Division One 2001-2002 Preview

Bantam by Bantam

Gary Walsh

Perhaps this is Gary Walsh's Indian Summer. Certainly when he watched Matt Clarke's acrobatics while out injured he would have wondered if he would be playing for City regularly again. Nevertheless when he did get his chance he took it and showed great character to bounce back from his slip against Manchester United.

This year we hope for a full season from Walsh who will be looking to sustain the excellent form he returned to at the end of last season.

Matt Clarke and Aidan Davison

What does the future hold for the two keepers who no longer want to play for City. Davison will hope that he did enough to impress a potential employer lower down the leagues, one perhaps who did not see his display against Leeds while Clarke will be hoping that someone is prepared to buy him for his abilities not his attitude which, not to put too finer point on it, stinks.

David Wetherall and Robert Molenaar

As it stands the former Leeds pair will City's starting centrebacks. Obviously question mark over pace, especially against Molenaar, but as first day opponent and former Bantam Issy Rankin proves, pace can only get you so far in this or any division.

The big test for Wetherall and Molenaar will be how they can translate Premiership experience into nullifying power of the raw potential of the Nationwide League striker collective.

Expect Wetherall to shine and Molenaar to perform well, in a Jon Dreyer sort of way.

Peter Atherton and Andy Myers

Both players in unenviable positions. Both need to prove themselves to the manager (and scouts) but neither looks like getting a starting chance.

Expect Mr Reliable Atherton to make a Premiership move to a struggler within half a season should he not get a first team chance, Myers needs to get back in the side to erase memories of Elland Road past (although little of that was his fault) and will get the call to counteract faster men should Molenaar's legs prove too heavy.

Wayne Jacobs

Jacobs has once again seen off attempts on his place and gets a deserved starting role from Jim Jefferies. There will come a time when Wayne is replaced at City, but it should not be this year. Expect another fine, example setting season from the most professional player at Bradford City.

Mark Bower

Early move and a wish of all the best would seem obvious but part of Jim Jefferies style seems to be to make the best out of what he has at the club he is managing. If JJ thinks that Mark Bower can do a job in the squad then he will use him..

Gunnar Halle

Should attempts to sign a new right back come to naught then Gunnar will begin the season competing with Gary Locke for a place in the starting line up. Gunnar offers a solid professionalism but one honestly feels that he may be too old for belting up and down the wing. Expect a reliable squad season.

Gary Locke

Gary Locke, you either love him or hate him don't you? Well Jim Jefferies seems to be in the latter camp and has ear marked the former Hearts man to fill in for Stuart McCall should the skipper begin to feel the pace and to compete for the right back slot with Gunnar Halle. JJ has said that should he get a run of a dozen or so games he will recognised as an international player (He is Scots so that is not saying that much). BfB has an inkling that he may find a role in the centre of midfield next to McCall if Gareth Whalley fails to recapture the form of two years back. Expect him to prove his worth.

Stuart McCall, Gareth Whalley and Eoin Jess

The midfield trio of the end of last season go into this year as the three in possession. Jess will provide the attacking momentum that has been lacking from the middle of City's side under the past two managers. McCall, in his final season, will be the ball winner and provide the motivation while Whalley will be the cultured foot which, we hope, will be put into the tackle more often.

Lack of width sans Beagrie is an issue but one hopefully addressed by the front men, not the midfielders. Expect McCall to give everything to go out on a high, Jess to play well most of the time but seem pointless on the odd away game and Whalley to not get any recognition for what he does which, we hope, will be plenty.

Jamie Lawrence

What does the world do with wingers when they pass 30? John Barnes moved inside midfield to some effect, Jamie's attempts meet with less success butt along as he gives 100%, and he always gives his all, then he balances out his mistakes and is worth having around.

Expect the unexpected.

Lewis Emanuel and Ben Jones

The two most likely in the young guns collective. Jones is a fast striker who has more weight on him than Gareth Grant and better finishing that Issy Rankin had and will be looking to get a chance to show JJ that he does not need to sign a speedy player to stretch tired back fours in the last twenty.

Emanuel will be looking to carry on his excellent progress in Walter Kidd's reserve side but should make his debut this year. Now the preferred reserve for the left back spot over the departed Ian Nolan.

Robbie Blake

Blake needs to get back on his game. A handful of class Premiership displays is much less than his promotion season promised. Blake needs to get back to his form of 1999 and stay there for, hopefully, another run at Premiership football.

Expect Robbie starting slow but getting back on track in November for a winter of defensive discontent.

Benito Carbone

Where Kinkladzi failed, where Lomdardo failed... Can Benito Carbone succeed? The history of the first division is littered with players who were, reputedly, good enough to get a team up on their own who failed in that end.

Carbone though seems less of the focus of City this year than last and less of the focus of the club's promotion push than those previous talents who fell by the division one wayside were. Beni will be mentally fit, if his lags can survive Stockport's back four then one can look forward to Waddle-esque speed of thought and action perplexing the league but unlike City's team with Waddle, Beni has more around him.

Expect Beni to be the man to break the opposition defence, but do not expect him to be the centre of the team that Chris Hutchings wanted him to be.

Ashley Ward

Superb for Barnsley in this division and looking like ten times the player he was now Jim Jefferies has shown faith in him City will look to Ashley Ward for 25 goals this term. He may not reach that level but anything under the 15 mark and a lot of good creative play will be failure for a player who has the talent at this level and the one above but needs to focus his application better.

Expect around 20 goals.