Re: Full-Back : Tue Apr 02, 2019 1:18 pm  

Going to assume the posts talking about a new coach are April fools related.

I too think Ryan could be a decent full back. But he’s an outstanding winger and that’s where he should play. Give Pickersgill a few more games to try and get confidence back, if no better then put Chisholm there when he’s back.

Re: Full-Back : Tue Apr 02, 2019 2:22 pm  

As the last couple of posts. We're functioning on ticket sales, merch, sponsorship (+/- whispers of external funding) and minimal central funding (this year). The problem is getting into SL for us. We can't afford to pay max salary cap like one or two others in this division. If we ever get back to SL, our central funding would go up to £1.8m like everyone else. And like Wakefield, we could manage on that equally well.

Re: Full-Back : Tue Apr 02, 2019 4:39 pm  

As I've said elsewhere, we need a more experienced fullback who can mentor the young lads we've got coming through for that position.

Wouldn't need him long term, just made until the end of this season, end of next at a push.

Re: Full-Back : Tue Apr 02, 2019 5:45 pm  

Let’s just re-evaluate whilst we are here too. We all knew this season would be tough even with a full strength side. It is the most competitive Championship there has been and anyone can beat anyone. A brain fart cost us at Sheffield and a dubious decision cost us at Widnes. The most a team has scored against us is 25 points. I expected a couple of beatings by this point. Our attack hasn’t been great. But I’d sooner see this Bradford side than the one from 3 years ago who could score from anywhere but couldn’t defend at all. There will be more tight games to come and when we get some important players back I can honestly see us scoring a lot more! No dramas. We will achieve our objective of staying up.

Anyway back on topic. Pickersgill at FB for me against Dewsbury. Get him some confidence back.

Re: Full-Back : Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:57 pm  

Bulls4Champs wrote:

Ashley Gibson has played full back.

He's played at hooker too, but you wouldn't put him there now.

Nothus wrote:

Lee Greenwood? James Ford?

Lee Greenwood has done absolutely nothing to justify a decent job. Yet. James Ford however I think is doing wonders at York, but I can't see him wanting to give that up for a job at Bradford. He's currently coaching a club who is absolutely on the up to overperform. Why would he give that up to go to a club with far greater expectation and who I don't think any of us would seriously describe as "on the up"? Maybe better than the last few years, but the club's still not in a good state, whereas York are winning fans left, right and centre.


As far as the fullback position goes, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think losing McNally has left a huge hole. Pickersgill is currently the best option, but that doesn't make him a very good one. Ethan is an absolutely fantastic winger, but that doesn't make him a fullback. Stephenson it's hard for me to comment as I've not seen much of him.
There's no reason to panic buy. Largely because everyone expects this season to be one of staying in the Championship while not challenging for promotion but equally not being scared of being relegated. Also panic buying has landed us with some god awful players in the last few years. But come end of the season if nobody has upped their game and screamed "I'm your best fullback", then I think that's an area that HAS to be improved with a quality signing.

I should add, I do think Hitchcox is the best fullback option when he's fit. But since he's supposedly not available for 4 months, I didn't include him.

Re: Full-Back : Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:04 am  

I'd like to see Pick back at FB.

You can hardly say he's lost us games but if his confidence is shot then let's have Webbo as his on field mentor? The time he spends talking, gesticulating and explaining stuff to DFJ is phenomenal and I am sure having his experience 'hand holding' Pick will get the confidence back a lot faster than sitting on the bench, winding yourself up and goofing up disastrously because you are desperate to perform.

Re: Full-Back : Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:11 am  

Wouldn't be surprised to see Chisholm play full back in tonights reserve game.

[Bullseye]

Re: Full-Back : Wed Apr 03, 2019 8:55 am  

Attacking-wise I think Chisholm might be suited to fullback but defensively certainly not.

Suggest we stick with Pickersgill and Stephenson. In pre season Stephenson looked very decent.

Re: Full-Back : Wed Apr 03, 2019 5:57 pm  

HamsterChops wrote:

James Ford however I think is doing wonders at York, but I can't see him wanting to give that up for a job at Bradford. He's currently coaching a club who is absolutely on the up to overperform. Why would he give that up to go to a club with far greater expectation and who I don't think any of us would seriously describe as "on the up"? Maybe better than the last few years, but the club's still not in a good state, whereas York are winning fans left, right and centre.

Think you're being a bit harsh Hamster. You won't find a bigger fan than me of York. Great first team, good young coach, great chairman and an off-field team that realises we're in 2019 not the 1980s.

But they rely on their First team being successful. I know that goes for every team, but if suddenly their first team doesn't start performing, James Ford suddenly isn't the hottest coaching property in RL, the healthy crowds they get suddenly drop off, they're not everyone's favourite team anymore because they're not winning all the time etc

Our first teams doing pretty well and I still think we'll be in the top 5 come the end of the season. But more importantly than that is we're starting to build a young home grown squad who's best years are ahead of them. Ethan Ryan, Ross Oakes, Liam Kirk, Matty Storton, Elliot Minchella, all have their best years ahead of them. We forget how young they are. Underneath that we have Olly Wilson, Alix Stephenson, Harry Shackleton etc all great young prospects to BUILD the club with. That's why I think we're on the up. If our first team has a bad year, we have the youngsters to bring through the next.

A hell of a lot of work still to do. But we're in the right direction and hopefully we'll be back in SL in a few years a long with York.

Re: Full-Back : Wed Apr 03, 2019 6:53 pm  

Chisholm named at full back in reserve game tonight. George Milton scrum half !!