This is what a lot of people don't seem to grasp, I understand all the frustrations, I share them, but if the fans stop turning up the club stops, simple. (although even with the results and endless navel gazing on here average attendance this year at home is still over 11,000) We need to back the club by turning up still - you dont have to be a cheerleader or anything, just please dont think its only worth turning up if we're going to win, thats the easy bit of being a supporter. You need to turn up because its your club and we might win, and even this week as unlikely as it most certainly is, its not impossible for us to get a result.

I like turkey. Anyway, I missed that game, what rewards did Shudds reap this weekend against the team we beat?

Think Macca would prefer you to boo him than visit him with a lump hamer.

Stupid Post, Seemingly Stupid Poster and a Stupid Proposal (in my opinion obviously.) The worst thing any Bulls fans could do is make a deliberate effort to stop going to matches. Your team isn't doing well at the moment, but that my friend is rugby league. Like life, its full of peaks and troughs and its also why 1000's of people love the sport. Regardless of the financial implications, what do you think the players would feel like running out to see Odsal nearly empty because fans were "boycotting" the team they boast to love??? Don't think for a minute that this would be a positive thing, It wouldn't. The best thing Bulls fans can do is ride out the storm, get behind their team and think back to your recent glory days in 2005/2006. Bradford wont always be winning, nor will any of the other teams in SL....that is professional sport. If you don't like it, dont watch it; I know who's loss it will be then......yours!!!

One point is, I've never yet woken up the following day and thought" Yes, I wish I hadn't gone to that game".

People are free to go or not, but I think actively encouraging others to stay away is shameful.

I did for the first time on Saturday morning.



And as for your second point, look to the fifth column for people who might have an interest in doing that?

Agreed. On paper the squad is capable of a top 5 finish, and I actually don't think many of the players are performing really badly. The problem is a complete lack of team play and spirit. Every time they take to a field they look like they've never played together before, so each player is left to fend for himself, both in attack and defence. That's our problem, and that's a coaching issue IMO

I totally agree with most of that post. Your forwards are well capable of a top 5 finish, playes like Lynch, Burgess and Morrison are top top class.Im afraid im going to have to disagree with you on something though as I dont believe as you say there is a lack of team spirit. To me the team spirit seems very strong, you only had to see how the "team" celebrated after the Leeds win and as a group they seem to be tightly knit (this is all of course in my opinion) What I do think and therefore agree with you on is that there is a distinct lack of is cohesion on field. This doesn't mean the players dont want to win or aren't trying for each other. It simply means they aren't clicking and aren't as a whole unit on the field as perhaps they are off the field. I suppose similarities can be made with some of those football teams who buy half a team of superstars who simply cant play together. Im not for one minute saying that Bradford have a team of super stars; what Im trying to say though is that it doesn't matter if every individual is a world beater, and that every indivdual likes everyone on their team. What matters is can they play together or not and at Bradford unfortunately the answer seems to be no! Steve Mc wasn't to know that when he recruited; and as a new head coach it will be a learning curve. Bottom line is, the players need to perform as a unit and the coach needs to teach them how to do so. Otherwise somebody will pay...with their job!

Probably sums it all up. And if there IS to be a change in the coaching staff, provides a specific justification that has been all-too lacking on here.

You do know Leeds let you beat Them becasue Heatherington wanted to buy McBannana a few extra weeks to wreck the club even more

I heard it was part of they Iestyn setllement. "Ok Mr Hetherington!We'll give you your undisclosed amount cash providing you let us win our home game against you next year!" Simple as

You do get the feeling that something isn't quite right behind the scenes though don't you?
I'd like to think it isn't a question of spirit, but the longer this goes on, the more that's seems to be the issue.
How can a team perform like they did against Leeds one week (from a spirit and passion point of view), then a week later perform like they did against Warrington?

Two situations have been at the forefront of my mind since Friday:
1. The Bulls in 1998
A handful of White Hot performances in a disappointing season, the reasons as to why have since been made public.
2. Chelsea this season
A change of coach, who has turned the season around with the same playing staff at his disposal. The form change of some of those players - old coach v new coach - has been remarkable.
Scolari too has similarities to Macca, we (the Chelsea fans) thought; good coach, good tactician, proven pedigree, let’s just give him some time.....

Different sport, granted, but the comparison is justified IMO

What's that about?

The "Edwards" season

Coupled with a shedload of injuries, many of which were never made public at the time for obvious reasons.

Mind you, you only had to see the hatred that Leon was showing to Harris - when the latter was trying to tell the former where to position himself behind the sticks at Fev in the cup in 2005 - to see the Edwards effect was not wholly confined to 1998.

More bad luck?

Nah, the bad luck was getting the Scumster for the play-off at KR end of that season. We went there with (I think it was ) nine first-teamers out through injury, yet were STILL winning till the Scumster send Penguin off for nothing. (Ruled "no case to answer afterwards). Then did not penalise Aitcheson for tripping Robbie on his way to the line. THAT was bad luck!

This thread has made interesting reading. I think the main lesson it has to offer, which we may all take forward into our daily lives, is that a faulty washing machine is a poor analogue for a rugby league team.

Amen.

Indeed.

The faulty washing machine won't belt you back when you bray hell out of it with a club hammer...

We had 3 or 4 knee reconstruction injuries that year. Wasn't Anderson or Fielden injured in a pre-season friendly. The injuries crippled our season literally that year.

Anderson Jowett and Peacock all did cruciates that year.

Fielden came in to beef up the front row when we went even more down on numbers by the time we played Leeds at Headingley in April (was it)?

Speaking of which: Did you know that the elephant is the only animal with four knees. It would therefore be possible for an elephant to have 3 or 4 knee reconstructions at the same time.

Elephants have two knee joints and two elbow joints, like any other 4-limbed tetrapod. Their elbow is higher on the limb and the joint you see them bending isn't even the elbow, but is actually the carpal articulation, the equivalent of our wrists.

So there.

Very few of them can fix a faulty washing machine either.

Not obvious to me. Obviously.