Richard Smallwood

P.S. Gillingham as well. Harris is a decent manager and they ended the season decently - but they were always too far back. P

 

We are much better organised than last year that I do know…….

 

Im feeling pretty confident we are dping all we can for promotion. Proof will be on the pitch but I saw enough improvement last year under Hughes and with 11 new players plus maybe 2 or 3 more I dont see why it isnt possible.

You dont need a squad oozing with quality to compete in this league.

 

Completely agree.

 

Interesting, thanks Stafford.

I think even our data supports the idea that a top 7 finish is more likely than a top 3 finish. Promotion isn't out of the question, but shouldn't be expected. If the play offs are what we're expecting, then that's effectively a lottery.

And yet, I think some of our fans are going to find it hard to accept a 7th placed finish with all the missteps that go into scraping into the play offs.

Then again, I think Hughes is (unlike Bowyer) a big enough figure to silence the panicky Pete's out there and command enough respect to get on with it.

Top three, while obviously still on the table, should be viewed as a bonus for me.

But I am already worried that people in this thread like @banbrotam and others are arguing that nobody is better than us... I think it's a good way to undermine confidence, is that.

Let's all keep our feet firmly on the ground. @Fordy117 (as always) is getting grief for describing us as top ten.

Well actually, that's far less destructive than predicting top three and setting the bar pointlessly high. Those that think they're 'good' supporters for being positive could easily turn out to be a major problem, as I feel they did under Bowyer and Adams.

We have to be able to endure rough patches and losing runs. Best way to do that is to accept they will happen, and statistically, we're unlikely to finish top three.

It's crazy, because it's the same people making the same mistake of over-egging the pudding every season, and they never learn. One whiff of potential, and they're booking hotels near Old Trafford for the inevitable Premier League clash in three years time.

 

Swindon's team looks to be slowly dismantled partly due to their old boss Garner at Charlton. Its ok being paid money for players but as we know its hard to replace like for like (I'm more thinking Wells here) as our signings don't necessarily reflect that this year

 

There were a few of us not happy with Adams appointment but the majority were in favour. Time proved the minority were right to.question the appointment, especially when Lee Turnbull was shown the door.

 

We were so desperate for success that we were willing to bring in a manager who didn't necessarily suit our ideals in terms of playing style or how he relates to fans, youths. In hindsight we should have looked at how he achieved success at Morecambe etc and ask is that achieveable here. He basically had a striker bang on form, and a fanbase which accepted playing on the back foot. When you play dour football if you don't win it quickly falls apart

 

There seems a method to the madness now which wasn't there before. We've needed a central midfielder since Cullen left and yet we've never really targeted the type of player that Smallwood is. And im not on a championship standard player, just one who was competent enough to anchor the midfield.

 

I wasn't unhappy with it, but I did say at the time I wasn't sure City fans would go for the defensive (ie, negative) football.

Got dog's abuse for those stances, including the idea that Threlkeld wasn't going to be a good right back.

That Sergio lad called me every name under the sun for doubting Oscar

 

Honest as always I was fine with Adams being brought in. I guess from the clubs perspective, he was brought in on the belief he could replicate his time at Morecambe by getting us promoted on a shoestring. I don’t know where Turnbull came into the equation, however I guess that he was also put there to identify “ cheap” , low wage recruits. As it turned out we ended up with a disjointed and perhaps toxic mix of a squad….. Hindsight is a wonderful tool!
Sparks and of course Rupp decided the error could not be repeated and it was impossible to do it on the cheap. It’s the only way Rupp could look to sell his asset by having a winning team? I think the surprising application of MH for manager role has been the undoubted catalyst. The professional transformation of the club from top to bottom is the result. There are no guarantees of course but we certainly look to have a far more workmanlike and capable squad . It’s the Managers , back room staff and squad to put this into action. As someone said earlier of this doesn’t work, and I’m optimistic it will, where do we go next?

 

Ryan was already doing a good job off the field, but a hapless one on it.

I guess we don't need the Director of Football given Hughes is basically running the club from a footballing perspective, but I'm very concerned that we wouldn't have appointed one had we appointed someone else.

I think we were doomed to repeat certain mistakes, UNTIL Hughes applied.

From thereon in, it was plain sailing. Club weren't getting that wrong. Get Hughes, back him, let him make whatever changes he likes. And that's absolutely the right thing to do.

 

Yes, I do mate but maybe you have got me to change my ways.

Look, Bradford City is a disappointment over the years. I have learnt to not get excited by the club. Last season was massively disappointing with Adams. Hughes is better but I think half of me doesn't want to put pressure on him.

The way how the club have done business for me I don't think they feel we will go up next season and are building. My thoughts are that secretly its the season after next that they feel its game on but we shall see. Goes without saying I want them to go up this season but I don't think we will.

We need better players coming through the door over the next month or so to make me change my mind.

 

Do you think there is a bottomless pit of money available? Better players than Walker, Smallwood and Chapman who will be on extremely good, especially Smallwood, money ? . Probably L1 and lower CC wages, yet you want even better?

You need to get realistic and pretty quick if you think another three on similar money are heading for Bradford City. I suggest you may be somewhat disappointed.

 

Right back in the dressing room, and tied up would be my view

 

Hmmm It's me that saying we currently are about a 10th place team.

You on the other hand don't seem to be learning. I await @Sergio Pinto III to get excited over pre season wins against Park Avenue and tell us how great we are. He too is like you! Full of fake hope.

In terms of money well if we didn't have shite owner we would be in a better position to generate money wouldn't we?