: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:13 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Sykes's re-signing really does depend on what the plan is with him, and until the season kicks off, we'll never know.

I would like to think that he has accepted a moderate deal, as he's knocking on and having a pretty dismal season, but is home trained and could be very useful cover for several positions. We have very little cover in the backs.

I would be pretty sure that Crossley will be the starter for much of the season, and most of it if he goes anything like as well as we think he can, and if that happens, then keeping Sykes as cover/temporary relief is a sensible move.

I don't know why people are bagging Nero, he's had his best season for years for mine.

Whether we would be in the market for any more big money backs, or indeed if there are any such available, I really don't know. However I've a feeling and certainly a hope that we may see some youthful halfbacks / hooker getting some chances next year. You can never really tell till they are tested, so let's hope we've got some genuine contenders as if we do end up striking lucky with these lads then wouldn't it put a whole new complexion on the new season?

Playing a prop at centre that's a thought.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:16 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Playing a prop at centre that's a thought.

I bet he'd defend better

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:22 pm  

mystic eddie wrote:

It did, I agree, but the context in which I made the point was not in regards to the court case.

I am merely stating that us inserting a clause in his contract does not exactly guarantee that we would get him back again.

Yeah, so be it. But we will get a handsome payout in the end.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:26 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

I bet he'd defend better

Couldn't be any more of a turnstile than the present incumbent.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:34 pm  

I don't see this as too much of a downer, Sykes has shown some attacking flair this season and has a good rugby brain.

It is a shame that he has been so awful in defense, but the whole team have been pretty pants defensively this year so I can't help but feel Sykes has come under a bit much criticism. The ineffective sliding defense that Bradford try to work with just doesn't cut it.

A coach that can teach defense is very much required IMO, I remain hopeful that some decent coaching could improve Sykes' defense.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:12 pm  

yougengis wrote:

A coach that can teach defense is very much required IMO, I remain hopeful that some decent coaching could improve Sykes' defense.

You get to a certain age and there isn't much any coach can do about basics.

However he might not be so exposed if we were better drilled defensively, and had some discernible systems, but we don't, and don't seem to have had for some time.

It has become such a problem now that McNamara has to do something to change things round, whether that be swapping some of the centres and wingers around or even bringing Menzies back from the second row. Look at Leeds, they switched Scott Donald to the right to accommodate Ryan Hall, and have him playing with a solid centre in Keith Senior to help protect the youngster and it has worked well, even if it did take Donald a while to adapt to the change.

Doing nothing shouldn't be an option, but often seems to be under the current regime.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:43 pm  

Asim wrote:

Doing nothing shouldn't be an option, but often seems to be under the current regime.

I think they subscribe to the "If you ignore it long enough then it might go away" theory.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:47 pm  

Asim wrote:

Doing nothing shouldn't be an option, but often seems to be under the current regime.

It reminds me a lot of what I used to be like on Football Manager.

Assemble what I think is a good team. Put them out, watch them lose. It's a one off, don't worry about. Watch them lose again. They just need time to get used to one another. Watch them struggle for half a season. Ah but they look good players on paper, so they'll come good eventually. Get relegated. Not understand why they didn't play better as they're obviously good players, maybe I should have changed something?


It's quite worrying that the current coaching seems a lot like my crap Football Manager days....

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:50 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

It reminds me a lot of what I used to be like on Football Manager.

Assemble what I think is a good team. Put them out, watch them lose. It's a one off, don't worry about. Watch them lose again. They just need time to get used to one another. Watch them struggle for half a season. Ah but they look good players on paper, so they'll come good eventually. Get relegated. Not understand why they didn't play better as they're obviously good players, maybe I should have changed something?


It's quite worrying that the current coaching seems a lot like my crap Football Manager days....

Hmmm it was the individual training regimes and training in general I could never be bothered with.. just seemed a bit too much effort.

: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:04 pm  

I think he meant Crookes not Crossley.