Comments on: Another day, another loan signing as Adam Bolder joins

By: John Loxam

John Loxam — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:54:50 +0000

I can’t say that I agree that it is as simplistic as being ‘all about results’ in PT’s case. At least I hope that is NOT the way our Chairmen are going to decide whether PT is ‘good enough or not’. Winning games -or at times not loosing- is certainly a major objective for any Manager. BUT, supposing PT ends the season with us loosing most of the remaining games and we end up lower down the table than we are now. Do we say ‘PT is obviously a poor Manager we need someone else in’? Do we turn on him in that way regardless of his past record because RESULTS count more than ‘time in the job’. I would not think any less of PT if he had come here and lost ALL his games in charge so far because this very short term in charge does not really amount to anything worthwhile YET. He will do a good job for City of that I am confident, but if he is not going to be given at least a 3 year contract very soon then somebody else needs to be given it. And they need to be absolutely clear what they can plan for the ‘long term’ so that their short term objectives are contributing to, and WILL actually make a positive difference long term to BCFC.

By: Tony Pitts

Tony Pitts — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:49:25 +0000

It’s about results. That’s all that matters. Surely we can all see that. If PT had come in before the transfer window had closed and if we had the money he’d probably have signed some of these players permanently. As it is, his hands are tied. He needed to inject some experience, enthusiasm, confidence, quality, belief. He’s only got 16 games to show what he can do. He had to go for the short term fix in my view. Even if these players only stay a month, if these qualities rub off on the rest of the squad and we get ‘on a roll’ we can all enjoy the end to the season

By: Tony Pitts

Tony Pitts — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:42:13 +0000

Just wanted to chip in my twopenn’orth. Just seen this article, but my views have been aired elsewhere over the last 10 days or so. PT has been given a limited amount of time to show what he can do. He seems to have come with a plan and we have to support him every step of the way. I don’t care if he wants to field 11 loan players & 7 on the bench if he starts to get results. Remember, that’s what McCall was judged on & ultimately what all managers stand or fall by. He’s only doing it because he’s seen things he isn’t happy with regarding the players we already have. Whether the players he’s bringing in are better than the ones we have is a moot point. Sometimes it isn’t just about ability, it’s also about attitude & commitment. As I say, I aired these views prior to yesterdays’ excellent result at Rotherham. That’s three wins from five games under PT, four of them away from home & two against teams who are right up there challenging. 3 goals conceded in the last 4 games. Prior to PT’s arrival we had 3 wins from 14. It’s not about performances, about getting the best out of somebody else’s players, about performing miracles with a squad who had forgotten how to get wins. It’s about RESULTS. That and that alone is how PT should be judged. I only hope we get him signed up soon for 2 or 3 years, because I’m sure if we don’t, somebody else will.

By: Mark Williams

Mark Williams — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 10:24:36 +0000

I think in summary many of you are blinkered by the fall out from Stuart’s departure – PT has a job to do here now and in that respect he is succeeding, as well as bringing in loans he has undoubtedly worked well with the existing players to get more out of them, some might have to move on to futher their careers or otherwise. That is the hard fact of life as a footballer.

The club needs to progress, the fans are desperate for success – PT seems to be assembling something of a longer term strategy at VP, that can only be good news – 5 away games from his first 6 in charge is a tough challenge.

I just hope this revival continues and we secure him on a longer term contract for stability – we don’t want to be searching for a new manager come May/June with several players outy of contract and the loans all departed!

By: Paul Martin

Paul Martin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 07:34:55 +0000

Bringing in some short terms loan players is a policy which is intended to bring about a sharp increase in confidence right through the club, from players to fans alike. This is good “leadership” which is seen across the business world. We needed an immediate and rapid increase in confidence – we have got it – you sense the revitalised “buzz” and anticipation about the place!
Several weeks ago most people were suggsting that players like Clarke and Bullock should be shipped out to sunday league teams, never mind the Conference! A few short term players and a experienced manager have done wonders for a team and a club that was a month ago going nowhere except towards the trap door.
Every good leader also plans to put things in place which will enable progress to be sustained even when some key people leave. There is no point in having a youth policy which passes good players on into a poor team!
Peter Taylor has done more in one month than most ex managers at City have done in , yes, the last 8 years. We are beginning to have that feel good factor back with us regulary on a Saturday (Tuesday!) night. I am actually looking forward to the next game – fantastic!!

By: Paul Jackson

Paul Jackson — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:04:30 +0000

Scott scored the winner today for Cambridge Utd, well done mate.
It also appears that Flynn may be pushed forward more often after today as suggested above.Bolder also had a decent game. The point being that maybe some of these loan deals may not prove to be so damaging after all.
Like we all agreed only time will tell but today was a good start. Well done City.

By: Kevin Narey

Kevin Narey — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:35:42 +0000

I have to say I agree with you Michael and it’s a well written article; more sceptical than negative. I think, as others have stated on other baords, what is not coming over well is that the signals we get from these actions are that of short termism, when a period of rebuilding would suggest the need for longer term.

But hey, Peter Taylor knows more about football than I’m ever likely to know, so rather than it being ‘blind faith’, I’ll maintain a ‘colour-blind faith’ i.e keep the rose-tinted and ever optimistic spectacles clamped to my nose for the time being.

By: Richard Wardell

Richard Wardell — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:20:26 +0000

A good debate has been generated here which is good. That’s what football is all about – opinions.

My opinion, right or wrong, is that I’m not happy with Taylor bringing in so many loan signings in such a short space of time. Clarke has certainly improved over the past month and Williams has potential as shown in the early part of this season. Ramsden has shown that he can play at centre back and I believe that the boo boys and girls have found Rehman an easy touch recently so why bring in Oliver?

Threlfall has shown that he is a good left back with a good delivery from a dead ball situation (as I saw from corners delivered right infront of me at Aldershot) but this has led to Luke O’Brien playing out of position and I believe that Luke is a good left back in Division 4.

Why do need Bolder? We have O’Leary waiting in the wings and he needs to be given his chance now that he has overcome his injuries. Also we have Jamie O’Brien who hasn’t let the side down this season although I appreciate that he is injured at the moment.

We also have capable players is Sharry, Osborne and Horne who I believe should be given an opprtunity ahead of the loan players.

Is Grant better than Neilson?

Whilst some players who sign on loan do then sign permanently for a club, the success rate is not that high and in my opinion it blocks the progress of players already at the parent club.

As for strikers, we have Hanson, Evans, M Boulding and Thorne who all offer as much as McCammon.

I want Peter Taylor to succeed as Bradford City manager but in my opinion he is going about it in the wrong way. However, I respect that he has had success with lower league clubs whilst I’ve never been a football manager so I have to place my trust in Peter Taylor.

By: David Pendleton

David Pendleton — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:48:35 +0000

As we are neither going up or down, I’m fairly relaxed regarding Peter Taylor’s use of loan players. There must be a longer term view being taken by, not only Taylor, but those running the club. Otherwise, why increase the wage bill bringing in so many players? Whatever the deals done with the loaning clubs, four in, plus a very short term contract, and one out, equals an increase in the wage bill. There lies my concern.

As we know the club is run on a very tight budget, but is in the black – technically at least given the £1m loan revelations of Mark Lawn in the wake of the aerial bending at Accrington. If someone has managed to bring in all these players and, by some fabulous piece of jiggery-pokery, not increased costs, then they should be carried shoulder-high up Manningham Lane – and then quietly asked why we couldn’t have managed this piece of alchemy earlier in the season? Then again, this is Bradford, a city where people with no obvious source of income drive expensive high powered cars and the council can find tens of millions to house the rugby league team, but not a penny for the ‘private’ business that is its football club. Ask no questions guv’, it’s best that way. Perhaps Peter Taylor can tell the Football League that he got Adam Bolder from a man he’d never met before in a pub?

I semi-seriously digress. If a club has nothing to play for, and has a manager on a three month contract, why not stumble on until the end of the season and begin afresh. We have form in this respect, remember Geoffrey Richmond’s annual flogging of the assests to balance the books? Eddie Youds anyone? This time City have adopted a completely opposite approach. As the season drifts away we’ve suddenly become the destination of choice for loan and out of contract players.

There can surely be only one answer. This is a long term strategy. Perhaps the try before you buy ethos is now official policy? Great, let’s allow all potential season ticket holders in for nothing so they can see how the feel about being supporters for next season. Perhaps a new ‘investor’ (how I hate that term) would like to try the chairman’s seat for a couple of matches? Best not bring the car though, little local difficulty, catch the 662 from the Interchange.

I digress – again. If this is a policy, it can only mean one, thing, Peter Taylor is remaining at Valley Parade. If that’s the case, he needs a contract to match.

By: Neil Myers

Neil Myers — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:53:27 +0000

I’ve no qualms about loan signings,i backed McCall to the bitter end and now i’m backing Taylor’s judgement to put together a team capable of getting promotion from this league.I think Taylor is gathering a squad together that has more of a physical presence, as he knows exactly what it takes to get out of this league.I fancy BCFC will get three points tomorrow,a McCammon winner would be nice..