Why 2009 is like 2005 all over again : Wed May 27, 2009 11:13 am  

In 2005, we started the season terribly (obviously never sinking as low as we have this time). Our fantastic and loyal fans spent there time whingeing the coach must go.

It has been widely documented that in 2005 the llayers felt that because so many key players where out of contract at the end of the year, it bred an uncertainty which caused our poor form.

At the end of this season we have the below players out of contract:

3. Paul Sykes "HOME GROWN" 2009
5. Semi Tadulala OVERSEAS TRAINED 2009
6. Ben Jeffries OVERSEAS TRAINED 2009
9. Terry Newton 2009
10. Andy Lynch 2009
11. Steve Menzies OVERSEAS TRAINED 2009
12. Glenn Morrison (vc) OVERSEAS TRAINED 2009
15. Matt Cook "HOME GROWN" 2009
20. Dave Halley "HOME GROWN" 2009
22. Matt James "HOME GROWN" 2009
24. Julien Rinaldi OVERSEAS TRAINED June 2009
26. David Solomona OVERSEAS TRAINED 2009
30. James Donaldson "HOME GROWN" 2009
32. Duane Straugheir "HOME GROWN" 2009

We have not yet announced if any of them will be retained. We have not yet announced any new signings (although we usually don't until end of season anyway).


The best way to sort the mess of this season out?

Follow the example of 2005:

1. Make a signing or two, we brought in Hendo and Ben Harris and it rejuvanated the side for the run in - start by keeping Rinaldi
2. Make it clear to the players who is staying and who is going
3. Announce that some of our out of contract players have agreed to stay to lift the mood amongst the fans
4. Dangle the carrot of a big name for next season (just like we did by announcing McKenna and Bai )
5. Extend the coaches contract - we did it with Nobby, so lets repeat it with Macca

Changing the coach will only bring more uncertainty into our situation, and the lift for one or two games when a new coach arrives, will not improve any of the above points anyway.

: Wed May 27, 2009 11:22 am  

Don't recall you being second bottom midway through the season in 2005.

The playing roster back then was also far superior to the current one.

Looks like grasping at straws of optimism to me.

: Wed May 27, 2009 11:25 am  

Ben Harris arrived in 2004.

: Wed May 27, 2009 11:40 am  

What has McNamara shown, as a coach, to suggest that the thought of extending his contract should even cross anyones mind?

: Wed May 27, 2009 11:41 am  

redeverready wrote:

Ben Harris arrived in 2004.

No he didnt. 2005 was when he arrived.

Re: Why 2009 is like 2005 all over again : Wed May 27, 2009 11:43 am  

silsdenbull wrote:

Changing the coach will only bring more uncertainty into our situation,

The certainty of continued decay is an atractive alternative.

: Wed May 27, 2009 11:54 am  

redeverready wrote:

Ben Harris arrived in 2004.

I thought it was may 2005 RER? He was still in Oz in 2004 because he won the NRL GF in 2004 then SL in 2005.

: Wed May 27, 2009 12:30 pm  

My goodness, we really are scraping the barrel now.

Not only were we never second bottom halfway through the season in 2005, but we had players like Pryce, Peacock, Fielden, Paul, Reardon all wearing the RAB, and playing far better than their 2009 counterparts.

Just like 2005? Rubbish.

: Wed May 27, 2009 12:59 pm  

Ewwenorfolk wrote:

I thought it was may 2005 RER? He was still in Oz in 2004 because he won the NRL GF in 2004 then SL in 2005.

Think he made debut off on bench v warrington in may ??? Wasnt that reason andy smith went to london?

: Wed May 27, 2009 2:17 pm  

You seem to be missing the point of my post.

Nowhere have i said we have a squad with the quality of 2005 (I dont think any team now matches that squad), and nowhere did i say we would end up winning the GF this year.

My point was that I think our poor form is down to so many players being uncertain of where they will be playing next year. In 2005 we had the same problem. Once everyones futures where sorted, and they brought in some new blood, they kicked on as a unit to try and finish the season well.. Surely that is transferable to this year..

I will remain a Macca Backer as long as he is head coach at Bradford, as I have with all the previous occupants of that post. Change doesn't always improve things.

If you don't agree then that is fine, I may be in the significant minority these days, but I feel much more comfortable backing someone in charge of the team I support, rather than ranting incessantly on message boards about how some non existant alternative would make everything better