While I am not particularly sad to see the Boulding brothers leave Bradford City, I was concerned to see this story: Taylor interested in Hull job.
Rory Boulding’s career at Bradford City never really looked like taking off, and brother Michael struggled to impress (against burly League Two defenders, in a side whose game didn’t really seem to suit him). While I wish them well, I do not think that the team has really lost an important cog in Michael Boulding or his brother Rory.
Peter Taylor, on the other hand, would be a loss to the club. In the short time that he has been at the club, we have seen a more solid and better organised City side – and we have seen the confidence return. It would be a shame if this promising new beginning were curtailed and the search for a new manager had to begin again from scratch.
My hope is that Taylor will remain with City at least until the end of the season and that the supporters, the team, and the board will persuade the manager to stay for significantly longer. Ideally, the players currently at the club will prove themselves worthy of a place in the squad next season. It would be nice to have some stability and continuity not just in the manager’s office, but in the dressing room.
For me, Ramsden, Flynn and others are important members of the side. I would aim to keep them, and would add to that list:
James Hanson (surely worthy of a place in next year’s squad), the raw but potentially exciting prospect Gareth Evans, the reliable Lee Bullock, the inconsistent but always dangerous Omar Daley, Matt Clarke (who has been much-maligned for his lapses in concentration, but is the strong centre-half we need), the promising defenders Steve Williams and Jonathon Bateson, the ever-present Luke O’Brien.
The ‘maybe’ pile would include our two captains at the start of the season, the injury-plagued Peter Thorne and the error-prone Zesh Rehman. Scott Neilson has, for me, done well enough to be given a chance to continue his football education at Bradford but being sent out on loan is perhaps some indication of his perceived standing in the squad – not a good omen. In my opinion, James O’Brien and Stephen O’Leary have yet to prove themselves (although O’Brien’s dead-ball prowess has impressed), but they may both do so before the end of the season.
Jon McLaughlin has yet to put a foot wrong when playing for the first team – but he has played the sum total of two league games for the club and as such is still an unknown quantity. There will be also be the question of the youngsters who haven’t quite broken through – Luke Sharry and Leon Osborne.
As for players who might be signed, well I wouldn’t mind seeing more of some of the players we have temporarily. Adam Bolder looked skilful and tigerish in his Valley Parade debut, and Robbie Threlfall is a quality player. It will be interesting to see how much football Mark McCammon and Gavin Grant get between now and the end of the season and whether Taylor views them as potential signings for next season. Matt Glennon will presumably return to Huddersfield at the end of his loan, and I wouldn’t bet on Luke Oliver being a Bantam next year
Apart from them, I’d just like to see us make a few tweaks. A midfield of Xavi and Iniesta, with Messi playing up front, could see us mount a real promotion challenge next season.
