Another defeat last night for Bradford City to another of football's giants - Morecambe.
Who would have thought that we would be losing to Accrington Stanley and Morecambe within a couple of weeks of each other? We clearly have no divine right to win, but we do seem to be a team that other teams are determined to be beat, because of our relatively recent Premier League status. Those of us who have watched City slide from the Premier League will know how dreadful we are really and how we deserve to be where we are.
A 2-1 defeat to a last minute goal. Lost 5 in a row and 6 out of 7. 4th bottom and two of our three victories are against the second and third bottom teams. That probably says it all and we currently do deserve to be where we are. Every team we have played for the last few seasons seems to be fitter, faster, better tactically and totally committed. We remain tentative, inept, devoid of ideas and in the case of a number of players, lacking in any commitment. Every opposing keeper seems to be at his best, making dazzling saves whilst our keeper remains dodgy.
I still believe we will get out of this and climb the table. Stuart will not tolerate this for long and will somehow instill his own pride and work ethic into the squad.
This really is football in the bargain basement and a true test of being a football supporter. Just thankful that I have not been able to get to the away games at Morecambe, MK Dons and Hereford as I would be even more depressed. It really hurts, all this losing. I keep telling myself that Stuart will sort it out soon. I know he will but it is taking a bit longer than hoped for and last season's depressing run continues, without much sign of improvement.
A home game against high flying Darlo next Saturday. Who knows what can happen? A week is a long time in football! They say that luck evens itself out over a season. We need a sackful of luck urgently. A couple of dodgy penalties, a dodgy visiting keeper and a hatful of own goals plus a couple of sending offs for the opposition would help. Keep the Faith!
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Doom and Gloom
Another Saturday, another defeat. This time losing 2-1 at MK Dons. Is that 4 defeats on the trot and 5 out of the last 6 lost?
Must stay positive and hope that things come right soon. Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is that a train coming towards us?
Must stay positive and hope that things come right soon. Is there light at the end of the tunnel or is that a train coming towards us?
Friday, 5 October 2007
Hope
Bradford City have made two new signings today after Tuesday's dreadful performance against Accrington Stanley. Can they make a difference at MK Dons tomorrow? One can only hope!
Disgraceful
The actions of the AC Milan goalkeeper Dida at the end of the Celtic v AC Milan Champions league game, this week were quite disgraceful, as were those of the Celtic "supporter", who ran on the pitch and gave him a gentle tap.
Dida appeared to have been hit by a sledgehammer after a slightly delayed, high tariff fall. Dida's cynical attempt to somehow discredit Celtic by feigning injury is sadly typical of the actions of many modern day players at all levels. According to the Italian press Dida's actions brought shame on AC Milan. One hopes that Eufa and AC Milan will take action against Dida. The only way to stamp this out is through strong management and action by clubs rather than the tacit approval of such actions to gain advantages.
The FA talks about dealing with issues from the grass roots upwards. It should start at the top and work down.
Dida appeared to have been hit by a sledgehammer after a slightly delayed, high tariff fall. Dida's cynical attempt to somehow discredit Celtic by feigning injury is sadly typical of the actions of many modern day players at all levels. According to the Italian press Dida's actions brought shame on AC Milan. One hopes that Eufa and AC Milan will take action against Dida. The only way to stamp this out is through strong management and action by clubs rather than the tacit approval of such actions to gain advantages.
The FA talks about dealing with issues from the grass roots upwards. It should start at the top and work down.
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Worst Nightmare
Last night's 3-0 home defeat for Bradford City by Accrington Stanley would probably be the best worst nightnare you could have, if Carlsberg did worst nightmares.
Much has already been written about the defeat and Stuart McCall has apologised to the City supporters. The supporters were superb in getting behind the team when we were 3-0 down, but the players let everyone down badly. Accrington Stanley were made to look like AC Milan rather than ASFC, as they stroked the ball around the pitch effortlessly whilst City could not string two passes together and chased about aimlessly.
City's sole game plan seemed to be to boot the ball long, high and hard to two forwards, who hardly won a header all game. The ASFC defence was rock solid and thankful for this predictable and easily dealt with approach by City. Despite losing two players through injury and having a substitute goalie ASFC carried on regardless.
City need a goalkeeper, two central defenders, several midfielders and a couple of forwards who can score goals. Apart from that everything is hunkydory. One wonders what Stuart McCall can achieve with this bunch of no hopers? If anyone can do it we have to believe that he can........but the doubts are beginning to creep in. Basic schoolboy errors and a lack of passion and commitment do not provide much of a base to build from.
It is a great test for Stuart and he must surely show some ruthlessness in dispensing with some of the old regulars and replacing them with youth. Something needs to change to stir City out of the current half hearted and unprofessional performances which seem to have become a feature over the last twelve months, if not longer. The general play of the team looks just as bad as it did under Colin Todd, for much of his time as manager, and under David Wetherall in the latter part of last season, when we sleep-walked to relegation, without too much of a fight.
One hoped that Stuart would be the catalyst to break the spell and bring new hope and optimism. Perhaps we all expected too much, too soon and it will take time, but we have got to start somewhere or the Blue Square Conference and Farsley Celtic beckon?
Much has already been written about the defeat and Stuart McCall has apologised to the City supporters. The supporters were superb in getting behind the team when we were 3-0 down, but the players let everyone down badly. Accrington Stanley were made to look like AC Milan rather than ASFC, as they stroked the ball around the pitch effortlessly whilst City could not string two passes together and chased about aimlessly.
City's sole game plan seemed to be to boot the ball long, high and hard to two forwards, who hardly won a header all game. The ASFC defence was rock solid and thankful for this predictable and easily dealt with approach by City. Despite losing two players through injury and having a substitute goalie ASFC carried on regardless.
City need a goalkeeper, two central defenders, several midfielders and a couple of forwards who can score goals. Apart from that everything is hunkydory. One wonders what Stuart McCall can achieve with this bunch of no hopers? If anyone can do it we have to believe that he can........but the doubts are beginning to creep in. Basic schoolboy errors and a lack of passion and commitment do not provide much of a base to build from.
It is a great test for Stuart and he must surely show some ruthlessness in dispensing with some of the old regulars and replacing them with youth. Something needs to change to stir City out of the current half hearted and unprofessional performances which seem to have become a feature over the last twelve months, if not longer. The general play of the team looks just as bad as it did under Colin Todd, for much of his time as manager, and under David Wetherall in the latter part of last season, when we sleep-walked to relegation, without too much of a fight.
One hoped that Stuart would be the catalyst to break the spell and bring new hope and optimism. Perhaps we all expected too much, too soon and it will take time, but we have got to start somewhere or the Blue Square Conference and Farsley Celtic beckon?
Monday, 1 October 2007
Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley. What a special and meaningful name for a football team. Special in that it is like Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Plymouth Argyle and Leyton Orient and does not have a City, Rovers, Town, United, Athletic or Wanderers tagged on to the town. Meaningful in that it came to represent a long departed team from the Football League, perhaps forgotten by some and a joke in a TV advert to others. It was good to see Accrington Stanley return to the Football League after such a long absence.
I have a soft spot for Accrington Stanley as they were one of the first teams I saw play at Valley Parade, back in the 1958/59 season and I also saw them play Bradford Park Avenue. I think that the result was 0-0 in 1958/59. Tomorrow night Bradford City will play Stanley again at Valley Parade for the first time in a league match since the 1961/62 season.
Let's hope that City can win tomorrow night and get us back on track.
I have a soft spot for Accrington Stanley as they were one of the first teams I saw play at Valley Parade, back in the 1958/59 season and I also saw them play Bradford Park Avenue. I think that the result was 0-0 in 1958/59. Tomorrow night Bradford City will play Stanley again at Valley Parade for the first time in a league match since the 1961/62 season.
Let's hope that City can win tomorrow night and get us back on track.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Referees
Yesterday's referee in the Bradford City v. Wycombe Wanderers game was an absolute shocker. It was not that I am totally biased or that City lost, but he was just dreadfully inept and spoiled the game by becoming the centre of attraction. One wonders how referees like this remain on the league list.
I have often written to the Football Association about the poor standards of refereeing and have never received any honesty or openness in reply. The fact that the marks given to referees by clubs and assessors are not published says it all.
It is a popular saying amongst football supporters that the referee had a good game if you did not notice him. How often can we say that these days? It is a difficult, thankless task but I continue to fail to understand the lack of consistency between referees and within matches. Surely the Football Association should set consistent standards and educate their officials through regular video / DVD guidance in this high tech age? If they do, it is not apparent in the application of refereeing in matches.
Yesterday we had a player booked after a histrionic fall by a Wycombe player, giving a free kick and resulting in the only goal of the game. Shortly afterwards a Wycombe player committed a similar, if not worse foul, and was not booked. At times the referee seemed completely lacking in control of what was going on - restarting play with drop balls, when the ball had been put into touch to allow the trainer on. Goal kicks given when it should have been a corner.
Come on referees - get your act together and stop spoiling the spirit of football. This is meant to be entertainment, not carry on whistling.
I have often written to the Football Association about the poor standards of refereeing and have never received any honesty or openness in reply. The fact that the marks given to referees by clubs and assessors are not published says it all.
It is a popular saying amongst football supporters that the referee had a good game if you did not notice him. How often can we say that these days? It is a difficult, thankless task but I continue to fail to understand the lack of consistency between referees and within matches. Surely the Football Association should set consistent standards and educate their officials through regular video / DVD guidance in this high tech age? If they do, it is not apparent in the application of refereeing in matches.
Yesterday we had a player booked after a histrionic fall by a Wycombe player, giving a free kick and resulting in the only goal of the game. Shortly afterwards a Wycombe player committed a similar, if not worse foul, and was not booked. At times the referee seemed completely lacking in control of what was going on - restarting play with drop balls, when the ball had been put into touch to allow the trainer on. Goal kicks given when it should have been a corner.
Come on referees - get your act together and stop spoiling the spirit of football. This is meant to be entertainment, not carry on whistling.
Great Expectations
The arrival of Stuart McCall as Bradford City's manager this summer has given rise to huge aspirations and expectations amongst City supporters. They have shown their total faith in Stuart by the purchase of a record number of season tickets (helped by the bargain price).
Stuart is a legend based on his two previous spells with the club that gave him his league debut in the early 1980s and his return in the late 1990s to help City's promotion to the Premier League. The legend status and popularity is based on his total commitment to the City cause and his never say die attitude.
His start as a manager has been patchy and there already seems to be criticism in the background. Whilst many perhaps expected City to stroll to promotion from Division 3 under Stuart, it is clear that City do need to do more than just turn up. Two defeats in two weeks by Hereford United and Wycombe Wanderers have shown that hard working, well organised teams without too much flair can win and out-think and outplay City without too much trouble.
It is still very early days in Stuart's managership and he must be given a chance to get the team playing to his pattern without a huge amount of resources being available. One hopes that whilst we are all desperate for some success, the fans will be patient and give Stuart a chance. There are some good players in the squad and some weaknesses but it is difficult to judge how much freedom or opportunity Stuart has or will have to change the squad in the short term. We must keep the faith.
Having watched City for nearly 50 years I think that my expectations are not as great as some other supporters. For about half of my time watching City, they have been in the two lower divisions of the Football League and I did not witness City playing in the old second division (now The Championship) until the 1985/86 season. The lower divisions seem to be our spiritual home despite the success of the late 1990s.
I desperately hope that Stuart will succeed and lead us forward to another period of relative success, but there is a real world out there and we need to be realistic and may need a season or two of mid table mediocrity before the next breakthrough - hopefully not?
Stuart is a legend based on his two previous spells with the club that gave him his league debut in the early 1980s and his return in the late 1990s to help City's promotion to the Premier League. The legend status and popularity is based on his total commitment to the City cause and his never say die attitude.
His start as a manager has been patchy and there already seems to be criticism in the background. Whilst many perhaps expected City to stroll to promotion from Division 3 under Stuart, it is clear that City do need to do more than just turn up. Two defeats in two weeks by Hereford United and Wycombe Wanderers have shown that hard working, well organised teams without too much flair can win and out-think and outplay City without too much trouble.
It is still very early days in Stuart's managership and he must be given a chance to get the team playing to his pattern without a huge amount of resources being available. One hopes that whilst we are all desperate for some success, the fans will be patient and give Stuart a chance. There are some good players in the squad and some weaknesses but it is difficult to judge how much freedom or opportunity Stuart has or will have to change the squad in the short term. We must keep the faith.
Having watched City for nearly 50 years I think that my expectations are not as great as some other supporters. For about half of my time watching City, they have been in the two lower divisions of the Football League and I did not witness City playing in the old second division (now The Championship) until the 1985/86 season. The lower divisions seem to be our spiritual home despite the success of the late 1990s.
I desperately hope that Stuart will succeed and lead us forward to another period of relative success, but there is a real world out there and we need to be realistic and may need a season or two of mid table mediocrity before the next breakthrough - hopefully not?
Sportsmanship
It was good to see Leicester City allowing Nottingham Forest to score unopposed in the replayed game, which had been previously abandoned due to a player being taken seriously ill. I wonder if this would have happened if it had been Manchester United and Liverpool or Arsenal and Tottenham Hotpsur playing? This gesture restores some faith in the largely cynical and money oriented modern game. Well done Leicester City!!
A Tale of Two Cities
I have been trying to read Charles Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities" recently.
It struck me that the opening lines were prophetic writing about the fortunes of Bradford City, written in 1859:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way...."
It struck me that the opening lines were prophetic writing about the fortunes of Bradford City, written in 1859:
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way...."
Monday, 24 September 2007
A Sense of Perspective
Bill Shankly is reputed to have made the famous statement that "Football is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that". As a totally committed football supporter to a lower division club, for most of my life, I can recognise what Bill meant. However, in recent times, I have perhaps become a bit disenchanted and disillusioned with football and mainly with the hype around the Premier League.
I still want to see Bradford City win and am passionate about their fortunes, which remain fairly uncertain after another defeat on Saturday. If we cannot beat a pub team like Hereford United, one wonders what the future holds? Football remains a roller coaster ride for most football supporters with the occassional, ephemeral smell of success usually snatched away before it can be fully enjoyed. A few wins and then normal service is resumed and back to doom and gloom and depression. If you win you watch Match of the Day and read the football columns in the Sunday paper avidly. If you lose you don't watch Match of the Day and don't buy a paper. I cannot remember when I last watched Match of the Day!
However back to Bill. On Saturday my second grandson was born and, as with the first one, it gave me a huge feeling of well being and hope and optimism for the future. I was very emotional at 6.15 a.m. on Saturday morning when I got the text bringing me the good news and could hardly get the words out to tell my good lady wife. Saturday's defeat at Hereford was largely irrelevant as we went to the hospital to see our new grandson.
You were right in principle Bill, but you also need to maintain a sense of perspective. Looking forward to playing football and feeding the ducks with my grandson on a Sunday afternoon rather than watching those overpaid, play acting, pretentious wallies in the Premier League.
I still want to see Bradford City win and am passionate about their fortunes, which remain fairly uncertain after another defeat on Saturday. If we cannot beat a pub team like Hereford United, one wonders what the future holds? Football remains a roller coaster ride for most football supporters with the occassional, ephemeral smell of success usually snatched away before it can be fully enjoyed. A few wins and then normal service is resumed and back to doom and gloom and depression. If you win you watch Match of the Day and read the football columns in the Sunday paper avidly. If you lose you don't watch Match of the Day and don't buy a paper. I cannot remember when I last watched Match of the Day!
However back to Bill. On Saturday my second grandson was born and, as with the first one, it gave me a huge feeling of well being and hope and optimism for the future. I was very emotional at 6.15 a.m. on Saturday morning when I got the text bringing me the good news and could hardly get the words out to tell my good lady wife. Saturday's defeat at Hereford was largely irrelevant as we went to the hospital to see our new grandson.
You were right in principle Bill, but you also need to maintain a sense of perspective. Looking forward to playing football and feeding the ducks with my grandson on a Sunday afternoon rather than watching those overpaid, play acting, pretentious wallies in the Premier League.
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Winning Ways
A few weeks ago I posted a blog which questioned whether Bradford City would ever win again. Since then City have won three games - two at home and one away. Life seems a lot better than it did back then. There seems to be a new confidence in the team and although the first half on Saturday against Peterborough was not brilliant, we at least seem to be showing Stuart McCall's work ethic on the pitch.
It is amazing how football can impact on your life. Last season's relegation performance was dreadful. In fact for a couple of seasons we have been pretty dire and for the first time in fifty years of going to watch City I found myself drifting into deep thoughts about anything but football at the games. Staring into space and watching pigeons flying around seemed infitely more interesting than watching the dross.
The boredom was intense and the lack of any confidence in the ability to win was quite startling. This carried over to the beginning of this season, but the signs are that, whilst there is work to do, we are heading in the right direction. Just as well, as we do not want to end up in the Blue Square Conference. Optimism rules. Onwards and upwards.
It is amazing how football can impact on your life. Last season's relegation performance was dreadful. In fact for a couple of seasons we have been pretty dire and for the first time in fifty years of going to watch City I found myself drifting into deep thoughts about anything but football at the games. Staring into space and watching pigeons flying around seemed infitely more interesting than watching the dross.
The boredom was intense and the lack of any confidence in the ability to win was quite startling. This carried over to the beginning of this season, but the signs are that, whilst there is work to do, we are heading in the right direction. Just as well, as we do not want to end up in the Blue Square Conference. Optimism rules. Onwards and upwards.
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Will Bradford City ever win again?
I have followed Bradford City for almost 50 years through thick and thin. I first visited Valley Parade in the late 1950s and was hugely impressed by the old "Sopwith Camel" stand. My Uncle Ron took me to see City play in the old Division 3 North and I was hooked for life. Nearly 50 years on I am still hooked and cannot kick the habit, nor do I want to, although I would love to see City win again.
It seems like an eternity since I last saw City win. I missed two away wins in the latter part of last season but the last time I personally saw them win was in 2006.
The relegation season of 2006/07 was another sad instalment in the decline of City from the heady two seasons in the Premier League. In fact as we often joke, things have been downhill since David Wetherall's header saved us from relegation from the Premier League in the 1999/00 season. We now find ourselves in the bottom division of the Football league - somewhere we have not been since the early 1980s.
Two periods in Administration, continuing cash crises and mediocre management have all contributed to the sad decline of the club I am still totally committed to after 50 years.
I just wish we could actually win the odd game to repay some of the faith the magnificent support have in the club. We have the manager everyone would have chosen in Stuart McCall and a new investor who has apparently rescued the club financially. Who could ask for more? But the odd win would help.
It is still early days in the new season and far too early to get upset or stressed out but we just need that symbolic win to lift every one's spirits and confidence and then we will be on a roll.
Come on City! Come on City! Just give us that win and we will all be delirious.
It seems like an eternity since I last saw City win. I missed two away wins in the latter part of last season but the last time I personally saw them win was in 2006.
The relegation season of 2006/07 was another sad instalment in the decline of City from the heady two seasons in the Premier League. In fact as we often joke, things have been downhill since David Wetherall's header saved us from relegation from the Premier League in the 1999/00 season. We now find ourselves in the bottom division of the Football league - somewhere we have not been since the early 1980s.
Two periods in Administration, continuing cash crises and mediocre management have all contributed to the sad decline of the club I am still totally committed to after 50 years.
I just wish we could actually win the odd game to repay some of the faith the magnificent support have in the club. We have the manager everyone would have chosen in Stuart McCall and a new investor who has apparently rescued the club financially. Who could ask for more? But the odd win would help.
It is still early days in the new season and far too early to get upset or stressed out but we just need that symbolic win to lift every one's spirits and confidence and then we will be on a roll.
Come on City! Come on City! Just give us that win and we will all be delirious.
Monday, 20 August 2007
Shrewsbury Blues
On Saturday five of us made a trip to Shrewsbury to watch Bradford City play Shrewsbury Town at their New Meadow, new stadium. In overall terms in was a dreadful day out. The new stadium and general arrangements there were a hugely disappointing experience and we lost 1-0 to a penalty.
It was a deserved defeat and City continue to play in the same lack lustre style as for much of the last two seasons, which resulted in relegation to Division 2 last season. The advent of Stuart McCall as the saviour of Bradford City will realistically take time and expectations are ludicrously high given the bunch of players he has. He will undoubtedly make his mark in due course but he needs time and some resources.
The New Meadow was a disappointment. Built in the middle of nowhere in the usual modern soulless style with no atmosphere or character. A complete contrast to the old ground at Gay Meadow, which was always an enjoyable place to visit. Despite being in the middle of the Shropshire countryside and having a huge car park, for some reason car parking at the ground is not encouraged / allowed and it is necessary to park at designated Park and Ride sites set out in the club's Travel Plan. The problem being that the plan is so vague and the signposting is so poor it is difficult to determine if the Park and Rides actually exist or are a West Mercia Myth and Legend.
We tracked down a designated Park and Ride site only to find that there was a "No Match Parking" sign and a forlorn jobsworth man in a yellow coat to direct us elsewhere. He could not say where we should go but it was not here. We subsequently parked in a private housing development and had to trudge a fair distance in the pouring rain past fields full of cows and sheep, along a road to nowehere.
We eventually reached the ground, situated in splendid isolation, and asked a steward which was the away end - after several seconds contemplation it was obvious that this was too difficlut a question for her, so we set off to explore. This turned out to be the trend of the afternoon. Another steward did not know where we could get programmes and another only seemed to have the vaguest of ideas. Probably because the programmes were £6 and they did not expect to sell many.
Another officious steward insisted that we did not stand on the yellow hatched area in the concourse - presumably because we were wearing loud shirts in a public place! And so on......
On the way out I noticed that there were some nice rails for parking a bicycle ...but then it's a long way from Bradford on yer bike?
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