Most liked posts in thread: Your preferred manager

people can accept defeats; it's part and parcel of football but it's the manner of defeat that is concerning to people. people can also accept defeats if the team plays well and performances show more than what the result does but it's the standard of performance that is concerning to people. we're second best in every department and both Harrogate and Newport (plus Lincoln) didn't need to get anywhere close to out of second gear to trouble us whereas we seemed to be able to offer nothing more than what we did and we didn't even lay a glove on them. that's what is worrying.

i was totally against the re-appointment of McCall from the beginning and that has not changed - not because I don't like him as a person, I do and have met his numerous times but because he simply is not the right man to take this club forward. so far in his latest tenure we've seen all sorts of conflicting things come from him directly, from "there's plenty of money left in the salary cap" to "it's hard to work within the cap" to "clubs are not paying fees for players" and then paying a fee ourselves for Elliot Watt.

some believed in the myth of 'McCall-ball' that the club even posted on social media after we beat a terrible Mansfield side, but have performances improved since February? which players can we honestly say he has coached and improved? he had a long pre-season to get his players in and shape his squad and the majority of this squad this season was here from last season so should have some idea of how he wants to play and setup - but they look like a fish out of water defect of any ideas and instructions. Kenny Black stands on the touch line like he's just come from an allotment, whilst McCall is 10 rows back hands on hips; how are they meant to discuss changes to make when so far apart. it's ok if he is sat / stood at the back of the stand mic'd up and advising but everything he shouts down is now heard by the opposition immediately.

the standard of league two football is clearly not the best but it has improved over the last 20 years as players filter down from the leagues above and coaches get better through courses and qualifications but we still play like the only way to win a game is to play direct to the centre-forwards and pick up any dropped second balls. it is possible to play this way and be successful but you need the right players to the play the system, which we clearly don't have. we lack pace, that's clear. we lack mobility, that's clear too and we lack strength through the spine of the team. McCall had time to rectify this but decided against it. again he says it's been difficult to bring players in this off-season but Newport brought in 14, Harrogate 9, Cambridge 10, Cheltenham 12, so the players were there and available. why did we find it so difficult? i've made jokes about McCall and his iPad, but seriously, it's evident that there is an issue with our recruitment process and that it needs rectifying quickly or we'll continue to make the same mistakes year after year.

now, Rhodes, has gone on record to say that he believes that people only see ambition as money being thrown at an issue. I don't believe that this is the case and people aren't clamouring for money to be thrown at this - we are all clever and old enough to understand that we don't have much money and it isn't an option. that makes it even more imperative that the money that is spent is spent wisely after detailed and deep assessment and analysis for anyone that is going to be brought into the club. I don't trust McCall or Rhodes to do this after this pre-season and signings he has previously made in previous spells and I think that they are both starting to erase any trust that supporters have in the both of them to rectify our current position, not only in the league table but as a club and structure too - and when the trust goes, the only way is down.

maybe they are both too close to the situation and unable to look at things objectively. they both clearly want the best for Bradford City and neither will be happy with the current situation - but are either of them the correct people to take Bradford City forward both on the pitch and in the boardroom? I don't think that they are. and whether sooner or later, fresh impetus is needed leading the club and the team.

 

You look at Harrogate and Newport and you see teams that are well drilled and well coached. It's really clear that the players know what they're supposed to be doing. It's also really clear that our players are the opposite at the moment. It's fair to say that the 2 clubs mentioned have had their manager in-situ for a few seasons now so it's only fair to also say that Stu is in his infancy as manager of this squad. That said, we don't seem to have made any progress under his stewardship so far.

 

OK, so let's say Macca goes.

We need a plan. A workable plan, cost effective with structure and a team to support.
We need the plan communicated to the fans. Patience on all sides, an acknowledgement that bumps in the road will occur.
To bring in a new man, will not necessarily be a magic wand or fairy dust scenario. We could still be inconsistent in terms of results for example. He would still have to work within the salary/player cap, under the existing CEO (with potential disruption under a new CEO) and 'owner'. He would still have to work with this set of players, the limitations of the backroom team. The new man would still have KG, CD, LN, AS, BC as its attacking options.

So IMO, we can rid Macca but then what? What are the expectations of the new man?

Feels a very difficult position.

The club is rudderless from the top under a man whom is complicit to the failures of this football club.

Under this current marriage of an owner and CEO whom both have questions over their desires to be connected to the running of this football club, how can I honestly expect a thought through plan to be implemented, resourced and allowed time to occur?
Who does the hiring of a new man? Do our incumbents give you hope in this process?

The club has issues all over. From the owner, to the CEO, the backroom staff to the playing staff. So how does the new man work within this framework?

Macca is an issue. But he is part of a wider issue within the club.

 

I'm as frustrated as anyone with McCall, but what would sacking him at this point really achieve?

Rhodes interview makes clear that the club are approaching this season on the basis of treading water. There's no real plan or ambition build a promotion winning side this season. Its going to be a tough watch and the constant changing of systems and strange selections from McCall will continue to grate - but any replacement will have the same mandate for this season.

The whole club needs a complete reboot from top to bottom in every single dept. Simply changing the manager and expecting a significant change in fortune against the backdrop of everything else wrong with the club, is unrealistic.

 

Considering changing the manager before the new CEO comes in is madness.

The new CEO can evaluate the situation and act accordingly. If he wants to bring in a new management team then so be it.

The new CEO has to be the start of a progressive era at the club and that definitely includes the right management team for whatever strategy they have going forward.

Until then we have to hope that enough other teams stay below us in the table. Yesterday was a shocker, much worse than Harrogate game. I hope SM and KB are watching the dvd of the game today and looking at each other and saying "what were we thinking putting that team out".

 

There is nothing wrong with looking as if you have just come from the allotment...

 

Parky had to given credit because he stuck to his principles, even if his 442 got unpicked one week he would still stick with it, and more often than not it worked.
The football Stuart wants to play is better to watch but we haven't got the players needed to play it, which is partly his own fault, although some of the players were under contract. AOC is good on his day but too inconsistent, Paudie isn't as good as we thought (or hoped) he was and BRE is just a big bruiser (some times), so three at the back doesn't really work. The wingers are no where near good enough, certainly DMH is no Mark Marshall. The best crossers of a ball are Wood and Evans but where do you play Evans? At Portsmouth he was allowed a bit of a free rein,
The squad looks a bit disjointed, a bit like the one we had the other year.
Despite his critics Billy Clarke has probably looked the most comfortable on the ball but where do you play him.
McCall needs to find a system that works and soon. It's a start that he's twice admitted he got it wrong. If eventually he has to go, fair enough but I desperately want him to succeed, not because he is a legend but because I am sick of changing managers. The club needs some stability.
We should be able to find a system that this squad can adapt to but I think it starts with four at the back.

 

A bit sad replying to your own message......
Stuart for me until the end of the season.
BTW........didn’t want him back, don’t rate him as a manager but he’s Bradford to the core and deserves more respect than he gets from
Some on here.
He might be a fourth rate manager but we are a tier 4 team, who do think we’re going to attract, FFS, Pep??

 

I think the players look lost because the formation and players change game by game. No one knows what they are supposed to be doing and don’t have time to build those relationships on the pitch

 

Simon Grayson he’s a championship manager. He knows how to get the best out of a team.

get real this is basement football with has beens and never beens.

one thing you get from McCall is 100% loyalty to Bradford City and the cause. Nothing more will hurt McCall than defeat and Bradford City not doing well.

whoever people want, suggest as the next replacement manager will not possess the desire for this club to do well, sure they will make the right noise but after the honeymoon period resort to type, and be the next target for the keyboard warriors.

Today we were Beaton by the better team get over it. It’s football!!!

 

Really don't see it making much difference who the manager is
Whilst we have a disinterested owner and a CEO actively looking t leave ( thank goodness )
Nothing will change

 

What annoys me about yesterday was we have someone with over 40 years of professional football experience, a lot of it at the top level and including many years of management experience yet twice in four games he's admitting to sending out the team with the wrong formation and which he has had to change at half time. Football is a very simple game, surely after 40 years you must know the formation and personnel you've sent out is fundamentally wrong. If not I'd question your role as a football manager.

 

Its infuriating. I posted before kick off, that the team selection was bemusing and would end up in the midfield being overrun and the full backs exposed. And guess what happened? Others posted similar - so why cant a footballing stalwart, with top level experience as a player, not see such obvious flaws?

 

I just want a manager who has a game plan, recruits accordingly and who knows his best eleven with the players knowing their own and each other’s roles in the team.
But we need a board who have an aligned plan also.
Failing at all levels right now.

 

I’ve lowered my expectations for this season. Don’t think we will even make a play off push. Mid to lower end of the table but wouldn’t even see the point in sacking McCall at this stage. McCall will do enough to keep us up (horrible to even think I know) but we will get enough results against the bottom 6-8 sides and Southend and Scunthorpe look that bad with only one relegation place up for grabs we should be ok.
With no new CEO yet a new manager would only be hit with a frustrating season with someone else’s players and a January window with no money to spend. I’d like to get this new CEO in place ASAP. What are we waiting for now? It’s a worry it’s someone inexperienced with Rupp asking Rhodes to hang fire for now.
A new good CEO could start planning for the new season and the summer window right now. Draw up a short list of managers and staff he wanted and go from there. Start sounding out targets if they didn’t rate McCall. We need a plan badly. We are getting no where currently with a worse squad nearly every summer.

 

Lincoln were glad they left!? If they were I'll have that they're smoking!

 

It wouldnt be long Petrov those calling for the Cowley brothers - why? Do you really think they would be the answer (I dont) and based on what? They were the latest flavour of the month a couple of years back at Lincoln but Feats, if they came and suffered a few losses you would be then be onto them.........and so it goes on.
The malaise at our club is not going to be cured just by changing the manager - sadly it goes far deeper than that

 

It's something that was evident in our transfer dealings, seemingly bringing players in but with no real strategy as to how they were going to fit a system. Even right now we see players out of position in a sport which is very position specific. There a few on here who think you can just go out and sign 'utility players' and then make them fit a system, like a real life version of championship manager on the PC. Doesn't work like that, we all know we still haven't brought in a central midfield anchor man or a decent wide player to help create chances but instead we brought on Gareth Evans, a decent lower league player, but with no strategy as to where he would play other than he can 'play multiple positions. The same problems as under Bowyer where we had multiple players for the dreaded' 10' role but no out and out midfielders and wide men. For the love of God this club needs a strategy on and off the field.

 

Unless his name is Martin Peters