Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 11:51 am  

Listenup94 wrote:

Bradford in meltdown turning comments off on Facebook and Twitter. Wouldn’t surprise me if dunning is gone .

Can only hope.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:11 pm  

I pretty much expected this result. When the pressure is on, and the game is being televised you can guarantee the Bulls will thoroughly bottle it and play like a load of blokes who just met 10 minutes beforehand in a pub.

Just awful.

This coach is way out of his depth. Being a nice bloke and having a copy of the 'Steve NcNamara big book of excuses' isn't enough. And he was the best option. Wow.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:43 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

It's puzzling how we can put in a quality spirited performance two weeks earlier and then come up with that effort and the Batley result. I know a few empty heads will point to Leeds dual reg, but in reality that is a couple of players in a 17 man squad who don't account for such a huge swing in performance.

Im not trying to rub it in when I say this but I really didn't think much of Bradford when we played a couple of weeks back, I'm not saying they are bad, I just thought they were pretty average but we were really, really bad and still ended up in with a shout at the end of the game. I still think that when we get ideal conditions pretty much like last night there is still a bit of a gulf between the two teams and there isn't many Bradford players that I would take at Fax.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:43 pm  

Mr Hicks wrote:

From what I can see, you have a scholarship, reserves etc. Surly reserves are where your players come from, or is that too old-fashioned these days?
Leigh and Keighley showed how it was done last season.

I fully agree with the thrust of your post, but I have to pick you up on this bit.

Leigh has been loaning players left right and centre for years, and doesn't have an Academy (because they aren't allowed one, but still). In fact, they've had loan players THIS season in SL - Joe Shorrocks, who is now in the Wigan first team, was on loan at Leigh earlier in the season.

Most clubs utilise the loan system at one time or another - including Halifax and York, whose fans were bagging the Bulls for it.

That said, I think we are leaning FAR too much on loans and DR this season.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 12:45 pm  

Highlander wrote:

Losing Holmes early will impact some of the attacking structure I suppose, but why no desire in defence? We were as poor yesterday as Fax were 2 weeks ago. It improved slightly in the 2nd half but the damage was done.

As above, I don't think you were anywhere near as bad as we were two weeks ago and if you had completed at less than 30% in either half last week like we did then the score would have been a lot worse. It does show though when we can be that bad and still end up in the game near the end but Bradford play pretty bad and we blow them off the park.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 1:04 pm  

The Bulls need to move on from Dunning now, if we're to rescue the season. This squad is badly underperforming and if he's as vanilla and cliched in the dressing room as he is in his interviews, the lack of motivation seems pretty obvious. If we're serious about going up this is the season to do it, before the IMG franchise model kicks in and the door is closed for a very, very long time.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 1:07 pm  

Greg Florimos Boots wrote:

Im not trying to rub it in when I say this but I really didn't think much of Bradford when we played a couple of weeks back, I'm not saying they are bad, I just thought they were pretty average but we were really, really bad and still ended up in with a shout at the end of the game. I still think that when we get ideal conditions pretty much like last night there is still a bit of a gulf between the two teams and there isn't many Bradford players that I would take at Fax.

Probably fair, the scoreline definitely flattered Halifax two weeks ago. Bradford kept Halifax in with a shout because of inability to stick to a game plan and grind a game out. Widnes walloped Halifax not so long since, but they have been pretty average and inconsistent as well - I guess it is an issue at Championship level.

I’m not sure I agree about a ‘gulf’ in quality we are 9 games in on equal points and 1-1 in games against and you’re signing journeyman like Dan Fleming, so you’ve definitely got a few players I wouldn’t take either!!

I do think this squad is underperforming though and could be a lot better side with a higher calibre coach.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 1:57 pm  

NorthlandBull wrote:

Clutching at straws maybe but I thought our youngsters Jowitt and Myers were amongst our best players. They made mistakes but at least they kept trying and showed desire, unlike several others.

from a fax fan i thought both those lads had a good go for you and should get more of a run in your team going forward.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 3:59 pm  

There is massive underinvestment to the extent that I don't think we can afford to pay Dunning off (if that is the answer). We are now just a mediocre team in a run down town.

Re: Halifax (A) : Sun Apr 23, 2023 5:01 pm  

rugbyreddog wrote:

There is massive underinvestment to the extent that I don't think we can afford to pay Dunning off (if that is the answer). We are now just a mediocre team in a run down town.

We've been this for the last 5 years plus!