: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:26 pm  

Here's the thing, I'll clap the team off after a defeat if the team has run themselves ragged but didn't have enough in the tank to get the win. But tbh that has NOT be the situation this year. There seems to be very little effort on the part of the players during the games we've lost this year. In fact the general work rate of the team seems to have been steadly declining since Noble left.

Oh and as for the whole "The team is in the poop because of Noble" arguement, I don't buy that at all. McNamara has been in charge for 2 years now. The only players remaining from Noble's championship winning team of 2005 are Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Langley and I suppose you can count Lynch in that one too. So that's 12 players out of the 17 that have come in under McNamara. So poor performance can hardly be laid at Noble's feet.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:56 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

:?
You're kidding? You really don't understand?

I would reckon over the years I've followed Bradford, I've clapped them off after a defeat an absolute shedful of times. If a team tries its knackers off and does its best to win, however unsuccessfully, then it would be mean not to recognize the efforts of those players. Well, to me, it would.

Your view isn't really that whenever a team loses, you sulk and fold your arms? is it?

Maybe it is. The result seems to be all that interests you.

As another person who attended the game I too cheered the lads off the pitch in recognition of the effort they all put in. After falling behind they all bust their nuts trying and nearly succeding in coming back to win. If they look to be giving their all they deserve our support regardless of the result.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:01 pm  

mystic eddie wrote:

TBH, I am beginning to like you. Which is a shame, cos I enjoy our regular banter.

No problem. I like my dogs, doesn't stop me whipping 'em

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:02 pm  

eddievan wrote:

As another person who attended the game I too cheered the lads off the pitch in recognition of the effort they all put in. After falling behind they all bust their nuts trying and nearly succeding in coming back to win. If they look to be giving their all they deserve our support regardless of the result.

And to me that was the point, they did seem (however frustrating some of their decision making is) to be putting in 100% to my eyes anyway.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:20 pm  

Oh and as for the whole "The team is in the poop because of Noble" arguement, I don't buy that at all. McNamara has been in charge for 2 years now. The only players remaining from Noble's championship winning team of 2005 are Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Langley and I suppose you can count Lynch in that one too. So that's 12 players out of the 17 that have come in under McNamara. So poor performance can hardly be laid at Noble's feet.

You may well have a point but have you stopped to think that the reason so many players are not up to the standard that were here before is because McNamara is working to different set of terms and conditions to his predecessor. The annual loss of half a million a year, the cuts in budgets to make up for that, the consistent breaching of the salary cap, which both Caisley and Noble were the chief culprits, the massive salaries and long term deals to to Harris, Newton,Vainikolo, etc, the total lack of investment in junior players have all had to be addressed and that would have been the same under any other Coach or Chairman. You may think McNamara is an idiot and a poor coach but do you honestly think the would prefer to sign James Evans than Matt King, or Ben Jeffries over Michael Monaghan. the answer is that the Bulls can't afford to 'buy' any anymore and have to pick up what is available and out of contract. The club is in a rebuilding stage and it will take some time to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sacking the Coach is not the answer without a massive investment in players, which would have to include under the counter payments - which two notable clubs seem to be getting away with. But the Bulls don't have that sort of money and if they did they would fall foul of all the ususal idiots on here who castigated them the last time they breached the salary cap. Engage brain before mouth; or in most of your cases, before keyboard.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:39 pm  

Tiger Beer wrote:

Oh and as for the whole "The team is in the poop because of Noble" arguement, I don't buy that at all. McNamara has been in charge for 2 years now. The only players remaining from Noble's championship winning team of 2005 are Harris, Deacon, Vagana, Langley and I suppose you can count Lynch in that one too. So that's 12 players out of the 17 that have come in under McNamara. So poor performance can hardly be laid at Noble's feet.

You may well have a point but have you stopped to think that the reason so many players are not up to the standard that were here before is because McNamara is working to different set of terms and conditions to his predecessor. The annual loss of half a million a year, the cuts in budgets to make up for that, the consistent breaching of the salary cap, which both Caisley and Noble were the chief culprits, the massive salaries and long term deals to to Harris, Newton,Vainikolo, etc, the total lack of investment in junior players have all had to be addressed and that would have been the same under any other Coach or Chairman. You may think McNamara is an idiot and a poor coach but do you honestly think the would prefer to sign James Evans than Matt King, or Ben Jeffries over Michael Monaghan. the answer is that the Bulls can't afford to 'buy' any anymore and have to pick up what is available and out of contract. The club is in a rebuilding stage and it will take some time to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sacking the Coach is not the answer without a massive investment in players, which would have to include under the counter payments - which two notable clubs seem to be getting away with. But the Bulls don't have that sort of money and if they did they would fall foul of all the ususal idiots on here who castigated them the last time they breached the salary cap. Engage brain before mouth; or in most of your cases, before keyboard.

Seconded.......at last, some sense.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:04 pm  

Wigan Bull wrote:

Seconded.......at last, some sense.

Yes but when is the Club going to officially say something like that?? They are not are they? but they could front up to the fans and explain some the points raised by TB(its o/k i've been innoculated) it won't change the results or even what may happen in the next few weeks but it would allow the fans a real sense of what the Club is trying to achieve albeit painfully at the momemt!

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:10 pm  

Blotto wrote:

Yes but when is the Club going to officially say something like that?? They are not are they? but they could front up to the fans and explain some the points raised by TB(its o/k i've been innoculated) it won't change the results or even what may happen in the next few weeks but it would allow the fans a real sense of what the Club is trying to achieve albeit painfully at the momemt!

Completely agree.

Blimey, I need a lie down today.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:12 pm  

I agree that the restraints are undermining somewhat our ability to bring in the best,but surely this brings a new set of rules to the table and therefore we need a coach who knows how to work within those parameters.This season,above all else, has shown that lesser experienced coaches involved with 'lesser' Clubs,having smaller budgets and enjoying less revenue from fewer crowds are more competitive then ever before.The right sort of stratigy,bringing in the players to suit and producing a successful blend of skill,application,determination,energy and fitness levels to improve performance,are,imo,key to attaining the chemistry and balance a squad needs to compete.Indeed,and rightly so,we have started to realise the importance of engineering and fostering,a youth academy attracting the 'cream of the crop', as a firm foundation for the future...an essential cornerstone of a Bulls revival.Whilst money may be a magnet for world class players,Clubs with a watertight system of developement will never be far behind,providing the structure is professionally assembled.

: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:45 pm  

Think the biggest single thing macca has done for the club is his work re-building the youth team with paul medley. The 9 signings he made at beginning of year for under 18's will be seen as a major turning point for the club in a couple of years, with maybe a couple of these players being fasttracked and making 1st team debuts at end on next season. Large part of leeds current success has been due to large group of players that came through their youth setup together. Notice how leeds tied them all down on 5 year deals in their debut seasons on wages that no doubt impressed young lads were almost certainly quite small for the standard of player by the end of the 5 year deal. They've just repeated this with current batch of youngsters whilst having to give certain of there previous batch substantial increases to re-sign ( burrow,maguire,sinfield spring to mind). Its by having a good batch of youngsters on cheap long term deals plus a sprinkling of highly paid internationals that leeds are so successful at the moment. The previous admin/coach presided over the sale of our last batch of kids (pryce,reardon,parker,peacock,moore,bridge etc) when they came wanting better deals instead of putting them on long deals to start with.