This weekend, Bradford City will take to the field against Shrewsbury Town as usual at 3pm on Saturday, but in doing so will be the only fixture in The Football League to stick to the traditional kick-off time. The reason being is England's European Championships qualifying game in Wales at the same time. The "club versus country" row might be one normally reserved for players, but this weekend it will be one that stretches to the fans.
City had looked to move the game to either the Sunday or an earlier kick-off time, but neither were possibly for this weekend's opponents. But even that should never have been asked of the club heirachy.
The Saturday 3pm kick-off time is no longer sacrosanct. Sky Television saw to that. But is it a kick-off time that is at least protected from the lure of the television cameras, with a blackout from the screens for two hours every weekend. Alas, this weekend it has changed.
It was the English and Welsh FA who chose the kick-off time, and this is two countries who to some part share a league. It would be very easy to say that the Football Association - guardians of the Premier League and not the Football League - don't care about lower league football, so I will.
City fear a drop in revenue. But did they have any option? Combined with extra costs of moving the game, it's not obvious whether fans will have switched too. Friday night sees six league matches, Sunday another four. On Saturday, there are a plethora of 1pm starts and even a 6pm. Only the non-leagues seem to have maintained their embrace on the 3pm kick-off - with nine clubs sticking to their guns in the Conference.
So, loyal Bradford and Shrewsbury fans face a direct choice between their beloved sides or the prima donna, underachievers at international level. But others face worse - Carlisle a nice five-hour trip to Brentford on a Friday and then a five-hour journey back deep into the early hours of the morning; Torquay fans can knock an hour off to get to Northampton on a working day; Exeter fans have a nice four-and-a-half hours trip across the country to get to Colchester by 1pm on Saturday; at least Gillingham fans can save their three-hour journey to Cheltenham for Sunday morning.
Yes, just another ordinary weekend for lower league fans and their clubs backed into a corner by a national association who have forgotten who the game really belongs to, and a golden generation whose moniker is only matched by their bank accounts and not their record.
Thursday 24 March 2011
Saturday 12 March 2011
Return of the buzz
No Bradford City fan could fail to be swept up in the enthusiasm which came with the appointment of Stuart McCall in 2007. While the optimism waned, it never vanished under City's most loved son until his final few days and even then it was with more than a tinge of sadness. The same cannot be said for his successor, Peter Taylor. He was supposedly the perfect appointment with a raft of promotions under his belt. But City never got going under Taylor, and the inconsistent results were matched by the turgid football on offer. Comparisons to John Docherty were even thrown in his direction.
So Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn were always going to have a difficult job in finding a successor. While interviews continue to name a permanent manager, the man filling in is doing his very best to keep it. Peter Jackson has - in just two games - brought the buzz back to Valley Parade. He gave an all-action performance himself on Tuesday, gave the fans a win over a Ronnie Moore side and has been making all the right noises in the press.
Jackson might not be the most perfect of appointments and his credentials will come under scrutiny both in the board room and among fans. So, it's refreshing that he has brought in an experienced and respected number two in Colin Cooper. It's definitely an intriguing selection and shows some more long-term thinking than the initial interim appointment.
Jackson now has more time to put his name on the manager's door full-time with "two or three" more games starting with Morecambe today. Whatever Jackson's strengths as manager are and whatever the thoughts of the fans on his appointment are, at least he has brought some much needed buzz back to our club.
So Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn were always going to have a difficult job in finding a successor. While interviews continue to name a permanent manager, the man filling in is doing his very best to keep it. Peter Jackson has - in just two games - brought the buzz back to Valley Parade. He gave an all-action performance himself on Tuesday, gave the fans a win over a Ronnie Moore side and has been making all the right noises in the press.
Jackson might not be the most perfect of appointments and his credentials will come under scrutiny both in the board room and among fans. So, it's refreshing that he has brought in an experienced and respected number two in Colin Cooper. It's definitely an intriguing selection and shows some more long-term thinking than the initial interim appointment.
Jackson now has more time to put his name on the manager's door full-time with "two or three" more games starting with Morecambe today. Whatever Jackson's strengths as manager are and whatever the thoughts of the fans on his appointment are, at least he has brought some much needed buzz back to our club.
Tuesday 8 March 2011
Return of the prodigal son
Neither Omar Daley nor Kevin Ellison will play against their respective parent clubs when Bradford City take on Rotherham United in Peter Jackson's first home game as City manager tonight, under the terms of the loan deal. By the time City play again, however, Daley may well be back available for selection. Despite the fact Jackson himself might not be manager after tonight - depending on the progress of interviews - he has already set the wheels in motion to recall Daley from his loan.
Daley arrived at City in 2007 just as that other flying winger Jermaine Johnson was heading out of the door. It was too easy to make comparisons between the two, but Daley has proved to be an exciting, dangerous and formidable opponent. He is capable of goals of outstanding quality and often done so, he has torn defences apart and scared the living daylights out of opponents. All to the extent he earned the plaudits of his peers and selection in the 2008-09 PFA team of the year.
Yet Daley is a precocious talent, not to everyone's taste who doesn't always perform. The goals don't always come often enough - especially when he's pushed up front - and for all his trickery, he has never been a huge creator of chances. And there will always be the accusations of laziness especially when things don't go his way.
Yes, Daley is the epitomy of a mercurial winger, who can torment his own fans and manager as much as the opposition. Trying to get the best out of him isn't quite so simple. Just as one of England's most gifted midfielders, Glenn Hoddle, failed to find a place for the equally talented Matt Le Tissier when he became the country's manager, Peter Taylor - a winger himself in his day - struggled to get the best out of Daley and his denouement was to allow the Jamaican to leave.
Daley may not yet return, and with his contract up at the end of the season, his way out of City may be the ringing of boos in his ears as he trudged off against Lincoln. Others have suffered the same; Nicky Summerbee supplied the ammunition for Dean Windass yet received more than his fair share of snipers in the crowd; Joe Colbeck picked up the fans' player of the year before becoming another hate-figure, exited stage right and suffered more abuse on his first return; even Windass himself, after becoming the club's third highest all-time goalscorer received death threats.
Ellison, however, made a thrilling start - scoring the winner on debut - but has since flattered to deceive. A man more for the fight apparently. Jacko believes not.
Daley arrived at City in 2007 just as that other flying winger Jermaine Johnson was heading out of the door. It was too easy to make comparisons between the two, but Daley has proved to be an exciting, dangerous and formidable opponent. He is capable of goals of outstanding quality and often done so, he has torn defences apart and scared the living daylights out of opponents. All to the extent he earned the plaudits of his peers and selection in the 2008-09 PFA team of the year.
Yet Daley is a precocious talent, not to everyone's taste who doesn't always perform. The goals don't always come often enough - especially when he's pushed up front - and for all his trickery, he has never been a huge creator of chances. And there will always be the accusations of laziness especially when things don't go his way.
Yes, Daley is the epitomy of a mercurial winger, who can torment his own fans and manager as much as the opposition. Trying to get the best out of him isn't quite so simple. Just as one of England's most gifted midfielders, Glenn Hoddle, failed to find a place for the equally talented Matt Le Tissier when he became the country's manager, Peter Taylor - a winger himself in his day - struggled to get the best out of Daley and his denouement was to allow the Jamaican to leave.
Daley may not yet return, and with his contract up at the end of the season, his way out of City may be the ringing of boos in his ears as he trudged off against Lincoln. Others have suffered the same; Nicky Summerbee supplied the ammunition for Dean Windass yet received more than his fair share of snipers in the crowd; Joe Colbeck picked up the fans' player of the year before becoming another hate-figure, exited stage right and suffered more abuse on his first return; even Windass himself, after becoming the club's third highest all-time goalscorer received death threats.
Ellison, however, made a thrilling start - scoring the winner on debut - but has since flattered to deceive. A man more for the fight apparently. Jacko believes not.
Sunday 6 March 2011
Why still favourite?
When he was appointed interim manager last weekend, Peter Jackson was installed as firm favourite by Victor Chandler to become Bradford City's next permanent manager. But in the days that followed he was soon replaced by Dagenham & Redbridge's inimitable John Still.
Still's name is mentioned by various lower league clubs whenever a vacancy crops up, and has been on the lips of City fans before and once again since Taylor's departure. Still has a fantastic record gaining promotion to the Football League with Dagenham in 2007, 18 years after he did the same with the ill-fated Maidstone United. Still can more than stand by his record over recent years, unearthing a wealth of talent and giving them league football - most notable Paul Benson, who impressive scoring record with the Daggers earned him a move to their more famous neighbours Charlton Athletic.
An impressive CV certainly, so it's no surprise that Still has his suitors. But is he really the answer to City's 64-million dollar question? Still's record also includes a short and unsuccessful spell at Peterborough and he has never managed further north than his time at London Road. That pool of non-league talent that he has brought into the football league is based around his Essex roots. It's alright getting James Hanson to give up his job staking shelves at the co-op and Steve Williams to put down his scissors to both take a wage cut and try cut their teeth in the Football League near their homes, but doing the same with youngsters from the capital to come north is much harder - just ask Luke Medley.
And only this week, we have seen double the problems Taylor had. I doubt it's a coincidence that the friendly against Guiseley - part of the fee for Hanson - was organised just days after Taylor left, having been once postponed to make way for the subdued pre-season tour of Essex. And Jacko waxed lyrical about team spirit on the long trip south to Gillingham. So was there really a north-south divide in the changing room under Taylor? It was he who struggled to initially find a home in West Yorkshire. Perhaps, his familiar signings of Luke Oliver, Lewis Hunt and Tommy Doherty had the same problems.
It was Paul Jewell who was hugely successful with his policy of ensuring all players lived within earshot of Valley Parade. It's clearly time for the same again. That could more than rule out the bookies' favourite.
Still's name is mentioned by various lower league clubs whenever a vacancy crops up, and has been on the lips of City fans before and once again since Taylor's departure. Still has a fantastic record gaining promotion to the Football League with Dagenham in 2007, 18 years after he did the same with the ill-fated Maidstone United. Still can more than stand by his record over recent years, unearthing a wealth of talent and giving them league football - most notable Paul Benson, who impressive scoring record with the Daggers earned him a move to their more famous neighbours Charlton Athletic.
An impressive CV certainly, so it's no surprise that Still has his suitors. But is he really the answer to City's 64-million dollar question? Still's record also includes a short and unsuccessful spell at Peterborough and he has never managed further north than his time at London Road. That pool of non-league talent that he has brought into the football league is based around his Essex roots. It's alright getting James Hanson to give up his job staking shelves at the co-op and Steve Williams to put down his scissors to both take a wage cut and try cut their teeth in the Football League near their homes, but doing the same with youngsters from the capital to come north is much harder - just ask Luke Medley.
And only this week, we have seen double the problems Taylor had. I doubt it's a coincidence that the friendly against Guiseley - part of the fee for Hanson - was organised just days after Taylor left, having been once postponed to make way for the subdued pre-season tour of Essex. And Jacko waxed lyrical about team spirit on the long trip south to Gillingham. So was there really a north-south divide in the changing room under Taylor? It was he who struggled to initially find a home in West Yorkshire. Perhaps, his familiar signings of Luke Oliver, Lewis Hunt and Tommy Doherty had the same problems.
It was Paul Jewell who was hugely successful with his policy of ensuring all players lived within earshot of Valley Parade. It's clearly time for the same again. That could more than rule out the bookies' favourite.
Saturday 5 March 2011
Squaring the circle
What's in a football formation? Hours of discussion have been devoted on how to square the circle, or as Jonathan Wilson put it how to Invert the Pyramid, across the world. We all have our preferred formations and countries have very different philosophies on football. But England is firmly entrenched in a 4-4-2 formation.
But when Peter Taylor came in, he tinkered hugely with the personnel and at times with the formation. Yes, he played 4-4-2, but his firm belief came from 4-3-3 and 4-5-1. It might have worked with him at other clubs before, but it never worked at City. Even to the end he stuck with his 4-3-3 and it was only at half-time in that captivating finale against Stockport County that he reverted to a formation that footballers up and down this country know, love and understand (okay, it was really a 3-4-3 after Stockport were reduced to nine men that we got the real joy) and he played a final get out of jail card.
So today, what will Peter Jackson play today at Gillingham? And should City be looking full-time for a manager who will play 4-4-2? Maybe Taylor was hamstrung by injuries, but the experience he had from the players at his dispensation and the reaction of the crowd suggests 4-4-2 is the way forward. Perhaps, it shouldn't really matter as long as the club gets results, but it seems City fans and players are more comfortable with a 4-4-2.
But when Peter Taylor came in, he tinkered hugely with the personnel and at times with the formation. Yes, he played 4-4-2, but his firm belief came from 4-3-3 and 4-5-1. It might have worked with him at other clubs before, but it never worked at City. Even to the end he stuck with his 4-3-3 and it was only at half-time in that captivating finale against Stockport County that he reverted to a formation that footballers up and down this country know, love and understand (okay, it was really a 3-4-3 after Stockport were reduced to nine men that we got the real joy) and he played a final get out of jail card.
So today, what will Peter Jackson play today at Gillingham? And should City be looking full-time for a manager who will play 4-4-2? Maybe Taylor was hamstrung by injuries, but the experience he had from the players at his dispensation and the reaction of the crowd suggests 4-4-2 is the way forward. Perhaps, it shouldn't really matter as long as the club gets results, but it seems City fans and players are more comfortable with a 4-4-2.
Thursday 3 March 2011
Coleman all but ruled out
A week after John Coleman was first linked with being Peter Taylor's successor, it seems his chances have been thwarted even without an interview. Accrington gave Bradford City permission to speak to their long-term boss but before those talks were held, a lack of financial clout at Valley Parade has prevented any deal.
This blog has already waxed lyrical about the job Coleman has done at Accrington Stanley. When Coleman took over the reigns at the Crown Ground, City were a Premier League club and Accrington a massive six divisions below. Fast forward 12 years and we're now opponents and have been for the previous two seasons. And it's not as if Coleman hasn't had success against us either.
Coleman would have been a great choice but that recent long-term contract he signed at Accrington may have killed off any chance we have of seeing just whether Coleman could have turned round another club's fortunes. And the news comes on the back of similar noises from former City favourite Greg Abbott, who says he is not tempted by the job. Again, it's a shame - Abbott has done a decent job at Carlisle United - but less of a surprise.
Is this all a result of more prudent times at Valley Parade? Do we have that little money to tempt a new manager? And should we just turn our attention to out-of-work managers?
That would all raise the outlook for Peter Jackson, who will lead City out for the first time as manager on Saturday against Gillingham - more than 20 years after he last played for the club. Jackson has all the passion in the world and passion for the club, and has been making the right noises - but there are also concerns about his past and inconsistent performances as manager elsewhere.
Jackson however is in the box seat. That is a unique position which the club is also in. Succeed and his chances are boosted; fail and we'll probably look elsewhere.
This blog has already waxed lyrical about the job Coleman has done at Accrington Stanley. When Coleman took over the reigns at the Crown Ground, City were a Premier League club and Accrington a massive six divisions below. Fast forward 12 years and we're now opponents and have been for the previous two seasons. And it's not as if Coleman hasn't had success against us either.
Coleman would have been a great choice but that recent long-term contract he signed at Accrington may have killed off any chance we have of seeing just whether Coleman could have turned round another club's fortunes. And the news comes on the back of similar noises from former City favourite Greg Abbott, who says he is not tempted by the job. Again, it's a shame - Abbott has done a decent job at Carlisle United - but less of a surprise.
Is this all a result of more prudent times at Valley Parade? Do we have that little money to tempt a new manager? And should we just turn our attention to out-of-work managers?
That would all raise the outlook for Peter Jackson, who will lead City out for the first time as manager on Saturday against Gillingham - more than 20 years after he last played for the club. Jackson has all the passion in the world and passion for the club, and has been making the right noises - but there are also concerns about his past and inconsistent performances as manager elsewhere.
Jackson however is in the box seat. That is a unique position which the club is also in. Succeed and his chances are boosted; fail and we'll probably look elsewhere.
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