The James Ramsden Column

Friday 19 April, 2002

It went wrong up front

The curtain is finally drawn on the season, unfortunately the film being shown wasn't 'Return to Paradise' or ' Top Gun' but rather 'Close Encounters'. We watched the 'Great Escape' two seasons ago when Wethers scored that goal, but this season it was a bit too close for comfort.

So what went wrong? We had an experienced team proven to beat anyone on our day (remember Chelsea 2-0- great, Leicester 3-1, er ok) but this season we just didn't click. I think the WBA game last week just about summed it up. I had the pleasure of chatting to the great man in the players bar after his last ever home game, and he summed it up 'that's what we'll be like next season (at this point, it was heart rendering to hear him correct himself and say) 'that's what Bradford will be like next season, very difficult to beat but struggling to score goals'. I couldn't agree with Stuart more.

Newcastle proved that if you have a dodgy defence- make up for it by scoting more goals than the opposition. This is what we didn't do. For most of the season we have had a suspect defence and it didn't help that for most of the season also, we had a dodgy defender playing up front aswell. Lets get back to the good old days when we had two quality strikers upfront...

Ormondroyd & Leonard:

The sight of seeing 'sticks' playing up front was enough to make most defences piss their pants laughing, hardly graceful- 'Bambi on Ice' springs to mind- but very effective. Knocking it down from eight feet in the air for Mark Leonard to smash the centre back in the face with his elbows and the ball into the net. Torpey & McCarthy: Not always the fans favourite, but once again very effective in the air. Combined with Mcarthy's finishing power they always got goals.

Torpey & Jewell:

What can you say about 'jaggers' playing career other than goals? I remember when I was about 16 I used to keep a chart on my wall listing all the fixtures results & scores etc. I went on holiday for two weeks and asked my sister to fill it in for me. When I got back she asks 'who Jewell, he must be really good, cos I've put his name on the chart about seven times'. Getting my sister interested in football- quality, enough said.

Steiner & Edinho:

Cosmopolitan duo, but with the style of good old fashioned English centre forwards. Steiner didn't feature much, but will be remembered for his goal against Everton in the FA Cup. Edinho of course, thanks to this site lives on.The barrel chested Brazilain displayed great skills and linked up well with a target man. What ever happened to him?

Mills & Blake:

Should have been re named Mills & Boon because they were such a love story. Lee Mils had his critics when he first arrived. I loved him because Ladbrokes gave me 15/1 on him scoring 20+ goals and us getting promoted on a £20 bet (yes thats £320) We all loved him because of the link up he forged with Blakey. Mills's height and finishing combined with Blakey's close control and vision made us Premiership favourites the minute they clicked. Shame it didn't happen in the Premiership.

Ward & Blake:

Why didn't this work? Looking back up the list we can see an equation- big man + little man = goals. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Robbie chucked his toys out of the pram, maybe he was missing Lee, but for some reason he didn't do himself justice in the Premiership. Looked class this season (Preston goal?) but is now warming his (large) bum on the Burnley bench. More on Ward later.

Tod & Ward:

Never should have been allowed to happen. Maths lesson again- big man + big man = a lot of headers but not much else. Should never have happened.

Wardy & ?:

So who next? Ward may not be with us next season. I can't see Barnsley paying Premiership wages when they are in division two, so it look like we've got him for another season. I don't think its a bad thing. He's had his critics but I think it's because he's not had the striking partner or service he needs. Lets get someone quick and tricky with him up front- Greenacre, Burt, Thorne, and stick Cads out on the wing with Ethers on the other (Beni swap deal?) and Wardy can knock the ball either A. into the net or B. into his strike partner path. If we sort this out then next seasons goal tally will make Man City look like Arsenal of the 90's.

Lets hope we can sort it out next season. Our defence is looking a lot better and Bower is definately one for the future. If we can now start scoring goals every game we can go up. Lets get the Promotion ethos back at the club- we knew we were going to win no matter if they scored first.

Remember the equation: big man + little man = goals. More goals than the other team = Victory. Victory = Promotion.

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