The Mark Davis Column

Tuesday 26 November, 2002

The Current Crisis after Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 5

On my return home from VP on Saturday, I found myself curiously filled with mixed emotions. The endless booing at home games, the anger from certain sections of the City supporters and now recent calls for Law to go are all awkward to digest. This is a difficult and frustrating time for all Bradford fans and raises several problematic questions that most fans are going to have to address in the coming weeks and months.

Most football supporters would have little trouble venting their disappointment had their side so convincingly crumbled at home. That's thirteen goals conceded in the last 3 games, two of which were at home, and the prospect of letting in three or four at Millwall this coming weekend seems not only realistic, but somewhat expected.

In times past, such a dismal run would lead supporters to question the management, the players, the board and especially, as recent times have shown us all too clearly, the chairman. And yet for most Bradford fans, none of these areas seem appropriate for taking the blame. The problem at the moment is circumstance, and few at the club seem to have any semblance of control over the situation in order to effect significant change.

This is what makes our predicament so very frustrating, and the fans' anger so aimless and misdirected. Mr Gibbs and the Rhodes' clan are operating within the continuing confines of administration and, beyond that with seemingly no income whatsoever. Take Saturday as an example. An attendance in the low 13 000 is not going to generate any income worthy of the name for the club. Near 8500 of these supporters are loyal season ticket holders, whose money has already been precariously booked and balanced by the club during the summer. Allowing for the reasonable away support provided by Sheffield United (by no means a weekly event to have 3000 travelling fans at VP), this leaves around 1500 - 2000 paying supporters. This is clearly not going to generate the type of money that the club so desperately needs.

It is certainly unlikely to provide Nicky Law with the type of revenue to bolster his amazingly depleted squad. Since his appointment from relative obscurity, such were the cries for the elusive "big name" following JJ's unceremonious departure, Law has done much to impress the level headed City supporter. The injection of much needed youth into our aged squad, his knowledge of the lower leagues and his ability to operate within financial constraints are all to his credit. Most City fans would confess they have a lot of time for Nicky Law. The problem is that Nicky Law is fast running out of time. Results are absolutely diabolical. Despite the victories over Rotherham and Norwich - both of which we tried our best to throw away late on - most home games have signalled an inability to finish off teams who, more often than not, have had fewer players on the park than us. Coventry, Preston, Derby were all there for the taking and we managed three points from nine. Likewise, in spite of the victory at Portman Road, away form has been far from acceptable.

So, with boardroom and management incapable of effecting change, surely it is the players that need turn the situation around. It shouldn't always be the manager who takes the blame; it's eleven vs. eleven out there on a Saturday and they should stand up and be counted. However, City fans don't really even have the players to direct their criticism at. As Law is keen to stress, and rightly so I think, our best and most significant players are all in the treatment room. Whatever opinion we may hold of those "overpaid", "want-away", "senior", "professionals", it is our sorry plight to need these players in the team, as Saturday's debacle so unambiguously demonstrated. And this is why the players who are currently out there wearing the stripes cannot really be held accountable either. A back four on Saturday with less experience than most supporters of professional football, all worked tirelessly, but will continue to make schoolboy errors because they are, after all, only schoolboys. If there were one area I would target, it would be the midfield as our current problem area. If there is any criticism to be levelled surely it must be here. The role of the midfield is simple. Protect the back four (especially when so obviously inexperienced) and support the front two (when so obviously struggling to create opportunities or convert those that come along). The midfield of recent weeks has provided none of these services. Sadly, it is to the likes of Mr Paul Evans as the one senior head in there that must take charge of this out on the field. And, again sadly, he is very incapable. It is hard to shout at youngsters who are finding their feet in the game, but for a member of an international squad and of many years experience to be so dreadful and ineffective so often is surely worthy of the fans' anger. The strike force, what there is, will always struggle due to the lack of support provided by the midfield. Gray works hard but is too weak and non-clinical in the box, whilst Town-boy Facey seems like a total charlatan. No service to him, fair enough, but the wonder that was Michael Proctor proved that by hard work and chasing down the opposing defence, it was possible to create one's own chances.

The game on Saturday flagged up all of these issues. And crucially one other. Released in the summer, which Bradford fan there on Saturday did not feel like McCall should still be with us? He tirelessly controlled the midfield, helping out the youngsters Brown and Tongue with his experience and guile, whilst creating the first goal and playing a part in others. He was, as he always was, majestic in the midfield and the gap he has left has been so inadequately filled.

Despite all these areas for criticism, as I say, it is hard to get worked up and vitriolic at the state of our beloved club. For as McCall himself said during the week, it is just a relief to still have a club to support. This is what lies at the heart of the current crisis facing the club. Not that there aren't obvious problems to address, but that those who could and should address them have their hands tied on so many levels - be it cash, injuries or inexperience. The fans are disappointed and frustrated, because there are few outlets for them to vent their obvious anger. Shouting at the players will only harm their confidence, based as it is on very little experience. Calling for the head of Nicky Law is likewise misguided. He is doing arguably one the most difficult jobs in England at the moment and it is hard to imaging a scramble to replace him were he to be forced out the door. The boardroom is only a few months old and does appear to show some altruism towards the club, despite all past mismanagements. Faced with this it is time for the supporters to do what they have done throughout the summer. Stay loyal, expect the worst and we'll get through just fine. Isn't that what been a Bradford fan is all about?

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