Well, although it wasn't the most convincing of displays on Sunday, a win is still a win. Keighley were well up for the fight, but some of our guys seemed to be just coasting. Whether this is the fault of the coach or not, I can't believe that posters are casting doubt on the coach and players at this stage of the season.
Fullback is a position which a player needs to grow into to be fully effective, and Pickers just hasn't had sufficient time at championship level to grow his confidence. He needs to remain at full back and then judge him come end of season. Ryan is far more effective on the wing, and was badly missed there on Sunday.
For Kear to come under scrutiny so early into the season is unwarranted IMHO. Someone posted the other day the names of 13 players we had out injured. When you see that list, it brings into perspective just how difficult JK must be finding team selection. It's no wonder there's a lack of cohesion and flair at the moment.
Our style of play at present probably reflects the quality of team selection forced on Kear. Pretty much every last play of our sets was either a run and hope, or a pass / kick and hope for the best. We're hardly likely to beat any opponent with that style of attack. Shows just how much we're missing key players, especially those who can link with Pickersgill in attack - although that doesn't excuse a few errors in his play just recently.

Why do you think James Ford would be interested in leaving York to join us?

I think it's strange how JK's coaching style is presented by quite a few people. I'm not saying it's wrong, but he's getting exactly the same comments that many attributed to both Peter Fox and Brian Noble; boring ,defensive, steamroller teams, always take the two when it's on offer etc - well, they weren't too shabby in 'winning things' department. As for promotion, to be honest I don't want promotion - it's pointless without an owner who is capable of funding a super League team. Yo-yoing up and down isn't what I want for the club but that's all that we're ever likely to get without proper funding.

Not being funny but I think I could have coached us to glory with the squad Noble had at his disposal. And of course you can survive in SL without a rich benefactor - Wakefield proving my point and then some.



I didn't say he would, I was simply listing a couple of names I'd hope the club would look at if the need ever arose. But if you think James Ford is going to have all of his coaching ambitions fulfilled by remaining at York for the entirety of his career, I'd say you're being a bit naive.

The issue of players “coasting” made me think. We have a really big squad with a lot of “fringe” players. With the lack of reserve games I wonder if that’s caused a few to lose focus? It’s quite possible. How else can you force your way into the team if you’re not playing? If you’re on the outer for a long period I wouldn’t be surprised if players lose form and fitness at the very least. Over a long period it could cause discipline issues too. One for Kear to keep an eye on. Especially since none of those fringe players looked anywhere near 1st team quality on Sunday.

Going to assume the posts talking about a new coach are April fools related.

I too think Ryan could be a decent full back. But he’s an outstanding winger and that’s where he should play. Give Pickersgill a few more games to try and get confidence back, if no better then put Chisholm there when he’s back.

As the last couple of posts. We're functioning on ticket sales, merch, sponsorship (+/- whispers of external funding) and minimal central funding (this year). The problem is getting into SL for us. We can't afford to pay max salary cap like one or two others in this division. If we ever get back to SL, our central funding would go up to £1.8m like everyone else. And like Wakefield, we could manage on that equally well.

As I've said elsewhere, we need a more experienced fullback who can mentor the young lads we've got coming through for that position.

Wouldn't need him long term, just made until the end of this season, end of next at a push.

Let’s just re-evaluate whilst we are here too. We all knew this season would be tough even with a full strength side. It is the most competitive Championship there has been and anyone can beat anyone. A brain fart cost us at Sheffield and a dubious decision cost us at Widnes. The most a team has scored against us is 25 points. I expected a couple of beatings by this point. Our attack hasn’t been great. But I’d sooner see this Bradford side than the one from 3 years ago who could score from anywhere but couldn’t defend at all. There will be more tight games to come and when we get some important players back I can honestly see us scoring a lot more! No dramas. We will achieve our objective of staying up.

Anyway back on topic. Pickersgill at FB for me against Dewsbury. Get him some confidence back.

He's played at hooker too, but you wouldn't put him there now.




Lee Greenwood has done absolutely nothing to justify a decent job. Yet. James Ford however I think is doing wonders at York, but I can't see him wanting to give that up for a job at Bradford. He's currently coaching a club who is absolutely on the up to overperform. Why would he give that up to go to a club with far greater expectation and who I don't think any of us would seriously describe as "on the up"? Maybe better than the last few years, but the club's still not in a good state, whereas York are winning fans left, right and centre.


As far as the fullback position goes, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I think losing McNally has left a huge hole. Pickersgill is currently the best option, but that doesn't make him a very good one. Ethan is an absolutely fantastic winger, but that doesn't make him a fullback. Stephenson it's hard for me to comment as I've not seen much of him.
There's no reason to panic buy. Largely because everyone expects this season to be one of staying in the Championship while not challenging for promotion but equally not being scared of being relegated. Also panic buying has landed us with some god awful players in the last few years. But come end of the season if nobody has upped their game and screamed "I'm your best fullback", then I think that's an area that HAS to be improved with a quality signing.

I should add, I do think Hitchcox is the best fullback option when he's fit. But since he's supposedly not available for 4 months, I didn't include him.

I'd like to see Pick back at FB.

You can hardly say he's lost us games but if his confidence is shot then let's have Webbo as his on field mentor? The time he spends talking, gesticulating and explaining stuff to DFJ is phenomenal and I am sure having his experience 'hand holding' Pick will get the confidence back a lot faster than sitting on the bench, winding yourself up and goofing up disastrously because you are desperate to perform.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Chisholm play full back in tonights reserve game.

Attacking-wise I think Chisholm might be suited to fullback but defensively certainly not.

Suggest we stick with Pickersgill and Stephenson. In pre season Stephenson looked very decent.

Think you're being a bit harsh Hamster. You won't find a bigger fan than me of York. Great first team, good young coach, great chairman and an off-field team that realises we're in 2019 not the 1980s.

But they rely on their First team being successful. I know that goes for every team, but if suddenly their first team doesn't start performing, James Ford suddenly isn't the hottest coaching property in RL, the healthy crowds they get suddenly drop off, they're not everyone's favourite team anymore because they're not winning all the time etc

Our first teams doing pretty well and I still think we'll be in the top 5 come the end of the season. But more importantly than that is we're starting to build a young home grown squad who's best years are ahead of them. Ethan Ryan, Ross Oakes, Liam Kirk, Matty Storton, Elliot Minchella, all have their best years ahead of them. We forget how young they are. Underneath that we have Olly Wilson, Alix Stephenson, Harry Shackleton etc all great young prospects to BUILD the club with. That's why I think we're on the up. If our first team has a bad year, we have the youngsters to bring through the next.

A hell of a lot of work still to do. But we're in the right direction and hopefully we'll be back in SL in a few years a long with York.

Chisholm named at full back in reserve game tonight. George Milton scrum half !!

I think I'd be happy just seeing Chisholm play, tbh

He played full back in the first half then switched in to the halves at half time.
Hard to judge his first half from a full back perspective as he wasnt tested at all defensively. But he kept popping up in the line well. Some reallly nice touches as wll as a few loose passes. Basically a usual Chizzy game attacking wise. He looked back to full fitness thats for sure, he played the full 80

I just wonder if moving Chisholm to FB would be a better use of his talents. We've seen since he's come back from his injury that he seems a bit erratic and that the team seem to line up one way and Chissy does something different to everyone else which causes the play to break down.

Perhaps being at FB instead of in the halves directing traffic would allow his natural flair to be better utilised?

This just screams of trying to fit square pegs into round holes for me. Chisholm is a half back, Pickersgill is a fullback and Ryan is a winger.
Just bloody well play them in their most suited positions and if they're out of form then you do your job as a coach and COACH them back into form!

Is Pickersgill a fullback though ? I'm not convinced.

It all depends what commodity you place most highly from your fullback.

If you want a metre gaining broken field/support runner like Robbie Paul - Hitchcox/Chisolm

If you want creative extra hands in the line like Brett Kearney - Pickersgill


If you want defensive rock/safe under the high ball like Sir Keith - Ryan


I'd like to see Stephenson given a shot.

If you want one that crabs sideways into the stands - Phone Michael Platt and see what he's doing these days?

I thought Chisholm played at fullback for Sheffield didn’t he?

He did. But didn't last long at the club.

I can see us doing the swap tactic. Have Chisholm playing fullback in attack, but then have someone else there when we're defending.

Excellent compromise option. You should be working on Brexit

Chisholm not in Squad this week.