| Bradford City 0 |
| AFC Wimbledon 0 |
By Jason McKeown
With every prolonged, uneventful minute that ticked by, the stench of mundaneness became more potent, reeking over the stadium and driving the home audience into resigned boredom. This was not an afternoon to inspire excitement, anger, despair – or indeed any particularly strong emotion. It was just really, really dull. The stalest of stalemates. One that does absolutely nothing to change the dial and lift the downbeat mood.
You can make a case – as Graham Alexander optimistically tried to after the game – that this was an improvement on what’s occurred recently in the league. That it was a step in the right direction after the capitulation at Swindon, and the monotonous draw with Salford before that. But when the bar has been set so low, the fact we got a better performance here represented the tiniest crumbs of comfort.
Ultimately, this 0-0 draw was another damaging afternoon for Alexander and City’s hierarchy. An afternoon where the disconnect between club and its supporters grew even wider. Edging ever closer to true breaking point.
This was the worst league game I’ve seen at Valley Parade since…the last one I attended. And the one before that (Crawley) wasn’t very good too. And the one before that (Stockport) was average at best. City are now winless at home for over two months. Winless, overall in the league, in eight games. You have to go back to January 2020 and the end of Gary Bowyer’s reign for the last time the Bantams failed to win for eight league matches.
And of the mounting worries about the direction of the club on and off the field, it is the lack of evidence that City are capable of ending their slump that would have been uppermost on the lips of disgruntled supporters heading into the Bradford night after this. The cliché “you could have played all night and not scored” rings painfully true. In fact you could argue they could play well into next week and still not succeed in finding the back of the net, and it wouldn’t be an outlandish claim.
Not after this.
It wasn’t all bad, of course it wasn’t. But the team set-up is flawed by a gameplan that relies too heavily on long punts forward, rigid sticking to positions and not nearly enough room for individual flair to succeed. Alexander raised more than a few eyebrows with a team selection that included dropping top scorer Andy Cook. He thankfully stuck with the 3-4-3 that had worked very well midweek, but personnel decisions meant it was never going to be as successful as it had proven against Doncaster.
For one thing, the unavoidable need to find a starting berth for Kevin McDonald – after his man of the match display midweek – saw Alex Gilliead pushed to wide forward/striker, so that captain Richie Smallwood was not dropped. It felt like a weak decision by Alexander. Smallwood is never as bad as his worst critics portray him, but successful management is about picking the best players to make the system work. Sometimes you’ve got to make a tough call.
Deploying Gilliead wide left – ahead of a large group of wide attackers who could play there much more effectively – was a mistake. Perhaps Alexander is entitled to make it. Gilliead has always been a player where it is hard to define his best position – even to us City supporters, who have spent many years watching Gilliead over three separate spells at Valley Parade. But his more recent success in claret and amber has stemmed from playing deeper, affecting the play in the middle of the park and driving the team forward. Asking Gilliead to step out of the midfield battleground and wait to be fed the ball higher up the pitch just wasn’t playing to his strengths. The team missed his thrust in the centre.
What also didn’t work was leaving out Cook. Alexander argued after the game that Cook hasn’t been at his best, and that dropping him was a message to everyone in the squad that no places in the team are set in stone. He’s right about all of this. But for the 3-4-3 to work when you play direct football, you need a focal point in the front three. Alexander had two such options, but choose to loan out one of them, Vadaine Oliver. It’s fine to bench an out-of-form Cook if you’re playing in a way that doesn’t need a target man, but here City didn’t.
That meant Jake Young – who would have been a more logical pick for wide left forward ahead of Gilliead – played through the middle. Young did okay and showed some promising flashes of skill, but operating centrally robbed him of as much space to run at defenders and stretch the game, compared to playing as a wide forward. Watching City send numerous long balls towards Young was a bad misreading of his strengths. He offers so much more if used correctly.
Ultimately, you can’t help but feel that City would have had more success here if they’d left out Smallwood, played Gilliead in the centre of midfield with McDonald, kept Young wide forward and retained Cook up front. It was a lot of unsuccessful changes, just to keep Smallwood in the team – and the skipper hardly pulled up any trees to suggest such extensive rearranging of the furniture was warranted. In fact, for much of the afternoon he sailed dangerously close to the wind of a red card after several mistimed challenges.
It might not have mattered if City had got the breakthrough early doors. The first half hour was decent and some promising bits of play led to sighters of goal. Lewis Richards built on his excellent midweek return and initially had the beating of Jack Currie every time he came forward. Harry Chapman – who also kept his place after his match-winning performance against Doncaster – was full of tricks. Every time a City player successfully dribbled past an opponent, space opened up and they threatened to score.
Alas, it was a plan they drifted away from over time. Replaced instead by aimless punts forward. There was too often a hit and hope approach to City’s attack. Aim for Chapman, Young or Gilliead, but little attacking support if they did manage to win and keep possession. Wimbledon began to edge back into things. And increasingly, nothing was happening.
This pattern continued in the second half, despite Alexander clearly trying to force a shift in the momentum with his changes. Bobby Pointon came at half time – but taking off Chapman felt like the wrong decision. Eventually Cook and deadline day signing Calum Kavanagh were introduced, with Smallwood withdrawn to (unfair) ironic cheers. That double change saw Gilliead drop back into his more effective deep position and Kavanagh play as wide right forward. The 20-year-old was busy but mishit a few passes. A burst into the box, where he dribbled past his man, the clear highlight of his debut.
Cook had arguably the best chance of the game when the ball suddenly sat up for him in the box with just former City goalkeeper Alex Bass to beat. He opted to try and work the ball onto his left foot, and the opportunity went away from him. In a final, final throw of the dice Alexander brought on Tyler Smith for Matty Platt and went 4-4-2. But it never translated into late pressure. As we saw early season, Smith is not a very good substitute. He touched the ball just four times in the final 10 minutes plus injury time.
And that summed up the issue. You can bring on as many forward players as you like, but if there is no service – or a cohesive approach to getting the ball effectively up to them – they’re never going to have a chance of succeeding. Alexander claimed after that City had plenty of chances to win the game, but that doesn’t really tally with the pattern of the game. If you can’t mount sustained spells of pressure and instead rely on half chances, you’re always going to be a hostage to fortune.
In many ways, this game was a good summary of Bradford City’s season in general. Lots of different things tried, but no proper actual plan. Or at least a plan which is clear to us supporters, that we can buy into. It was just so flat to be sat here watching this drabness. The Kop barely chanted. The only noise coming from a gang in the North West corner who came across as angry at everyone else for being so mute. And – more depressingly – there was also the unwelcome noise, it seems, of a supporter in the Midland Road stand shouting something racist to AFC Wimbledon players. Utterly, utterly disgusting. Anyone who turns up at Valley Parade with this mindset is simply not welcome.
At full time there was faint boos, little applause, little of any emotion really. A big collective Bradfordian shrug. A universal meh. You couldn’t really get angry, but you couldn’t get excited either. Another afternoon to forget. From a season that – cup run aside – you already wish would be over. It’s just so dispiriting. There is no compelling reason to be turning up right now, other than our sense of loyalty.
So City stay 18th in the league. The exact same league position that – last October – was deemed so unacceptable that Mark Hughes was sacked. Despite some weird social media reports midweek, a similar dismissal of Alexander is not on the cards. But he’s using up his supporter goodwill. His popularity is declining. And that presents a problem for the club. Because those at the top simply cannot afford to oversee another managerial failure.
All of which keeps the spotlight firmly on Ryan Sparks. A few days ago, Sparks appeared in a soft-puff Yorkshire TV news piece where he admitted mistakes, but tried to put a positive spin on them. “I’ve made plenty of poor decisions. Not for the wrong reasons, but decisions that haven’t worked out…But I don’t have any regrets really. Because without those moments, you don’t learn.”
Those unspecified “poor decisions” might very well be good for Sparks’ personal growth. But they have far greater consequences, not least on the 15,054 Bradford City season ticket holders – a League Two record for the club – and on those employed by the organisation he leads. The harsh reality is that Bradford City stood 20th in League Two when Sparks took the reins as CEO. Four years and five managerial contract awards later, they stand 18th in the same division. The current set up is not working.
Ultimately, 15,054 Bradford City season ticket holders deserve better than afternoons as grey and dreary as this. They deserve better than to be turning up at Valley Parade in February with their league season basically over. They deserve better than not having the opportunity to hold those who run the club accountable for their actions, with requests for a fans forum rejected, and a planned Radio Leeds event falling short of letting supporters directly engage with their club. They deserve better than to never hear from the guy who owns Bradford City. And they deserve better than to watch this turgid style of football from a manager who – for reasons largely beyond his control – looks ultimately destined to fail.
We deserve to have reasons to believe that things will eventually get better. Yet we’re not seeing any right now. And that is a big, big problem.
Categories: Match Reviews
widthofapost.com 
One question for sparks next week
Did Rupp really turn down £7 million
Because that is £5 million more than we are worth
Please sell
If you put that £7 million in the bank what interest rate would you get. I guess around 4%/ £300K per year. Hassle and risk free! Is he really taking much more than that out of the club? I don’t think so. I think he would have to be mad to turn down that offer. And I don’t think he is mad.
Not to be contrary, but I actually enjoyed today. Yes, I agree we didn’t create many clear cut chances and yes, there was no creation from our midfield, but the football was quite slick at times and we fizzed the ball round with more purpose than recently.
I would say that I disagree on Cook and Young; I thought Young did as much flicking on and holding up as Cook has provided all season, but also looked quick, sharp, and prepared to shoot on sight. Cook weakened us when he was introduced (in my opinion); he won very little, looked off the pace, and really fluffed his one chance.
Personally, and I don’t know who is ultimately to blame, I think our problem lies in midfield. We just do not create anywhere near enough. Gilly, Smallwood and KMaC did nothing wrong, per se, today, but they don’t make things happen. For such a marquee signing with genuine pedigree, Smallwood has been underwhelming. He never grabs the game (or team) by the scruff of the neck and drives us forwards. The middle of the park just feels like a creative vacuum.
Meh is exactly how I described it. And that goes for Wimbledon too, who aren’t a shambles like City and came for a draw.
Alexander worries me because he talks such obvious rubbish. All our best moments came from Chapman and he took him off. We assumed he was injured but no. He said he had a good view in the stands; I think someone must have been stood in front of him. Then he said that Young had a tight hamstring at halftime – so they kept him on!!
We did play better for the start and the majority but that is small mercies. He has had about 18 games now, we still play 3 at the back for no apparent reason and in that time we haven’t once played with a wide player. And then he effectively blames Cook for our failings in front of goal.
Tulloch never got a kick under him and Wilson may as well go back to Wales. We have wasted a season.
A couple of extra comments. I agree on Smallwood – unnecessary scapegoat. And lastly Young shows some good touches but any danger of him passing?!
Oh and what was the last 10 minutes about. Smith on and 4 up front – headless chickens, lumping it up to Cook. It just allowed Wimbledon into the game. Clueless.
The last four paragraphs are the most important thing you’ve written for years Jason. Some of us foresaw this kind of scenario when Sparks was appointed and have pointed this out numerous times for the past 4 years.
But the club doesn’t listen to onion picklers like me and my Cows Arse colleagues. We’re seen as ‘wanting to the club to fail’, we’d ‘rather be right than successful’, all of which is total nonsense.
But they do listen to you. It’s therefore very much appreciated that you are using your well earned platform to call the club out for our seemingly irreversible decline. Much like Jamie Raynor attending the City Independent meeting on Monday, support from voices the club has to take seriously adds important weight to ordinary fans concerns.
I hate to say I told you so….. 😉.
I offered Sparks the opportunity to tap into thousands of pounds worth of proper consultancy, proven via many blue chip companies and absolutely free, with no strings attached. I was happy to do so having supported the club for decades. I never even got the courtesy of a response. Whichever way you look at it, his stewardship has been a disaster,in the short, medium and long term. He needs to be removed so that commonsense can prevail. His brand of egotism has no place in OUR club, however well intentioned.
That’s pretty worrying, and I’ve heard other (albeit unconfirmed) reports of similar stuff recently. Seems to be a siege mentality at the club and outwardly a refusal to accept the facts of where he has lead us as CEO. It feels like things are coming to head. I dislike Sparks from personal experience with the man, but he must surely be struggling, and he really ought to admit he’s not cut out for his job for his own sake if not for the supporters.
The most difficult part for me at the minute is how long we’ve been within touching distance of the play-offs; even though we all know how unlikely it is we would make them.
As we went into the New Year, we stood 11th on 34 points. For context, that’s just four points outside the play-offs and eight points behind Notts County, who were in 5th at that point.
A month later we’re now 18th on 37 points, seven points behind Notts County who are in the final play-off place in 7th.
The point I’m making is even if this squad isn’t as good as last years; we’ve just played 5th; 9th; 14th; 17th; 19th and 21st and we only managed three points out of a possible 18.
The season is obviously over and this squad probably wouldn’t have kept a play-off push on, but it’s a huge chance missed.
The bigger worry is where we’ll be soon given four out of our next five are against some of the best teams in the League Wrexham (2nd); MK Dons (6th); Sutton (23rd); Barrow (3rd); and Notts County (7th).
This is the reality check on how bad January has been; where we stand as a club; and how important it is the club starts to outline a plan to us all. Very worrying times.
It was bloody awful.
100% Jason 100%
End of Feb,warm the seat for Stuart
The ships in stormy waters and captain Sparks is hiding away in his cabin rather than leading from the front and communicating with his plan to steady it. Maybe he knows out of his depth and shouldn’t be the captain and that’s why he’s hiding away, but it’s when the seas are storm that’s where the captains really needed to lead from the front and communicate and earn his money, it’s the stormy waters that can sink the ship. It’s easy facing the customers when the seas are calm and the sailings going well but that isn’t where you show that you are a good leader.
Without that leadership it’s not surprising there’s tension amongst the other people on the ship and some customers are thinking of not buying a ticket to the next cruise, better communication might have dampened some of that tension especially if the captain could show the people calmer seas and a better cruise was on its way.
Whilst the captain is hiding away he’s just losing more and more confidence amongst his staff and customers.
Why must he be in constant communication? When he speaks he is subjected to horrible abuse online. He did an interview last week, he is being interviewed next week. What do you want him to say – I sacked Hughes cos the fans chanted you’re getting sacked in the morning. There is nothing he can say that won’t be twisted and used against him. He’s probably busy looking for a new job, whilst trying to do this one. I lay a large % of the blame for this season at his door but he’s not the only one and he’s certainly not the one who picks the team.
He might not pick the team but he picked the manager who does
Same #### different day
What the hell was this transfer window?
GA wanted to reduce numbers but we’ve loaned out Vadine (our only backup target man) and brought in 3 wide forwards in Young, Wright and Kavanagh despite already having Chappers and Pointon struggling to get a game in that position. We have Walker and Pattison coming back which presumably means we won’t even play 3 forwards.
We only have 3 center mids on the books, 2 are over 30 and 1 is a converted winger but seemingly we needed no improvements or options there.
We play wingbacks every week but we only have 1, again no strengthening or options there
What’s the plan?
Plan? We haven’t had a plan for about 5 years!
Ironically previous managers have been critised for having no ‘plan B’.
GA in his short tenure seems to have played any number of systems and combinations of personel. I think we have plans B through to Z now but have no plan A!
Left early today and it’s rare I do but this style of football is dire! Alexander has come out with some strange comments when deciding his squad selections. Three strikers on the bench and no recognised striker in the starting line up was weird!
He also has said some weird things in his post match comments. But today to say he wants “to see things from different angles by sitting in the stand” is of the strangest. What did he gain?
Hughes was sacked because we were not playing through the thirds and we were struggling for goals. It was boring! Alexander is also not playing through the thirds, it’s actually worse! There’s no strategy! You can not see a game plan! We are still struggling for goals! Sparks and Rupp are to blame overall for inept decision making but Alexander is not going to convince supporters to renew their season tickets with these snooze fest performances.
Can see him being sacked. But what a mess!
It was a poor set up for a win. 2 sitting midfield players was too negative and for long periods we just invited them on. Plus neither really made any supporting runs forward to support Young. When attacking We often had 5 players behind the ball. No wonder we didn’t score.
GA defended his decision to drop Cook because he hadn’t been playing well, a summary that I agree with, and it was only fair to give others players a chance. So a bit of a contradiction playing Smallwood.
I thought Kavanagh was excellent. Far more than just a cameo role. and I think a front 2 partnership with Young should be given a chance. Then either Smallwood or McDonald (McDonald to start with Smallwood replacing him when tiring) Gilliard in the middle. Then one of our talented forwards from Chapman, Pointon, Wright (I might be tempted to have a back 4 with 2 of them). I think the problem with Smith and Oduor is they are wanting the other to do the dirty work for them. Something that we can’t afford. Kelly was excellent.
The
I didn’t go today, first time Ive missed an home game for years. I listened on the radio and it didn’t sound like I missed much.
I dont think much coming from the club at the minute is going to help sell season tickets for next season. Everything just seems crap and negative from the owner, the CEO, to the performances, the atmosphere and even the pitch. There just doesn’t seem much to get behind or back. The fans seem divided
There’s just so much happening at the club that I dont understand at the minute both on and off the pitch. In the past we’ve sometimes made decisions what I’ve disagreed with but a lot of the time I could at least see the logic behind it, but at the minute just seems like we make it up as we go along.
I don’t think Alexander is doing a bad job with the hand he’s been dealt, but I’m also not sure he’s the right man for the job either. If we recruit a squad this summer to play his style of football then it’s pointless sacking him if we make a bad start next season and the fans hate his football because then would be another rebuilding project.
I’m glad Im not in charge of selling season tickets this time because think even with the blind loyalty and cheap season tickets it’s going to be a hard sell. With not much to play for and a poor atmosphere I think the attendances will start to drop off the rest of the season and when people break that habit might be hard to get them back.
I really really hope next season I can come and comment on this page more positively and full of optimism. I hate being so negative but I’m just struggling to find much to be positive about in regards to the club at the minute other than it’s good seeing family and friends before during and after the games.
When you play seven defensive oriented players thats what you get.
A front three of Cook, Young and Wright should be electric, but they have to get the balance of the team behind them right. We don’t have fullbacks who can add much outside of running the flanks and a mediocre cross. You can’t add two defensive midfielders to that and expect goals.
Go back to a flat back four, get some creativity in the middle and we’ll bang them in again.
For a club with no tangible assets Sparks has now lost the confidence of supporters. Its coming up to the annual season ticket campaign & we have very little hope to buy into. Protests are coming, fans bored, fed up & just staying away.
The future is grim unless major changes are made off the pitch. Rupp has to come out of hiding & either sell up at the true value of the club, or sack Sparks & get a professional experienced CEO/DOF in asap. Otherwise the signs are next season could be our last in the football league. No matter how cheap the tickets are, that is not something to ‘believe’ in or be part of ‘make difference’
The ‘fans forum’ without fans is the final straw. Supporters are sick of being taken for granted. The worry is that fans are just saying ‘Meh’ & giving up on the club.
Thanks Edin, Stefan & Ryan you really have damaged a once proud club I just hope there is someone & someway of repairing it before its too late.
Sorry but fans have to endure the bad times to be able to enjoy the good times.
Being a football supporter isn’t just about attending when it’s going well.
Anyone who stops going now is not a real supporter!
I’ve sank thousands of pounds into the club over the years, missed out on family events, gone to places like Plymouth on a Tuesday night…
I’ve been trying to take my kids for the last 3 years. They’re bored and fed up of it, and we’ve stopped going and started doing other things on a weekend we all enjoy far more than what has been on offer at VP over years. Not just the odd game, years.
Does that make me ‘not a real supporter’?
If the fans that stop going force change at the club at CEO or owner level then you could argue that they are more real supporters than those who do nothing forcing us to stick to the status and carry on being badly run with no progress.
How else do fans force change if they are unhappy?? Why shouldn’t people want better for the club??
Not this again. I’m still going but I’m happy to defend anyone who chooses not to. There are any number of more interesting things to do on a Saturday at the moment.
It’s a pity that print journalism does not compare with Jason’s marvellous reading and analysis of events.
Clearly the last thing Alexander wanted was to lose another. The team selection said he’d set up to avoid defeat. That was my conclusion the moment the team sheet was out.
In racing terms we’re now an also-ran, way down the field. We are out of contention. We now aspire to the mediocrity of completing the course. What was it Napoleon said: When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their own mediocrity!
We didn’t go for it in the window, did we, and the season has now gone flat. Fortune seems to be favouring us in the Bristol Street Motors’ Handicap Stakes but even winning it would not redeem this wretched season.
Jumping on the bandwagon Jason
What a strange comment, the article perfectly sums up the mood around valley parade and the mood amongst the majority of city fans I know. That’s what I like about the WOAP articles they are always fair and always give a good reflection of how the support base feels. I think Jason’s got it spot on again with his report.
Another great piece Jason. Please keep holding the club to account. Its a shocking state of affairs at the moment. I myself no longer attend since becoming a dad. I take my boy to other things on weekend. which give us much more enjoyment. I’ve been a die hard since 96 but haven’t been for the last few years, given how sparks under rupp is running the club. I wonder how many more, like me, aren’t now taking the next generation of fan along? Scary times for the club. I don’t expect winning football every week and for a fan like me who experienced the glory years from 96 to 2000s when i first starting supporting city, I was still there every week in week out, experiencing the dross 12 years that followed before parky. The club needs a reset. Sell the club before it fully rots. Bowyer, Adams, Hughes, who have all been successful elsewhere, can’t all be whats causing the issue. We need to start looking closer to home. Ryan talks a very good game but when your CEO you are accountable for all decisions affecting the football club. He’s happy to take the pay check but not the accountability. Whilst he has Rupps ear we are going nowhere.
Taxi for Sparks – fans say he is doing a wonderful job on social media HOW. The club has not progressed since he arrived. The young CEO has gambled with various managers always managing to pick the wrong one resulting in £100k’s of contracts being paid up in compensation. Ryan do the honourable and resign this week.
There is so much drama at Valley Parade. Where I sit, the only voices you can hear are negative ones. The stands it seems are packed with master tacticians, coaches and top-level business executives. It’s all so blindingly obvious to them. Also, the pitch is full of fabulous footballers who are being covertly instructed to play poorly by the latest bogeyman in the dugout.
Or, could it be something a bit more similar to what Filipe Morais was saying after the game on radio Leeds, which was it’s very obvious to him that the players do not have the fitness levels to be successful and that the team and the squad overall lacks the quality to do better than they are doing. He feels that the fitness can be increased during the season (and that Alexandar will have been working on this since day 1) but that the fact remains, the team was not good enough last year and (largely) the same team continues to not be good enough.
This squad has already cost one experienced manager his job, but it seems like many of the Bradford public now need another one to go despite the man in question having only lost 5 of his 18 games in charge – 2 of them in his first week. People might not want to hear it but injuries to key players has cost us big time as it always seems to, and the understudies aren’t good enough – as they never are.
For me, I am as disappointed as anyone, but I feel the right thing to do is hang in there and hope for a good clear-out in the summer and build again. Pushing for protests and sacking another manager would only cement the claims of the basket case people apparently want to address via their protests. In other words a big public tantrum from supporters and the axing of yet another manager only makes the club look worse and especially unattractive for potential future managers and owners. Would you want a job where you knew the previous incumbents have been pushed out on a regular basis without having been given a proper chance? Would you also want to buy a club where you have a continuous murmur of discontent that gets blown wildly out of proportion at the first sign of trouble?
I think we need, as supporters, to be a bit less fair-weather than some of us are sounding. All the threats of not renewing are disappointing, but I suppose those without the stomach for a big structural rebuild should indeed find other things to do and those that remain put some trust in the professionals that are managing and coaching the team. They are the ones with the data and the ones who see the players every day. Most fans (myself included) see the players at Valley Parade on a Saturday only, so in truth we only have a small insight.
I think it’s time to stop being so dramatic, but I fear people have nailed their colours to the mast and so even if we did go on a run, they would just be waiting for the next patch of dubious form to start crowing about protests again.
Sad times for a club that in reality isn’t run that badly at all.
My thoughts entirely. With specific reference to yesterday’s match, I thought the changes up front led to a refreshing willingness to move the ball around and try different angles of attack. Second half became more of a slog. Watching “highlights “ from League 2 this morning, although there were no goals in our game the standard of play looked similar to that in other games also fought out on cloying, bobbly surfaces. I don’t expect Premiership standards for £10 a throw. Vox pop meetings? For the self-interested/ important only.” Rupp Out”? And who “in” exactly?
I do agree with both of you in general, I was just stunned by the last 10minutes and then his comments about Young and Chapman which were staggering.
The problems and the reasons for the discontent are clearly separate issues.
As far as players, managers and style of play are concerned allied to the lack of patience amongst the fans is one thing.
It can all change either very quickly or over a period of time.
Clearly the signing of Kavanagh indicates that there is a slow build towards assembling a team. One could also think that the retention of Young is an indication of the start of a rebuild.
However there is an increasing number of supporters becoming disenchanted with the way the club is run.
The disconnect between the club and its fans whilst never good during the Rupp/Sparks era is now a yawning chasm.
Supporters have played their part with season ticket sales over recent seasons.
They have more than played their part.
But we, as fans, are acutely aware that the next time we will hear from Sparks is when he wants 15k fans to renew.
The faux fans forum via the T&A and Radio Leeds is not fooling the fans this time.
I won’t be renewing x 7 unless there is a major change.
And that’s after 60.plus seasons.
Mark, I agree with you and Jason, I think your description of the City v Wimbledon yawn fest witnessed by all of us is absolutely spot on and, in my opinion, it is a moot point as to whether Ryan Sparks should remain in post. However, I think it is imperative that the Club steers away from any temptation to sack the manager – it is far too early for any such thoughts to manifest themselves in the grey matter of those who make such decisions.
In reaching this conclusion, join me in my Tardis and travel back to the 2011-2012 season where you will see the striking similarities to the one we are witnessing unfolding before us now, as follows:
• At the beginning of the 2011-2012 season City had languished in League 2 since relegation at the end of the 2006-2007 season.
• During this time two City legends (Peter Jackson & Stuart McCall) had a spells in charge and failed.
• A former top flight manager (Peter Taylor) had a spell in charge and failed.
• On 28th August 2011 Phil Parkinson, a manager with some success already at lower league level, was appointed by City’s.
• On Tuesday 14 February 2012 we endured a 1-1 home draw against Port Vale, a point only being rescued 5 minutes into stoppage time via Andrew Davies, leaving City in 19th place. Quotes in the WOAP report included “This was an evening where it seemed, everywhere you looked, something was missing….Missing from the stands tonight appeared to be hundreds of City supporters. It’s difficult to recall a league match since the pre-cheap season ticket days where Valley Parade looked as empty. Rows and rows of vacant seats are nothing new in certain areas of the ground, but what was notable this evening was that usually well-populated areas of each stand seemed half full…And here we come to the main missing ingredient from the evening – commitment…the key to ultimately winning this relegation battle over the coming weeks could lie in the ability to restore everything that was missing from this evening”.
• 40 players made at least 1 appearance in the 2011-2012 season (31 to date this season).
• At one point in November 2011, City were 22nd in the table.
• City finished the 2011-2012 season in 18th place on 50 points, the equal lowest League position since I became a season ticket holder in 1971.
Despite Parkinson’s terrible record in his (almost) first full season in charge, the Club kept faith with him and, of course, was rewarded the following season with promotion.
Although the names have changed, it really could be this season couldn’t it? The Club’s type of manager appointments and league fortunes have been almost exactly duplicated in the periods August 2007 to February 2012 and August 2019 to February 2024. Time for a change? Maybe, but definitely NOT the Manager. Promotion next season with Alexander? Hmmm, let’s wait and see, in the meantime we should all reflect on those lessons from the past before rushing to rash conclusions.
Your last two sentences have just really said the worrying part Mark, you see some comments off people saying it’s only the newer fans that are p*ssed off and are wanting change. But a lot of the people I go to the games with supported us pre 96 and nearly all of them feel negatively about the way we are run and some are seriously thinking of not renewing next season. People say it’s all words and they will renew but again I know plenty are not coming to the games now and they are the type of people who never usually miss a match home or away.
I know others who’s kids have got season tickets but they can’t get them to use them and come to the games.
I’m guessing your having similar conversations with your Bradford city friends and family group, I bet Jason who wrote the report is too. It’s not just a minority on social media being disheartened by the way the club is being run, social media is just mirrowing how a lot of our support new and old are currently feeling going by my own experiences.
Any team should be set up to play to its strengths whilst trying to allow for the oppositions strengths.
Our strengths are now in our forward/attacking players.
A front 3 of Cook, Young and Wright is one any manager at our level would be happy with and one capable of being part of a promotion push.
It looks a great combo of pace, physicality and ultimately goals.
In those 3 we have last years League 2 top scorer, this years current top scorer and in Wright a proven quality and provider of assists and goals.
They have to be played together as much as possible and especially at home.
We also have good attacking options off the bench to back this up. Pointon, Chapman, Kavanagh, Oduor, Wilson.
We struggle more in centre mid to back this up.
But with Gillead in a more holding role along with Walker/Pattison it would be better and more offensive.
It may leave us more exposed out of possession but we would have much more capability in possession to achieve better results, win more games than not and we can enjoy the ride whilst they’re at it!
Do feel a little sorry for Sparks and owner as when any manager starts having a rocky period us fans want them sacked immediately and in fairness within in a couple of weeks there are dismissed hate to say this but manager we should have employed is Steve Evans yes bad history with us but always does well and least hw would put a team together that will always give 100% and always have a plan B game plan
A glimmer of sanity in the ever swirling negativity death spiral👍
That post refers to Mr Bruce’s pithy response
‘In many ways, this game was a good summary of Bradford City’s season in general. Lots of different things tried, but no proper actual plan.’
I had similar thoughts after the game. Alexander seems like the perfect fit for Bradford City at the moment- trying lots of random things, but all a bit aimless, none of it particularly subtle or sophisticated, and none of it really working.
He strikes me as the ultimate pragmatist of a manager, unwedded to a particular style, happy to change things around, and unconcerned with how it looks, if it gets results. Which it’s not doing.
Yesterday saw a shift towards more passing football, which looked promising at the start of the game, before the team reverted to recent type and started launching things aimlessly. I wonder if he’ll move things in a more passing direction, does that suit this team better? With McDonald directing things in the middle, maybe. Shame about the pitch! That’s not helping either.
Not sure about these tactics of stacking the team with defenders, then randomly throwing on attackers towards the end. And where is he seeing all these mysterious chances that we’re not taking. Blaming his strikers is getting a bit Deluded Like Derek.
Pep Guardiola said that it’s his job to create chances for his strikers, after that it’s up to them. At the moment Alexander isn’t creating chances for his strikers.
Will he get it right through his tinkering? Given we seem to be stuck with him for the foreseeable future, I hope so. Doesn’t really matter anyway does it, all we can hope for is a top half finish, sigh. Maybe the best thing for the club now is to keep losing games, so that Mr Rupp finally wakes up.
Some aimless musings on an aimless season for an aimless club.
Your piece has generating a variable set of opinions. Mostly negative (as one would expect). The future is very gloomy and it must be filtering to the squad. I guess negativity breeds negativity. It must be difficult to perform in this environment. The answer appears to be remove the owner and the CEO and the manager as well. In a couple of months the club will be promoting season tickets for the 24/25 season. Based on comments above it is likely that the take up will be very poor. The concerns I have is that when this happens this club will drop like a stone. The club survives on season ticket sales. Low sales the club would be less appetising for any future buyer. It’s like a catch 22 situation. We as supporters have to force change but not in a way to destroy the club. If Sparks and Rupp are the cause, then there must be ways that this can be dealt with constructively. Sparks is good getting sponsorships, e.g. the commercial and marketing of the club. Let him stay and do that. Look for someone with the knowledge of the football side of the business. Possibly, a Director of Football. I believe Rupp should sell if he can but until then he should stay. We can’t forget that he got rid of Rahic but he still stuck by the club. We have to be careful what we wish for because it could bite us in the backside.
The only problem with keeping Sparks to do the marketing and commercial side of things is that it would probably mean getting rid of the people who have been doing that job for the last two years, and we’ve supposed to have had the best two years we’ve ever had at that so it would be kinda unfair them losing their jobs after doing so well.
My view is that stick at what you’re good at and let those who have the experience get on with it. Yes I agree like any business there are many people involved, e.g. office staff etc. The contracts are agreed at a high level.
‘We as supporters have to force change but not in a way to destroy the club.’
Well said. Can’t think of a more important point than this one
Surprised by the down votes here!
It’s ok if the club is destroyed? Bizarre