Bradford City Thread

[Indian Dan]

First, this isn’t, and hopefully doesn’t turn into, a bash Bradford thread.

I had a dip onto their forum and there is a general concensus that they should ‘smash’ L2 based on a perception that it is at a Dog and Duck standard and the quality is terrible.

Based on their fan base I suppose I agree to some extent, but those of us who’ve had the ‘pleasure’’ of knocking around down here know the realities.

Sure, we’ve all seen some right old crap served up by our own teams and opposition alike but, fuck me, it’s a hard old slog. More than a few ‘launchers’ to contend with backed up by some gnarled, hairy-arsed defenders who’ll kick lumps out of you - no niceties in L2.

Then there are the surprises when some perceived minnow actually outplays you with some decent football.

From a personal point of view, we’ve had a few years of decline now and it’s bloody hard, as a club, to get out of that mindset. Those clubs with momentum from non league - Luton and Lincoln - have pissed it these last 2 seasons and there are more than a handful of clubs - hopefully us included - who look like they may have, at last, sorted themselves out.

Lads, it won’t be a stroll in the park!

 

[FGR Stroud]

Bradford have that 12th man, well worth one or two goals every three of four games.
Last season two relegated teams were immediately promoted back to League 1.
But then we remember Chesterfield.....
Ian Dan, I agree with your assessments and suspect it will be a month or more for Bradford to show their full potential in challenging for immediate return to League 1.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

First, this isn’t, and hopefully doesn’t turn into, a bash Bradford thread.

I had a dip onto their forum and there is a general concensus that they should ‘smash’ L2 based on a perception that it is at a Dog and Duck standard and the quality is terrible.

Based on their fan base I suppose I agree to some extent, but those of us who’ve had the ‘pleasure’’ of knocking around down here know the realities.

Sure, we’ve all seen some right old crap served up by our own teams and opposition alike but, fuck me, it’s a hard old slog. More than a few ‘launchers’ to contend with backed up by some gnarled, hairy-arsed defenders who’ll kick lumps out of you - no niceties in L2.

Then there are the surprises when some perceived minnow actually outplays you with some decent football.

From a personal point of view, we’ve had a few years of decline now and it’s bloody hard, as a club, to get out of that mindset. Those clubs with momentum from non league - Luton and Lincoln - have pissed it these last 2 seasons and there are more than a handful of clubs - hopefully us included - who look like they may have, at last, sorted themselves out.

Lads, it won’t be a stroll in the park!

No sane person thinks we should smash the league believe me, it's only 12 years since we were last relegated to this level and it took a long time to come back. We have some crap to shift to free up our budget.

I've seen one poster on our forum use the word smash the league his name is something 74 Bantam can't remember his proper name but he's a wum, so are a couple of others on there. They're the only ones who are saying it won't be a difficult task to get back up at the first attempt.

 

[F!RTHY]

Which forum is this? I’ma frequent viewer of Bantams Talk, but I don’t recall seeing such posting?

Anyway, it took us six seasons to achieve promotion the last time we were down here - although we had no money then - we know first hand how tough it’s going to be.

I think most of our lot realise it can’t get much worse than what was served up last season; and it’s worth knowing that the reason we were relegated wasn’t primarily down to playing like a bunch of lemons - off field problems and fan unrest were key elements - which have now drastically improved.

We have a team more than capable (IMO) and a Manager who has recently been promoted from this league. We have decent backing - so let’s be positive.

Simple as that, really.

 

[shoddycollins]

Nobody smashes League Two. In the five years we've been down here, Lincoln are the closest I've seen to anyone smashing the league, credit to Lincoln nobody came particularly close in the end to knocking them off their perch but that had as much to do with the poor form of the top 4 in the run in as it was Lincoln building up an insurmountable lead.

I'm yet to see a relegated team win the league to go straight back up. Only three have gone up automatically and two of those were MK Dons and Bury last year, the other was Shrewsbury who were relegated with us. Two others, Blackpool and Coventry have won the playoffs.

Bradford may be a big club, but so were Portsmouth and so were Coventry. There's always obstacles in the way that prevents any club having an easy ride.

 

[LS Bantam]

Fake news, nobody thinks we’ll walk it, we have the worst squad for decades that’s costing us a fortune and we’ve just finished 24th out of 24. Not having this ‘massive’ lark started by other fans when it took us like 7 years to get out last time, we’re realistically looking at mid table.

 

[valefan16]

Bradford fans know better than most after their last spell of six years that its not that simple.

Interestingly I expected us to do far better from the previous experience down here this time and its been a disaster, and we came down in better shape than Bradford (about 13 points more than they are coming with).

As I've said the more noticeable difference this time to last time is the amount of smaller clubs spending big money. Salford, Lincoln, Mansfield etc so it's harder to flex your muscles in terms of club size.

I feel sympathy with Bradford, we both thought we'd recovered from our slumps and we've both ended up back down here. It wont be easy for them.

 

[Conker]

Bradford fans know better than most after their last spell of six years that its not that simple.

Interestingly I expected us to do far better from the previous experience down here this time and its been a disaster, and we came down in better shape than Bradford (about 13 points more than they are coming with).

As I've said the more noticeable difference this time to last time is the amount of smaller clubs spending big money. Salford, Lincoln, Mansfield etc so it's harder to flex your muscles in terms of club size.

I feel sympathy with Bradford, we both thought we'd recovered from our slumps and we've both ended up back down here. It wont be easy for them.

Always love your typical condescending views.

Mansfield, and Lincoln (to a bigger extent after winning the title) are on a upward curve on and off the field, whereas Vale have been on the down for years and are unlikely to become competitive in this division any time soon, that’s how football goes

Port Vale and Bradford are not even close to comparable either, obviously.

 

[Indian Dan]

I’m looking at Vale as my dark horse this season.

 

[Deepcut Cobbler]

We didn't smash it in 15/16 but we were quite comfortable...

 

[Indian Dan]

We did smash it under di Canio. But that was with a huge wad of cash and tremendous player turnover

 

[valefan16]

Always love your typical condescending views.

Mansfield, and Lincoln (to a bigger extent after winning the title) are on a upward curve on and off the field, whereas Vale have been on the down for years and are unlikely to become competitive in this division any time soon, that’s how football goes

Port Vale and Bradford are not even close to comparable either, obviously.

Its hardly condescending its a fact, a smaller club like Mansfield spending big thats what has happened?

We've had a downward spell for three years... luckily the cancer causing that has been cured.

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m looking at Vale as my dark horse this season.

I'd be pleasantly surprised, will take a couple of years undo the damage previously done.

As for Bradford if they are stable off the field now (which I believe was an issue) then playoffs should be a realistic aim for them if not automatic. Largely speaking the teams who struggle coming down from L1 are generally basket case clubs such as ourselves and Chesterfield. They have a decent manager as well which will help. Talk of pissing it etc would be daft but challenging for promotion is not unrealistic for them.