Summer 2021 Transfers

I have a philosophy in life

Buy cheap , buy twice!

The difference between a Ford and a VW........!

 

Lewis O'Brien did well for a youngster amidst supposedly quality players. The only shining light who never gave up in one of the worst seasons on record. You only have to look how his career has progressed compared to some who are still here and were here during his loan spell.

 

Two different sides of the same coin - we signed Doyle with Collins as manager as our recruitment strategy at that time was 'is he any good'.

We brought in some decent players - Payne, Ball, and in more recent times some of the names you mentioned - but it was a disaster from start to finish and not because we should have built round Doyle or Vaughan or anyone else, simply because we didn't have a plan, didn't have an aim, didn't have a philosophy or identity.

In reality, there was no ethos or formation or long term objective to sign players FOR or towards. We just signed a mash of players for a fair amount if money and it failed horribly.

We could both make the same arguments about nearly everyone we signed in the Rahic era, and it didn't change quickly enough even when he'd gone.

 

Over to you Fordy. Beyond your constant slagging offs and criticisms of Bradford City Football Club, what do you feel passionate about?

I think they'll stick with it Andy, most of them are Salford lads. But you're spot on about too many big clubs around them - jeez, Old Trafford is a hop skip and a jump away. I can never see them getting big crowds, even if they expanded their ground. Pretty much everyone is United down their neck of the woods - and further north, it's all City. They might become a 'hobby' side, rather like Tranmere for Liverpudlians and Evertonians, but can you ever see them topping a 3-4,000 hardcore of fans who only support their club? Not me.

 

The only way they could pull more support than 3-4000, would be serious sucess , thus drawing the attention of floating fans in the area and that will not happen with the two manchester giants, there are far too many league clubs in Lancashire all ready , dividing the football interest. Its like when Bradford had two league clubs , not enough support to sustain both.

 

Do you really think Tranmere are a hobby side for some fans of Liverpool or Everton, cannot see it myself. That would be like saying we are a hobby club for some Leeds fans

 

The only way they could pull more support than 3-4000, would be serious sucess , thus drawing the attention of floating fans in the area and that will not happen with the two manchester giants, there are far too many league clubs in Lancashire all ready , dividing the football interest. Its like when Bradford had two league clubs , not enough support to sustain both.

I wonder if Tranmere have ever thought of offering reduced admission to season ticket holders of the two big clubs on Merseyside , when their team is playing away. Not sure what their regular fans would think about it, but if it incresed turnover and spending on the squad , a maybe improve the league position, it could be win win.

 

Tranmere often played their games on Friday nights to draw Merseyside fans

 

I think that was mainly to attract people in Birkenhead to attend who would otherwise cross the river on a Saturday.

 

No it isn't. Tranmere did play Fridays and it was for the very reason IB suggested. Their chairman was very open about not competing with the two Merseyside clubs in order to have a better chance of attracting more floating fans.

 

Same thing

 

I think the car analogy on player recruitment only goes to show that one player can be both a rust bucket crock to some and a pride of the road dream to others. Remember when we signed NKP we were apparently buying a Rolls Royce.

 

One thing I don't want to hear next season...... "your captain Richard O'Donnell"

 

Remember being there January 91 during Gulf War 1 on a Friday night and a plane above drew improvised dam busters rendition

 

Excellent comparison there!

 

https://www.fgr.co.uk/team/player/jake-young
James Young - one we missed in last summer? Youg local player who had been on Guiseley Sheff Utd books. He looked useful today - tricky, quick, mobile - perhaps one to consider next summer if he can be pried away,

 

No one mentioned it was a 1907 Silver Ghost

 

There are other Sheffield United lads we missed out on, we should really keep a closer eye on the local sides doing well.

But, we had Stuart McCall and he was in a particularly stubborn frame of mind and didn't want to sign pretty much anyone at all for some reason.