| Notts County 3 |
| Coughlan 28, 32, McGoldrick 31 |
| Bradford City 0 |
By Adam Raj
Well that wasn’t very Christmassy was it? Bradford City’s final game before the festive period was a truly dismal afternoon, in what has left manager Graham Alexander under real pressure.
Then again, we were four goals down at half time on our last visit to Meadow Lane. So small improvements, I guess.
Strangely, it was a decent enough start from City, by our standards anyway. There was a focus on trying to play a little bit of football with some decent passing moves – Bobby Pointon and the returning Antoni Sarcevic busy. It wasn’t anything amazing by any means but it at least resembled football, albeit Alex Bass in the home goal remained untested.
However, it was all downhill from there. In fact, it fell off a cliff.
28 minutes on the clock, Paul Huntington received the short goal kick and attempted a low drive forward but his pass was straight to a black and white shirt which fed the ever impressive Dan Crowley. He nudged the ball past Jack Shepherd and squared for Alassana Jatta to tap home.
Three minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead. David McGoldrick with a classy nutmeg on the bewildered Richie Smallwood on halfway set up the move which the Irishman finished. McGoldrick fed Crowley whose deep cross was nodded down by Jatta and McGoldrick slammed home the half volley. Smallwood and Huntington ball watching.
And no longer than 60 seconds later it was three. Straight from kick off County won back possession. Crowley was once again too clever for Smallwood and then McGoldrick strolled past Sarcevic’s weak attempt at a challenge. Jatta then bullied his way past Shepherd before shooting tamely past Sam Walker who had badly misjudged the effort.
The toxicity that has threatened to bubble over came to a head. There were chants against Stefan Rupp and Ryan Sparks and deafening boos at half time. Fans arguing amongst one another and people heading for the exit door after only half an hour. It’s a mess.
Three should’ve been four when Sam Austin produced a decent block from Walker from a back post volley.
And three definitely should’ve been four early in the second half when Jatta met Nick Tsaroulla’s cross which was initially saved by Walker but the big striker somehow couldn’t bundle the ball over the line from a yard out.
City were so far off it. But they have been all season. And the season before that. There’s a common theme here.
Graham Alexander can point to a mad few minutes all he likes but this sort of collapse is symptomatic of his Bradford City team. Another heavy defeat to add to a substantial list of them under his reign. We have suffered some proper beatings with Alexander at the helm.
“We’re talking about a five minute period” says Alexander. Okay, let’s analyse the other 85 minutes. The opposition created several guilt edged chances and we didn’t create one.
Arguably the most concerning aspect is Notts, whilst good, were clearly playing nowhere near their best and still swept City aside with ease. When they wanted to turn it up, they did and it was so very easy for them.
City’ press was so loose and disorganised. Notts play out from every goal kick and do it very well. They’re constantly rotating and moving into space – they look a properly coached side. Contrast to the Bantams who take a short goal kick (sometimes) and then have the centre half lump it 50 yards up the pitch, despite the goalkeeper being perfectly capable of doing the same thing.
It’s so half hearted, designed to look like we’ve got some sort of plan when in reality it’s just kick and hope. There’s a very clear and alarmingly obvious gap in quality not only on the pitch, but also in the dugout.
Alexander doesn’t know what he wants this side to be. He has tried to make us a jack of all trades when in reality he’s made us a master of none. One week we’re a long ball side, the next we’re trying to play football against the best footballing side in the division. One week we’re attempting a high press, the next we’re wasting time from the first whistle and parking the bus at Colchester.
Not to excuse the players at all, but is it any wonder they play like they don’t have a clue?
One transfer window doesn’t fix this. We’re way off. We need lots more than the “couple” that Alexander said he wanted. This squad is a mess and nowhere near good enough to mount a promotion push. But I also do not trust nor want him to be afforded the opportunity to influence any more signings. Those that he has brought in have hardly been a success. His time is up.
However, I am very consciously aware that Alexander’s dismissal will not solve our problems. Just like sacking Mark Hughes didn’t. The fundamental issues at this club lie with the two men at the top of the tree. Until that is addressed, nothing will change.
However, that in no way should represent a reason for Alexander to remain in post. If the only justification for keeping him is “we can’t keep sacking managers” as opposed to any actual progression shown by him or the team then that speaks volumes. My response? We can’t keep a failing manager just because he isn’t the biggest problem at the club. I’ve seen us take one too many heavy beatings where the opposition have been a class above. That can’t be allowed to continue.
Categories: Match Reviews
Related Articles
-
Bradford City make it back to back wins as they avoid a banana skin in Devon
-
A night to forget, a January of change: Bradford City’s squad reckoning
-
A return to winning ways, though Bradford City are still labouring to rediscover the higher gears
-
Bradford City rediscover their convictions to take a credible point at Bolton
widthofapost.com 
Alexander is getting a bit of a free run from me, not because I think he’s doing an amazing job, but solely because the next people that should go in my eyes are Sparks and Gent. Both should have gone over 12 months ago in my opinion. Just seems a bit pointless sacking managers when the problems are higher up at the club.
An ideal Christmas would be Sparks getting replaced with a David Baldwin type character then given the rest of the season to evaluate the manger, squad and club in general and then close season start putting that plan into place, probably with a new manager replacing Alexander.
If Alexander does get the sack soon then I honestly think in 12 to 18 months time his replacement will be sacked and we will be going through it all again.
To state the Bleeding obvious – Sparks and Gent weren’t playing!
I share the view but the players cannot hide behind a rubbish CEO out of his depth. It’s so clear he needs help or he has to walk.
No Sparks or Gent weren’t playing today but both of them have played a big part in signing most of those who were.How do we hope to improve what’s on the pitch in future seasons unless we change something??
We’ve tried to change the manager time and time again and it hasn’t helped. Maybe if we carry on doing this every 12 to 18 months we might eventually fall lucky and get a manager who somehow gets us a promotion but personally I think we will continue to fail until we are run better.
I wonder how much money we’ve spent paying off managers and coaching staff who we’ve sacked?? How much have we wasted on players wages? A lot of that is because we haven’t got a plan, or a set way of playing, we are constantly ripping the squad up and rebuilding it again, we sign too many players at the end of their careers just wanting their last pay day.
Good football managers are thin on the ground. Most lack imagination which is apparent in their constant use of cliches. GA is a typical lower league manager. No imagination, no flair, no artistry and lots of cliches. But these failings are compounded by a complete lack of tactical awareness.
In his long and repetitive reaction to the Swindon victory, he told us that the squad had ‘a rare free week’ in which to work hard on their skills. In other words improvement was almost guaranteed in the next game.
We have seen the result of that precious free week on the training ground.
The man is clueless and should be dismissed immediately. Together, I should add, with the man who employed him as a last resort.
The season is over. It’s time for the owner to assert his authority and start again.
Interesting post Uncle, although I’d give him January and the summer to fix the recruitment debacle…I appreciate we’ve all run out of patience but another manager switch now won’t change the outcome of the season (ie mid-table)
I’ve just read Alexander’s comments. I must have a different game.
City were lucky lose lose by only 3_0.
They never looked like scoring.
They are playing obviously to a system that doesn’t suit them and he cannot see what is obvious.
I am so angry and despairing.
it’s deffo something in the game plan or lack of players we have signed are proven at this level Oliver was a 30 goal striker Patterson a superb midfielder sarcavic a serial promotion winner even Smallwood a championship captain but they look lost and lacking any sort of idea offer the carrot get Gary jones and Jamie Lawrence involved I believe this squad is as good as any in this division but they look lost manager to me doesn’t know his team or how to set them up send him on holiday with all the coaches and let the players sort it themselves
I think you need to re check your Oliver stats :).
I called it ore season that thus squad is actually not good enough and recruitment has again been haphazard and poor. However i had no idea how much weaker and poorer the league in reality would be and is. Its only this reason why we are still near the play offs.
I never wanted GA, we’re getting what he brings to any club and exactly what I expected. Problem is I don’t trust Sparks to appoint anyone who can change it. Unless we get someone in who actually knows how to run the football side of a football club we’re heading one way and new kit deals and sponsorships won’t change that.
GA can’t polish the t*rd that he’s responsible for.
I’ll tell you why I don’t want to sack Alexander.
It’s because as soon as you start having a pop at the manager or calling for him to be sacked then you are giving those higher up in the club an excuse for their own failings.
Whether sacking GA is the right thing to do now or not should not be the focus. The focus has to be on the people at the top of the club who have presided over this decline which includes the continual appointment of managers who fail.
Until we do that then the cycle will continue to repeat itself every year or every 18 months as the club regresses or at best stagnates.
Couldnt agree more!
Well said Gareth. I think GA is a garbage manager, but Rupp and co need to take responsibility for our constant failings
We are simply not good enough!
We’re consistently playing a formation that doesn’t suit this set of players. We’re toothless when we’re attacking and we’re defending like garden gnomes in our own box.
It’s going to take more than a transfer window to change our fortunes. The club is rotten to the core and until a decison is made to remove some of the hierarchy I don’t believe anything will change.
I don’t believe Rupp is the problem, It’s who controls how the finances are spent and who is in control of player recruitment that need to be removed first before anyone. Other clubs in this league operate on far lower budgets than ourselves and exceed on the pitch better than ourselves.
Alexander is firmly on borrowed time, The manner of defeats this season to the likes of Morecambe, Harrogate, Colchester and today is not unfamilar. We’re consistently inconsistent and time and time again Alexander repeats the same excuses after matches, The same issue however is still happening time and time again.
The only way i see this club moving forward is for Sparks to be removed, It simply hasn’t worked but it’s whether Rupp will be brave enough to remove him
I agree with your comment about Rupp, It’s what’s underneath . I have never liked Sparks, Marketing Manager at best, spiv at worst, “give me extra £1.50 for ticket etc “ . Experienced football CEO required please. I never get why the Morecambe’s and Accrington’s seem to punch above their weight where we just stand still.
Colchester a defeat??
I agree Colchester wasn’t a defeat but in all honesty it felt like it with a 99th minute leveller from them.
I’ll add Grimsby and Fleetwood Away to the list of awful performances and Swindon at home last week was hardly a brilliant.
I can’t remember one game this season that’s made me think we can challenge for promotion
It was embarrassing. Against a team in similar form as us, was humiliating. 3 goals in 5 minutes! We can’t score 1 in 90 minutes. GA had at his disposal almost a full squad. Port Vale next. They are also on a bad run of form. I can see what will happen. Another lesson how to score goals. Mark Cook out of the game, then we can’t score. It’s disgusting. Goals for City are like rocking horse sh*t. Being a Bradford City supporter is challenging. Fans are right to boo the performance today. They needs to be a top down analysis of this club. From Rupp to the the coach. Those found wanting should go! That includes all levels of the hierarchy. Enough us enough.
It will be interesting to see what Sparks does if we continue to slip down the table. Today’s performance was of the kind that can get managers sacked but can we really blame Alexander entirely for his team collapsing like that in a matter of minutes. He is culpable, however, if he thinks it’s best to move on without dishing out a strong tongue-lashing – and fooling himself if he thinks this team only needs ‘small tweaks’ in the window. These three goals were collective mistakes, not individual errors, although Shepherd did alas have a part to play in all of them. Smallwood and Sarcevic made feeble attempts at tackles and Walker went to ground too soon for the third. At Harrogate last year we got whipped when pairing Smallwood and McDonald. Today’s central defensive duo were just as slow. I thought we had turned the corner with the determinedly effective performance against Swindon but I was wrong. In recent away matches we have been defending deep and slowing down the game. Today unaccountably against a free-scoring side we thought it best to go on attack from the start and hold a high line. This was stupid as it turned out.
That’s an excellent read, Adam. it sums up many fans feelings.
On a wild and woolly day, over 2,000 fans gave up their time to trek to Nottingham to watch this bunch of no hopers. Some commentators would deem that as loyalty, others as insanity! For the first time in as long as I can remember, I shan’t be wasting my time to view a Boxing Day game at VP.
I honestly don’t think Rupp has a clue what’s going on. This team, and the manager, bore me to death. For appointing so many expensive managerial failures alone, Sparks deserves to go. Gent, for recruiting so many playing failures, deserves to go. For the reasons stated so accurately in your report, Adam, Alexander deserves to go. With those three in such key positions, is it any wonder such apathy and failure has filtered down onto the pitch?
Dont want to say I told you so, but
Why I think sacking managers hasn’t worked in the past
1) We haven’t had a plan, look at when Mark Hughes was sacked, it took us ages to get a replacement because we sacked him with out thinking about who we would like to replace him with.
2) We’ve always gone for the cheap option. By that I don’t mean wages but usually we only look at the out of work managers who have failed elsewhere rather than paying compensation (barring Adams)
3) the way the club is run and a lack of a plan and ambition from the top down. Because we haven’t got a plan the squad seems disjointed, the players have been signed to play for different managers with different styles of play.
There’s only 92 league clubs in the country so there will always be plenty of people willing to manage us, but we are probably more appealing to the ones just wanting a pay day who have failed elsewhere rather than the more ambitious and up and coming manager’s.
We’ve all seen how poor the communication from the club had been since Sparks took the CEO job, I imagine it’s the same when he’s spoken to potential managers, probably a lot of buzz words and cockiness but not much of a plan to achieve it or back it up, he probably doesn’t ever admit his own part played in our failure, it’s probably all the previous managers he’s employed fault, not his own. But without admitting his failures and his mistakes then how does he learn and improve. I bet a lot of the better managers will see right through it and run a mile.
A lot of the time at a successful club it’s not just a good manager that leads to that success, it’s also how that club is run from the top down. Put them managers in a club that isn’t as well run and they won’t be as successful.
That performance makes me embarrassed to be a Bradford City supporter.
I am ashamed.
I feel sorry for the supporters who went to Nottingham. My son and 3. grandsons were among them.
City players are not poor players. They are poorly managed.
Cook is the best striker in the league. He did not receive a single pass today. Their striker probably received 15.
It was a disgrace. Alexander picked the team. He set the tactics.
He takes the blame today. Sparks picked him. But sadly I would get rid of Alexander tomorrow.
They were as bad today as I have ever seen them and they are not bad players.
Rant over.
Excellent article! Do I believe Alexander should go? I’m on the fence. On the one hand, one league win (against a poor Swindon, and we weren’t much better!) since the end of October, dismal performances, and a delusional attitude that we’re playing well, suggests that he should go. On the other hand, I don’t trust Sparks to make the right decision on the next unlucky manager that takes his place! Sparks and Rupp have A LOT to answer for!
Changing manager at this time is tantamount to suicide for Bradford City. At the end April we will be in a relegation battle fighting for survival as recent history will raise its ugly head. Get to the end of the season where we can then reavaluate not only with the manager but the infrastructure and make informed decisions based on facts and statistics. However much emotion we all feel and we do all feel it, take a step back from the abyss and make those important decisions when the time is right
The problem alongside the CEOs inability to do anything competently, is the fact is City must be such an unattractive proposition for managers. Absent owner. Terrible CEO. Train on a school pitch. Years and years of stagnation with no plan or strategy. Danny Cowley found Colchester a more attractive option than us which speaks volumes.
Still, the new roof on the club shop might help.
Agree with all these comments. I’ve never been a fan of Alexander but the mid season sackings just cause chaos, and we can’t keep on deflecting blame from those higher up. Our best chance of promotion this year is with Alexander, who is a decent bloke and hugely experienced after all. Maybe he can turn it round. Now is the time for Ryan Sparks to show leadership and back his appointee, as he didn’t do for Hughes or Adams.
Unfortunately WOAP is becoming as reactionary to results as a lot of our fans base: To talk about improvement over the last 3 games was immensely naive. One was against the second bottom team in the league at home where we only registered one shot on target and played 8 defensive players, and another was in the joke cup which the the majority of other teams don’t take seriously in any event. Anyone with a pair of eyes knows this team is not at a level to compete in this division and what makes that worse is it’s a really poor league this year. Also can we stop using the injury excuse now everyone is pretty much back.
Club leadership is the problem. GA just the latest symptom!
can’t use the inexperienced CEO excuse anymore surely? He has surely proven to be be “mediocre “? And this continues. Cheap option originally and you get what you pay for.
Can still blame poor managers imo, but they ‘sometimes’ obviously get stifled by poor recruitment. Bowyer didn’t. Stuart did 3rd stint and was a ‘patsy’.
definitely can blame poor recruitment and its strategy. Which leads back to those in charge of it….yep, ALL of them from budget to its spending.
definitely can blame an absent owner who doesn’t really care apart from hopefully an ego fulfilling sale.
All leads to 2000 fans travelling today yet again and increasingly reducing home crowds, watching failures year after year.
Time for change.
This is the worst team we have ever had in my lifetime and I’m 56. I say it’s the worst because we have got decent players and yet we are crap. The reason for this is because we have a clueless manager. I said it last year and someone on here threatened to punch me but I’ll say it again, he’s useless. We had some good spells in the game but we have no spark and they just waited to pick us off. They should have won by 5 or 6.
3-0 down, picked off at will and what did he do – nothing. Did he think to bring Walker on, did he think to take Kavanagh off who had a shocker, no he waited until all hope was gone and made some late subs. He couldn’t bring pace on because he got rid of all those players. Did he change the formation – the formation which has palpably failed for the whole of this season and longer – no!
And so we move on to next week and Port Vale can enjoy their Xmas meal knowing that City will set up in the same way but maybe change a couple of players. Analysing City for the opposition must be the easiest job in the world.
His time is up I agree so spend Xmas and NY finding someone to replace him. Have them in place. Wellens for me – if he’d come – that’s our budget done but worth it.
I read once that the difference between England and Spain was that in England we blame the manager and in Spain they blame the players.
I haven’t seen anything from GA that makes me think he’s good but also I don’t see the things that tell you it’s time to get rid, which usually appear as bizarre rants after the game, bizarre team selections, players throwing tantrums etc.
During the game on Twitter today, a lot of people were suggesting making changes as we were 3-0 down at half time but it was really half hearted, I don’t think anyone thought that the bench could change anything. No one could really argue with the starting lineup or the formation, it’s all deck chairs on the titanic.
When I look at the squad we have some old guys that have been good in the past and occasionally still are and we have some youngish guys that are occasionally good, but i don’t see any decent L2 players capable of producing week in week out
If we can bring in some talent in the window (i’ve heard pace, ball winning and passing are useful skills) then I’d let GA run with it to see if he can do anything, if we don’t then it doesn’t really matter, may as well just wait for June where we can blow it all up again.
Andy Kiwomya called it in commentary minutes before the first goal, ‘Defence & midfield need to deal with Crowley & McGoldrick, Smallwood needs to sort it out’.
His (AK) comments pre game two weeks ago spot on, Smallwood does not bring enough to the team & does not lead on the pitch. We beat a league one team the other week, the difference?
I don’t not like Smallwood, he has some good attributes, it’s just that he is not a leader on the pitch. If we keep picking him because he is a) captain b) highest paid player we will continue with the same issues. We need a strong leader on the pitch, someone who is aware of a danger & can change it before it’s too late, someone who can direct the team & instill some grit.
smallwood saw it also what was wrong and pointed it out before the 1st goal a big gap in midfield when we pushed forward but either the manager or other players took no notice its as if the game plan goes on whatever very strange
Not sure how you know Smallwood saw the problem but if he did he should have addressed it – that is the captains job – the leader on the pitch
I agree but Smallwood is only PART of the problem. We played with more pace and moved the ball more quickly against Stockport without him. I know it was only the Mickey Mouse cup but that Swindon team were as good as or better than the lower teams in our league like Morecambe etc who we have lost or drawn against. The game and football was more enjoyable. The team as a whole, management team and owner have no passion, affinity or love for the club and seem to be happy as long as they are picking up a wage or not losing money. I want to see at least the passion and excitement again even if the results don’t go our way. It’s another wasted season. GA is not the man to change it and Smallwood is not the man to to lead and inspire the team on the field as a captain should. Make sure we are safe from relegation then MAJOR changes need to be made.
I agree, we seem to lack leadership on the pitch. Smallwood may have some ability but is rarely seen pulling or pushing teammates into positions when it’s apparent we are getting overrun. Also when we don’t put enough men forward to make pressing effective, surely the captain is the one to mobilise the troops rather than frustrate the 1 or 2 forwards that try pressing while opposition passes around them.
Whatever GA works on in training you need that strong voice and quick thinking on the pitch to implement and adapt to what’s happening or not happening as the case maybe. I don’t think Smallwood is that man.
All the people calling for Rupp out have to be very careful what they ask for. That said he’s supposed to have turned down several bids for the club. Meanwhile his investment looks more and more likely to totally fail and he club with it.
Crawleys owners were turned down. They went up but are struggling near bottom of 3rd division now. That club has nowhere near our potential. City need change and fast. Sparkes has failed, end of. He is good at money raising and that’s it. His football decisions are abysmal. Same with the recruitment team.
We can’t go on making the same mistakes.
If we can afford it taxi for Alexander!
Sparks is not responsible for the commercial side of things.
He employs Lango and hid department to do this. They make a lot of noise about what they do giving the impression they do a good job.
Do they? Is it any better than.previous regimes?
Sparks has failed big style and should certainly be replaced asap.
The damage he has done is evidence of complete and utter incompetence.
That should happen without delay.
This just sums everything up… “However, I am very consciously aware that Alexander’s dismissal will not solve our problems. Just like sacking Mark Hughes didn’t. The fundamental issues at this club lie with the two men at the top of the tree. Until that is addressed, nothing will change.”
In 44 years of following City home & away I have never left a game before or at half time. Yesterday I left after Notts County’s 3rd goal, and we were one of many. The sad part of yesterday is that I came to the realisation that our club is no longer ours. We can piss and moan about yet another manager, another upcoming transfer window, poor performances from players who just don’t give a shit, or don’t have the skills & talent in the first place. It’s Groundhog Day again! Over 2,000 loyal supporters went to Nottingham yesterday, many on overcrowded trains & took a day out of pre-Christmas family commitments to support the club and for what? Rupp & Sparks take the supporters for granted, they will view that sacking another manager and a few wins will quieten down the ‘toxic fans online”.
For what? That is the question running in my head. What is the point? My now grown up son no longer comes to home games. I have a season ticket, yet have only been to a handful of games this year. Yesterday was our first away game & with my son home for Christmas his first game of the season. On the way back on a very early train he talked about how he now feels detached from the club, that it’s that that for 19 years of his life following the club home & away with his Dad was great but how sad it was that yesterday confirmed that he now feels that the whole BCAFC football experience isn’t something he can relate to. He has moved on. How many more are there out there like him? That is a huge problem for our club? It’s the bigger picture issue.
Look at the sales of away game tickets this season. How many times have we seen issues with fans not getting tickets? Most now go onto general sale or at least to season ticket holders? The locality scheme points are no longer needed. This is a clear sign that the fan base is finding other things to do on a Saturday.
Rupp has to call time on Sparks, he is doing more long term damage to this club than his old mate Rahic. Sparks isn’t going to go and fall on his sword, he is ‘living the dream” in a role he wouldn’t get anywhere else and will ride it out for as long as he can. He doesn’t care about the damage his inexperience and the fact there is no board of directors for his to answer to. He has an overseas owner, who just takes his word that everything is okay on a weekly Zoom call. However this has been said many times before and I’m now bored of repeating the same old same old.
Nothing is going to change, so what’s the point? Those in charge of the club doesn’t care, so why should I. I look back on the highlights of following City, the Trevor Cherry team at the start of my journey as a Junior Bantam, Chris Kamara taking us to Wembley for the first time, the rise to the Premier League, that Cup run & Chelsea away. Those days seem so long ago now and look like never happening again. What are we buying into? What’s the plan Stefan? What’s the future? What’s the point?
2025 it will be 40 years since Bradford City FC won a trophy, but it will see the record broken for our longest stay in the 4th Division of English Football. That shame is on Sparks & Rupo and to turn this club around they need to go if we have any hope of change at Valley Parade.
Not been to VP this season and I won’t until things change. I was in Leeds for drink yesterday evening and the pubs were heaving, filled with their fans after spanking another team. I feel for pubs in Bradford/North Parade, where previously I would have had a pre match pint or 2.
I found going to VP depressing for the football standard in recent years, my blind loyalty finally gave in and I didn’t renew my season ticket. Even though it was sad to lose my seat for many yrs and people I got to know around me. However, if we are going to force a change then my view is not attending games is the only way the club hierarchy will get the message. Sometimes in life you have to go two steps back to go one step forward, this feels like one of those cases.
I’m absolutely with you on this. I didn’t renew for exactly the same reason. Most fans say they want change but aren’t prepared to do the only thing that will force change.
I hate to say it but the very fans who say they want change are enabling the ownership to carry on and make the same mistakes time after time.
Ouch! That’s told us.
Thank you
Ouch! That’s told us.
Will santa still come to us naughty boys and girls?
Thank you
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0j14246g8do
All other issues aside, this kind of humility would be a start, along with ownership of the on pitch problems (as that’s the bit the manager CAN influence). Yesterday was awful, absolutely woeful. It should have been totally predictable though, it’s not like GA has never seen McGoldrick and Crowley play before. They took us apart last season at will, and did the same yesterday.
We desperately need some young, fresh legs to provide some pace and some creativity in the middle of the pitch. We provided nothing through the middle yesterday, nothing. Everything (which let’s face it, wasn’t much) came from Richards or Benn.
I agree with you that the team needs to redress the age balance. Far too many are well into their 30’s and past their prime.
Pace at this level can be a game changer, sadly a lot of our team are relatively slow. The game is now played at a far faster pace than even 20 years ago.
I accept that a team needs balance. In addition to Richards and Benn; then Pointon and Kavanagh are both ‘young’ players and started yesterday. City has players who are at their peak i.e. 26-30 years of age but fewer than most teams and they are less influential players. Baldwin, Kelly, and Halliday, are defenders. Our ‘midfield’ has Pattison, who can be dynamic, but is always injured, and Odour who despite some nice touches, really has little influence on the game. Smallwood, J Walker, Sarcevic, and Evans are all in the twilight of their careers. Perhaps two, but not four of your midfield.
Having made that comment, then age can be useful, we all saw how McGoldrick, who is 37 offered a lot to Notts County. It is all about getting balance, something City seems unable to achieve.
Certainly Alexander’s decisions merit close scrutiny. However the players on the pitch have to accept their share of responsibility. Additionally Sparks, who makes crucial appointments, Gent and now Sharpe who identify players and the absentee Owner Rupp, who seems to, ‘just let them get on with it’! It’s a holistic thing, no-one is innocent, collectively they are all responsible.
I agree with you that the team needs to redress the age balance. Far too many are well into their 30’s and past their prime.
Pace at this level can be a game changer, sadly a lot of our team are relatively slow. The game is now played at a far faster pace than even 20 years ago.
I accept that a team needs balance. In addition to Richards and Benn; then Pointon and Kavanagh are both ‘young’ players and started yesterday. City has players who are at their peak i.e. 26-30 years of age but fewer than most teams and they are less influential players. Baldwin, Kelly, and Halliday, are defenders. Our ‘midfield’ has Pattison, who can be dynamic, but is always injured, and Odour who despite some nice touches, really has little influence on the game. Smallwood, J Walker, Sarcevic, and Evans are all in the twilight of their careers. Perhaps two, but not four of your midfield.
Having made that comment, then age can be useful, we all saw how McGoldrick, who is 37 offered a lot to Notts County. It is all about getting balance, something City seems unable to achieve.
Certainly Alexander’s decisions merit close scrutiny. However the players on the pitch have to accept their share of responsibility. Additionally Sparks, who makes crucial appointments, Gent and now Sharpe who identify players and the absentee Owner Rupp, who seems to, ‘just let them get on with it’! It’s a holistic thing, no-one is innocent, collectively they are all responsible.
Why do fans massively overreact to our latest result?
Because its about far more than results.
Its the reason behind the players, the team, and the manager.
Its behind a whole myriad of things about the way the club is run.
Read above for the things fans say.
The massive disconnect between the club and the fans.
The club seem to treat the fans as idiots and no respect.
The move of the atmosphere section and the implication of a £1.50 charge on telephone ticket sales ( telling us it would enhance the experience) are just two recent big mistakes. In terms of PR they were a disaster.
We have had ‘fans forum’ which did not involve fans, and starements from the owner which were clearly not from him.
So that is the reason for over- reaction not the actual results etc.
Where on earth does it go from here? Surely Sharpe Gent and Alexander are all responsible for the players now here.Some say the players are OK but not performing due to GA.Whatever is behind shocking performance after performance needs to change quickly.We have seen upturn before like our last 5 or 6 games 23 24.Its clear if that run needed does not start now in 5 we will be confined to playing out a dead season or worse.Stick or Twist? If as many feel it’s more than just the managers fault would sack of the manager give us faith the next appointment would fare better?The spirit just now is so low. Hate to say it as it just covers cracks but 3 wins on bounce now may see us back in the mix.But something would remain deeply flawed as to the ability to sustain such a run.We seem to follow a series of good results by a series of woe. Chopping and changing style and personnel. Fans no longer feel connected. It’s a nightmare. Merry Christmas 🎅.
I don’t get why so much anger seems aimed at Rupp. He gives us a competitive budget, doesn’t interfere like Rahic or some other owners do.
Okay he is mostly abroad with family and other business interests, but are any of our team thinking ” he isn’t here so I won’t bother” or “oh he’s turned up today so I’ll run a bit harder” ??? I don’t think so.
Because he employs a young man year in year out who isn’t fit for purpose that’s why.
It’s perhaps because when he bought the club we were in the L1 play-offs. We’re now on the cusp of our longest spell in the Khazi league!
I suspect his other business wouldn’t have been allowed to flounder as much
You said it in line one.
Yes, you dont get it.
Its about the whole thing, not results, not performances but everything behind that and the reasons why we dont progress.
He doesn’t give us a competitive budget, the fans do by purchasing season tickets. This is topped up by sponsorship and shirt sales. It’s well known that the club has been self funded for a number of years, and Rupp hasn’t put any of his own money in, apart from the loan during Covid.
Rupp is the owner so should be responsible for the strategic planning and long term vision of the club. It’s clear we haven’t got one, so he should cut his losses and sell up to someone who has an interest in football and can take the club forward…..And can employee a decent CEO!!
I’ve just had a message from a mate who supports Notts County which is worth passing on. He says: “It’s funny that when we had Baldwin in our side we used to do daft stuff like letting in three goals in ten minutes!” He adds that it was seldom easy to pin them on this particular player but he was “always in the vicinity”. Hmm!
your mate is vindictive.
You might argue, Rob, it was sympathy – empathy even. Just an observation …
Ambition from the fanbase = putting obvious pressure on Rupp to get rid of Sparks as a direct action, his cockiness, lack of experience and chronically bad communication styles are a disgrace to this great club and should be called out (not just on platforms) a change is as good as a rest and we need a rest from this merry go round. It would also help Rupp in many ways and take the pressure (not that he feels it from Germany much I’m sure) off him and bring a freshness to the boardroom.
Ambition from club = Paying up contracts ie Smith Oliver. Whatever the cost.
Sending back (IMO) second rate loans immediately, 12.01 Jan 1st. Diabate, Sanderson, sorry but Shepherd (too headstrong and believes his own hype quickly and passing very average) and Benn (Quick yes but defensive positioning abysmal at times) we have enough bodies around to cover all this until suitable replacements are found in Jan.
Unless we make both these moves (IMO) we will be in the same boat as many other years Feb = new manager and uplift = false promises = results when no pressure = false hope = more ticket sales etc etc.
one season it will be relegation if we keep this up. Waiting above the trapdoor one time too many.
Sparks has blagged us one time too many and it’s time to let Rupp know. He (IMO) is a version of Rahic. The end.
Very strongly disagree about Benn.
Went to the game on Saturday. Decided not to post until now because as expected there would be an implosion after the result about the failure of Rupp and/or Sparks and/or GA.
One bit of our game (and it wasn’t the only bit!) that didn’t work on Saturday was our press. It was inconsistent and not coordinated. Think GA got this wrong and we were chasing shadows for much of the time. Interesting stat is that the County pitch is 31% bigger than VP! That’s a lot more grass you’ve got to cover.