After another disappointing pathetic performance, think the next 5 games will be crucial to how our season pans out and the future of Dunning.

We're against the bottom 4 sides plus Keighley (who we should be gunning for revenge) so that "should" be nothing less than 5 victories IMO not saying they will be easy, but if we're serious about what we want to achieve this year, we shouldn't be dropping points in this chunk of games.

If we get the maximum points from this then we'll be at the half way point in the season and likely in a top 4 position and even above Fax (depsite not a single one of our players good enough to get in their side obviously)

That said I just don't trust us to have that killer instinct for all 5 games. I can see us winning two then inexplicbly losing at home to London or something. It's a recurring theme and if that happens I think it will be habit that will continue to hinder us the rest of the year.

We've had some outstanding victories this year against some good teams, but then been awful on too many occasions. Depsite Dunning clearly bringing some good to the team (fitness, attitude etc) he doesn't seem yet, to know how to solve this issue.

I think I sort of expected this season to be a mixed bag. The early signs were good in terms of players actually looking quiet fit but that should be a bare minimum. However, as the season has gone on it's clear we not yet capable of putting in consistent performances. We back up good performances versus Toulouse and Sheffield with total crap. It's very frustrating and risks undoing all the work on fitness and it shows the change in culture isn't maybe that much of a change.

Recently we seem to have lost the ability to attack, it's like we've reverted to last year under Kear when the only idea we had was to put in an ineffective kick to Kieran Gill. What's happened? Only a few weeks earlier we were putting in some good set moves and supporting the ball carrier more. Instead we seem to rely on Holmes doing something or we revert to individuals trying to fix things on their own.

The halfbacks are a worry if Holmes is out. Patton tends to go missing when things aren't going his way. Lilley tends to over compensate and tries too hard and makes mistakes. It's clear the Lilley/Patton partnership doesn't work. I'd be looking to give Lawford some more game time.

I’d agree with all of the above. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Sammut did a number on us at Barrow.

For me. It has to be 5 wins. At least 2 convincing wins (ie not nessecarily big scores, but playing really well). Otherwise its still Dunning out for me.

I'd have been more strategic as a club, move on from Dunning now after some very disappointing results and give the new coach these 5 'easier' games to work with the team before the business end of the season. If we give Dunning these 5 games we can forget being serious contenders and possibly the play offs altogether as the damage will have been done and its another rebuild in the winter. Now the faster tracks are having an impact we need a coach who can you know, coach.

Or maybe let Dunning have the next 5 games and If we win them which we quite feasibly could we will be at half way with a decent record. He’ll also have his star signing in Walker available and a couple of SL three quarters. Lawrence is also due back soon which will give us some on field leadership

Make or break period for Mark Dunning then.

Out of interest, who would you bring in who is a) affordable or b) available or c) any better than Dunning?

If Dunning was to go the Board would scour the earth for a replacement then appoint Greenwood.

Wed have plenty to choose from as aplications would be coming in from all over the world......

My instinct would be they’d appoint Nobby, which would be a disaster

I'd go looking for a hungry aussie coach a la Rohan Smith from the Queensland/NSW Cup level - someone like Luke Burt at the Burleigh Bears as an example

I heard a rumour Radford was coming in until the end of the season but it's not something I'd want.

God... we really do have some of the most fickle/unrealistic supporters in the game don't we.

In five games time we will have played everyone in the league, plus Keighley for a second time. Should the table form hold up, we will be looking at a record close to 9/10 wins and 4/5 losses... not the worst case scenario given that both the squad and culture needed a massive overhaul.

Anyone with any kind of managerial experience will understand that making such changes does not get results change overnight and I'd say that Dunning's work has more than suggested the team is moving in the right direction. Yes bad results will happen, but changing course at this time will only set things back and I think MD needs more time to show what he is really capable of.

It winds me up when it is suggested that he isn't a proper coach... couldn't be further from the truth. Mark has been coaching for years across all age groups and abilities. Its just plain ignorant to suggest otherwise. Every coach got their first team start somewhere so people need to cut him some slack.

If the second half of the season mirrors the first, Bradford will have a record that matches that of Halifax and Barrow last year, both who finished top 4 so lets not get too far ahead of ourselves before jumping to rash decisions and judgements like if we should be sacking the coach.

As teams start and get knocked out of the playoffs in the French Elite 1 competion there may well just be a couple of new players heading our way at some point during this run of games ....


Edit: Names now published in the RL press

I thought forums were places where one could express an opinion, mine and others are no less valid than yours - it's simply what I would have done given the chance, but the club are standing by Dunning and we'll see how that works out for good or ill.

Now I think you should probably have a lie down and don't fret too much its just a forum, it doesn't really matter.

Where have I said you can't express an opinion? You've said your piece and i've said mine... isn't that what forums are for?

I just happen to think you don't know what you are talking about, but thats just my opinion based on your comments.

And thanks for looking after my welfare but I'm ok for a lie down. I've been in and around the club for over 35yrs so I've seen enough ups and downs (more downs than ups unfortunately) to know what is said on the terraces or written online doesn't really matter or change anything.

Anything less than 5 wins on the bounce has to be considered a failure

And so it is!

Shall we change the title to Next 4 Games?

Why would Bradford have applications from all over the world applying for the coaching job.
Bradford have been off the radar for many years now.
Look at Leeds United nobody cares and time has moved on.
Bradford are just an average team at best so get used to it.
Signing players at the end of there careers and loan, duel reg players will always cause this situation.
Bradford have reserves and youth set up why dont they use them fans love to see home grown talent.

Average? Bit generous but I'll take it!

Joking aside, it was clearly nonsense when the club talked about high calibre coaches from all corners of the RL World. At least I hope it was, otherwise the board of directors are as clueless as the playing squad!

As I said I'd have been more strategic some qeeks ago, and the issues go deeper than the coach. I've been watching a professional rugby league team in Bradford since 1978, so we can both agree we've seen more downs than ups, and after all the downs of the last nearly 20 years now, the current custodians of the club still seem to lack vision, and a strategy linking that vision to the right tactics.