Monday 30 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law: I worried I'd be sacked

Nicky Law has spoken of his worries that he might have been sacked during the run of defeats City are pulling away from. Law, who celebrates his first year at Valley Parade this week, said "If I said it hadn't crossed my mind I would be lying. But I've had a lot of support from the people above and I'm grateful for that belief in me. It could have been quite easy for them after the seven games to have said it was perhaps time to move on but then again if it had happened it would possibly have been unfair. Maybe if I'd had a good budget to bring in the type of players I would have liked then I could have said I'd not done my stuff. It's still a great club and a privilege for me to manage it. We've been crippled by what happened in the summer and it has put everyone on the floor. It was important that while all this was going on there was no mud slung and it was my job to keep the players believing. Hopefully now they are realising that all of that hard work was worth it."

Law expanded to talk about the recent up turn in the club's fortunes saying "We will not be getting carried away, We have had our moment of glory and we don't want to waste it when we play at Grimsby on Wednesday. We will be back to work on Tuesday and we need to build on the last two games."

Sunday 29 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams beat Wolves to claim third win in four

City take 2-1 win away from Wolves

Goals from Claus Jorgensen and not really a striker Andy Gray gave City a 2-1 win away at Wolves.

Law welcomes Walsh back

Nicky Law has spoken of the boost the club will get when the senior pros, such as returning to fitness Gary Walsh, are back in the squad "With the likes of Gary Walsh, David Wetherall and Ashley Ward hopefully returning soon then I'm sure things will continue on an upward spiral. Hopefully we can be a force to be reckoned with again in the new year."

Walsh will play in the reserves on the 7th of January and may be joined by David Wetherall.

Thursday 26 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Bantams take the honours in Stoke six-pointer

City come back to beat Stoke 4-2 at Valley Paarde

The Bantams showed admirable spirit to come back from being a goal down twice to beat Stock City 4-2 at Valley Parade.

Tuesday 24 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Walsh on the way back

A Christmas present for Bantams fans came in the news that Gary Walsh is back in light training and hopes to play on the 7th of January. Steve Redmond said "He's back doing goalkeeping training and it depends how well that goes. We've got a reserve game on 7 January and we're hoping he'll be able to play then."

Law: It was a penalty

Nicky Law has changed his mind over the Watford penalty. I have not.

Merry Christmas Lennie Lawrence

Good Christmas, bad Christmas when you are tucking into mince pies and wine and making merry try think of those less fortunate than yourself, those who struggle in life and do not look forward to anything other than a year of misery. Yes at Christmas spare a thought for Terry Vegetables:-)

Monday 23 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

The penalty for the penalty

The Bantams have been fined £5,000 for the yellow cards got complaining about the never a penalty at Watford in the 1-0 loss. Predictabily Nicky Law was less than pleased with the decision saying "It was going to be 0-0 all day long until the referee decided that the rules have changed now and it's not a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge but a penalty. To lose to a diabolical decision like that is so sickening and the lads are absolutely gutted. It happens week in, week out and it will continue to happen week in, week out until we get a better standard of official. After a result like the Nottingham Forest one you can sometimes get a case of after the Lord Mayor's show but that wasn't it. We didn't deserve to lose. We came in at half-time and could have been a couple down. But we highlighted the problems and ironed them out and Watford became predictable."

Michael Standing spoke less but said more "I think it's the worst penalty decision I've ever seen."

Sunday 22 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

City lose to dodgy spot kick

Watford beat the Bantams 1-0

A last minute penalty robbed City of a deserved point as Watford beat the Bantams.

Myers out for months

Andy Myers went under the knife for a double hernia operation after pulling up in training on Friday. He will be out for up to eigt weeks. Mark Bower replaced him in the Watford game.

Being Nicky Law week four

Christmas is coming as we take a peek into Nicky Law's secret diary... Read more

Friday 20 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Tod back up front

Andy Tod's worst moment was the hand ball at Rotherham that could have scuppered City's First Division status and wisely Nicky Law is looking to employ the Scot in a forward role away at Watford tomorrow. Law said "Using Andy Tod as a striker is looking very possible. It will be a tough call for him, as all he has under his belt is 80 minutes of a reserve game and a practice match, but we might have to throw him in. Obviously it was a blow losing Delroy Facey. I thought he was outstanding last week and we would have liked to keep him on. So we have had to look at our options here and Tod looks like the best bet."

Law continue "We are going to go there and be positive, One thing about Watford that we have picked up is that they like to play football but don't like it too much when things are getting a bit tough. Playing with five in midfield would show the wrong intention. We will be looking to go in there and scrap for everything but we are not going to go down there and go crazy for ten minutes and wear ourselves out, but we will be sensible and settle into a hard-working 90 minutes of football."

The City boss concluded"After the win last week things have been very positive at training and we will be looking to go in and get something from this game. It is better to be going to a place like Watford on the back of three points and not on a record-equalling losing run."

Jorgi on where to play

Claus Jorgensen has spoken about his versatility saying "I will play anywhere the manager wants me to, my favourite position is wide in midfield, but I have been used as a covering defender this season. We haven't got too many options so I will do what I am told for the team. I don't mind playing in different places, I just want to be in the team and hopefully win some games."

Ward misses Christmas

Ashley Ward will miss the Christmas period leaving Nicky Law striker shy. The official reason is something other than "Ashley is in Portugal topping up his tan" because, of course, he is not.

Wednesday 18 December, 2002

Today's News by Roland Harris

No strikers? No problem

The Bradford Telegraph and Argus leads with the headline City left with no strikers and Nicky Law bemoans his luck saying "It is just one kick in the teeth after another," said Law, who is desperately scouting for an emergency stand-in. This is the worst time of year to be looking for someone to bring in. No one is going to be willing to let anyone go over Christmas with so many games coming up. I guess I might have to try and call in a favour or something like that. It is not looking great."

Law has a point. No club will let a decent striker go at this time of the season but if he digs hard enough he can probably find a young kid at a club who has done well in the reserves and deserves a chance. He will not have to look that far, Danny Forrest has risen to the ranks of City's reserves side under the notorious disinterested in youth Jim Jefferies. Forrest, who played for City at Wrexham, has started to slide back and needs a boost. What better time to throw him into the first team squad?

We quickly accept the likes of Harpal Singh and Michael Proctor who are in the same positions at there club's that Forrest is at City, we back the likes of Mark Danks and Simon Francis who are brought in at junior level. Should we not back our own lads over scrapping around for another disinterested loaner? Forrest should be part of the City squad to give a boost to all the young players at the Bantams.

Tuesday 17 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Loan players go back

Harpal Singh and Delroy Facey have returned to their clubs after disappointing spells at Valley Parade on loan. Singh was dropped after two weeks of his loan spell following some weak defensive displays on the wide left while Facey, who started well, was booed off during the 3-1 loss to Gillingham. City are understood to have made attempts to keep Facey for another month while Ashley Ward and Andy Tod get fit.

City are now without any senior fit strikers which could allow the likes of Mark Danks, Juanjo and Danny Forrest to get a chance in the starting eleven.

Lee Sharpe and lots of white powder

Lee Sharpe is believed to have been offered a contract by Grindavik of Iceland (Where there is lots of white powder style snow obviously) although BfB's money is still on the former footballer making his way to the American MLS at the start of next year.

Monday 16 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law on the win at last

Nicky Law has paid tribute to the players who got the 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest saying "In the circumstances that was probably our best performance of the season. That level was more like earlier in the season when we beat Ipswich and Rotherham. I'm so pleased for the players. They have had it hard and although we're not out the woods yet, that performance gives us hope. It's a fact that we have got financial problems and injuries but you can't use them as excuses and keep hiding. I really do hope this is the turning point. If the players are not confident after beating a good team like Forest then they never will be."

Insert Bob the Builder based pun headline here

Hero of the hour Robert Molenaar has spoken of the player's position in reguards the the financial problems of the club. "All the players know that the only thing we can do to help save the club is through results. It has really got to us being at a club that is financially in big trouble. We know the help we can give is on the pitch and that is in everybody's minds all the time because we all really want the best for the club going forward. The money problems affect the talk in the dressing room because you are discussing financial matters rather than football. Whatever club you are, when that happens then you are going to drop points. I can't stress enough how important these results are for the club, especially at home. We need all the support we can get and hopefully this will help bring in more people, not just buying tickets but also those who want to help us in a bigger way."

Bob continued "The Rhodes family and the new chairman are working so hard behind the scenes to get things done. They have got such an awful situation at the moment with money going out of football. It's very important for people who have supported the club in the past to know that there is a change in regime and people are working their socks off to try and get a healthy club again. Hopefully with these type of performances we can get more people back into Bradford City."

Sunday 15 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Proctor the hero

Michael Proctor's 86th minute gola gave Sunderland a 2-1 win at home to Liverpool. Proctor came off the bench with ten minutes to go and the score 1-1.

Saturday 14 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Losing run ends with rousing win over Forest

Spirited Bantams beat high flying Forest 1-0 at Valley Parade

Robert Molenaar ended City's seven game losing run with a power header just before half time to give the Bantams a 1-0 win at Valley Parade agianst Nottingham Forest.

Richmond on Rhodes

Geoffrey Richmond has spoken about he summer in which he left the club and paid tribute to Julian Rhodes saying "Julian Rhodes was tremendous during the summer period and he deserves a lot of credit for the survival of the club. In the previous four or five years I had known him, Julian had not revealed any real strengths. But I thought he handled himself admirably during such a difficult time. We were on a knife edge all the time. It was one problem after another but we worked very hard together, bouncing things off each other throughout that period and attending countless meetings and negotiations. His assistance was invaluable."

Club looks to local businesses

The club are trying to raise £1m through a partnership with local businesses. The idea will see twenty local businesses invest in the club. Those twenty will be put in a sub-committee which will have a member on the City board.

Friday 13 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Law: It's grim up North

Nicky Law bemoaned his lot as City stood on the verge of equalling the worst run in the club's history should they record an eight straight defeat at home to Nottingham Forest tomorrow. "What is happening to us is very embarrassing and the last seven weekends have been awful for me. It isn't nice and it's not easy to walk out the tunnel at times and on to the pitch. You hear things you don't want to but that's the nature of our position. You accept it when it's good so you've got to take the bad stuff but there is no hiding place. If you want to hide then you are in the wrong job. I shall certainly be positive and I expect the same from the players. They have to be big enough to handle it. It's tough for everybody but the players are the only people who can affect the situation."

Law looked at the club's senior pros to bring the results back saying "We went to Brighton who had lost 12 in a row and they managed to stop the rot and are now off the bottom. It depends how positive you approach it. You go out there convinced you will turn it round, if not in this game then definitely the next or the one after that. We've got enough experienced players out there who have been on the end of beatings and bad runs although not as bad as this. But it is up to them to share the load and get hold of the situation for the sake of the younger lads around them. It's a shocking record but the law of averages say you have to do it soon. It's no good feeling sorry for ourselves."

Ironically the last time the club lost eight on the trot the final game of that sequence in 1933 was a 3-1 loss to, you guessed it, Nottingham Forest.

Gray on Hart and playing up front

Andy Gray has paid tribute to his former boss Paul Hart when speaking of his attempts to fill in for Ashley Ward up front for City. Gray said "Paul Hart was the one who told me to play there in the first place. But until the manager here asked me, I had not done it since being in the Leeds youth team. It is a lot different to what I'm used to but I'm enjoying it. As long as I'm in the team it doesn't bother me where I am playing. Without Ashley Ward being in the team I've got to hold the ball for as long as I can. I've been trying to do that more. I've also managed to score a few goals which feels nice but I'd sacrifice them for a couple of decent results."

Gray continued "We know Forest are a good team and I said when we played them a few weeks ago that they must have a chance of doing something this season but every game is hard for us now because of the position we are in. We have to stop this losing streak we are in at the moment."

Thursday 12 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Nicky goes to Jefferies files

Nicky Law is set to make a loan move for one of Jim Jefferies targets from the Scot's time at Valley Parade with Sunderland's Kevin Kyle wanted by the City boss.

Word from the North East has it that Law approached Rokerite boss and all round idiot Howard Wilkinson about taking Michael Proctor back to Valley Parade and was told that the player was not available but told to watch Kyle, who scored against City's reserves on Monday night, who might be free for a loan move.

Tall Scot Kyle was a midfielder in his younger years but was converted to a forward as a potential replacement for Niall Quinn at Sunderland.

Wetherall out for a month

X-rays have confirmed that David Wetherall's groin problems have not returned although the City skipper will be out until the middle of January 2003 with a hamstring problem leaving City fans asking questions as to if the £1.5m central defender was rushed back from his injury too soon.

City need Wetherall but with the player out contract at the end of the year and unlikely to be offered a new deal after two years in the sick room it would seem like the Bantams need to start looking at the back four without Wetherall's presence. The general feeling for the past two years has been that the defence would be sorted out once the former Leeds man is back in place. If he is never to be properly back in place then Nicky Law needs to find a more viable solution to our defensive woes that Robert Molenaar.

Meanwhile Ashley Ward has spoken of a City revivial optimistically trumpeting "We've still got half a season to go. There is plenty of time to get out of trouble. More than any club we can't afford to pick up injuries, and this season we've had more than most. We can't afford to carry people in our position on and off the field. I still think with our best 11 out there we are a good match for anybody. You saw that at the start of the season but when we picked up a few injuries we were struggling. We've got players coming back now like Peter Atherton and Jamie Lawrence but they need a few games under their belts after being out for so long. Get everyone fit and then you will see a real difference in our results. It's not looking good at the moment but we cannot panic. I know we'll pull out of this."

Wednesday 11 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wetherall out again

David Wetherall missed the reserves 2-1 defeat to Sunderland after suffering a "slight strain" of his groin. The club sent the skipper for an X-ray with manager Nicky Law worrying "We're just hoping there is no recurrence but obviously until the scans have been diagnosed we cannot tell."

Paul Evans scored for City reserves in the defeat to Sunderland. Former Jim Jefferies target Kevin Kyle and Frenchman David Bellion scored for the visitors. Evans performed well and could be looking for a recall for Saturday's home game with Nottingham Forest.

Sign of the times

BfB coumnist Adam Hepton takes a look at the third round FA Cup tie with West Brom in his article Sign of the times.

Warnock cleared

Stephen Warnock has been cleared after the farce of the fight against Derby finally came to an end. The FA disciplinary committee decided there was no case to answer for Warnock. The whole situation is an embarrassment. The Derby player who was sent off and later had that red card overturned deserved to be banned for what was an awful tackle of City's Mark Bower. Stephen Warnock also deserved sending off for piling into the Derby man Adam Murray and another looking at video evidence of Warnock splashing down on the Derby man can only conclude it was violent conduct. However was Murray got no punishment one can only assume that the FA decided that parity would be restored if Warnock had none.

Tuesday 10 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Wetherall, Tod in reserves

Andy Tod starts his return from four operation Hell in the reserves against Sunderland tonight. David Wetherall continues his come back. City also field Leicester City goalkeeper Michael Price and Gary White, a Gresley Rovers defender.

People have started to notice that the hero of Ipswich Paul Evans has languished in the reserves of late. Nicky Law addressed this issue saying "I just think he [Paul Evans] has been out of form. When he came back from the last Wales squad, he played against Sheffield United and I fetched him off at half-time because he wasn't doing it. With Peter Atherton and Jamie Lawrence coming back, I felt we've needed a different type of player in midfield, but that's all but we're on a bad run and it's up to people to make me realise that they need to be in the first team. Paul is in the reserves and this is his chance."

City fail to get Warnock deal

City have failed to get Stephen Warnock on loan until the end of the season. Liverpool will not allow Warnock, who they consider a left back, to stay at City who will play him in central midfield.

Ward Portsmouth again

New rumours are linking Ashley Ward to a move to Portsmouth.

West Brom in the cup

In case you have not heard City have been drawn to play West Brom away in the third round of the FA Cup a tie that promises tough football and little money. West Brom are skippered by former Bantams Darren Moore.

Sunday 08 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

What is to be done about the woeful Bantams?

City lose seventh in a row as Gillingham win 3-1 at Valley Parade

The Bantams took a lead, lost it and ended up with a seventh straight defeat 3-1 at home to Gillingham.

Joy: Tod back

Andy Tod is set to return from injury and may find himself with a place in the forward line after Delroy Facey's display on Saturday. Tod said of his recovery "It's been a nightmare because I never expected the injury to be that bad. I didn't realise I would need four operations so it's taken a lot longer than I thought. There is nothing worse in football than being injured. What made it more annoying is that so many of the boys were out as well but I feel I'm getting there now. I've still got to work more on my strength and I'm still a bit wary of really pinging the ball. It's just good, though, to be able to run about with the boys again and feel part of it. There is still half a season to go and I'm trying to get in the team sooner rather than later. There are always places up for grabs if you do your best in training and for the reserves. The club have had a bad run but we're getting players back now. It won't take much to turn it round and return to winning ways."

Pleasure in the pain of others

Why is David Batty not playing for Leeds? Why did Harry Kewell spend some of pre-season with a black eye? BfB is not popbitch.com but we can join the dots.

Friday 06 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

We love the players day announced

Julian Rhodes and Nicky Law have heaped praise on the Bradford City squad for their decision to defer 20% of their wages allowing the club a financial lifeline. Rhodes said "This gives us the chance to look six or seven months ahead rather than the following day. With other things in the pipeline and hopefully more sponsorship and more people through the gate, the club has now got half a chance. There is very much a feeling that we are all in this together. The players have done their bit and now it's down to the fans. I just hope those who have stayed away for whatever reason perhaps will come back."

Head player David Wetherall agreed with the Rhodes assessment saying "There is a good deal of confidence throughout the place that if we all stay together and we keep the spirit going throughout the club then we'll get out of this." Nicky Law was his usual forthright self saying "Everyone comes up with this conception that players are overpaid and under-worked. They are always injured and should be giving more instead of pillaging the club. People are entitled to their opinion but when it really comes down to it like now, the players have agreed to these wage deferrals. Without that, the club won't survive. There is still a good camaraderie and that's difficult when you've just lost six on the trot. But the players believe that they will turn things round."

Good points made by all and BfB is grateful that the players have agreed to do this and in effect saved the club. However BfB also rememebers that the majority of the players in question were signed to play Premiership football and as last season proved, they are not able to. The players do very well out of Bradford City and while I repeat we are greatful for this deferment if these players had performed to the capabilities they have we would not be in this position.

Law on cheering, booing and the post

Nicky Law has mused on the effect of the Bantam crowd on his team and his relationship with City's supporters. Law began "When the lads come out to rapturous applause and cheering it really makes a difference. It sounds silly and people say you shouldn't need it, but it is such a great feeling. It's the same in any walk of life. When somebody praises you it has an effect on your performance, you grow a couple of inches and get the best out of people but if the fans keep hammering away at players or booing and jeering, all that does is make people go into their shell. They become frightened to try things for fear of making a mistake and receiving even more abuse. Rather than having a go at the players, we should be praising them. At times it's far too easy to criticise people."

Continuing Law said "For every ten letters I get, nine will be positive. Even the other ones are quite constructive and I can understand where some of the opinions are coming from but if you get a few people hollering, it's always the one with the biggest mouth that gets heard. Everyone knows the position we have been in and what we've just been through this summer. Spectators aren't stupid, they know what's going on but it's the ones that don't know, or choose to ignore the situation, who seem to make the most noise. Of course the players take it personally and it doesn't help what they are trying to do. Because of the injuries there have been times when players have had to perform out of position. Circumstances dictate that and yet the players, through no fault of their own, have come in for stick. All they've done is try to do the best they can in a position that is alien to them. It's like some of the younger players who have come in because needs must. Some of them are not ready for this yet and have not been up to the job but they have given it their best shot. It would be easy for me to get on the players' backs and tell them what they aren't good at but that achieves nothing. It's far more difficult to be constructive." BfB is in hearty agreement with Law on this and hopes that we provide a platform for more constructive criticism should criticism be needed. It does hard to find positive comments to say after six defeats but Law is spot on when he talks about the worthlessness of destructive comments. We know this because of the arse behind us on the Kop who seems to put the fact that City are not Champions League winners squarely at the door of Wayne Jacobs.

King of the division

Gillingham hope to have Marlon King available after his spell inside for receiving a stolen car. It is the opinion of this writer that King is the finest striker outside of the Premiership. Worse players have scored four against us in recent weeks.

Thursday 05 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Senior Pros agree wage deferral

The higher paid members of the Bradford City squad have agreed a wages deferral scheme with Chief Executive Julian Rhodes that will give the club until the end of July 2003 to "Allow the necessary breathing space to explore all refinancing options". It comes as a great relief to City fans to see that the Senior Pros, who have come under criticism for recent performances on the field, are fully behind the club off it. Certainly Julian Rhodes was pleased with teh reaction of the squad saying "I would like to thank the players for the trust they have shown in the Board and allow us the time to help secure the future of the club."

It is believed that Ashley Ward, David Wetherall, Robert Molenaar and Peter Atherton have been the main representatives in the agreement on the player's side and that the players are deferring up to 60% of their wages.

Cadders out to next season?

Danny Cadamarteri may join Tom Kearney on the injury list until next season should his knee problem not be healed by rest and require an operation. If the striker is not fit by the end of January 2003 he will go under the knife not to be seen until the start of the 2003/2004 season.

Cadamarteri has not lived up to the promise he showed in first games for City, something that the Bradford born player puts down to his injury robbing him of form.

Francis in midfield

Simon Francis is expected to continue in midfield for City against Gillingham with Peter Atherton dropping into the back four to cover suspended Gus Uhlenbeek. Francis may be paired with anyone of Michael Standing, Paul Reid or Claus Jorgensen. Paul Evans, who was not even in the squad for the trip to Millwall last week, is not expected to figure, nor is loanee Harpal Singh.

Francis in trouble

"Tricky" Trevor Francis has been fined £1,000 for clipping his reserve keeper Alex Kolino over the back of the head after Andy Tod's goal at Crystal Palace earlier this year.

Law on Standing

Nicky Law has spoken about his decision to bench Michael Standing for the loss at Millwall "It was a hard decision to leave Michael out [Of the Millwall defeat]. He has been doing very well but I thought that it wasn't his type of game. We had to go there with the biggest, strongest side and he is not that type of player but I think Michael has come on great strides this season and is going to flourish into a very good footballer. Having better players around him in the team now he will get the chance to do that more. Let's not forget he is a lad who was disregarded at Aston Villa for two years. He was out in the wilds, not even playing often for the reserves and yet he's come here and is disappointed not to be in the team. He is focused and knows what he wants to achieve in the game and will do."

Wednesday 04 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Rhodes: Don't lets suffer because of Richmond

City chief executive Julian Rhodes has fired a broadside at former chairman Geoffrey Richmond in his call for the people of Bradford to get behind the club before they lose it. Rhodes said "It is absolutely desperate and I don't want the city of Bradford to suffer for one man's self-confessed six weeks of financial madness [As Richmond described the signing of Benito Carbone, Ashley Ward, Dan Petrescu et al]. Please do not bear a grudge, we need your support because I can't begin to describe how much difference that £500,000 we are losing in gate receipts would make. My family have put in £5m in the last few months and chairman Gordon Gibb has parted with the best part of £2m but that is just to pay off previous debts. Coupled with that, I've had to watch my father risk losing everything he's ever worked for. We have had to beg and borrow off everybody and now I'm begging the people of Bradford for their help. The fans who have been coming have been great and I'd just love them to encourage friends to come as well. They could also spend some money on Christmas presents in the club shop. Every penny will help us at this time."

Kids through to fourth round

City's mad it through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after goals from Tom Penford and Danny Ekoku saw off Preston. City are not away either Luton Town or Stoke City early in the New Year.

Tuesday 03 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Clubs express an interest in Francis

Nicky Law has revealed that City have already had interest in 17 year old Simon Francis despite the fact the teenager has played only three games for for Bantams. Law said "Clubs have spoken to me wanting to know more and in two or three years we will struggle to keep him. Simon is only a 17-year-old kid but he's technically very good with a great engine and strong in the air. He's also sensible and level-headed so you can see why everyone wants him."

Francis has played in three different position in his three games at Valley Parade but look sset for a three match run in the right back role following Gus Ulhenbek's suspension, a role LAw sees as Francis' best I'd say right back was his best position because he gets more time and the whole game is in front of him. But he's not been fazed by being moved around or looked out of his depth. He looks confidence personified and people are talking about him already. "

Monday 02 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Skipper back in first team training

David Wetherall joined the City first team squad for training today and could be fit to play his first game since the opening day draw with Wolves this weekend against Gillingham although a bench role may be more realistic for the City captain. Steve Redmond said of Wetherall "David is training with the first team for the first time and has made a quick and successful return following surgery."

Rhodes asks for four players help

Julian Rhodes has invited David Wetherall, Peter Atherton, Ashley Ward and Robert Molenaar into talk about a wage deferment scheme to help the Bantams out of the financial hole.

Law on Myhill mistake

Nicky Law took a sideways look at the mistake by keeper Boaz Myhill that cost City a point a Millwall. Said Law "I told Boaz before the game not to come out for anything he wasn't sure of getting. If in doubt, stay at home. We had three defenders there and it was a costly mistake down to his inexperience. But he hasn't gone out there and done it deliberately. We've got to pick him up now. He was devastated afterwards but the lads have been magnificent with him. We're only going to get through this problem by sticking together."

Jacobs on sending off

BfB thought Wayne Jacobs deserved to be sent off at Millwall, we saw it again and changed our mind. Now we agree with Wayne when he says "The ball had gone out but the linesman has failed to see it from five yards away. There's me standing about 60 away and I can see it's out. If the linesman gets the decision right then Wayne Jacobs doesn't get sent off. It's as simple as that but these blokes get it wrong week after week after week. They say that the standard is getting better but I don't see that, I think it's on the decrease. Every time the crowd so much as yelped the referee gave the decision for them."

Nicky Law was less philosophical fuming "The other players said you could see grass between the ball and the byline, Paul Reid was sat in the stand right by the incident and he was convinced it was out. I was sure it had gone and just decided to have a little slide. I thought he was bound to give a goal-kick but getting sent off after 60 minutes left the lads with a mammoth task. We had frustrated Millwall so much and worked so hard to condense the pitch that we deserved to get something. I'm really fed up about what's happened, although people that work with teams tell you to try and forget the results if you can. If you are doing the right things enough times then your fortunes will change and that's definitely the case. There were plenty of good aspects coming out from the game even if the result went against us again."

Law expanded talking about City after the sending off saying "We kept our shape and didn't look like we were going to be in bother. Millwall had a lot of the ball but we defended it well and if anything we looked the team that might win it. We had strength right up the middle of the team, barring one error again that cost us. Until we get rid of them we aren't going to win any games at all. But over the next few weeks we'll get Ashley Ward and David Wetherall back and then we'll be a different proposition. We were every bit as good as Millwall and we can only get better."

Sunday 01 December, 2002

Today's News by Michael Wood

Getting better but not there yet

Improved Bantams lose 1-0 at Millwall

Nicky Law welcomed back Jamie Lawrence and Peter Atherton and found seven defenders in his squad to try prevent a repeat of the thrashing of recent weeks, it worked and City left London without points but with a touch of pride after losing one nil to Millwall.

Where now for Singh

Word has it that Harpal Singh's wage is paid for from Elland Road and not from Valley Parade which means that the midfielder will not be effected by the problems of late. However as a loan player there seems little point in keeping him should he not be playing and little point in playing him should he not be able to up his level of performance. One suspects that Singh will go back to Leeds with strong words between Nicky Law and the Leeds staff about the preparedness of the player for first team football.

Where did it all go wrong for Evans?

Paul Evans has not made the trip to Millwall having been left out of the squad by Nicky Law. At the start of the season the former Brentford midfielder was one of City's brighter hopes, now he clearly does not see eye to eye with the City boss. One wonders where it all went wrong. Juanjo also did not travel but that went wrong when he turned out of be distinctly average.

PFA confirm money for players

PFA deputy chief executive Mick McGuire has backed City's plans to pay the squad wages owed. Said McGuire "The situation at Bradford is one we've been discussing right from the start and will go on doing so right until they come out of administration. This is a short-term thing and I do believe it will be settled soon. We've offered our support to Bradford and I'm sure this will be sorted out quickly. It's always worrying when something like this happens but as far as I'm concerned they (Bradford) are battling hard to get things right."

Being Nicky Law week three...

...and problems with the trip to Brighton begin to effect Nicky... Read more

The month by month news index.