: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:35 pm  

The Punisher..! wrote:

Play Paul Sykes there.

For once, your argument is irrefutable. Although we both know the guy was suggesting a replacement new player as opposed to just a change-round. Sykes may anyway be required in the centres if/when Hape goes.

You never did explain to people just what Platt did to you/your girlfriend/your boyfriend/your pet hamster that caused you to feel the need to wage a vendetta against him on here?

: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:39 pm  

The general understanding is that we are spending to the salary cap. Therefore there is no capacity available until a player leaves.

You cannot get rid of a player without paying his contract up in compensation. And that counts as salary cap expenditure.

People maybe keep forgetting...our salary cap has effectively been significantly reduced, because that part of Harris' package previously off-cap is now on-cap - as the little matter of the 2005 and 2006 breaches "clarified".

I suspect you would not GET "three decent players" (if by that you mean decent internationals and/or British) for the cost of "five average ones". My guess is that some of our recruits ae on very much less than many people realise. Bet you'd struggle to get TWO for the same money, and given we were down to last 17 fit (and some will have been far from that) players on Thursday, would we have been happier with only 14 fit? Or 16 if the two out on loan were back? Which part-time plasterer would we have called up this time?

Not decrting the arguments - far from it - just trying to clarify a few points especially for those who think the solution is "sign better players".

i understand what your trying to say just the side as a whole are playing pathetic with a few exceptions but we need to do something or else we may not get into the top six and i feel that with most bulls fans they see teams like warrington signing quality players and leeds signing world class like buderus whilst we sign average players, just don't feel it's good enough for a team who can be considered as one of the best in superleague

something really needs to change or we will become an average side and as a bulls fan i and many others don't want to see that and we can't really go much worse than we already are because not winning is already below standard for us

maybe people should lower expectations? and just settle for there team as average despite the great success in the past decade

: Sun Mar 23, 2008 11:45 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

For once, your argument is irrefutable. Although we both know the guy was suggesting a replacement new player as opposed to just a change-round. Sykes may anyway be required in the centres if/when Hape goes.

You never did explain to people just what Platt did to you/your girlfriend/your boyfriend/your pet hamster that caused you to feel the need to wage a vendetta against him on here?

He did nothing, I just dont like his attitude on the field whilst wearing a Bulls shirt. I dont like the fact that all he has done is score a few tries and being hailed as a world beater when its plainly obvious he's rubbish. I dont like the fact that Bradford waste their money on a poor player.

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:27 am  

Daz_4 wrote:

i understand what your trying to say just the side as a whole are playing pathetic with a few exceptions but we need to do something or else we may not get into the top six and i feel that with most bulls fans they see teams like warrington signing quality players and leeds signing world class like buderus whilst we sign average players, just don't feel it's good enough for a team who can be considered as one of the best in superleague

something really needs to change or we will become an average side and as a bulls fan i and many others don't want to see that and we can't really go much worse than we already are because not winning is already below standard for us

maybe people should lower expectations? and just settle for there team as average despite the great success in the past decade

I think we may have a bit more scope for marquee signings once Harris is off the cap for good. And as for how some other clubs might have managed it under the cap...well I'm sure the likes of Florida Bull can fill you in, or I could maybe let you know in a brown paper envelope. But anyway...are we really into paying megabucks to players who want to retire from the NRL and come here to earn their pension - displacing a good GB player in so doing? Seemed a strange decision, that one.

But as for settling for "average" - no chance! Any sporting organisation which settles for average has given up competing. And any fan who does so is aiding and abetting. And anyway, "average" can become "exceptional" if you can get the best out of people. If it ever looks like the club is "settling for average" that will be the time to take up tiddlywinks.

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:43 am  

I think we may have a bit more scope for marquee signings once Harris is off the cap for good. And as for how some other clubs might have managed it under the cap...well I'm sure the likes of Florida Bull can fill you in, or I could maybe let you know in a brown paper envelope. But anyway...are we really into paying megabucks to players who want to retire from the NRL and come here to earn their pension - displacing a good GB player in so doing? Seemed a strange decision, that one.

But as for settling for "average" - no chance! Any sporting organisation which settles for average has given up competing. And any fan who does so is aiding and abetting. And anyway, "average" can become "exceptional" if you can get the best out of people. If it ever looks like the club is "settling for average" that will be the time to take up tiddlywinks.

yes i understand i hope harris packs his bags soon we really do need to sign new players with class whether from superleague or nrl! just aslong as we begin to perform and begin to win, or tbh i would much prefer if players we already have begin to perform because some of them really need to take there finger out there bum!

and te bulls may not be settling for average as such but thats what it seems like theres no passion or effort in the games and the backroom staff must have realised there is a problem since we have lost more than won this year and they arn't doing anything about it, but like you say i hope that 'average' can become 'exceptional' just from this seasons performances what i have seen i cannot see where we are going to start ?

not much to work with , like you said with salary cap ... injuries and just overall class within the squad

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 12:49 am  

The Punisher..! wrote:

He did nothing, I just dont like his attitude on the field whilst wearing a Bulls shirt. I dont like the fact that all he has done is score a few tries and being hailed as a world beater when its plainly obvious he's rubbish. I dont like the fact that Bradford waste their money on a poor player.

I counselled people not to get sucked in, so I don't do so myself lightly. But I remain genuinely puzzled by your constant vilification of Platt.

As far as I can see,

1. Do you have a problem with the attitude of a player who in several games now has put up some heroic last-line defence, time after time?
2. What was he doing when he was not "scor(ing) a few tries". See above, for example?
3. Not seen anyone seriously hailing him as a "world-beater" other than you alleging people are so you can then reinforce your campaign against him? Nasty politician's trick, that.
4. "Plainly obvious he is rubbish" is subjective opinion not objective fact?
5. "waste their money" - you don't know what he earns so you cannot objectively assess whether or not they are?
6. "poor player" again is subjective opinion not objective fact?
7. In what way is this constant vilification likely to either make him a better player, or make the club sack him and be no better off under the cap because of the compensation payable?

In my opinion you have done nothing to demonstrate objectively why you feel justified in telling everyone he is rubbish without redeeming features. And everything to demonstrate that you are either running a personal vendetta or have some other agenda running - and you already know my thoughts on that.

So...are you continually attacking this player, and encouraging others to do likewise, to try and damage the player, or the club, or destabilise the supporters, presenting them with a manufactured scapegoat, or all of these? Because I can conceive of no positive result you can expect of your campaign.

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:59 am  

Daz_4 wrote:

better than brent webb? new zealand international?

and wellens gb international?

wonder how many caps platt has, all serious now just ask any coach who they would rather have

hence why platt hardly plays for his country

knowing we have platt as our 'first choice' full back is pretty embarasing specially when full backs from teams who are average have better Fullbacks than platt

they should never have let reardon go to warrington

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:09 am  

smytho wrote:

they should never have let reardon go to warrington

It is pretty much accepted that Reardon went because Wire offered him more than what Bradford thought he was worth. He is a good fullback.. but I wouldn't say he would make much more of an impression than Platt. He certainly isn't in the same league as Webb or Wellens either. I would imagine that Platt gives better all round value for money given the cap restraints.

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:14 pm  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

It is pretty much accepted that Reardon went because Wire offered him more than what Bradford thought he was worth. He is a good fullback.. but I wouldn't say he would make much more of an impression than Platt. He certainly isn't in the same league as Webb or Wellens either. I would imagine that Platt gives better all round value for money given the cap restraints.

A Bulls director told me, not long before Reardon went, that they were concerned at his seeming inability to pass - hence the club only tending to play him on the wing.

: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:59 pm  

Daz_4 wrote:

i understand what your trying to say just the side as a whole are playing pathetic with a few exceptions but we need to do something or else we may not get into the top six and i feel that with most bulls fans they see teams like warrington signing quality players and leeds signing world class like buderus whilst we sign average players, just don't feel it's good enough for a team who can be considered as one of the best in superleague

something really needs to change or we will become an average side and as a bulls fan i and many others don't want to see that and we can't really go much worse than we already are because not winning is already below standard for us

maybe people should lower expectations? and just settle for there team as average despite the great success in the past decade

But historically, Bradford haven't signed BIG name players. The likes of Danny Peacock, Hape, Henderson, and even Robbie Paul and Vainikolo weren't accomplished stars when they signed (how else would Les have signed for a mere £80k pa?). Jimmy lowes couldn't even get a start at Leeds when he came and Radford and Spruce were both unproven.

We have successfully relied on lesser names to bring in the silverware such as Loughlin, Dwyer, Vaikona etc.

The only real BIG name signings of note in the last 10 years have been Henry Paul and Iestyn Harris. I need not dilate on any comparison between the two but one is a RL legend who went on to success at both club and international level in RU before a high profile return to League. The other one is Iestyn Harris.