, so I think we'd need to act decisively. It'll never happen, but with 2 weeks of the window left I'd be acting now if I was Sparks.

 

You are absolutely right, Halliday and Ridehalgh were part of a defensive back 4 last season that were the third best in the league. They are still here, as are 2 of the CBs that were part of that back line but in the first game of the season, those 2 CBs weren't even on the pitch, Halliday and Ridehalgh were played as WBs which neither of them are in a month of Sundays, and we had a back 3 of a player who'd featured for us a grand total of 40 minutes the previous season, a young lad who isn't even a CB and another person who isn't even a footballer. Absolute madness.

 

I also think he would be interested in the project. poor crowds held him back at Rotherham and stopped him establishing them in the Championship and when Leeds came calling he went to the bigger club. Stevenage are never going to get to the Championship but he would back himself to make it happen here.

for me the stumbling block is the fact he’s under contract in a higher league. Can’t see the club paying the compo when we are already paying Hughes’ wage - which must be decent for our standards?

if his appountment wasn’t so controversial maybe we’d pay a fee for an outstanding candidate, but not sure the powers that be would consider him that.

 

Can't see Sparkes being that decisive or ruthless. Yet, there's no room for mediocrity at this club, so let's just see... imo, no chance...

 

Apart from successive promotions

 

Remind me how that went when he went to the bigger club before.

 

Apart from successive promotions

 

I wish we had gone for someone like Neil Harris(No chance now) the Gillingham team that turned up here last season I thought played some nice attacking football and the guy in his interviews seems he would have jumped at the chance until Gillingham was taken over by the new rich owner.

 

An excellent summary of trying to fix something that wasn't broke. As it now stands no one has a clue how we will line up against Crewe at the back.
We've thrown an unknown in Kelly who was pulled today after 45 minutes. Lewis Richards has only been here a day or two and has already played two formations in 69 minutes. Hughes didn't even start the season with the dependable Platt, instead chucking in the much maligned Ash Taylor. So do we start with a three or revert to a back four? What happens to Richards and Ogeyoke if go to a back four? Feels like going back to a back four of Stubbs, Platt, Halliday and Rides would steady the ship somewhat and give our keeper a bit of confidence in front of him. But then that would negate everything Hughes has tried to implement so far this campaign. If he leaves Kelly out what does that do for the lads confidence? And thats just the defence.

 

We were division 4, when i started watching city, very good season once in a blue moon, nothing has changed, we had our climb to the top and blew it .Almost 50 years of attending VP and we are in the same position. i am resigned to the fact we are just lower league cannon fodder.
It does not matter who owns, runs or manages us, we are stuck with below average footballers who produce crap football on the whole. its the Bradford city way.

 

And we know what happened to the last defender who was pulled after 45 minutes...... never to be seen again.

 

Hughes hasn't changed from last season. He just doesn't have Cook scoring goals. He still doesn't know how to set up a team to attack. That's why his football is so mind numbing to watch.

 

Yeah, how many times did Cooky pull us out of the shit last season with either a well taken chance or a piece of individual brilliance?

 

I reckon Richards could play as a LB and offer us that bit of pace that Rides lacks. I'd have Halliday starting over Oyegoke at this stage, I thought he looked promising in pre season but once the real games have started, he hasn't filled me with confidence. Stubbs and Platt should be our starting 2 CBs for me with Kelly and (lord help us all, Taylor) as back ups. Odusina should be allowed to leave and play some football elesewhere because let's face it, if a defender with pace who is experienced at playing in a back 3 can't get any game time when we change to that system, his future isn't at Bradford City.

 

The most bewildering part for me is that his Stoke side played great attacking football. Yes, the players were of course much better but there's just not that attacking intent in this team. Everything is sloooow

 

Working with mad owners at a club in turmoil? Think it would be harsh to say he did a bad job. ‘Meh’ would be a fairer assessment.

 

All that's a bit surprising coming from you, Dennis. I usually have a lot of time for your comments but can't agree with some of this.
For starters, who are the failing Managers Sparks appointed?. Most on here thought Adams was a good move, success with low budget, poorly supported club, high level of comittment, just didn't work. The previous duo didn't have any record to say they were failing, indeed, it could be said they succeded by avoiding relegation.
As for Hughes, we should arguably have got auto promotion last season and maybe would but robbed of 5 points by shocking referee decisions, 3 of which resulted in apologies but then, to be balanced there was an atitude, in my own view, of 'we only have to turn up to win'. That was evident yesterday and is mentioned in Parker's comments today. That is down to management. So, sorry I don't agree.
As to Sparks being in awe of MH, what evidence do you have of that? I think I may be a bit closer than you and I can tell you Ryan is not like that at all, one of the reasons he has established a really high reputation in the wider football world very quickly as I have said on here before and after yesterday he was as angry as the rest of us. So, before you start I think you would be better knowing Ryan a bit better than you obviously think you do.

 

Going to be a weird feeling at games. I think there's a larger chunk of the fan base that wouldn't be that bothered about seeing Hughes again than the club thinks.

We are either waiting for him to get the sack, which I don't think will happen for some time. Or, waiting for Hughes to realise he's bitten off far more than he can chew and walks. Cant help but think of the Brede Hangeland interview on Hughes saying the players started winning when they just started ignoring every instruction Hughes handed out.

 

We were never good enough for the autos despite being so close to them near the end. That was down to Hughes not Sparks. Without Andy Cook having a wonder season we'd have been mid table.
As for Sparks I ain't his biggest fan but I can appreciate he's done a good job getting the name of Bradford City out there into the business community. I respect him a little now he isn't spouting his David Brent bollox on podcasts and radio shows and just getting on with the job in hand.