Well Smith certainly has his work cut out for him. Bradford have gotten themselves into the position where we can no longer afford to drop any points if we want to make the middle 8s.

Hopefully adding Moss and Charnock will improve the team and we'll see them settle in to the side quickly. Interesting listening to Mick on BCB that Charnock has the option to extend beyond the initial month as well as plans to bring in 2 half backs from down under

I didn't go and found that comment interesting that Charnock was temporary till the two halves arrive from Aus. It sounded like a definite rather than a wish for two halves. If it is two arriving there must be one leaving.

Why on earth anyone is still even mentioning the 8s is beyond me, we just had to resort to a DG to scrape a win against the bottom club, if you genuinely believe this lot could [imake [/ithe MPG - let alone [iWIN[/i the MPG -







please send me some of whatever substance you're on as i don't know of one hallucinogenic enough

Priority has to be just scrapping our way into that 3rd or 4th spot so we make the middle 8's. Then it's a completely fresh start and I guess less expectation on our players than last year. Finishing out the top 4 doesn't bare thinking about from a financial perspective.

Didn't hear all the commentary as I was multi tasking preventing a toddler destroying the house but I'd take it with a pinch of salt if it was from BCB?

Because if we don't make the 8s the implications on this club don't bare thinking about.

At this moment in time we're more likely to finish bottom of the 8s than MPG. But we all start on zero points so maybe it's a fresh start. We have good players who simply aren't playing well. We've a better team than the 1 that played in the MPG. They just have to start playing well.

I don't think we have much chance of promotion this year. But i'd like us to finish strongly to take in to next year and rebuild under Rohan.

One word... Phew!!!

Timing would make sense in terms of waiting for visas, but take anything that comes out of Micks mouth with a massive pinch of salt.

Anyway else feel like slitting their wrists after listening to hobbos constant doom and gloom?

Thanks for listening. Hopefully your toddler didn't destroy too much.

Have to say living 120 miles from Odsal I very much appreciate BCB and imo the excellent commentary, please carry on Mick, Hobbo & team.

Assuming it was BCB's commentary you were listening to, are you not directly contradicting yourself there?

I never understand this "it sounded like....." analysis by people who didn't go to the game. You're not really giving your own opinion, as you are at the complete mercy of the commentators you listened to. You're essentially giving their opinion. Hence why your two statements above would be contradictory if it was BCB you were basing your first comment on.

I didn't attend today's game, therefore I don't feel I'm qualified to comment on the performance. However the scoreline is worrying on it's own.

I listened to the game on BCB. As much as I'll knock Mick for his rumours and insider knowledge, I won't knock him for commentary. I enjoyed it once again, just not so much for what was happening.

Comments on new lads performance are based on commentary over duration of the match. Pretty much every time they were mentioned it was positive, apart from Charnock knocking on a couple of times. No problem with commentary just don't trust/believe the insider scoops they come out with.

Thank you for the feedback and kind comments. We had over 4,000 people listening online and when you add the FM figures, we'll be looking at the 10,000 mark. Phenomenonal figures.

Just shows the power of the Bradford Bulls brand and more importantly the lapsed support still interested in the club.

Can I just say if people expect me and Mark to turn up and call these games from the best media facilities in the land then you're mistaken.

Today we were sat in the main stand amongst the most vociferous Workington Town supporters, balancing commentary equipment and notepads on knees.

The Charnock and players story is just repeating what Rohan Smith told me in the interview at Tong on Wednesday.

If you're joining me on Wednesday night at Oldham, you'll get Rohan Smith, Ethan Ryan and Mitch Clark.

P.S. Great to get Robbie Paul and Trevor Clark on today.

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There's no insider scoops. I repeated what Rohan Smith told me at Tong.

Glad you enjoyed it mate, thank you for listening.

A scrappy if unspectacular performance from the Bulls. The goal line defence was as strong as ever, slight concern on the edges but that's been a going concern for the past 18 months.

Today was all about getting the two points and that's what we've done, job done.

Just driving back down the M6 in the rain.

How do you measure the FM figures?

Because, assuming we win on Wednesday night, we'll jump up to 4th spot and hopefully we'll back that up with a win over Batley on Sunday so that we close ground on them in 3rd spot.

You know, it's still do-able. It's not like Leeds or Huddersfield talking about making the top 8 pie in the sky stuff

Well, I listened via BCB like most of us on here (thanks to the guys for the commentary again) and - with the usual caveats about 'it sounded like' - it [idid[/i actually sound like a particularly unconvincing performance once again.

In fact Hobbo was pretty much of the opinion the we were heading for defeat at one point, so credit to the lads for pulling it out of the bag with a couple of late scores

I'd expect to make a few changes to freshen the side up for Wednesday and for us to get past Oldham without too many scares but I do fear for us against Batley on current form.

I can hardly believe I just wrote those last few words - we are the Bradford Bulls for heavens sake!!!

Fm (and DAB) is measured by people called "Rajar" who ask a select bunch of people to fill in a diary saying what they listen to and when - hence why radio stations can be obsessed with telling you what station they are every two seconds. IMO it's extremely flawed, but that's probably a subject for another day. More people will listen via FM and DAB by default, so Mick is certainly right far more will listen to the broadcast by that method.

My first listen to a full commentary on BCB this year today (heard bits and bats on Bulls TV) and I echo certainly a job well done Mick. Hobbo remains a bit of a misery at times but it's all in the traditional RL spirit, and sometimes when we go behind my thoughts would definitely be unsuitable for broadcast!

I've kind of changed my views on Hobbo a little lately.

I used to be quite critical of him being too negative, until I had a chat with someone who knows him a little. Said not only is he one of the nicest blokes you could meet, he's also very passionate about not only Rugby League, but Bradford Bulls. After that conversation, I found myself listening to him in the same way I would if I was in that position, as someone who is also a passionate RL and Bulls person (albeit less of a nice guy). When I listened to him like that, I found he very much speaks and reacts a lot like I do while I'm at a game, before I come away and calm down a bit and look at it with perspective.

I know people will question if that's what you want from a commentator. Should they be more impartial and suchlike. But it's local radio, and they're following one team, not a sport. They're bound to be biased, they're bound to favour that team. If you think they're biased, try listening to Radio Humberside.

Spot on Hamster- and I can confirm Hobbo is a top bloke.

I'm definitely not his passion for the sport or the club (if anything that is blindingly obvious), or that he's a nice guy - it's just that sometimes the negativity can be a little much, when - as a listener and a fan - you are already in the frustrating situation you can't see the match yourself.

That said, it's a tough job and as I alluded to, one I certainly couldn't do. I didn't say anything about being bias either - I've heard Radio Humberside and don't they actually praise their teams?



(Joking, praise was forthcoming when it was due)

Thanks for listening today Amber, the feedback from everyone is greatly appreciated.

Mark is as passionate as any one of us on here about the greatest game and is on BCB as a summariser (ex Northern player) and certainly has a passionate heart that's full of opinions which makes us both click as a commentary team.

I really do get that. And I think that's where my previous frustration with him was. But when I looked at it from the other point of view, it's almost like having the Fanzone thing they used to do on Sky for the football. On another note, I was also told he does it totally for free (although how much truth there is in that, I don't know), purely for the love of the game, the club and his job.

I may be letting a little emotion and empathy boss my opinion of him, but from what I hear of him, I think maybe some of the criticism he gets is a little harsh. I wouldn't want to think I put my all into something I love, for free, as a service to supporters who can't get to the game, only to get a load of abuse over it.

Great post.

And that's totally fine, I don't think we're a million miles away here. I think the term "abuse" is a bit harsh though - although just because BCB is what it is doesn't mean it's immune from criticism. If you're in the business of dishing out opinion publicly on the airwaves, you can't expect everyone to agree the whole time. Radio is an incredibly personal medium, and to get an opinion out of the public either way shows you are doing something right! Hobbo jokingly mentioned the "keyboard warriors" on the broadcast today, so he'd probably take no notice anyway



Anyway, not to dwell on the negative - if it wasn't clear before, my views of the broadcast were overwhelmingly positive and has come on leaps and bounds since I last heard it. Mick, agree you click well with Hobbo, I think you prompt the right questions from him at the right points.