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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2018 8:22:24 GMT
As end of another season falls upon us, what next for our much maligned club? Realistically where do we go from this point?
The owners.
With the rumour mill in full swing and stories circulating of consortiums waiting in the wings, are Rupp and Rahic already at a cross roads in their short tenure as 'co owners'? What was their plan this season? Turns out Rahic never rated McCall in the first place and would quite happily have replaced him in the summer. In hindsight could have been a correct move but not the way to start the season after your manager has got you to the play offs. Tales of off the field fallouts from Ducky the y front sniffer to just about everyone else at the club has made the place a toxic working environment. Rupp now seemingly disinterested after a first season that sugarcoated the real turbulent world of football club ownership. Talk of previous incumbents sniffing round like the proverbial flies round shit, trying to pick whats left of the meat on the rotting carcass. Great. Just fucking great.
The manager.
McCall went into the season on the back of a very good but ultimately unsuccessful 16/17 campaign but had laid foundations for a crack the next season. As we are now privvy to our owner who knows football had an entirely different take on things. And that it the beginning of the end for the ginger one. Despite interference from above McCall has the club in a respectable playoff position despite the wise owls on the cows arse knowing without hindsight that all good things must come to an end. How right we were. The Yeovil debacle and the 'Hendrie saga' laid waste to what was arguably the worst transfer window i can remember at the club. 'Ready for January apparently.' Oh really. Form sinks quicker than the titanic on her maiden voyage and something has to give. Bye bye Stuart, its been nice knowing you. Rahic still clings on to the Wembley dream and appoints Simon Grayson, a man who's form is without question at this level. Grayson quickly realises what he has been told and the enormity of the situation are two completely different agendas. One is fake news ladies and gentlemen. A few games in and Grayson is already questioning everything at the club. he too has been duped like an OAP being scammed by a pikey ' One roof tile, that'll be £36,000'. The man with the best league 1 record around can't turn around the doomed Bismarck. The Germans just waiting for the last torpedo to hit the sinking decks of Valley Parade. I would say all is not good on the western front, maybe Scunthorpe will do us all a favour and give Grayson the lifeline he craves. Who knows? Who really fucking cares?
The players.
And now to the piece de resistance as they say in Barnsley. The wonderful collection of waifs and strays we are delighted to call our playing squad. Damn, i'm getting my years mixed up, that was last season. Apologies. After the disappointment of a playoff final defeat the inevitable parting of the waves was on the cards for our intrepid band. The leading lights of Cullen, Marshall, Rory Mcrory, Meredith and Clarke all depart for what turns out pastures new. Better pastures as it turns out. All of them. To be replaced by a transfer 'warchest' that brings in the likes of Reeves, Poleon and McCartan. Aren't we lucky? Turns out we aren't. At all. Couple that with the signing of a maverick like Taylor, other unwanted items from the bargain bin and some exotic sounding Germans. 'Growdowlski'? Sounds moist. What could possibly go wrong? Spend a season watching them and you'll work it out. i did. Unfortunately. Now worse off in terms of personnel than we were under Parky. Progress, my fellow bantams, steady progress. Progress>Italian tank in WW2.
So what of the future? How many really give a shit. Two hapless chancers trapped in an English sinkhole that is Bradford. Our only option to be replaced by the guys who couldn't wait to get rid of it? Is the end nigh? Does the khazi league beckon once next season? Will Rosler be given any money to spend? At least the plastics will be gone. Remember, always a positive if you look hard enough. Apparently.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 29, 2018 8:45:41 GMT
We're fucked.
I'm not as articulate as you. And I'm hungover.
But I think that still sums us up.
We're fucked.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2018 8:53:08 GMT
We're fucked. I'm not as articulate as you. And I'm hungover. But I think that still sums us up. We're fucked. I wish i was hungover after watching that shite yesterday, hungover enough to have stayed in bed on Saturday afternoon. Don't think i even watched most of the second half, spent watching Argentina league football results with my young un on his phone.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 29, 2018 8:56:51 GMT
I know people have short memories and on the face of it we've been in worse situations, but I honestly think our prospects are as bleak as I can remember.
We're being monumentally mismanaged by an incapable owner who won't listen to those who know what it takes to run a club in this league. Dwindling revenues and no intent to invest from the owners. A piss poor squad - and a chronically flawed recruitment system. Pissed off fans.
It's crumbling and we have neither the means or capability to repair it.
The only way this turns is if the club is sold. It's that simple.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 29, 2018 9:03:27 GMT
I know people have short memories and on the face of it we've been in worse situations, but I honestly think our prospects are as bleak as I can remember. We're being monumentally mismanaged by an incapable owner who won't listen to those who know what it takes to run a club in this league. Dwindling revenues and no intent to invest from the owners. A piss poor squad - and a chronically flawed recruitment system. Pissed off fans. It's crumbling and we have neither the means or capability to repair it. The only way this turns is if the club is sold. It's that simple. Hard to disagree, the general malaise has firmly set in now. Even if Rupp did release a statement saying funds had been made available i'm not sure it would have an effect on the PR currently surrounding the club. I'm not sure they can pull back the feel good factor with Rahic around the club, fans have lost confidence in him. If that happened in other business shareholders would demand his removal.
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Post by skybantam on Apr 29, 2018 9:18:05 GMT
At the momemt, a relegation battle looks nailed on for next season. What other conclusion can you reach when you look at the sorry implosion in our form? Relegation form, nothing more nothing less. There is no evidence to suggest we will be in a financial position to improve our recruitment next season, in fact the opposite is true given our fall in ticket sales. We would be relying on whoever the manager is next season working wonders from the shitpool. Or a sudden massive U turn in the philosophy and spending power of our joint owners. I also don't think Bradford City has been improved in terms of how potential signings will view our club. Rumours of turmoil, weird remuneration and bonus deals, we seem to find it hard enough to compete with the allure of such destinations as Scunthorpe Utd as it is. And now we are in a worse position.
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Post by Hobhead on Apr 29, 2018 9:19:10 GMT
I know people have short memories and on the face of it we've been in worse situations, but I honestly think our prospects are as bleak as I can remember. We're being monumentally mismanaged by an incapable owner who won't listen to those who know what it takes to run a club in this league. Dwindling revenues and no intent to invest from the owners. A piss poor squad - and a chronically flawed recruitment system. Pissed off fans. It's crumbling and we have neither the means or capability to repair it. The only way this turns is if the club is sold. It's that simple. This is it, we are trapped. Edin's too stubborn to change course or admit culpability and I doubt Stefan gives enough of a shit to step in and clip Edin's wings. If they don't sell up, and soon, then it's League Two in short order and the only people that can't see it are parkbantam level gompers and Edin himself.
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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 29, 2018 9:19:16 GMT
I know people have short memories and on the face of it we've been in worse situations, but I honestly think our prospects are as bleak as I can remember. We're being monumentally mismanaged by an incapable owner who won't listen to those who know what it takes to run a club in this league. Dwindling revenues and no intent to invest from the owners. A piss poor squad - and a chronically flawed recruitment system. Pissed off fans. It's crumbling and we have neither the means or capability to repair it. The only way this turns is if the club is sold. It's that simple. You called it at the start of the season. A collection of cheap imitations to replace the actual quality we had. Plenty didn’t listen or want to believe but all doubt is gone now. We’ve been taken over by the worst kind of cunts. Bombastic, clueless, arrogant and practically speaking;- fucking skint. They have ruined the escape that is being a Bantam. There is no pride left.
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Post by Oneside on Apr 29, 2018 9:31:18 GMT
Neshead that was so damn funny and tragic all rolled up in one post. Can’t even be bothered to get up I am so depressed, but that had me and the other half crying with laughter. I have also been given a lesson in corporate finance which usually has me yawning for England. When you buy a club, you don’t really need cash, you pay for it on the it by instalments on what the monies the club generate. We feel we have been robbed, and yes we are going to be robbed again this season. Yesterday was really poor, I thought somebody had transported me back to league 2 a season early! Guess what I heard whilst leaving yesterday, a guy saying Southend would be a force to be reckoned with next season, I burst out laughing! They were crap and we were even worse. Sorry I know I am not registered but your post promted a reply.
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Post by Dick on Apr 29, 2018 10:36:18 GMT
The owners thought everything would be an easy ride after losing to Millwall. Didn’t realise what a huge part the remnants of the Parkinson squad played in that success and consistency. And the last 4 months have been a series of PR blunders that have alienated a big chunk of the fanbase..
They’ve been taught a fucking brutal lesson since then. Wanting promotion, wanting exciting attacking football, wanting to unearth young talent... all on the fucking cheap.
Only question is, do they learn from it?
If they do and steps are taken for what is needed then fine. If they persist as they have done, the start blaming the wane in crowds for having to have lower budgets or having to sell players/needing cup runs as being essential, then we are really fucked.
If Rupp has no interest and isn’t going to invest then next season will be my last. I don’t want to sit around being miserable for half my Saturdays enjoying it like some sadist who has ‘bcafc’ in his Facebook account name.
I don’t trust Rahic and his ‘I know football’ bollocks. Not when over nearly 2 years we’ve signed those 7-8 German league players who are non-League standard at best.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 29, 2018 10:45:17 GMT
The owners thought everything would be an easy ride after losing to Millwall. Didn’t realise what a huge part the remnants of the Parkinson squad played in that success and consistency. And the last 4 months have been a series of PR blunders that have alienated a big chunk of the fanbase.. They’ve been taught a fucking brutal lesson since then. Wanting promotion, wanting exciting attacking football, wanting to unearth young talent... all on the fucking cheap. Only question is, do they learn from it? If they do and steps are taken for what is needed then fine. If they persist as they have done, the start blaming the wane in crowds for having to have lower budgets or having to sell players/needing cup runs as being essential, then we are really fucked. If Rupp has no interest and isn’t going to invest then next season will be my last. I don’t want to sit around being miserable for half my Saturdays enjoying it like some sadist who has ‘bcafc’ in his Facebook account name. I don’t trust Rahic and his ‘I know football’ bollocks. Not when over nearly 2 years we’ve signed those 7-8 German league players who are non-League standard at best. Apart from that we’re ok.
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Post by jose on Apr 29, 2018 10:56:23 GMT
The interesting thing is when Parky went (poor Parky getting grief yesterday from those mongs) it sort of us showed us their intent.
They couldn't sack Parky as there should be a statue of him outside the ground really, given his achievements with a club with no money. Sure ML/JR backed him, but he wasn't full of cash... Some signings were woeful but at least he always gave us a team that fought. There were no superstars like Carbone, or even 25+ goal men like Lee Mills in the side...
But they by all accounts let him go to Bolton for a mere 10% of the compo as they couldn't fire him. There would have been people on the street, they get McCall in via Julian and it works well, which affects the chairman's plan and potentially means that we are now getting what we should have had sooner.....
What is the story of the Ducky leaving? I have seen numerous tales, plus what else is rumbling about consortiums?
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Post by ricksanchez on Apr 29, 2018 12:00:04 GMT
At the momemt, a relegation battle looks nailed on for next season. What other conclusion can you reach when you look at the sorry implosion in our form? Relegation form, nothing more nothing less. There is no evidence to suggest we will be in a financial position to improve our recruitment next season, in fact the opposite is true given our fall in ticket sales. We would be relying on whoever the manager is next season working wonders from the shitpool. Or a sudden massive U turn in the philosophy and spending power of our joint owners. I also don't think Bradford City has been improved in terms of how potential signings will view our club. Rumours of turmoil, weird remuneration and bonus deals, we seem to find it hard enough to compete with the allure of such destinations as Scunthorpe Utd as it is. And now we are in a worse position. Yeah and you get the impression that players, regardless of their club "loyalties", talk to each other a lot and the reputation of Bradford City in the Rahic era will be very poor I would imagine. I know I am always going on about it, but there's a clip in the Matter of Heart film where Abbott has to convince Rahic that not paying Hanson because of his wish to leave - isn't really allowed and would "get out". I hate pre-season as it seems to go on for ever and the upcoming one is going to be the worse one ever for the reasons you've mentioned above.
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Post by Dick on Apr 29, 2018 13:15:41 GMT
At the momemt, a relegation battle looks nailed on for next season. What other conclusion can you reach when you look at the sorry implosion in our form? Relegation form, nothing more nothing less. There is no evidence to suggest we will be in a financial position to improve our recruitment next season, in fact the opposite is true given our fall in ticket sales. We would be relying on whoever the manager is next season working wonders from the shitpool. Or a sudden massive U turn in the philosophy and spending power of our joint owners. I also don't think Bradford City has been improved in terms of how potential signings will view our club. Rumours of turmoil, weird remuneration and bonus deals, we seem to find it hard enough to compete with the allure of such destinations as Scunthorpe Utd as it is. And now we are in a worse position. Yeah and you get the impression that players, regardless of their club "loyalties", talk to each other a lot and the reputation of Bradford City in the Rahic era will be very poor I would imagine. I know I am always going on about it, but there's a clip in the Matter of Heart film where Abbott has to convince Rahic that not paying Hanson because of his wish to leave - isn't really allowed and would "get out". I hate pre-season as it seems to go on for ever and the upcoming one is going to be the worse one ever for the reasons you've mentioned above. Agree about the coming pre-season, everything is going to be scrutinised 100 times more - every transfer, deals we’ve missed out on, who’s on trial, every friendly, the new shirt release, every line the club puts out... then what other teams are doing, who club x are signing etc. Imagine if we have another saga like the Scottish defender we had on trial for a month or whatever last summer, stringing him along then telling him to fuck off as the manager is undermined and is told we’re bringig someone in just because his face fits (German, cheap). The club will get crucified. Or another useless friendly at a German 8th division side - fans getting pissed with the players; what a fucking amateur outfit we looked that day. Get as arseholed as you want with everyone when you finish in the top 2, until then it’s an embarrassment - you do it like that you’d better be able to back it up. I do wonder what our rep is behind the scenes amongst the player / staff / sponsor communities.
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Post by moshimoshi on Apr 29, 2018 14:02:19 GMT
Yea if only we’d held on to Clarke. Cost us autos surely.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 29, 2018 14:05:00 GMT
Yea if only we’d held on to Clarke. Cost us autos surely. We're much better with Brunker tbf
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Post by jose on Apr 29, 2018 17:34:52 GMT
Yeah and you get the impression that players, regardless of their club "loyalties", talk to each other a lot and the reputation of Bradford City in the Rahic era will be very poor I would imagine. I know I am always going on about it, but there's a clip in the Matter of Heart film where Abbott has to convince Rahic that not paying Hanson because of his wish to leave - isn't really allowed and would "get out". I hate pre-season as it seems to go on for ever and the upcoming one is going to be the worse one ever for the reasons you've mentioned above. Agree about the coming pre-season, everything is going to be scrutinised 100 times more - every transfer, deals we’ve missed out on, who’s on trial, every friendly, the new shirt release, every line the club puts out... then what other teams are doing, who club x are signing etc. Imagine if we have another saga like the Scottish defender we had on trial for a month or whatever last summer, stringing him along then telling him to fuck off as the manager is undermined and is told we’re bringig someone in just because his face fits (German, cheap). The club will get crucified. Or another useless friendly at a German 8th division side - fans getting pissed with the players; what a fucking amateur outfit we looked that day. Get as arseholed as you want with everyone when you finish in the top 2, until then it’s an embarrassment - you do it like that you’d better be able to back it up. I do wonder what our rep is behind the scenes amongst the player / staff / sponsor communities. The Greer situation is woeful on a number of fronts, but Rahic, well done there..... If you consider he's at Kilmarnock where Stevie Clarke has won 3 manager of the month awards in a row, talk of European football and Greer is a player who Clarke spoke about sitting down and sorting out a contract with for next season. Rahic knows football? He knows fuck all.
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Post by Neshead on Apr 30, 2018 12:27:24 GMT
I was talking to a Huddersfield fan yesterday, he mentioned John Hendrie. Said he showed him some texts from Rahic to his lad demanding his training kit back. Told him he had left it at the training ground, Rahic’s missus ended up looking for it. The towns fans exact words were ‘tinpot club’. 😂😂😂😂😂😂
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Post by Ricc on Apr 30, 2018 12:30:35 GMT
I wish John Hendrie would spill some truths in the paper or something.
that said, no one would believe him, dismissing him as bitter, and peddling conspiracy theorys to destabilise the club.
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Post by bantam147 on Apr 30, 2018 12:51:15 GMT
What we wouldn’t give for a young John Hendrie now.
Just so we could sell him and bring in German trialist with a dodgy knee.
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