Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Aug 10, 2024 7:34 am  

The sad reality is that Bradford will be spending over 3x as much as us next season, maybe more, we simply can't compete with that. We will be treading water at very best until we get some new owners.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Aug 10, 2024 9:40 am  

Bradford appeared to be more laden with debt than Fax in 2022, with a £900k bank loan, So it'll be interesting to see how they're doing when the 2023 accounts are filed in the next few weeks.

Regarding players committed to other clubs for next season, it looks like it took just a couple of months for Bradford to approach Keyes and Gee and sign them, so why on earth deals can't be done after season end in mid October with a good 3 months wheeling and dealing space before the next season starts, I just don't know. It just makes it all so bloody farcical!

Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Aug 10, 2024 12:00 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

Bradford appeared to be more laden with debt than Fax in 2022, with a £900k bank loan, So it'll be interesting to see how they're doing when the 2023 accounts are filed in the next few weeks.

Regarding players committed to other clubs for next season, it looks like it took just a couple of months for Bradford to approach Keyes and Gee and sign them, so why on earth deals can't be done after season end in mid October with a good 3 months wheeling and dealing space before the next season starts, I just don't know. It just makes it all so bloody farcical!

The Bulls have definitely had new investment in the club which I would assume is where some of the money is coming from for players and purchase of the Odsal lease. Will have to wait to see what the accounts are looking like but confidence seems to be gradually building that we are once again heading in the right direction.

Time will tell whether taking on Odsal is a good move but in the short term at least means we have some control over the ground. Gradual improvements have begun but it clearly needs more in the long term.

Re: Squad 2024 : Sat Aug 10, 2024 1:15 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

confidence seems to be gradually building that we are once again heading in the right direction.
.

I wouldn't get TOO confident with Nigel Wood being involved. I'm surprised your name hasn't been changed to Bradford Brown Sox yet.

Re: Squad 2024 : Mon Aug 12, 2024 10:59 pm  

What has happened to the great marquee signing? Is he injured, or has the penny dropped that he disrupts the flow of the team. It is a shame that his career will end like it seems to be going, sat in the stand watching.

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:36 am  

Injured

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:54 am  

the fax in asia wrote:

What has happened to the great marquee signing? Is he injured, or has the penny dropped that he disrupts the flow of the team. It is a shame that his career will end like it seems to be going, sat in the stand watching.

Water carrier while the teams winning..

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Aug 13, 2024 8:55 am  

the fax in asia wrote:

What has happened to the great marquee signing? Is he injured, or has the penny dropped that he disrupts the flow of the team. It is a shame that his career will end like it seems to be going, sat in the stand watching.

Hamstring injury since the Sheffield game and since then the spine of the team have all being going well so no need for changes to the 1,6 and 7 slots until your forced to.

We’ve been unlucky with injuries this year in a number of positions but so far it’s hardly affected the spine.

That in itself is a surprise as especially Keyes and Woody rarely go through a full season without lengthy spells injured.

Rugby League is a squad / team game and that’s the viewpoint to have rather than looking at any one player, in that sense rather than sitting in the stand Widdop is coming back from injury and part of the final squad of players as we enter the run in to the end of the season and who knows what part he’s yet to play before the last game is played?

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Aug 13, 2024 9:52 am  

Same now could be said of the returning Fairbank and Gee. Difficult to drop anyone after winning 3 on the trot.

Re: Squad 2024 : Tue Aug 13, 2024 12:50 pm  

Tony Fax wrote:

Same now could be said of the returning Fairbank and Gee. Difficult to drop anyone after winning 3 on the trot.

Absolutely. Gee is still a little way off with his thumb but Finn does like Bob in the team so I expect to see him back sooner rather than later.

The pack is a slightly different approach than the halves in as much to keep them fresh and be playing without an injury Bob coming back along with Barber it gives Finn some options to rotate rather than drop them if required.

As before it’s back to the squad concept and again as before it’s the first time in a long time we have a little strength and depth with players that are giving it a real go at the moment entering a crucial part of the season where as others are struggling with injuries.

Things can quickly change is this game and just hope we get a bit of luck on the injury front and can keep it going.