I actually thought Crossley did quite well, and came extremely close to getting a try.

Maybe this thread should be locked? It appears that only certain points of view are allowed so what is the point?

I would have Wardle over Reardon any day. I would have noone on the wing over Reardon to be fair though.

Not going to explain it to you again.

Paul Noone?

So go on then, if anti-Bulls comments not allowed, someone defend that performance today and point out the error of our ways.

They are allowed.

If you just shout "we're cr4p" over and over again does it get any more listenable?

Debate why we have been appalling over the last couple of games.
Compare our previously reasonable defence with the recent shambles and ask why.
Discuss what's keeping Langley out and why we haven't heard a peep about a new contract.
Talk about who's should be playing fullback/wing/centre.

Unless of course you just want to shout "we're cr4p" over and over to make a noise to show how much it matters to you.

Wardle did well, Addy wasn't on long enough, Whitehead was ok, except when Sykes gave him the ball on the last tackle (at least he had the sense to try and kick it) and Crossley did ok with limited game time. Koppy has done well in both the last games, for me, he hasn't got the leg drive or enthusiasm of Scruton, but he is making progress. Beaver and L'Estrange also did their bit. I'm not sure it is THE players (excepting Sykes and Reardon were rubbish today and given Reardon was given a second chance at the Bulls his perfomances have beena disappointment this season), and certainly not the young players to blame. I think it's coaching, has been for ages and whilst we're capable with a full squad and a following wind of beating anyone on the day, we've been extremely inconsistent throughout Macca's tenure. Our best spell was when Brian Smith helped out and it's no surprise Macca wants him to help him in the England job. I'm just hoping and praying that our lack of finances doesn't mean we get saddled with McDermott, Lowes or Millward.

I'm also hoping that Ox hasn't given up the fight and will stick around and continue to do us proud. I am also worried that the stay aways who have watched the last three games on TV and who will be watching us against Wire, might be encouraged to stay away, whilst the Leeds and Wire games showed we still had some fire, I think Hudds and Crusaders might have snuffed it out.

Can you blame stay away fans for not paying £18 next week and watching it on the TV? We are in a recession after all

Depends if they are true fans or glory hunting?

I can blame them for anything i want as they're not there to defend themselves



Seriously I'm not blaming them, I am saddened that we can't offer them something worth coming back for just yet, although personally I would have paid my season ticket just to see the Wigan victory. I'm looking forward to the new post Macca era, which hopefully doesn't include Lowes or McDermott.

Insightful, but sadly lacking the erudition needed here, I'm sure you'll have passed Southstander NVQ level 1 in literacy though, so maybe best to go and show off there?

Kopczak generally doesn't look aggressive enough to me and I thought his best bits have come when he's been a bit wound up. I keep hoping someone has a go at him just to see if it does get him going.

I don't think anyone could expect Whitehead to go through a whole season without a dip but he looks to have the right attributes and hopefully he'll learn consistency.

Wardle and Crossley have both looks good in the U20's so it shows the step up is a big one. Maybe the Burgii aren't ready despite skittling players in the u20's and the coaches know this.

IMO we lacked someone to lead the side today and for awhile. Menzies is a great player and is clearly very respected in the sport. But I don't think he's a leader on the field and that's what we're missing at the moment. Someone to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and dictate play.

We are really missing Matt Orford or at the very least a decent kicking game.

Sykes can kick, but to be fair to the guy, his kicks are one dimensional, put your foot thru the ball hoofings.

Kearney is a FB and that's where we should be playing him.

Halley seems to have stuttered in his development and I feel should be moved back out to the wing in replacement of Reardon.

Reardon is not a winger. Yes, I know he played there for GB, but that was 6 years ago before he spent a hell of a long time out of the game due to injury. He'd be more suited to a centre spot.

Nero is blowing hot and cold and he's really not forged anything resembling a wing/centre partnership with Reardon.

Sherrieffe has his detractors on this board, however, he has improved this season and I feel with a decent centre inside him he'd be a lot more effective. I know he gets stick for his crab running but with a decent centre he wouldn't need to. The only reason he does it now is to look for a gap. The right centre would provide the gap for him and allow him the space to score.

Thought Wardle played very well today and was unlucky not to get a try. He supported well and was a good strong runner.

All in all, I feel we're still a few pieces away from completing the puzzle. Hopefully the new man in charge will be able to do something about it.

And your defence of that performance?

"That left assistant coach Lee St Hilaire to explain Bradford's collapse.

He said: "I thought we were in the game in the first-half but we started slow and they started fairly quick.

"From that period then (when Crusaders were 18-0 up), we finished the better and stronger side.

"We had a fair amount of the ball but we were slightly off on our execution. It was just about some of the players putting the ball over the line which is what we practised all week.

"We were missing some key personnel and, if we had had them, we may have got four more tries. Then again, that is no disrespect to the people who were out there." "

From Sportinglife.com

Practising to put the ball over the line.. Sounds like it was a very intense training week without Macca around.

Read childofthenorthern's post. The one re: 'we r cr4p'

Is it just me or is that post-match analysis from St Hilare the most ridiculous thing ever?

If you'd not watched the game, you'd read his comments and think that we fell to an unlucky and narrow defeat, instead of which we were comprehensively walloped by (let's face it) an average team.

If that was an example of us being 'slightly off', I'd hate to have to sit through us when we aren't playing well....

Agreed entirley.

Good coaches coach players to do good things.
Poor coaches coach players to do poor things, and then moan about 'little funds and small squads'.

It's about time Macca was shipped off and we got somebody in to salvage the season.

Was St Hilaire watching the same game as us ? (and i was at the game)

We were absolutely crap from start to finished, our defence has gone to pieces a number of our players want to hang there heads in shame. Don`t get me wrong i know we have players out with injury but that was embarrassing, and to lose to an average team and what make it even worst it was live on sky.

Macca will come out tomorrow saying the same old rubbish `it was just another bad day at the office` I hope this new coach comes in sooner rather than later otherwise our top 8 is clearly going downhill from now on.

Agree time he went.

Re. Youngsters.

Wardle. He played strong today, carried the ball well, got stuck in defending although not always with the best results. Alert and showed some good skills.

Whitehead. Usual rugged self, starting to look a bit tired though. Could do with a rest IMO.

Crossley. Didn't let anybody down IMO, Carried the ball strong on a few occasions and got into a few tackles.

Addy. Didnt do anything wrong but didnt really stand out. He seems a bit weak atm and I can never work out where he's playing.



Koppy did a lil better today IMO, he made a few good charges, till need to see more though.

I think that's his problem too. I'm not sure his role is being properly defined for him

I think he's a loose, so we should play him there if we want him in the side.