Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 8:40 am  

I have no major objection to the odd loan here and there to boost the squad but I get the impression that our recruitment is done and we are now relying on some players from SL. They might not materialise or if they do, it might only be short term cover.

To me, that isn't a side with realistic SL ambitions. To me we look like a decent Championship side with a chance of a play off spot but I think promotion is a bit optimistic. Which I'm fine enough with, but the club keep harping on about SL ambitions but I'm not sure the recruitment strategy matches those statements.

Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 9:30 am  

Bully_Boxer wrote:

To me, that isn't a side with realistic SL ambitions. To me we look like a decent Championship side with a chance of a play off spot but I think promotion is a bit optimistic. Which I'm fine enough with, but the club keep harping on about SL ambitions but I'm not sure the recruitment strategy matches those statements.

This I agree with but I think the club feel they have say we are promotion candidates even if they don’t think it’s realistic, to keep fans on side.

I think most fans are much more realistic these days but they are probably keen to avoid putting out a message that we are midtable championship because it does sell as well

Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 11:45 am  

people talk about SL ambition, if we did manage by some fluke to get promoted we don’t have to stick with same side!!!!!

Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 3:31 pm  

Bulls4 wrote:

As much as I am inclined to agree, Featherstone were lauded by some on how well they were doing and how they were an example to championship teams, despite being based on the same thing for years.

I guess it’s a case of needs must.

My issue with Featherstone is that they had around 5 loanees plus dual reg whilst trying to gain promotion which in my opinion is wrong. The teams of Hull KR and Toronto only had 1 or 2 loans.

When we had 5-6 loans in 2017 we were kept in the Championship after liquidation and had to assemble a squad in pretty much 2 weeks. That was needs must. A promotion contender should not be having dual reg AND loans too.

Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 6:28 pm  

Betsy Bulls wrote:

people talk about SL ambition, if we did manage by some fluke to get promoted we don’t have to stick with same side!!!!!

Oh wow really?

As I say, I am quite content where we are, I just think it is time to move away from talking about SL and getting Bradford back to where we belong etc. It still gets trotted out in interviews with new players etc and that would be fine if we were investing to make that a realistic aim.

I guess our best hope might be that some of these young players all flourish around the same time and we hold onto them long enough to form a side good enough. But generally they seem to get picked off as soon as they show promise, which is understandable but frustrating.

Re: Anthony England Retires : Sat Apr 03, 2021 7:43 pm  

The point I’m making is people are criticising for showing SL ambition but adding loan players. Budgeting unfortunately for most clubs means a sprinkling of top quality champ players padded out with journeymen or kids with potential that aren’t costing the earth. That’s what makes a champ squad unless you have money ala Leigh and are able to build a team which looked too good for this years championship. Surely there is nothing wrong with this .