Thursday 31 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Three struggling for City

Michael Standing, who is the great-nephew of Brighton chairman Dick Knight, Andy Myers and Gus Uhlenbeek are struggling to be fit for the game on Saturday. Recently Standing has featured on the bench but has not been able to play. Nicky Law illustrated the problems with injury City are having saying "Michael Standing was on the bench, but we couldn't use him because of the injury. He couldn't even do the warm-up and was just there to fill up the numbers. With Gus Uhlenbeek and Andy Myers struggling as well, the big problem we have now is getting a squad big enough to travel tomorrow. It's a problem we keep getting because of the injuries. We know that it is a difficult situation as we can't just go out and bring players in and again we'll just have to try and get on with it."

Reserves lose

Aidan Davison made his comeback through in the reserves as they lost 3-0 to Blackburn Rovers with Marc Richards scoring two of the home side's goals and Jimmy Corbett the other. City fielded two trialists namely Mark Danks from Wolves and Sunderland's Ross Marchant.

Lawrence back in training

A refreshed Jamie Lawrence has rejoined light training following his broken ankle. He hopes to come back for the Gillingham home game in a few weeks which is also the game David Wetehrall has targetted for his comeback.

Centenary strip

City are reported to be planning to release a strip for the 2003-2004 centenary season that will be the home shirt for that year only. The club are looking at designs but could go for the hooped Rugby style shirt that the Bantams inherited from Manningham RFC 100 years previous.

BfB, for what it is worth, would like to see the 1987-1988 stripes with a panel shirt as worn my Stuart McCall, John Hendrie et al brought back.

Former City man goes, Former City man to replace?

Former Bradford City boss Terry Yorath has left Sheffield Wednesday after a series of rubbish results. Yorath joined the Owls with Paul Jewell and took over when the former City boss was sacked. Yorath, who is a fine coach but not that good a manager, could rejoin Jewell at Wigan.

Former Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday man Chris Waddle has thrown his hat into the ring to replace Yorath as has one time Owl and England forward David Hirst.

Wednesday 30 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward "knocked from pillar to post" says Law

Nicky Law vented at Referees? Well I never. City's Doctor Evil-esque manager was ticked off that target man Ashley Ward got nothing except a booking for complaining from last night's Referee. Law said "Wardy got knocked from pillar to post by their two centre-halves and got nothing. That's not me whingeing but you just ask for 50-50 decisions and I don't think he got it. He shouldn't get booked but it's frustrating when you are up there the whole 90 minutes getting pushed around and not getting any protection. But it's the same every week. Wardy is not a malicious player, he's up there and has a go and gets very few decisions."

Stephen Warnock agreed saying "He was very hard done by the ref who gave him absolutely nothing. Wardy should easily have had two penalties. He clearly got dragged back by his shirt on one occasion and then there was another when he got jumped on in the box. But the referee didn't want to know as usual."

Law was impressed with Reading's version of Ashley Ward saying "The real difference in the two teams was Forster who was the best striker I've seen this year. He is clever, holds the ball up, has pace, he's got everything and caused us a lot of problems. He could have had a few goals."

We got no culture here?

Bradford has fallen at the 12 to 6 stage in the bid to become City of Culture for 2008. Does this mean we should give up trying to do cool stuff like the Beech in Centenary Square? Of course not. BfB says that the Bradford 2008 bid made Bradfordians look at the City and the posertive aspects of coming from Bradford. For me it represents money well spent and if we can keep the spirit of the bid going then in 2008 we will have a much better Bradford than we did when we started the bid two years ago.

So who is the captial of culture? Well unless you have something in your City to match the Sisteen Chapple then it's not you.

Tuesday 29 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood and Roland Harris in Reading

City fail to nick the point

Bantams lose 1-0 at Reading

Steve Banks saved a penalty to illustrate City's doggedness in defence at Reading but the Bantams ended up on the wrong end of a one nil scoreline at the Majeski Stadium.

Law down that London

Nicky Law watched Spurs reserves beat Chelsea's second string 2-0 on Monday night with TeamTalk suggesting that the Bantam boss had gone to cast an eye over Tottenham's 18 year old Belgian forward Jonathan Blondel. Blondel is one of those hotly tipped European kids that Premiership clubs sign up and free a few years later.

About Jonathan Blondel

Belgian right sided attacking midfielder born on the 3rd of April, 1984. Signed for Tottenham in July 2002 from Belgian First Division side Royal Excelsior Mouscron who offered him a professional contract at the age of 17. Made 18 appearances for Mouscron, helping them to the cup final and a UEFA Cup place through the league. Captain of Belgium's under-19 squad. Four year deal with Spurs. Rejected trials at both Manchester United and Schalke 04.

Law's anorak

City boss Nicky Law has made a mockery of his "old fashion tracksuit manager image" by admitting that he uses modern techniques such as the OPTA stats to give him a view on his players. Law confessed "It sounds a bit anorak-ish but we studied the figures afterwards and the pass ratio of Warnock and Reid was exceptional. They must have passed the ball 40 times and wasted very little. I also thought Andy Gray had his best game for a while. We counted he got in nine crosses now the challenge is to go out there and beat that."

Wetherall's hip

David Wetherall hopes to be back from injury in five weeks after an operation on the hip that has kept him out since the start of the season. The City skipper is targeting the home game with Gillingham for his comeback.

Bower's stadium

Mark Bower passed comment on the nice-when-you-get-there Majeski Stadium saying "It's great to play in. Some of these new grounds look the same and lack a bit of character but Reading seems a bit different and there should be a decent atmosphere there." It is fair to say that part of the joy of following City away from home has gone with the emergence of the Riverside/Pride Par/Walkers Bowl style stadium. The sameness of the situation takes away from the pleasure of the experience. Without wanting to sound too much like an old duffer bemoaning the passing of the days when you could not see the pitch properly I have to say that I am glad that I am of an age that I got to experience the old school style of football ground such as Ayresome Park and The Baseball Ground before stadium hegemony began.

Monday 28 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wetherall under the knife again

The prospect of David Wetherall playing for City in the near future receded further after the skipper had an operation to rectify his hip injury. Wetherall's hip injury combined with his groin problem have kept him out of regular action for the Bantams since he was injured in the game before Jim Jefferies took chrage of the club over two years ago.

Flu hits Reading

Reading boss Alan Pardew has revealed that half of his first teamers are suffering from the flu and may not be at 100% in Tuesday game with City. "I'll see what I've got, I won't pick anyone who's under the weather. There are three or four but I don't want to name them." said Pardew.

Banks: My secret penalty technique

City's penalty hero Steve Banks thanked Bolton goalkeeping coach Fred Barber for teaching him the knack of saving spot kicks "It's something he has worked out with the goalkeepers at Bolton. He's told us to look for a certain thing before penalties and you tend to guess right, although I'm not going to say what it is. I dived the right way but I still thought Roberts was going to score from the rebound when it bounced back to the middle of the goal. I could see him bearing down on it to get an easy tap-in. I tried to get up as quick as possible and threw myself at it and luckily it hit my arm. But I'd still no idea where the ball was going to end up, I was just praying for it to go over the bar and it was like slow-motion waiting to find out." BfB knows the technique for saving penalties but would add that it does rely on the centreforward not having much between the ears. Step forward Iwan Roberts.

On the month he has left of his time at City Banks said "I remember two years ago playing like this but since then my career hasn't gone how I wanted it to go. Hopefully now I'm on an upward curve again. It's just a shame I've only got a few weeks left but you never know what's round the corner. I'm enjoying playing for Bradford and this gets me in the shop window because I'm free to leave Bolton."

Reid comes in, is Evans breaking the Law?

Nicky Law was overjoyed with Paul Reid's debut and his attitude since joining the club and has hinted that City would liek to extend the Aussie's contract until teh end of the season. "Reid has come in and been patient, I felt this was an ideal opportunity to put him into the side after last week's poor performance from the team. He's proving to be another good find and he was unlucky not to score a hat-trick. He has now got the shirt and I hope he keeps it for the rest of the season." Such talk suggests that Law is far from happy with Paul Evans, who's role Reid has taken in the side. Evans angered Law with the exchanges at Sheffield Wednesday with Wayne Jacobs and was left on the bench on Saturday against Norwich. When Stephen Warnock returns to Liverpool the Bantams will have a midfield slot open but if the freeze between Evans and Law continues the former Brentford skipper might not be the man to fill it.

Sunday 27 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

In at four

Paul Reid's entry to the greatest Bradford City debuts of recent years...

Law looking at Proctor replacement

Nicky Law is looking to replace Michael Proctor as a loanee at Valley Parade. The T&A are suggesting that Aston Villa's unneeded former City target Michael Boulding, who scored for Grimsby at VP last year, while other people are of the opinion that Law's use of Cadamarteri up front against Norwich suggests that he will play the Cleckheaton one in the forward line and seek a new left winger. Leeds' Jason Wilcox has been suggested.

Bradford want to come back

In their final season in the league Bradford (Park Avenue) played at Valley Parade. BPA boss Trevor Storton thinks it would be a good idea if the Unibond League side did it again. Now the Bulls have gone and City need the cash he may have a point.

Saturday 26 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Reiding, righting and arithmetic

New boy Reid gets two as Bantams beat Canaries 2-1

Aussie Paul Reid made his debut for Bradford City scoring two to see off a Norwich side that had not been beaten away since March as the Bantams ran out 2-1 winners at Valley Parade.

Friday 25 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Post hoc ergo Proctor hoc

Michael Proctor will play his final game, for the moment, for Bradford City after new Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson refused to allow the player a third month of loan. Proctor, who scored four in his first eleven games for the Bantams, will sign off for City against Norwich on Saturday, took a level headed view of his return to the North East "It's a double-edged sword. I've always maintained that I'd love to go back to Sunderland and have a future there but at the same time I'm enjoying myself at Bradford and playing First Division football."

Sunderland's actions leave City with the relatively toothless Ashley Ward/Danny Cadamarteri partnership leaving Nicky Law the question of who will replace Proccy on the field and in the hearts of City fans?

Cadders!

Danny Cadamarteri returns from suspension but was never the sharpest in front of goal. He has a fair chance of getting the place up front but will never get the love that Proctor enjoyed because Prcotor's popularity was based on the fact that he looked like scoring often, Cadders never looks like scoring even when he is in the process of doing so.

Forrest-y

Danny Forrest does some good stuff for the reserves but is much younger than Proctor and would need an Owen/Rooney level of ability to come straight into a First Division side that creates no more than five chances a game and look good. Local lad and mad keen Bantam though so he has a great chance of winning the hearts of the locals.

The Dankster

Mark Danks? Who Hell he? The trialist from Wolves who scored twice for the reserves in the week. He is young, he is quick and he seems to know where the goal is. Law is keen to see Danks play again and City fans will be hoping that the Bantam boss has unearthed a goalscoring Tom Kearney and we all know how much we like Tom Kearney.

Many moons ago City borrowed Wembley skipper Eddie Youds off Premiership Ipswich. New Tractor boss George Burley recalled Youds after his side were beaten 9-0 at Old Trafford. Within a month Youds was back at City. Most at Valley Parade hope that Proctor will be a roaring success at the Stadium of Light and will hold down a place in Wilkinson's side however it would come as little surprise if when Kevin Phillips was fit the striker who bagged goals in claret and amber was left on the sidelines once more. Perhaps then Proctor will be looking for a first team football again and perhaps a deal could be struck to bring him back to Valley Parade. Such a deal probably would not involve Ashley Ward going in the opposite direction though.

Davison back in squad. Will he start?

Aidan Davison returned to the City squad for the game with Norwich allowed Dave Beasent to leave the club. Beasent, who never got a game for City in the month he was at Valley Parade, had moved onto Paul Jewell's Wigan side.

Davison whoever will be looking at getting back between the stick for City as soon as possible. Steve Banks has done nothing extraordinary to suggest that he should be an automatic choice for the number one shirt although one could arge that Davison never does either. One gets the feeling that both can pass the job of City keeper around until either Gary Walsh is fit or Alan Combe's contract expires.

Morgan and Lee go out to impress

Andy Lee and Robert Morgan have joined Farsley Celtic of the Unibond Premier League with a remit to get competitive games under their belts and impress Nicky Law. Law is believed to be a big fan of Morgan and feels that the youngster has the potential to join the City starting eleven within the next few seasons. Both players have joined on an initial one month's loan.

Murray red removed

While Danny Cadamarteri returns from a three match ban this weekend for his non-elbow on a Burnley player another recent red card, Derby's Adam Murray, also gets to play this weekend. Murrays tackle in the last minute of the Derby game earned him a straight red card and rightly so, it almost snapped the City man in half. However after the same panel of six that saw Cadamarteri stand next to a man who got the ball in his face watched the horror tackle by Murray the Derby midfielder had his card withdrawn.

Quite how anyone could say that Murray does not deserve to be sent off for that tackle is beyond me, what is worrying through is that the justice system in football seems closed to certain players. One opinion has it that had Murray been the elbow man then he would have been let off and that Danny Cadamarteri, with his reputation, could not get let off a parking fine if he proved he did not have a car. There is a word for that and the word is hypocrisy.

Thursday 24 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law: I wouldn't pay good money to watch that!

Nicky Law still has not calmed down about last week's Sheffield Wednesday game which is no doubt a good thing. With an eye on the Norwich game on Saturday Law continued to fume "We took a lot of supporters to Sheffield and I feel very sorry for them. We gave them absolutely zilch to get excited about. If I was in their position I would have walked out 20 minutes from the end. I'm surprised nobody did and I wouldn't have blamed them (I saw a few going- MW). Hopefully we will get a reaction from the players in the Norwich game. If we don't then we're going to get a good hiding."

Law frothed "Saturday is a great chance to repay the fans. They have been great this year and stuck by us after the very difficult summer that we all experienced. I genuinely do feel sorry for those supporters who paid out good money to travel and support us, only to have to watch that because it was nowhere near good enough. I appreciate people work damn hard for their money and going to football is not cheap. I've reminded the players about that and I hope they respond in the right manner against Norwich." I'm sure that £18,000 a week Ashley Ward got the point.

Wednesday 23 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Gray mulls it over

Andy Gray mulled over the Sheffield Wednesday defeat saying "We've got to get the Sheffield Wednesday game out of our systems straight away. We had one of those sort of games at Wrexham in the Worthington Cup and bounced back immediately to win at Walsall. Hopefully we can go out and do the same in the Norwich game, but Sheffield Wednesday was an absolute shocker. They were desperate to win because of their position, but that is no excuse on our part. We've all had to look closely at our own performances and none of us did ourselves justice."

BfB worries that this game is being over analysed. When QPR marched into Valley Parade in 1998 and tanked us 3-0 you would have not given the Bantams a hope of staying in the division based one that single display however over the 46 games we were promoted to the Premiership. City were poor on Saturday, but lets not overplay one result to discredit how well the team has done this season in difficult circumstances.

Tricky Trev gets the charge

Way back when City drew 1-1 with Crystal Palace at the start of the season Palace boss "Tricky" Trevor Francis was reported to the FA for "[Hitting] reserve keeper Alex Kolinko on the head after the Palace stopper apparently laughed when Bradford scored." Tricky was formally charged this morning and the FA are expected to end up fining the Palace boss and warning him about his future conduct. The Police investigated the incident but Trev was not charged.

Tuesday 22 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams reserves get first win of the season

A late Michael Standing goal gave City's second string a first win of the season over Sheffield Wednesday 4-3 at Valley Parade. Hero of the night was Wolves trialist Mark Danks who scored two with Juanjo getting the other.

Paul Evans and Wayne Jacobs were punished for the bust up at Wednesday proper on Saturday with appearances tonight. Danny Cadamarteri came back from suspension with an appearance.

Law on Sheffield Wednesday: Arrggh!

Nicky Law has let the defeat to Sheffield Wednesday sink in and is not best pleased. The City boss said"I had watched it twice already and I didn't see why the players should get away with it. I can't say we went out there deliberately not to perform but we were second best in everything from the opening kick-off. It's an accumulation of things but I think our lads have got it too comfortable at the moment. The expectation level is not high from the football world, that's not the case with me."

Law bemoaned the fact that he had no other players he could put in the side to punish the poorer performers on Saturday. Danny Cadamarteri will be back for Saturday and Aussie Paul Reid has yet to really feature for City. Law is right to be angry at the recent poor displays but such displays have coincided with the switch from 442 to 352/532. Reid and Cadamarteri allow Law the chance to switch back to the formation that seemed to have a better balance for the visit of Norwich City. Should the Bantams win that game it will no doubt be put down to the backside smashing that Law has done in the week but BfB is not sure how much blame the City boss should take for what has been a losing formation change.

Monday 21 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law: Play like that and we will be relegated

Nicky Law fired a warning at the Bantams after the meek surrender at Sheffield Wednesday that anymore performances like that will result in relegation. Law said "If we'd won the games we've been drawing 1-1 and 0-0 then we could quite easily be up in the play-off places. But then again, if you start losing a few of the tight games like Saturday you will be at the wrong end of the table and we're all aware of that. You can have an off day but you shouldn't be outfought like we were on Saturday. That's uncharacteristic of my team. Wednesday died for the cause but we weren't up for it."

Premiership bail out?

Word around football has it that the Premiership clubs and the FA are preparing a £15m help package for Nationwide league clubs to try keep the game afloat under the top level. Reports today suggested that only seven clubs in football: Arsenal, Blackburn, Liverpool, Manchester United, Middlesborough, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, are not in danger of having follow Leicester City into administration, the Foxes going the way that the Bantams went in the summer today.

City stand to get around £400,000 from this pay out, the First Division once again taking the lion's share of the money, which depressingly enough will pay only Ashley Ward for some 230 days.

We are such idiots

Apologises to all who found a broken link when looking at the Sheffield Wednesday report today. Read the match report here.

Sunday 20 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Former Bantams in the News #1: Schwartzer waiting for the great leap forward

Former City man Mark Schwartzer is reportedly being targeted by by Arsenal to replace the hapless ponytail and by Manchester United to replace the hapless lack of hair. Bidding starts at £6m, here is hoping that Geoffrey Richmond and Chris Kamara sorted out a sell on clause.

Former Bantams in the News #2: Sharpe on the wagon

Lee Sharpe is set to join Saudi Arabian giants Al-Ani on a three month deal to take him up to the start of the MLS in January. Saudi Aribia has very strict laws on drinking and one imagines their application of Lee's other "activities" would be fairly low so perhaps the Middle East will see the best play from the could have been so good winger.

Former Bantams in the News #3: Stan finds new low in Sven-gate

Stan Collymore is hoping that the Ulrika/Sven stories will generate interest the home movie of the former Bantam and the former weather girl in, erm, action. Stan's production company are said to want well into six figures for access to the video. No red top had bitten yet.

Law target Liverpool bound

Another of Nicky Law's targets looks set to bypass the First Division. Peterborough's Jimmy Bulland has interested Liverpool who will make a move in the transfer window.

Saturday 19 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Yorath gets one over on Law

Bantams lose 2-1 to ten man Wednesday

If Nicky Law is to replace Terry Yorath in the Sheffield Wednesday hot seat then the Welshman got his revenge in early as he and his Sheffield Wednesday team out thought and out fought Bradford City 2-1.

Friday 18 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

One time Bantam faces the bag

As Terry Yorath faces the sack should his Sheffield Wednesday team not get a result against City this weekend Nicky Law made failed to take a position on the question of his future at Valley Parade should the Owls come looking for him. Speaking mainly about Yorath Law said "There are a few positions to be filled and I'm going to get linked with them until anything concrete happens, if it does but I've got a job to do here which I enjoy and I'll carry on. There is only one certainty about football management and that is that one day you will get the sack. You can't come into the game with your rose-tinted glasses, you know the consequences of failure. There aren't going to be many Dario Gradis, because of the nature of the game now. If you're frightened of the sack you wouldn't come into this job. You don't worry about it and just do the job to the best of your ability. At the end of the day if that's not good enough, then you hold your hands up."

On the weekend game Law commented "If we're fortunate enough to go there and win, it isn't going to be that game that got him dismissed. Losing to us might be the final straw but it is what has gone on before. There is a lot of pressure there and we've got to make sure we can apply some more and try to turn the supporters against them. When they start jeering against the players, it's not the greatest place to be."

Lies, damn lies and rumours

The rumour says Jason Wilcox to City on a 66% of wages paid by Leeds deal? Could happen I guess but best not get the name on shirt just yet.

Thursday 17 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law contemplates putting Gray through the middle

Nicky Law wants Andy Gray to get more goals and intends to swap him with Paul Evans in the forward midfield role. in the 532 three man midfield. Said Law "There isn't an obvious goalscorer from midfield in the Eoin Jess mould. When Jess was here he was probably the only one who did that and we need to get someone else who can play that position. Gray might be the man if he is playing down the middle.

Law summed up the balance problem City are having saying "We don't look like we are going to get beaten. But equally we don't really look as if we are going to score and that's something we have to change. You saw in the Leicester and Portsmouth games that we were as good as them until they scored. But when you are on top you have to take advantage."

Wednesday 16 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Davison suffers setback

Aidan Davison will be out for a further month after he broke down in training.

Wednesday link to Law?

Word has it that Nicky Law will be on the Sheffield Wednesday short list to replace former City man Terry Yorath at Hillsborough. Ronnie Moore is thought to be first choice. Wednesday are £23m in debt and the thinking in South Yorkshire would seem to be that the former Chesterfield boss is good at dealing with clubs that have no money and face administration or at least some hard times.

Law's response to the rumours was to praise some of the Owl's squad saying "People will probably put two and two together and I can't do anything about that. Sheffield Wednesday have got some decent players like Shefki Kuqi, Simon Donnelly and Leigh Bromby but for some reason they haven't really performed." This would be a curious retort from Law were it not for how often the City boss does answer questions by picking out three decent players and praising them.

Nevertheless it is something of a worry that Law may leave City ten months into the job he has started at Valley Parade but it does seem unlikely that Law would make such an obvious sidestep to another cash strapped first division club.

Being Nicky Law: Week Two

Read more from the pages of the Bradford City manager's secret diary in Being Nicky Law...

Monday 7th October.

Took the dog for a walk this morning. He can hardly walk, so we took it slow. He's doing well for his age - I read once that dog years are about 9 of ours, which makes him 119! I had a few important calls to do, so I passed the dog onto Big Bob Molenaar, who was doing a few laps - hopefully it shouldn't slow him down - I told Rover to take it easy. Read more.

Smithy!

Good old Alan Smith. He misses open goals, he hits shots straight at the keeper, he gets send off. If you see him, shoot him.

Tuesday 15 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City to look like race car?

Gordon Gibb has come up with a novel way for the Bantams to earn extra cash, he would like the club's shirt to be able to carry a second sponsor. The practice of multiple sponsorship is against football league rules although is common in Rugby League. The Bradford Bulls may look like a Formula One car with logos and the like all over but if as Gibb hopes the extra income could be used to add to City's allowed £100,000 budget this season then more power to his elbow.

Ward goes up, Ward goes down

Rumours about Ashley Ward's future continue in a frenzied fashion. Will he join Sunderland in a swap for Michael Proctor as Dave Pendleton of the City Gent suggests, will be become player manager of Barnsley as Chris Armstrong of CityGent.com thinks or will he sit on his overpaid arse at City missing sitters for fun and crying off injured when his suntan fades as BfB might suggest?

Cadamarteri adds to calls to keep Proctor

Danny Cadamarteri has added to the calls from City fans and player for the club to try keep Michael Proctor for as long as possible. There is speculation that new Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson would like to take the player back to assess him although others have also commented that the best way for Howard to see what the young striker is like would be for him to visit Valley Parade ona match day.

Monday 14 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Reserves break losing run at Newcastle

City's second string broke the five game losing run with a 3-3 draw at Newcastle. Michael Standing scored a penalty after Danny Forrest was brought down the offending defender being sent off with his side two Michel Chopra goals up. Danny Forrest got back into goal form by finishing a sloppy back pass by former Bantam Stephen Caldwell.

Chopra nabbed the fifth goal of the half with a strike just before half time. Paul Reid scored a thumping volley direct form a corner in the second half to give Ian Banks side a first result in six matches.

Gibb: Law must wait for contract

Gordon Gibb has confirmed that he will sit down to talk about a new deal with Nicky Law but with the Bantam's boss having one and a half years to run on his current deal Gibb is in no hurry. Perhaps Gibb has noticed that City managers normally do not last past 18 months.

Ward: we need more goals

Ashley Ward bemoaned the lack of goals over recent weeks saying "We need to rediscover our scoring spark. Derby was frustrating because like a lot of the drawn games we were the better side and should have won. When you look at the points that have gone missing then we could be much higher up the table. Last year everyone was saying that if we kept clean sheets we'd be a good side. We were top scorers in the league but shipping in too many. It used to be 4-3 or 3-2 either way and now it's 0-0 or 1-1. It's difficult to find the balance and we need to work harder on the creative side of the game."

Ward who had glaring misses against Preston and Derby that would have given City wins had he scored, said "We got into good positions but didn't select the right ball. We'd shoot when we maybe should have crossed, and looked for a cross when the shot was on. Although we were on top, there were only two or three scrambles at the end of it and no real clear-cut chances."

Speaking about his striker partner Ward said "It would be nice if we could keep him [Michael Proctor] for the season if that's possible. Proc gives us another option up there and has played ever so well - and we need all the players we can get."

Grimsby want Jamie?

Transfer rumours. Used to be that a football site could live off them. Now you hardly hear them because no one has the money to buy anyone's players. However just so you know word has it that cash strapped Grimsby Town are keen on Jamie Lawrence although how they intend to buy him is anyone's guess.

Sunday 13 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law target Celtic bound?

Stockport's 17 year old winger Andrew Welsh, a former Nicky Law target, is being hunted by Celtic.

Fishlock pays tribute to Law

Craig Fishlock, who is to sign Professional terms with City, has paid tribute to manager Nicky Law for helping him overcome the injury he feared would end his career and improving him as a player. Fishlock revealed the extent of Nicky Law's Chesterfield scouting saying "I worried that the new boss would not know anything about me but when I met him he told me he had heard good things about me and told me to get fit."

0898 sacked

One of the managers sacked last week was not shown his cards for bad results as the club had said but rather for spending the club's money calling 0898 premium phonelines. Of course the lawyers have gagged the id of the man in question but here at BfB we only report news based on Bradford City players, staff and would be assistant managers.

Saturday 12 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Another draw as City get the balance wrong

0-0 draw at home to two off Derby

Nicky Law tipped his scales between attack and defence wrongly and although City kept Derby at bay the Bantams never looked like claiming a win in the 0-0 draw at Valley Parade.

Police move into Kop

The trouble that has been brewing between standing City fans and club stewards over the past year spilled over and causing the Police to move into the Kop. More on this is the coming days but Roland Harris kicks off comment saying It's the ticket, stupid.

Ward for Proctor! That's Howard's way

Michael Proctor was being watched by Sunderland scouts today but one rumour has it that the on loan forward might not have been the only Bantam forward interesting the new management team at The Satdium of Light. Rumour says that Howard Wilkinson is keen to replace Niall Quinn with Ashley Ward, offering Michael Proctor in a straight swap. Bite his hand off City!

Friday 11 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jobs come up, Law should stay

Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke. Everyone seems to be fumbling with managers at the moment and the name Nicky Law seems to be on a few lists of possible replacements. Law has done good work since joining City and chairmen must look at City's 41 year old boss and imagine tempting him with a chance to do his job without the financial shackled that he wears at City. Law makes the right noises about staying but would appreciate contract talks, talks that Julian Rhodes seems happy to hold. Rhodes said "I've spoken to Nicky and he said he is very happy to be here. We are going to have a look at the contract issue but I don't know the situation with regards the supervision we are under. This speculation is pleasing in one aspect because it shows we have a successful manager. If Nicky wasn't seen to be doing a good job then his name would not keep appearing but it is annoying as well because it unsettles everybody at the club to see our manager always mentioned in these stories."

All of which is a long way from the day that Nicky Law arrived at Valley Parade to a chorus of "Who?" Michael Wood reflects on Law at VP, on the trend for young managers and on what Nicky Law should do if he really wants to get on in football: Everybody's most wanted.

Thursday 10 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Sleepless night

Jan Molby, who turned down the chance to be Paul Jewell's assistant manager at City in 1998, was sacked by Hull City last night with the Tigers boss Adam Pearson promising a new manager by the morning. Pearson is a confirmed fan of Nicky Law and while it is unlikely that the City boss would jump ship down two divisions you never know. Work reporting but as Nick Ross would say, "Don't have nightmares."

Law has been linked to a number of jobs and there is speculation that Sheffield Wednesday want him to replace Terry Yorath who they intend to sack this weekend. Gordon Gibb has shrugged off speculation about Law leaving saying "I am not concerned by [the speculation], in fact I am pleased that people are linking him with jobs elsewhere because it only confirms what the board here at Bradford have already said about him. He is a terrific young manager with a great future ahead of him both in the game and at Bradford City."

Fishlock offered pro deal

Promising youngster Craig Fishlock has been offered a professional contract by City after recovering from a serious knee injury. Signing Fishlock is another indication of City's attempts to focus on youth in the future.

City want to keep Proctor

City would like to retain Michael Proctor for a third month and hope that new Sunderland boss Howard Wilkinson (Bwha-ha-ha!) will be receptive to the clubs request. Considering that City are dealing with the man who sold Cantona for twenty quid and a packet of crisps one would suggest that the Bantams have a decent opportunity.

Julian Rhodes confirmed that City want to extend the loan of four in eight starts Proctor saying "Ideally we would like to take him for the rest of the season but we do have this problem with our £100,000 wages limit. At the moment we've used up about £66,000 or two-thirds of that."

In what is being seen as a pointed jibe at Ashley Ward Rhodes concluded his praise of Proctor saying "He is a very clever striker who doesn't just run into the six-yard area and hope for the best."

City miss out on the new breed of player

City have missed out on signing Fitzroy Simpson, currently of Walsall, who is part of a growing breed of footballer who lives on week to week contracts and moves club for a better offer. One cannot but help feel that not getting Simpson might be fore the best. This new breed are the football equivalent of contractors and we all know how much we hate contractors and how much they rile permanent staff. The last thing City's fine dressing room spirit is someone who is so obviously mercenary coming in and upsetting the apple cart.

Town, Leicester in trouble

Leicester City suspended shares today, a move that was City's precursor to administration while West Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield Town warned that they would go into the same state City were in should they not convince the players to take 20% wage cuts, something that has angered our mate Gordon Taylor of the PFA who said that the players were being bullied into accepting lower terms.

Such talk angered the Town man David Taylor who was one of the voices calling for City to be expelled from the league in the summer. David Taylor is clearly still bitter that the Bantams survived. Factually off the mark David Taylor said "Some of the contracts handed out not too long ago are ridiculous. These players are paid far too much. In business, when your income is substantially less than your outgoings, costs have to be cut and, as for the PFA, well they were in the ludicrous situation recently where they bailed out Benito Carbone's contract. They forked out a huge amount of money for Carbone to get him off to Italy. They would have been better off subsidising the players' wages at Exeter or Torquay." Gordon Taylor and David Wetherall would no doubt argue that the PFA members at Bradford City had no less right to their Union's backing than those at the club's David Taylor mentions, even if they did get £40,000 a week.

Wednesday 09 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Warnock stays for another month

Stephen Warnock will stay at City for a second month after Liverpool allowed City to extend the midfielder's loan deal at Valley Parade. A pleased Warnock said "I really want to stay. It's not as if they [Liverpool] have got injuries there so I'm not suddenly any nearer to getting in the first team. I'd rather stay at Bradford because I'm enjoying my time here, especially the chance to play in the First Division rather than the reserves. They are a great bunch of lads to play with and, although we didn't play particularly well on Saturday, the performances have been good."

Atherton back in training next week?

Peter Atherton hopes to be back in training next week following the injury that has ruled him out for the past month.

Tuesday 08 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood and James Ramsden

Being Nicky Law

BfB is proud to present the follow to the summer's successful Bantam Brother as we open the pages of the Bradford City manager's secret diary in Being Nicky Law.

Sunday...

"Read through a few of the papers with the Mrs in bed this morning.The match reports interest me, but what I really buy them for on a Sunday, is that you can sometimes find adverts in the back regarding hair care products endorsed by Graham Gooch. There's none in this week, so I'll have to wait til next Sunday..."

Reserves lose as elbowed Evans nabs a goal

Paul Evans returned to City colours following suspension and scored for the reserves against Middlesbrough, but only after former Manchester United man Mark Wilson had left the City midfielder needing stitches in a wound following an elbowing. Wilson was not sent off but after Evans goal the game descended into a scrappy mess.

Evans' goal was sandwiched by two from Boro, one by the excellently named Arthur Bernhardt and a header by Jamie Cade who gave the Smogmen a 2-1 win.

Big star Lewis building in the reserves

Nicky Law has predicted bright things for Lewis Emanuel as the defender continues to build up his fitness in the reserves game with Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. Law siad of the left back "Lewis has got a big future, especially because there aren't that many good left-sided players around. Portsmouth have Matthew Taylor, who cost them £400,000 in the summer but clubs aren't exactly falling over for those type of players. Lewis has got something to offer going forward and I also think he is possibly a better defender than Taylor. He is one that has come through the system here, which is a real benefit to the club. And there is always the chance of a bigger financial benefit later on."

Paul Evans and Mark Bower line up for City's second string against Boro following the weekend suspensions. Dave Beasant, 108, also plays.

Monday 07 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Molenaar: Our luck has changed

Robert Molenaar looked at the last minute disallowed Preston winner on Saturday and considered how the club's luck had changed. The Dutchman commented "Perhaps we've been lucky at times but there was a spell last season where every shot on goal took a deflection and went in now it seems to be going in our favour and we are getting away with little errors or moment when the ball falls for your opponents. It's very obvious that we aren't in the same spell we had last year when we would dominate games and still lose goals."

Law happy with the point

Nicky Law was content with the point at the end of the Preston game saying "At the end we're quite happy - they've put us under a lot of pressure and possession, we never looked after the ball and made the wrong decisions sometimes but I was pleased with the fact that we stuck in and got a point out of the game. Even though we weren't at our best we still battled away and created chances. We haven't been beaten at home again - we have to make Bradford a difficult place to come, unlike last season when teams could just waltz in here and win."

The whole Richard Crewell/Gus Uhlenbeek/Ricardo Fuller incident did not trouble Law too much. The City boss expressed symapthy for the Preston forward and no surprise at the red card for Fuller saying saying "You can't raise your hands in this day and age and the referee obviously thought he did. There's no real damage done but it's deemed as violent conduct so a three-game ban as we have found to our cost in recent weeks. It's one of those injuries where you're both jostling to make sure you don't get the last touch before the ball goes out of play, and unfortunately he was just going at speed. There was certainly no malice in it, knowing Gus."

Beni gets off the mark

The week after opening his tally with his new club Como Benito Carbone was part of the unfancied side that came within two minutes of eating Juventus in Turin. Carbone's Como were denied a victory in the Stadio Del Alpi by an 88th minute Zalayeta equaliser. The week before Carbone had scored a penalty in a 1-1 home draw with Reggina. Considering the recent Italian financial problems and the cost of owning Beni one worried for Como when you see that for that home game in Serie A the Italians attracted just 7,000 supporters.

The great McCall

Ian McCall, the other McCall who played for City in the late 80s/early 90s, has made quite a career for himself in Scottish management following his curious score of games at Valley Parade. McCall has impressed with a number of clubs and is now in line for the vacant job at Dundee United should his club, Falkirk, stop rebuffing the Tangerines approaches for the former Bantam.

Sunday 06 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City notch fifth home draw of the season against Preston

North End and Bantams draw 1-1

Michael Proctor got his fourth of the season in the fifth home draw for City 1-1 against Preston North End, watched for BfB by Roland Harris.

Evans plays next week

Paul Evans has been given permission to join the Wales squad late allowing him to play in the draw against Derby next week.

Friday 04 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward and Myers back

Ashley Ward and Andy Myers are reported to be ready to return to the side ahead of schdule for the Preston North End game to cover the club's injury and suspension crisis. Nicky Law has looked at a loan signing to cover injury but has yet to move.

All eyes on Reid as the Aussie gets a start

Paul Reid is set for his first start in English football replacing Paul Evans in City's threadbare midfield, and the Aussie midfielder is hoping for support from the locals. Reid explained "One of my best mates back in Australia is a Bradford City supporter and some of his relatives are living around here. I've not got in contact with them yet but I hope they are there for the Preston game. I've heard rumours that I'll be starting although the gaffer hasn't said anything yet. But the squad is quite depleted at the moment. Making your starting debut is always very exciting especially at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium. I hope the home crowd gets on my side and gives me a lot of support and I'll try to perform well on the field."

Reid has three months left to impress Nicky Law into giving him a longer deal and has admitted that he is enjoying Valley Parade and the Bantams squad saying "I've been here a few weeks and had a couple of games on the bench without getting on, so it just felt amazing to actually be out there. It was what I've been dreaming of, playing my first ever game in the English league [against Portsmouth away last week]. It's been a real eye-opener. The atmosphere in the stadium is amazing and the football is so much quicker and more physical than in Australia. I will have to adjust to that but I think I'm capable of it. The Bradford lads have been really good with me. They are a close bunch of guys and the team spirit is there. I'm sure any team that is put out will do a good job. We'll go on to the pitch tomorrow and do it for each other."

Law bemoans the week out

Nicky Law continued his head scratching in response to City's injury problems. Law faced up to the fact that the club's Football League set budget would not allow him to bring in any more loan players. The City boss said "We couldn't get Michael Proctor and Stephen Warnock on long-term deals or they would have wiped out that budget. We've been given a pot which has to last for the rest of the season. There are plenty of players out there to use and borrow but it comes down to whether we can afford to take them. We are allowed to sign players as long as we can pay for them within our budget. Unfortunately at the minute we can't."

Boulding out of Villa

During the summer Nicky Law would have tried to sign Grimsby Town's Michael Boulding had the cash not run out so spectacularly. Boulding ended up at Graham Taylor's Aston Villa and scored on his debut in the Intertoto cup however after just two league games the former tennis pro has been told he can leave Villa Park and has headed off on a loan to Stuart McCall's Sheffield United with a view to a permanent transfer. Boulding is a life long Blade and scored on his debut for the Steel City men.

The Bosman ruling states that Aston Villa are not allowed to charge a fee for Boulding within the first year of the contract he has signed so one supposes that he will be leaving on a free. City of course would be unable to afford the player with the cash crisis at Valley Parade biting hard.

Three cheers for the driver

Three cheers for BfB cousin, driver and occasional columnist David Wood and his bride Angela who are to be wed this weekend. One small boo for them doing it on a Saturday during the season ;-)

Thursday 03 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City promise Kearney a contract

Bradford City have reitterated the desire to give injured Tom Kearney a new contract. A spokesman, speaking on the day Kearney had his cruciate operation, said "Tom's had his operation. He is out of contract in the summer but we'll definitely sort something out."

The level head speaks as the knife goes in

The cruciate operation is in most footballer's Room 101, not City's level headed Tom Kearney who took his usual measured approach saying "I'm just glad to get it out of the way. It's massively frustrating that I can't play and I want to get back as quickly as I can. But I won't do anything silly and try to rush it. I've been coming to the home games and saw the draws with Burnley and Coventry. I hate watching because I want to be out there but it's good to still feel part of the squad because they are a great bunch of lads."

On the new contract the club are reported to be keen to offer Kearney the 21 year old said "I was told when I was playing that a new deal was going to get signed. I don't know what's going to happen, though, but at the moment I'm just concentrating totally on getting myself fit. It's a bad injury but one that a lot of players have come back from. Wayne Jacobs, Robert Molenaar and Michael Proctor have all had the operation themselves and they've reassured me and told me not to worry. I'm not alone with this. It's not a one-off injury, it's happened to other people and they have bounced back so I'm determined to stay positive."

The rehabilitation of Paul Jewell

Paul Jewell's Wigan have dumped West Brom out of the league cup and stand a point off the top of the second division. Michael Wood looks at The rehabilitation of Paul Jewell.

Worrying times for the Tykes

Barnsley have gone into administration as the Football League cash crisis begins to bite. Barnsley were in the Premiership but four years ago.

Wednesday 02 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City Call Portsmouth: Fancy Ashley then?

Bradford City have cut to the chase and called the South Coast to ask Portsmouth if they are interested in signing Ashley Ward. Said Gordon Gibb "We had grown tired of dealing through the agents so we went straight to Portsmouth last Friday and asked them straight if they wanted to sign Ashley. They confirmed that the player was definitely on their list of targets but no firm offer was made to us."

Gibb: Give us players!

Gordon Gibb has asked the Football League to review the financial restrictions City are operating under because of the club's injury and suspension crisis. City have been allowed only £100,000 to spend on transfers, including loans, all season by the league and the likes of Michael Proctor and Stephen Warnock have eaten away at those funds.

Gibb would like the Football League to allow City more money for loans. Gibb said "The situation [with injuries] has got to freakish levels. If you try to pick our strongest side, there are at least seven of those players who are out at the moment. We'll confirm the fitness position with the manager and then decide whether to speak to the Football League and ask for special dispensation. We were given a cash figure at the start of the season and there is some left. But I didn't think we would be facing this position this early. Nobody could have forecast this injury situation which I understand is the worst at the club for many years."

Gibb took a pensive view at the situation considering for a moment reasons why the FL may turn down City's request "The style in which we play isn't conducive to keeping large numbers of players fit. We put our heart and soul into every fixture but inevitably that puts extreme pressure on resources."

Without wanting to go against the new chairman and our manager BfB cannot help but think that this hands up in horror "We might have to play the juniors" is a little counterproductive. What message are City sending the promising lads like Danny Forrest, Robert Morgan and Craig Fishlock? That we need to beg to the league not to have to risk playing them?

If City did have the next Michael Owen, or the next Andy O'Brien or even just the next Des Hamilton in the juniors then how would we know? Reserve games give an indication of ability but players need proper football to show if their potential could be turned into ability. This is exactly the time to turn to the juniors and say "Prove to us what you can do", City have always seem reluctant to do this. How many years was Gareth Grant a promising kid not getting a first team game? How different could his career have been if he had been blooded at 17 and not left until he was 22 before he started to get first team action? Perhaps not much but we will never know if that raw talent could have been made into a quality player because we never gave the juniors a chance then. I had hoped that Nicky Law would be different, at the moment that does not seem to be the case.

Is Cadamarteri banned so the FA can suck up to FIFA?

FIFA have announced that they are to stop referees using video evidence to review decisions made during games, decisions such as the one that saw Danny Cadamarteri sent off against Burnley. A Fifa spokesman "There has to be a clear distinction between using video evidence to impose sanctions on players who break the rules behind the referee's back, and using video to change referees' factual decisions at a later stage." All of which translates to "The Ref is right, even when it can be proved he is wrong".

Ignoring the similarities to The Party's method of controlling the past in 1984 this new FIFA edict does put some light on how the FA can not reverse the obviously wrong Cadamarteri sending off. It would seem that it is no longer important what has happened on the field but rather what the Referee's perceptions of what has happened are. With the current quality of Refereeing and the fact that some team, such as Burnley, obviously take the field primed to cheat, one worries for the future of the game because the tactics of diving that Burnley employed are now successful provided the fool the man in the middle, a worrying prospect with the likes of Mike Dean in the game.

Other FIFA plans include introducing what amounts to two line judges behind the goals and allow clubs a single transfer each that can be used in the periods in between transfer windows.

Tuesday 01 October, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law still bemoaning

Nicky Law continues to bemoan the injury situation saying "It's as bad as I've known it but looking on the bright side it's going to be a chance for other people like Paul Reid to come in and take their opportunity. If they can hopefully do well then it makes my job more difficult to pick a team when the suspensions are over. We've lost three suspended from the 16 at Portsmouth, two of those left are goalkeepers so it leaves just 11 players. Andy Myers and Ashley Ward are both 50-50 at the moment but they might have to play because of the situation. It's Catch 22. You need to train to work on things during the week but you daren't risk pushing anyone too hard."

Evans to get a day grace

City are hoping that the Welsh FA will allow Paul Evans to join the squad for the qualifer against Italy a day late to allow him to play in the City Derby game in two weeks time.

The month by month news index.