Friday 29 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Crisis back as players go unpaid again

City's players have not been paid for the "work" they did in November. One nameless player said "This has come as a total bolt from the blue. We had no warning. We were all preparing for the Millwall game when we were told last night. Suddenly we are all thinking `here we go again'. After what went on in the summer I think everyone hoped that the worst was now behind us. But this feels like July all over again. It makes it very difficult to focus on playing a match, especially with a long trip to London and an overnight stay. But we found during the summer that the football was a welcome release from everything going on off the pitch, so hopefully it won't affect us tomorrow." Frankly after five defeats in as many matches few people would dare say that the City players deserved paying and most would also say that if not being paid makes it difficult to focus then what is the squad's excuse for the rubbish performances of the past few weeks?

However rumour reached BfB's ear that could change the outlook of this story. There is some suggestion that some of the senior pros are refusing to play because they have not been paid and are being classed as injured. If this is the case, and again this is just rumour, then it would mean that this situation has been known about for longer than the club or players are admitting.

City's players will talk with Managing Director Shaun Harvey at the team hotel on Friday but are not expected to strike again. The Club's official statement said that there had been an urgent meeting with the PFA on Thursday and "It is anticipated that the position with regard to players pay for November will be rectified during next week."

From the outside it would seem that City have lurched into a new crisis as they did in the summer. Gordon Gibb talks of restructuring the finance of the club and while everyone recognises that that must be done there is no certanty in what Gibb is saying. On the scale of the summer's cash crisis one would say that this a lesser danger but these are still worrying times at Valley Parade.

Three from five

BfB's own Harvey Greenwood takes a look at the relegation odds and says "Looking at who is above us I cannot see any teams that would drop down in to the relegation zone, therefore it is a simple three from five equation." Read more about three from five

Thursday 28 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Uhlenbeek and Banks suspended

Gus Uhlenbeek's "mistimed tackle" agianst Sheffield United has got him a three match ban while Ian Banks has been banned from the touchline and fined £350 for celebrating City's equaliser agianst Burnley in earlier in the season.

Law: "Gray has been magnificent"

Nicky Law has sung the praises of Andy Gray for keeping his form despite the club losing it's. Law said "He gives it his best and plays his best wherever we have played him. I don't like to single out players but I think Andy has been magnificent. Whatever position I have asked him to play he has not let me down. That's why he has played in every game and deservedly so. He trusted me in the summer when he joined the club while all the uncertainty was going on. He got paid back for that trust by keeping a place in the team and he has been repaying me again with his performances. I thought he was our best player again against Sheffield United and was unlucky not to score near the end. Although it would not have made any difference to the result, it showed that he was still prepared to have a go."

Man of few words Gray said only "Bradford were up front and honest with me during the summer and although I could have gone elsewhere, I felt it was only fair to stick with them. I'm glad I did."

Wednesday 27 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Old heads back, young guns fight another day

Andy Myers, Wayne Jacobs, Robert Molenaar and Peter Atherton could all come into the side for Saturday's game at Millwall. Molenaar returns from suspension to retake his centreback role and it would be a shame to see Simon Francis dropped after his excellent first two games so one can only assume that Mark Bower, who has had good season but is hardly a rock at the back, then again nor are Molenaar, Atherton or Myers. Five centreback all keeping the seat warm for David Wetherall.

Without wanting to tell Nicky Law his job BfB would be keen to see Peter Atherton or Andy Myers used in central midfield to add some defensive ability. Atherton came through a close doors practise game and is in line to make his 600th senior appearance on Saturday. A reworking of the side to allow Lewis Emanuel to take a central role in midfield may also have merit. Emanuel showed promise through the middle last Saturday against Sheffield United.

Nicky Law backed his young loan signing Boaz Myhill to carry on in goal saying "It was an unfortunate welcome to the harsh reality of proper football. Boaz didn't do much wrong but had five knocked past him. He has been all right in training and I'm sure it hasn't affected him."

Gibb: Law's job safe

Gordon Gibb chimed with sensibility when he assured Nicky Law that his job was safe saying "We've got to hang tough, be sensible and be strong enough to see our way through this pressure. Don't worry about Nicky, he's man enough to take that all on board. His position is not in question. Posed with the problem of trying to steer a boat that is rocking, the last thing you want to do is increase the instability. A football manager has to accept that their reputation is on the chopping board every Saturday. He's going to be judged on his relative performances as we go along the season. But there are specific reasons for our bad run of performances, chiefly with all the injuries. We know it's unacceptable what is happening at the moment and we share the frustration of the fans but one thing we will not do is panic. Nicky knows he's got support from the Boardroom. We are restructuring the club from its core foundations and it's a little bit more fundamental than reacting to a bad performance on a Saturday." The young chairman, who has come in for criticism from some fans, is correct to say that if the club is being restructured it is totally fool hardy to sack the restructurer on the basis of recent results. If Crewe had sacked Dario Grady after his early bad results here would they be? Then again, where are they now?

Gibb continued "We hoped the honeymoon period would go on until the new year. It's not panned out that way but it's not going to alter the bigger picture. We've stripped everything away and gone back to grass-roots within the club. All these decisions we've taken that the fans don't see will start to bear fruit, but not next week or the week after. All we are asking for is a little bit of patience to see the fruits of our labour start paying off."

Law: It's very different

Nicky Law has spoken about the pressure on his job saying "If I was looking at another club who'd lost five in a row I would think that the manager was under pressure and another one or two bad results and he would be gone. But we know the circumstances are very different here. Someone has to take the blame and ten times out of ten it's the manager but anyone who knows anything about football knows the difficulty of the situation." Law is right of course, but that is no excuse for not picking a central midfielder who can get behind the ball.

Tuesday 26 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

The crisis at Valley Parade

BfB welcomes a new columnist Mark Davis and newish Harvey Greenwood as they address the crisis at Valley Parade:

City say Uncle to McCall's Sheffield United

Bantams blasted by five goal Blade rout, or summat...

Men vs Boys. Men win five nil. Very, very poor. Read about Bradford City 0 Sheffield United 5 if you have that kind of personality...

Law: This is so bad!

Nicky Law described the recent run of five defeats as his blackest time in football managament. Law said "A defeat like that has been coming. It was men against boys and when we lost the ball they looked like they could score pretty much at will but when you are missing the likes of Peter Atherton, David Wetherall, Jamie Lawrence and Tom Kearney then it is going to be tough and you just have to battle through it. I never expected it to be as hard as this. The situation we are in is very, very difficult although I'm not saying I wouldn't still have taken the job. It's similar here to why Peter Reid was offered the Sheffield Wednesday job but never took it. There is no money to spend, circumstances are tough and you are putting your reputation on the line."

Law continued "Our main priority is to try and get as much experience back as we can to stop the rot. Winning becomes a habit but so does losing and we've got to break that run. Every game is a mountain to climb for us. We're suffering at the minute and it's a horrible time. This is when you find out a lot about people and see what's underneath the shirt."

Friday 22 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

He speaks, we listen: Stuart McCall on Bradford City

Stuart McCall, the legend, returns to Valley Parade for Sheffield United tomorrow for his second game against the Bantams in his career. McCall left City n the summer making room for Tom Kearney who's injury against Grimsby was the start of a horrible sequence of absences for City that has not gone unnoticed for the ginger skipper who said "I really feel for Nicky Law and everybody at the club. What they are going through at the moment is horrendous but supporters have to look at the bigger picture. I'm the most optimistic person in the world but after the fall-out from the summer, ambitions couldn't be too high. At the beginning of the season we were all just grateful there was still a Bradford City. It's important for the club that everyone remembers that."

McCall continued "I'm not making excuses for Bradford, and I'm sure Nicky Law wouldn't, but the amount of injuries is incredible. The team they had to put out against Nottingham Forest shows the seriousness of the situation. And they are all key players out."

On the emotions of the day McCall concluded "It's going to be strange and I don't know how I will feel. I had a great send-off last season against West Brom and then the testimonial game capped it all. I didn't expect to be coming back again and there will be real mixed emotions. I'll probably be glad when it's over."

Ian Banks, who replaced McCall as a player at Valley Parade many moons ago, said "Stuart has been a fantastic player especially for City and he will quite rightly get a great reception. But once the first whistle goes everybody will forget about that. We will be telling our players to dump him on his behind and rattle him."

Dean Windass also joins McCall in Blade colours returning to Valley Parade and City fans may remember the light footed falling antics of Steve Kabba, then a Grimsby player who signed for Neil Warnock's side for £250,000 this week.

One omen for City. Dean Windass has returned to VP twice since his departure and drawn both times, Stuart McCall's last return to Valley Parade was with a high flying Everton side who were humbled 3-1 on a balmy Wednesday night at the end of the eighties.

Myhill plays, Molenaar out

Nicky Law has hinted that Boaz Myhill will make his Bradford City debut on Saturday against Sheffield United although Robert Molenaar will not play despite what we said yesterday about playing him in midfield. The Dutch centreback is suspended.

Thursday 21 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Warnock injury opens the door for Jorgensen

A hamstring strain that could rule Stephen Warnock out for fourteen days could open the door for Claus Jorgensen's return from injury against Sheffield United this weekend. Warnock pulled up in training on Wednesday and will miss two weeks of football by which time his spell on loan from Liverpool will be over. Speaking in weather metaphors Nicky Law said "It doesn't rain does it? It more like a tidal wave here when it comes to injuries. We will know the full extent of the injury once he has seen the specialist." Speaking plainly BfB does not see any reason to keep Warnock, who has not performed to the best of his abilities during his stay at Valley Parade, at the club if one of our players can fill the gap. A Gray Standing Jorgensen Singh midfield is stupidly attacking but to be frank the presence of Warnock has not stopped the Bantams shipping goals.

Law also has the option of including Simon Francis and moving one of the centreback into Warnocks role after Gus Ulhenbek returned from suspension. Any move to get Robert Molenaar out of the back four would probably be warmly received. Law could also give a start to Criag Fishlock who is more of a natural defensive midfielder.

60% salary cap

The Football League chairmen have voted to introduce a salary cap of a 60% of a club's annual turnover limit on players' wages which will be altered to 50% in future seasons. QPR chairman David Davies explained the plan thus "We're not saying any individual player will have his wages capped, but we are suggesting the collection of the players can't be paid above a certain level. We are looking at a pot of money that is so large that no player in his own right is going to be able to demand that kind of wage but when the club has reached a collective upper limit, it can turn round and say 'we're not going to push ourselves too far'." After nearly losing the club to far fetched salary demands BfB is heartily in favour of this move.

Wednesday 20 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Jorgi: I'm fit

Claus Jorgensen today declared fit, his performance in the Reserves 4-0 defeat suggest he is not. Jorgensen commented "It depends when the manager calls me up but I feel ready now. I can train and train but what I need now is matches and the knee feels fine. The playing side of it went well on Monday but I need to work on my touches and that only comes in the heat of a proper match. I can't really complain about my injury because I've played for five years and hardly missed a match. I know it won't suddenly disappear overnight but I'm not worried at all about the knee and I just want to be out there playing again."

Evans on the bench for Wales win

Paul Evans made the bench for Wales 2-0 win away at Azerbijian this afternoon. The win leaves Mark Hughes Wales with nine points out of nine.

Tuesday 19 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Reserves beaten 4-0 at West Brom

Bradford City reserves lost 4-0 to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night, hardly an impressive debut for trialist goalkeeper Phillip Straker, 19, of Sunderland. City fielded a half fit Claus Jorgensen but Jamie Lawrence and Peter Atherton were omitted. Graeme Tomlinson looked lively for City while Bolton trialist Leam Richardson's backpass cost a goal to Lee Hughes. All in all, not a very good night.

Warnock: If I get booked, I get booked

Stephen Warnock will not change his game despite picking up his second suspension during his tay at Valley Parade. Said Warnock "If I get booked, I get booked. I'm not going into games worrying about it and changing the way that I play. It's massively frustrating for me but I'm more disappointed with the way I got the bookings. I know that if you do something rash then you will be in trouble but I can think of only one late tackle which was against Preston. I'm annoyed with some of the others because I don't think I did anything wrong. I didn't think it was a penalty at Reading and I was really unhappy with the one I got against Brighton for complaining to the linesman. You see that sort of thing happening all the time in the Premier League but they don't take any action. But because you aren't such and such and a famous name, the referee books you."

Speaking about his other suspension, which is pending, for the lunge in at Derby's Adam Murray Warnock said "I'm disgusted with what has happened. The tackle that the Derby lad did on Bower was shocking and I can't believe he got away with it. I broke my leg from one of those so I know what it's like. I reacted but then everybody would have done the same in that position. I was very surprised that the red card was overturned." BfB agrees with Stephen Warnock was vigorously as possible.

Monday 18 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law: "I thought there were players out there who didn't want to be"

Nicky Law has pointed the finger at the City who are letting performances drop for lack of motivation after the 3-0 loss at Nottingham Forest. Law blasted "We killed ourselves again. We had a stupid spell for 17 minutes when we gave three terrible goals away. The lack of communication was shocking and while that happens we aren't going to win games of football - we aren't even going to be in them. I thought there were players out there who didn't want to be. But they've no choice at the moment, look at the bench I had to pick. There were no changes I could make so they've got to play their way through it."

Davison, the end is near as Myhill joins

Nicky Law would seem to be as annoyed at the inabilities of Aidan Davison as we at BfB are after he signed highly rated England u21 keeper Boaz Myhill on a three month loan from Aston Villa. Standing fully six foot three is known for his shot stopping and wiliness to come for and collect crosses as opposed to Davison's come for and punch badly routine. Speaking about his new keeper Law said "I've seen him a few times and he comes highly recommended. I've spoken to a few people including Graham Taylor and Danny Wilson who had him on loan [At Bristol City]. We've got him for three months to take a look. He's a big lad who kicks it well, a good straight-shot stopper with good reflexes and will come for crosses."

Myhill does not technically join City until Thursday being away with England Under 21s this week.

The Califonication of Boaz Myhill

21 year old Boaz Myhill is an England u20 international, qualifying through residency, despite the fact he is a native of California in The United States of America which is a small island off the coast of Cuba. Myhill has been in England for sometime having come through the YTS ranks at Aston Villa getting as far as the bench for the first team in the Intertoto Cup. Stefan Postma and Peter Enkleman stand in his way at Villa Park. One Villa site says "He is destined to become a megastar in a few years following Peter Schmeichel's retirement".

Atherton, Lawrence and Jorgensen back for Reserves

Peter Atherton, Jamie Lawrence and Claus Jorgensen are in City's second string's first Premiership Reserve League North game against West Brom in Halesowen. All three are returning from long term injuries and Nicky Law is keen to bring Atherton and Lawrence back into the starting eleven sooner rather than later. Graeme Tomlinson gets another chance to press for a contract while significantly Simon Francis has not returned to Reserve duty perhaps signalling that his elevation to the first team may be more permanent that at first thought. Mark Danks, who made his debut alongside Francis on Saturday, is back in the reserves.

Sunday 17 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Why not sack Nicky Law?

City lose 3-0 at Nottingham Forest

Another day, another defeat and the talk of BfB is what to do about manager Nicky Law after City lost 3-0 away at Nottingham Forest.

Singh get kicks for free

So desperate was Terry Venebles to get Harpal Singh playing first team football that the Leeds boss sanction a loan move in which the Elland Road club pay almost all of the players wages for the duration of his stay at Valley Parade.

Saturday 16 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Back of the Cadete

Rumour in Portugal that former Bantam Jorge Cadete is to marry Nicole from some Portguese Spice Girls wannabes after meeting her on Celeb Big Brother. How sweet. Nice to see that Jorge has cut off his girly hair.

Friday 15 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Francis enjoys elevation, Tomlinson enjoys resurrection?

Nottingham boy Simon Francis could make his City debut agianst his home town club Nottingham Forest after bieng drafted into the squad to cover for injuries. Francis represented England u18 last week against France and is obvioulsy very highly thought of at Valley Parade with some suggesting that the club believe they have discovered a talent that should be brought inot the team sooner rather than later.

Nicky Law can not speak too highly of the lad saying "Simon has only been at the football club a couple of months and things have happened for him. There is every chance that he may come in and be involved. He broke into the reserves early on, had recognition with England, has been involved with the first team and now may get his chance. Physically I think he's up to it and he's played against good players in the reserves like Carl Cort at Newcastle and he's been one of our better players. It's the occasion as much as anything but the saying goes that if you're good enough you're old enough. We'll find that out soon."

Juanjo is expected to start up front for City who are down to barebones and there is even a suggestion that Graeme Tomlinson could be registered and be on the bench despite the fact he is a trialist. Mark Danks, the trialist who City signed last week and have handed the number 35 shirt to after he signed a deal last week, could also feature.

Neil Warnock writes to BfB (No, not that one. Stephen's brother)

Last week after the game with Wimbledon BfB Editor Michael Wood was critical of City's loan player from Liverpool Stephen Warnock. During the week Stephen's brother Neil contacted us to take issue with what we had said. We at BfB feel that Neil makes some interesting points about Stephen, about City and about the attitude of young footballers. Read more here.

Thursday 14 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Cadamarteri, Ward out for long spells

Danny Cadamarteri will undergo a knee operation and be out of the City side for two months. Ashley Ward is expected to miss the next three weeks with the knee injury he sustained at Brighton.

Old boys back

Joining Stuart McCall in a return to Valley Parade next week with Sheffield United will be former City man Dean Windass who has gone to Bramall Lane on a month's loan.

Banks goes back

Steve Banks has returned to Bolton two week early after his knee injury proved to be sufficiently bad to rule him out of the next few games. The BBC are reporting that City will use the extra loan space to sign Leam Richardson, who was on trial in Monday's game with Leeds but it would seem more logical for Nicky Law to use his loan, should he use it, on a different position considering he had Lewis Emanuel and Wayne Jacobs still fit.

Angry young man on pay cuts

Roland Harris fires a broadside at a few of the players involved in te pay cuts issue in his article Payback time for the Golden Goose.

Wednesday 13 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City ask for new deal

City are hoping that the club's top earners will accept cuts in pay in exchange for long terms on their contracts. Ashley Ward, David Wetherall, Gary Walsh and Peter Atherton are believed to be first to have had the proposal put to them in a move that the club sees as providing a win:win with the club getting much needed relief on wages and the players, many of whom are out of contract in the summer, getting some longer term security.

City hope the temptation of two additional years at the club will see the heavy hitters agree to less money. The prospect of seeing Ashley Ward at the age of 35 is frightening but if the Bantams can find a way to cut the wage bill then it will help to the survival of the club that is by no means certain.

Tuesday 12 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward staying. Oh God!

Ashley Ward's move to Ipswich has fallen through because the Tractor Boys only wanted the striker on loan and Ash wants a permiant move from Valley Parade. Joe Royle said "We have a number of other targets and we will explore them in more detail."

In turning down the move Ward did cast some doubts over the Suffolk club's financial situation which is known to be fairly dire. Said the hard to love striker "I've had contact with [Ipswich] and they are trying to put something together but I'm not sure if they are in the position to do it financially. There has been talk about going on loan but that's not really good for Bradford or for me. What's the point in going to a club in the same position on the other side of the country away from your family when nothing permanent has been sorted out? Ipswich are a good club and I think next year they will have a really strong chance. If the situation were to change to something permanent then I would go back to them but until you are in that position, then there's no value in it for most of the parties concerned. A short-term loan doesn't suit me or the club."

Ward will miss the weekend game with Nottingham Forest with the injury he picked up in the loss at Brighton.

Why Ashley Ward staying at City is a good thing
Why Ashley Ward staying at City is a bad thing
Tomlinson gets a second chance

Graeme Tomlinson will appear for City's second string at least once more as a trialist before Nicky Law decides on a contract for the comeback kid. A City spokesman said "He's played one game and will probably play one more. He's not training with the squad but as with all trialists he is hoping to earn a deal."

Danks signs for City

Mark Danks is to sign scholarship forms with City having been released by Wolves. Danks, who scored two in his reserves debut and set up Graeme Tomlinson's strike agianst Leeds Reserves last night, has impressed Nicky Law suitabily and could be set for a rapid debut at Valley Parade given the current striker crisis. While things are going wrong for the first team level it is pleasing to see Nicky Law continuing to get City pointed in the right direction at youth level bringing talent such as Danks and Tom Kearney.

City are also giving a trial to Bolton Wanderers right back Leam Richardson as well as the aforementioned Tomlinson.

Juanjo out at Christmas

With but six months left on his contract Juanjo is believed to be ready to move on at Christmas when the transfer window opens, Jim Jefferies Kilmarnock being his destination.

Monday 11 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Tomlinson scores on comeback

City's reserves went down 3-1 at home to Leeds tonight with Graeme Tomlinson slotting home a pass from fellow trialist Mark Danks on his unexpected return to Valley Parade. Michael Bridges scored twice for the visitors.

Ipswich bid for Ward

Ipswich Town have made a bid to sign Ashley Ward in light of news that the player's agent/brother in law had agreed a £20,000 deal with Portsmouth. It would seem that Ward is a wanted man and although City are in no position to hang onto the £18k a week striker they may be able to get a fee or at least a permanent transfer deal for the number nine. Said Shaun Harvey "Ipswich have approached us in respect of Ashley and the clubs are now trying to come to a mutual arrangement as soon as possible."

News is Ipswich boss Joe Royle is a long-term admirer of Ward having seen the big striker score his first Premiership goal for the Bantams against Royle's Manchester City side. Good job Potato Head did not see the previous thirty blanks.

Joe Royle confirmed the move saying "Ashley as a player has always done well in this division. I know Portsmouth were interested earlier this season. He's got a great physical presence and I think he could do a top class job for us with the players around him. He is on a free and I'm trying to do something with him as soon as we possibly can." We would remind Royle that "the players around" were beaten 2-1 on their own patch by the hapless fools that Ward "struggles" with now earlier this year.

BfB says bite their hands off and sign Delroy Facey.

Cadders under the knife

Danny Cadamarteri needs an operation on his knee. It is not known how long he will be out for but it leaves City needing a striker when all the loans are used. Looks like we need...

Tomlinson makes stunning Valley Parade return

Graeme Tomlinson makes a stunning return to Valley Parade some eight years after he left the club for a £500,000 move to Manchester United. Tomlinson has been recommended to City by the non league scouting network while playing for Kingstonian and will get a run out for City's stretched second string against Leeds on Monday night.

Who is Graeme Tomlinson?

Graeme Tomlinson is one of if not the best player that Bradford City every produced. With the help of Des Hamilton he put Manchester United's juniors to the sword in the FA Youth Cup second round one year on a road that let the young Bantams to the semi finals of said competition a competition they could have won had Hamilton and Tomlinson not graduated to the first team.

The then teenager played seventeen times and scored six goals for Frank Stapleton's City to attract the interest of Old Trafford. Alex Ferguson snapped up the Keighley born youngster when he contract expired at the end of the season despite Geoffrey Richmond offering "The best deal ever put on the table to a youngster at this club". Tomlinson only made a single start for United, a league cup game at Newcastle that the Red Devils lost 2-0, and while being loaned out he suffered a serious of bad injuries that led to him being released.

Tomlinson went through Macclesfield Town and Exeter City before concluding that his full time football career was over and signing for non-league Kingstonian while pursuing a sideline in club djing.

Tomlinson returns to Valley Parade with little chance of getting a deal to play for the Bantams again, his presence is more to do with the lack of players at the club and the need to field a half decent striker for the reserves midfielders to try feed but stranger things have happened at VP than this comeback kid impressing. We shall see.

Sunday 10 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Woeful Bantams give it away

Pathetic defensive performance lets Wimbledon win 5-3

How does one describe the utter waste of this Bradford City performance? Bradford City 3 Wimbledon 5

Law speaking the bleeding obvious

Speaking about Bradford City 3 Wimbledon 5 Nicky Law said "If you score three goals and lose you are going to be disappointed. We had honest words. I don't believe in smashing things about. We tried to be constructive about it. We let ourselves down with individual errors. Confidence is low and that is showing on the pitch. The crowd have shown their feelings and rightly so. It is at times like this you have got to be big and strong. It is a matter of everyone taking responsibility." However BfB does not want to judge Law, who we have a lot of time for, too harshly but ultimately it is Nicky Law's responsibility. The players are suffering not only from a lack of confidence but from being hamstrung by unbalanced team selection. To paraphrase West Ham fans "Sort it awt Law".

Don't pay them

New BfB man Harvey Greenwood kicks off his column by looking at the performance of the Bantams before and after the long delayed first wage packet of the season in his article Contracting To Win.

Number thing

BfB was a place out with it's numbers list. The 26 shirt is obviously still stained by the failure of Dan Petrescu and so Harpal Singh took the largely unused 27 and Delroy Facey wore 28 which was worn by Dean Saunders and Stan Collymore.

Proctor gets Premiership start

Michael Proctor started Sunderland's 2-0 win over Spurs on Sunday. The former City loan player operated down the right hand side and looked capable.

Francis in England U18 squad

Simon Francis has been called up for the England under 18 squad and will fly to France to join the set up.

Friday 08 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City need a win

The fan less Wimbledon roll into Valley Parade in a game that City have to win. The Bantams are boosted by new signings Delroy Facey and Harpal Singh. Both are in line for debuts as Ashley Ward sits out the match suspended and Singh looks to fill the long standing gap on the left flank.

City hve slipped to 18th in the First Division and are now looking nerviously over shoulders. The plan for this season has always been stabalise with a comfortable mid-table finish. It would seem that complancency seemed into the side after good results early season and that the Bantams thought they had achieved more than they had. Draw that should have been wins have now turned to losses, a tide that City need to stem.

Singh on where he is from and where he is coming from

Harpal Singh has recognised his role as figure head for Asian football in England but hopes to be allowed to be judged on his football. Singh said "I do realise that Asians are crying out for more to get involved. Everyone I know loves football just as much as anybody else but they need somebody to identify with. They need to see Asians out there playing First Division, Second Division or Premiership football and then they will realise there are opportunities out there for them. Every step I take is highlighted because there are so few Asians in football. I was the first Asian to do this, the first Asian to do that, I'm getting quite used to it now. But I try not to put too much pressure on myself."

Speaking of playing for his home club Singh said "I was born in Bradford and although I moved when I was about four to Pudsey, I've still quite a bit of family who live around the city. My friends are all very excited about this and once they heard I was coming to Bradford, I had loads of calls. I just hope we can sort out tickets for everybody."

Confirming that he has been brought in to play wide left Singh said "The boss says the team has been lacking a bit of width recently and he wants me to get the ball out wide and run at defenders. Roll on kick-off time because I'm very excited about it. No doubt there will be a few butterflies before the game which is natural but I can't wait to start."

Thursday 07 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward set for Portsmouth move

Word has reached the BfB ear that Ashley Ward has agreed in principal a deal to join Portsmouth for £20,000 a week and that the City striker, who is suspended this weekend, may have played his last game for the Bantams before joining the South Coast side.

Meanwhile Bolton boss Sam "Directions to Wembley" Allardyce has denied that former Spurs striker Chris Armstrong is on his way to Valley Parade using the "Very much part of our plans" line.

Delroy will show up Ash self-agrandising young man says

Never one to let the chance to have a dig at City's expensive target man Ashley Ward go by Roland Harris welcomes Delroy Facey to City saying Delroy is the end of the line for Ashley.

Former Bantams new and old in League cup glory

Robbie Blake nabbed an equaliser against a Matthew Etherington fielding Spurs side as Burnley dumped the Londoners out of the League Cup 2-1. Michael Proctor got his long awaited first start for Sunderland and set up the revival goal with a cross for Marcus Stewart in the Rokerites 3-2 win at Arsenal.

Stuart McCall lead another successful victory over Leeds last night with the 2-1 injury time smash at grab at Bramell Lane for his new club Sheffield United. Unfortunately McCall had been replaced by Laurens Ten Heuve just before the goals went in. On the flip side Steven Caldwell was sent off and gave away a penalty that lead to Newcastle being knocked out.

Add to this Paul Jewell's Wigan winning 1-0 win over Manchester City and at least Bantam followers have something to follow in the last 16. City went out to Wrexham 2-1.

Wednesday 06 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

New boys straight into the side

Loan signings Delroy Facey and Harpal Singh will be straight inot the City team for Saturday's game with Wimbledon despite the fact that neither of them have been playing regular football this season nor have either played at a higher level than City are at. Nicky Law believes this will count in City's favour "They are both raring to go and this will give them the chance to play first-team football and show their clubs that they are worth a chance.

Expanding on his new signings Law said "Harpal is a naturally left-sided player, which is what we have lacked. Eddie Gray spoke very highly of what he has done at Leeds. We've had him watched several times in the reserves and he's going to be a big asset for us. Facey did well at Huddersfield. He is big and strong and will give us another option up front, especially with Ashley Ward out suspended. We have to look in a certain market at players who can't get in their Premiership teams. But that has worked well so far with the likes of Tom Kearney, Michael Proctor and Stephen Warnock."

Such new signings always causes some excitement at BfB towers but the Singh situation has inspired two articles as Michael Wood considers City's first major Asian signing in Waiting for the great leap forward while Roland Harris talks players in his article Singh when your winning.

For those that care, and I know that's not many people, Singh takes the number 26 shirt once worn my Dan Petrescu, most recently given to Stephen Caldwell and originally set out for Gordon Watson. Facey wears the 27 shirt which between Robert Steiner, Scott Kerr, Billy McKinlay and Mark Prudhoe has probably never even got dirty.

About the new boys
Delroy Facey

Scored 15 goals in 82 games for the evil Town. Missed six months of last season and most of this with various injuries but is reported to be back at full fitness. Fast, very hard to knock off the ball and able to work the wings Delroy Facey was described by one Town fan as a low rent Emile Heskey. He meant it in a good way.

Harpal Singh

Left sided player who has a three year deal at Elland Road and is well thought of at the club. Played 15 games on loan at Bury and three at Bristol City but yet to make his Leeds debut, a good thing because that means he is not tainted yet.

Moyes keen on Reid?

Rumour has reached the BfB ear that Everton boss David Moyes has cast an eye over City's short term contract midfield Paul Reid. Should Moyes have been impressed with the player who is having trouble getting to grips with the pace of the English game then a move in January could be a possibily. One stresses that this is at present just a rumour.

Read, Write, Drive Tractor

Shaun Harvey has written an open letter to Norwich City supporters following the game of ten days ago in which he reacts to of heavy handed and aggressive stewarding in the South Stand giving the police/club line on persistent standing being prohibited under the Ground Regulations and the fact that that standing was affecting the enjoyment of the game of other Norwich City supporters by blocking their view.

Harvey admits that in hindsight deploying more stewards to the area "possibly made things worse as Norwich City supporters obviously felt that they were to be persecuted all afternoon". He states "This was not the intention".

Harvey then undelines "The club's policy of not allowing supporters home or away to persistently stand, and will continue to request all supporters to sit at the Bradford & Bingley Stadium apart from at times of great excitement." I look forward to the great excitement.

BfB welcomes Harvey's honesty in line with the increased transparency at the club. We were always fairly squarly behind Geoffrey Richmond but had words with the man himself about the need for increased transparency to engender supporter trust and loyalty. We are glad to see the new regime going where the previous one would not.

Tuesday 05 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Singh your life

Bradford City have taken what many see as the great leap forward in getting the Asian community behind the club in reportedly signing Leeds United youngster Harpal Singh on loan. The Bantams have also reported done a deal to bring Bolton's former Huddersfield man Delroy Facey to Valley Parade. With both deals reported to be set for unvieling on Saturday expect more to follow...

Two in for weekend?

Nicky Law is hoping to sign a pair of Premiership laon players this week. One striker and one left winger. Targets could include Aston Villa's Michael Boulding or Thomas Hitzlesberger, Leeds' Michael Bridges, West Brom's Danny Dichio, Boro's former City man Dean Windass, Everton's Wayne Rooney, Manchester United's Ryan Giggs Beckham or Grattan B's Richard Allen. Some of the later one's of those targets are not strictly true.

We love Ashley Ward day declared!

Ashley Ward's long term injury has turned out to be little more than a grazed knee meaning that the Bantam hitman may be back for the game with Nottingham Forest on Saturday's week with Ash sitting out the home clash with Wimbledon suspended. Nicky Law beamed "It's a major relief for all of us. Perhaps it's a sign that our injury jinx is finally going to start to turn. The tests only showed up a tiny little tear in the back of his knee and nothing major.

Ward explained his reasons for rolling around in the mud at the Withdean Stadium as if someone had shot him thus: "At the time of the injury I really feared the worst. I just got my studs caught in the ground and twisted my leg. I felt something pop in my leg and lay there on the ground worrying that it was going to be a long-term problem. It was a terrible day all-round with the result and to get injured at the end just finished it off. But it doesn't seem anywhere near as bad and being suspended for this week, hopefully I won't miss too much more."

All of which has forced a rethink in BfB policy towards the expensive number nine. We worried about the team without Ashley and see some of his value now. We will offer Ash if not a clean slate then fewer black marks for not scoring for 31 Premiership games and hopefully be won over by his sun tanned charms.

Mr Benn moans

Bradford (Park Avenue) skipper Wayne Benn, a former Bantams, asked the question "What more to the fans want from us?" after the team that are second in the Unibond League were heard cat calls after a poor 45 minutes. Benn might want to consider what, if he had been still at City, his reaction would have been to not being paid for four months then getting jeered at for drawing games. Perhaps the Bradford public should think of an answer to Wayne's question.

Bantams in derby dalliances

Stephen Caldwell enjoyed some good game during his loan from Newcastle United last season and slotted in well into the Magpies back four in the place of injured former City man Andy O'Brien last night for the derby game with Middlesborough at St James Park last night but it was another former Bantam, Boro keeper Mark Schwartzer, who excelled for the majority of the game making a string of fine saved before, shockingly, allowing a corner to slip from his grasp for Caldwell to score from.

Monday 04 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Ward out, Bridges in?

Ashley Ward is out for six weeks after damaging his knee in the loss at Brighton leaving City with only a tendonitis stricken Danny Cadamarteri, youngster Danny Forrest and possibily Wolves trialist Mark Danks to play up front. Unsurprisingly Nicky Law is looking at loans until Ward or Andy Tod are fit. Michael Bridges of Leeds is being linked with a loan to Nottingham Forest but Law could interviene to offer the former Sunderland striker a chance to recouporate closer to home.

Nicky Law, in a frank assessment of City this year, said "We knew this season was going to be tough but it's being made even tougher at the minute by the ridiculous decisions we are making on the pitch. It's only the players who can solve this. They've got to go out there and make sure they aren't the ones making individual errors. We're gifting goals and gifting teams points and we shouldn't be doing that. If we're going to lose, then lose to good goals and good teams."

Sunday 03 November, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Warnock charged

Unbelievably Stephen Warnock has been charged with violent conduct following the dust up with Derby's Adam Murray at the end of the game at Valley Parade. Murray nearly snapped Mark Bower in half with his red card tackle but that red card was later taken back. Warnock's reaction was bad and at the time I did suggest that he was lucky to stay on the field but in the light of Murray's provoking tackle being deemed fair then I am forced to suggest that the game brings lawlessness like Warnock's supposed violent conduct on itself.

This is the FA attacking the symptom of the problem and not the cause. Murray's tackle was appalling and deserved a red card. Warnock's reaction was bad but was just that, a reaction.

Warnock has fourteen days to answer the charge and will in all likelihood get a three match ban meaning that it is legal to take a two footed lunge at a player but illegal to react to that. Warnock picked up his fifth booking in eleven games for City on Saturday and thus will miss the Nottingham Forest game in two weeks time.

No Hoops for City

Julian Rhodes has confirmed that the club are hoping to incorporate a celebration of the club's centenary into the kit that will be launched next season but all but ruled out a return to the claret and amber hoops of Manningham Rugby League. Said Rhodes "We are floating around the idea of coming up with something special to mark the occasion. We believe it would be popular among supporters but I don't think any new design would incorporate hoops."

BfB is more than pleased with this no hoop promise as while hoops flatter a professional footballer they look less good on the more rotund professional drinker. The club are believed to be toying with the idea of an all claret shirt or a claret shirt with an amber yoke.

Kearney back working but not back until next season

Tom Kearney is making good progress following his knee operation but has set his sights on a return to the team next season rather than the end of this one.

Long way to come to lose

City lose to winless Brighton

You know the drill. City face team in the midst of a losing streak as long as your arm, get beat. Brighton beat the Bantams 3-2.

Ward out

Ashley Ward went off which what looked like a bad injury during the 3-2 loss at Brighton. We await news.

The month by month news index.