The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Stevenage Saturday 17 September @ 3:00pm

There’s no denying Steve Evans is a good manager at this level. He was gagging for the job when Hughes got it. For all he loves drama, churns through endless amounts of players and has a questionable character, I also believe he would have taken us up. But I’d much rather Hughes does the job.

It is amazing to think we landed him in L2, but here we are!

 

I also think he would have got us up but would he have kept us up? The 4 clubs promoted last year are hardly pulling up trees and going up only to be relegated the following year is pointless. Look at Evan's history where he has signed a squad then changed that squad half way through the season. His squad turnovers have been enormous and costly. Look at MH's signings and contracts given and it is clear that his eye is not just on this season. I have no crystal ball but think come the business time of the season, our squad will be one of the strongest 3.

 

No. He and his club were found guilty of tax irregularities involving player's payments. As a result, Boston were relegated a few divisions whereas Evans and his hoppo walked straight into another club that at the time was more than just a little dodgy.

 

he was banned for a couple of years and when he came back he went back to Boston. Then when he left in 2007 he went straight to Crawley but he wasn’t involved in football 2002-2004

 

He was banned by the FA for 20 months. He was also prosecuted for tax evasion and given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for 2 years.
So yes he was banned and has a criminal record to go with it.

 

Great point. I fail to see how you prevent any team from getting half chances. The key was us been superior on the ball and that made the difference.

 

He took Gillingham to two consecutive 10th places in L1 - the highest they've been since they were relegated, to L1, back in 2005.

At Rotherham he lasted three seasons. Leaving them having survived a season in the Championship - a feat so far not matched (although I think Warne will do it this season).

Took Crawley to their only top 4 division promotion.

I think your emotional dislike of him (i.e. "proven liar" comment) means you'd never give him a chance. That's fair enough, but equally lets be fair about his record.

He won't be coming here, so it's just a discussion point.

 

He’s had some decent achievements in the past, but for me he’s yesterday’s man. He can still get a team to over achieve I’m sure a bit like Derek Adams. But when it’s a bigger, more impatient fan base a few servings of the crap they serve up and suddenly it’s a toxic atmosphere that players simply can’t thrive in as we’ve seen first hand.

Not sure why anyone would want a man who plays dated football and would divide the fanbase.

 

The way we play, opposing teams will always get chances but we will get chances too, sometimes more, sometimes less. We get 3 points for a win and only 1 for a draw and the bonus is, we are entertained.

 

My dislike for him is based on FACT. I don’t like cheats , frauds and liars…does that help in any way.? If any doubt read the link I posted to his tax fraud / evasion case!
Don’t select the best bits at the start of his tenure as I said earlier , he gets sussed. He was sacked last season because he got Gillingham relegated. Stop defending the cretin.

 

Boston were PROMOTED the season this fraud went on. They CHEATED. They got relegated afterwards by poor play not by any sanction placed on them other than a loss of four points and a fine. As soon as they paid players legally the couldn’t attract the squad assembled by Evans . Money was siphoned direct to the quality players Evans bought in by the chairman’s business, yet their OFFICIAL pay never reflected it. Each player recruited had several different contract, some were indeed paid 10 TIMES the amount their contracts stated! I kid you not.

 

He's shite, mate.

(C) @Fordy117

 

The last two games has shown that we have what it takes to get out of this division this season.

Hard to beat.

Creating and scoring goals.

Not getting bullied.

Good squad depth and good talent.

Subs making an impact on the game.

I can see us regularly topping 18K home gates soon if we carry on like this. Meaning more money to further strengthen in January.

Evans was bemoaning big spending Bradford-well due to a mix of stunning ST sales, amazing sponsorship packages-I mean nearly every inch of the ground is sponsored- we can spend the money. He is just jealous that's all.

Get promoted this season and I cannot see any reason why we couldn't be there or thereabouts next season.

 

There is zero chance of this squad being anywhere near a top 6 league one club.
The last few results have been encouraging but the standard of opposition is poor. Walsall should have beaten us and we rode our luck yesterday which ended up looking a convincing win.

 

The factor that you're neglecting is that this team appears to be improving week on week. You're right about the Walsall game but I reckon come Feb / March we'll be an infinitely better side. There are some very strong green shoots appearing.

 

Our team, for me, is potentially League One quality.

But the SQUAD? I doubt there are many in L1 who have the depth we have.

 

I'd like to think that if we went up we'd get 2 or 3 stellar signings thrown into the mix too.

 

Its definitely league one standard I think. It isn’t up there with the likes of Derby, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Sheff Wed Bolton, Barnsley and Plymouth etc.
Ipswich spent 7 figures on a left back. We’d definitely hold our own against the likes of Burton and Cheltenham quite easily.

 

Yet we deserved at least a point from Barrow and Colchester, dont you agree.

 

There are some monstrous clubs in L1, but plenty of average teams competing with them (as always happens in L2 as well)

I'd be surprised if we couldn't compete with Plymouth and Barnsley with a couple of additions, but hopefully we'll find out for sure next season.

I'd say we were top half.