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?