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TEAM STATS
Bradford Aldershot
5(4) Shots (on Goal) 10(4)
11 Fouls 8
5 Corner Kicks 7
2 Offsides 3
51% Time of Poss. 49%
2 Yellow Cards 1
0 Red Cards 0
7 Saves 3
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/5062317.The_end_for_Thorne_and_Boulding/
The end for Thorne and Boulding
7:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010
Exclusive By Simon Parker
Peter Thorne and Michael Boulding have both left Valley Parade as Peter Taylor stamps his authority on City.
Boulding's departure – as well as that of younger brother Rory – was announced yesterday. And Thorne, the top scorer for the past two seasons, has also agreed to cut short a deal ravaged by injury.
As two veteran hitmen head for the exit, City have lined up another short-term capture. Twenty-year-old Ryan Kendall will come in from Hull this week on a month's loan.
Taylor praised the professional way that Thorne and Boulding accepted his decision. And he has left the door open for Thorne to come back in a coaching capacity.
"It was very hard for me to speak to them," said the City boss. "I still don't know exactly what's happening next season.
"But I said that if I am here, I didn't think I would be offering them another contract.
"Their response was terrific. They were both so respectful and totally understanding.
"It's a bit different with Peter. Michael has had a frustrating time with the club while Peter has been an absolute legend here.
"I'm trying to bring some fresh faces in so I couldn't guarantee they would play a part. Both said if that was the case, they would prefer to finish now.
"In Michael's case, I had people like Gavin Grant and Gareth Evans on the bench on Saturday giving me pace, as well as Mark McCammon. And of course they are much younger."
Thorne topped the City scoring charts with 15 in his first year at the club and then 17 last season. Those goals were scored at the impressive rate of one every two games.
But injuries have restricted him to only five starts this season, leaving him three short of 200 career goals.
He has been unable to train recently because of problems with his knee.
Thorne has been immensely popular in the dressing room and Taylor would welcome him back to help from the sidelines.
He said: "If Peter wants to come here and help with my coaching, I've offered him that chance."
Boulding never hit top gear after Stuart McCall won the drawn-out race for his signature 20 months ago.
Having notched 24 goals in a relegated Mansfield side, he looked the perfect poacher to spearhead a promotion push last season. But he showed only flashes of that form as City fell short, scoring only once after February.
After taking a pay cut to stay, Boulding has spent the bulk of the current campaign on the bench with just 11 starts. He last scored at Lincoln in January.
Like Thorne, he did not begin a game after Taylor took over.
Meanwhile, Hull youngster Kendall will link up with City this week.
The 6ft 1in striker has been a regular in the reserves for his home-town club.
Taylor said: "Ryan is full of energy and will run all over the place. He puts defenders under pressure."
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/5060755.Daley_s_magic_boot_does_the_trick_for_City/
Daley's magic boot does the trick for City
7:00am Monday 15th March 2010
By Simon Parker
City 2 Aldershot 1
Omar Daley's belter may have clinched City another home win but it didn't earn him a day off.
While the rest of Saturday's side enjoy a bonus breather today, the Jamaican will be back at Valley Parade going through his paces.
Daley is still finding his fitness after nearly a year on the sidelines. So there is no extra time allowed to put his feet up.
He smiled: "I'm in every day working on getting fitter. I didn't have a day off last week either.
"Everyone else is off apart from me. But I don't mind too much!"
Peter Taylor got his first glimpse of what Daley is capable of with the sizzling 25-yarder that flew into the Aldershot net midway through the first half.
Not a bad impression to make on your first start for the new manager.
But there was only one man that Daley wanted to milk the moment with.
Damian Buck had been his regular companion through rehab since the physio's arrival last summer. So Daley made sure that he acknowledged that support by sprinting straight over to the bench after the ball hit the net.
Daley dedicated the goal to the fans but his celebrations were reserved for the physio.
Daley said: "I told him from day one that I promised I would come to him when I scored next.
"Damion's become my best mate in the club because he looks after me. The other players say he gives me more rubdowns than anybody!
"But we've been together that long since I got injured. Damo's a nice guy and a good physio and I'm so grateful to him for getting me back up and running 100 per cent."
Daley's recovery goes on, hence the reason for a solo session on the training ground this morning.
Taylor knows he has a match-winner in the ranks but there are no special rules. In the new manager's vision of drumming in team shape and discipline, Daley is expected to muck in just the same as the rest.
He added: "It's all different with the manager. He is trying to organise everything we do.
"He wants two banks of four and strikers can't stand upfield now and relax, they have to get back.
"Everyone wants to impress him and it's getting competitive every day in training.
"There are no guarantees. Just because I've scored doesn't mean I'm going to keep the shirt."
Taylor's methods are getting results – that's four wins in seven now since he assumed the hot-seat.
A quiet revolution is taking place. The old guard are becoming marginalised as the manager brings his own ideas – and players – to the fore.
His actions don't suggest someone just passing through. Surely it cannot be long before discussions open with the board to extend his stay beyond its current end-of-season limit.
City have even won both his home games – the last time they managed two in a row at Valley Parade was a year ago when Aldershot were demolished 5-0.
That scoreline was never going to happen again but the fact City clambered back from going an early goal down against a side that had beaten them 11 days earlier confirms the gradual progress being made.
Taylor got his response after Port Vale.
There was one other change from midweek as giant defender Luke Oliver made his debut at centre half.
Not surprisingly, he won pretty much every header going. He also got away with his one blunder of the day, diving in wrecklessly on Marvin Morgan, who could easily have gone down and won a penalty.
Instead Morgan kept his feet to set up fellow sub Marlon Jackson for a header that looked far harder to miss. Yet he managed it.
That was the only noteworthy action of the second half, other than Daley's comical yellow card for a tumble in the Aldershot box that Cristiano Ronaldo would have been ashamed of.
City were pushed back but coped well enough, without ever threatening to extend their slender advantage.
All the goals and the bulk of the excitement had come in the opening period.
Aldershot began on the front foot as City struggled to get near the ball. The visitors were afforded too much time, allowing them to pass at will – or at least as much as the bobbly surface would permit.
They needed only eight minutes to make all that possession count.
Matt Glennon was blamed by Taylor for Vale's winner and the keeper won't have been too happy with his part in the Aldershot goal either.
Nobody closed down Scott Donnelly but his shot should still have been held. Instead, Glennon pushed it out in the direction of Anthony Straker to net from a tight angle.
The fans weren't happy and neither was Taylor. But City's response was immediate. Flaky Venezuelan goalkeeper Mikhael Jaimez-Ruiz escaped with a soft free-kick after being freaked out by Oliver's presence but then he was left clutching at thin air as James Hanson made it 11 for the season.
It came from a quality combination between the two City strikers. Hanson's flick-on sent Michael Flynn scurrying down the right and he checked inside Anthony Charles before supplying the perfect cross for the big man to bullet into the top corner.
Some cross, some spring from Hanson, some goal.
But that was just the warm-up for the main act eight minutes later.
Luke O'Brien bustled down the left flank to begin the danger. His cross was diverted out of the box by Aaron Brown and Daley seized on it, slipping inside Donnelly before sending a left-foot lash screaming past the keeper.
It was a strike worthy of winning any game. Thanks to Jackson's missed sitter 20 minutes from time, that proved to be the case.
Nobody was going to spoil Daley's day. Nor his team-mates' day off.
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http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/5062208.Meet_Peter_Taylor_s__other_half_/
Meet Peter Taylor's 'other half'
7:50am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Simon Parker
Sky once mocked up a Mr & Mrs style head-to-head with Peter Taylor and Junior Lewis.
The light-hearted contest was to find out how much they really knew about each other.
Lewis didn't score many but then again the questions weren't strictly based on football.
When it comes to matters on the field, they have become the perfect match.
City are the EIGHTH club where the pair have worked together.
A relationship that began as manager and player at Dover Athletic 15 years ago has continued via Gillingham, Leicester, Brighton, Hull, Stevenage, Wycombe and now Valley Parade.
Lewis said: "When I was at Dover, I remember him recommending me for a trial at Watford. I knew then he could see the ability I had.
"Peter then went off to the England under-21s but when he came back to club management, he signed me again.
"I've worked with him at every level from the Conference right up to the Premier League and been lucky enough to get promotion at a lot of those clubs.
"I know how the manager works and how he likes things done from playing for him and working under him as a coach."
Taylor has stressed that the arrival of Lewis would not affect his confidence in Wayne Jacobs. The manager has already made it clear that, should he stay on next season, City's long-term number two would be offered the chance to keep his role as well.
Lewis also insists that he is no threat to Jacobs and has been grateful for his support since joining the club. He added: "I'm here as first-team coach to take training with the gaffer and Wayne.
"I'm going to help Wayne learn how the gaffer operates and he's been fantastic since I've been here. Wayne has welcomed me with open arms and we get on really well.
"He knows the place inside out as well as the players and obviously he knows football in this area.
"I'm learning all the time but all footballers will say that. Even the gaffer will say you never stopping learning, no matter what age you are."
One thing Jacobs didn't have to point out was the size of the club. Lewis is well aware of the potential.
"You only have to look at the following they get," he said. "And I know there is more support out there if we can progress in the next few years.
"You look at the following we took to Rotherham recently and the crowd for my first home game against Darlington. To get 11,500 against the team bottom of the league is fantastic.
"At the moment I'm here to the end of the season. It's the same position as Peter.
"I hope it will go on beyond that but we're just concentrating on getting as many results as we can.
"We want to have a strong finish and hopefully take that confidence into next season."
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Taylor admits to being 'interested' in Hull job
6:30am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By Simon Parker
Peter Taylor does not expect to see his name in the hat for the vacant Hull job.
Taylor was an early 16/1 shot with the bookies to go back to the KC Stadium following Phil Brown's departure yesterday.
The Bantams boss laid the foundations for Hull's rise to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions and remains close to chairman Adam Pearson.
Taylor said: "People know my feelings about Hull City. It was an incredible four years there.
"Me being interested in Hull City, I think that's pretty obvious – but I don't think I'm a contender.
"I feel sorry for Phil because I think he's done a great job for them but I do understand maybe it's the last throw of the dice to try and keep them in the league.
"Sometimes a change of face all of a sudden lifts the club."
Taylor, who has won four of his seven games since succeeding Stuart McCall, is currently working on a short-term contract at Valley Parade until the end of the season.
He was due to watch Notts County, City's next home opponents, play Bournemouth last night.
Gary Megson and Alan Curbishley are the short-priced favourites to take over at Hull with former England coach and Tigers midfielder Steve McClaren also in the frame.
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Kendall signs on 4 week loan
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/page/News/0,,10266~1994029,00.html?
From Sky Sports:
Bradford City have signed Ryan Kendall on loan from Hull City after Peter Thorne agreed to leave Valley Parade.
Kendall has yet to make a senior appearance for Premier League strugglers Hull and has been allowed to join Bradford for a month.
The young striker is set to go straight into Peter Taylor's squad for the weekend game against Hereford United and his arrival will compensate for the imminent departure of Thorne.
The veteran striker has agreed to an early cancellation of his contract, with the paperwork expected to be finalised later this week.
Thorne joined the Bantams from Norwich City in 2007, but he has struggled with injuries this season and has been restricted to just nine appearances.
The 36-year-old follows Michael and Rory Boulding in accepting a deal to terminate their Bradford contracts early.
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REHMAN 'HUMBLED' BY COMMUNITY AWARD
Bradford skipper Zesh Rehman won the Professional Footballers Association's Player in the Community award for 2010 at Sunday's awards ceremony.
The 26-year-old Pakistan international, who has represented England at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, received the award at a gala dinner at Grosvenor House, Park Lane in recognition of his work in the Asian community of Bradford.
Rehman said: "I'm very honoured to have won this award, I feel very humbled. But had I not won, I would have continued to work in the community because I believe in it strongly.
"Hopefully other clubs can start to look at Bradford and use them as a template and mirror what we do in their club.
"For me, football is the way of integrating the mainstream of society and if I want to try and help the next generation whether they're Asian, English or African to get involved in football - football is the perfect vehicle to make a difference, it's followed by everyone and is an ideal way to get kids to do something with themselves."
His influence as an Asian footballer is portrayed through such campaigns and helps raise children's aspirations showing children can achieve their dreams, regardless of their race. Zesh himself is clearly aware of what can be achieved, saying "Football is the perfect vehicle to bring people and communities together, it is all about integration."
Football League awards judge and former Bradford winger Peter Beagrie said: "Zesh is a great communicator, leader and role model. He's a national ambassador, comfortable being charged with the job of uniting a multi-racial community."
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Media
Photos
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Video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8567303.stm
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