Wednesday, August 28, 2013

L1 W2-0 (h) Sheffield United Saturday August 23, 2013. K.O. 3:00PM. #bcafc

Read this article online
http://texasbantam.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/46810838356/


===========================

Signings, Loans and Injuries


Injuries
Hanson, hand fracture
Yeates, knee, expected to be available for selection

Loan rumour
Haris Vuckic - (see article below)

===========================


General Links

Current table
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/league-table/
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/league-one/table
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/standings?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN&wjb=

Fixtures
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/fixtures-list/
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/scoreboard?leagueTag=ENG.3&lang=EN

The "Social media Corner"
http://paper.li/f-1315926867
http://www.bradfordcity.tv/

Head to Head stats
http://www.11v11.com/teams/bradford-city/tab/opposingTeams
http://www.statto.com/football/teams/bradford-city/

T&A Reports & Pictures
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sportbcfcmatch/
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/sport_bantams_pics2012/

Bantams Player (subscription required)
http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/commercial/Bantams-player/

BBC headlines and highlights (video may be uk only)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/bradford-city

Pulse audio (last match highlights, post match interviews)
http://www.pulse.co.uk/on-air/pulse-sport/

Match stats
http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=234#teamTabs=results

Sing along
http://terracechants.me.uk/club/chants/Bradford+City/oldest/3/   (warning expletives involved)

===========================

Preview
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23736854

Game links
http://m.espn.go.com/soccer/gamecast?gameId=368095&action=stats&lang=EN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFHrK12hxQo


Goals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsOJ6u_jtnA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDrYG4d_Mfk

Live Blog
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10633466.Live_blog__Bantams_v_Sheff_Utd/



===========================

Final whistle - match report

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10633887.Silence_is_goal_den_as_Bradford_City_put_gag_on_Wells/

Silence is goal-den as Bradford City put gag on Wells

6:30am Monday 26th August 2013

By Simon Parker

City 2, Sheffield United 0

City are making sure that Nahki Wells lets his scoring boots do the talking and nothing else.

The history-making striker is the Trappist monk of Valley Parade as the club inflict a vow of silence with the outside world – until 11.01pm next Monday at least.

They are trying to keep the goal-den boy under the radar until the transfer window finally slams shut. But it sure ain't easy when he keeps hitting the net with frightening frequency.

Wells gunned down Sheffield United with another two on Saturday to take it to half a dozen for him already this season.

It also etched his name in the club's record books as the first Bantam to ever score in eight successive games, eclipsing the previous mark set way back when by David Layne, John McCole and Jack Deakin.

In Bermuda, where he is up there with the president on the island's 'A' list, they have just unveiled a giant mural in his honour on the side of a restaurant.

Here, simply having Wells available for the squad for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy first round a week tomorrow would be cause for celebration.

While the official "not for sale" line remains, it would be naive not to think that an eye-watering late bid could still land on their doorstep in the next few days. August cannot end quickly enough.

So Wells was off limits for the post-match media but assistant boss Steve Parkin, who knows a thing or two about serious strikers, was happy to have his say.

He said: "It's terrific. I've been in this position before when I was at Rochdale and had Grant Holt and Ricky Lambert. It makes you sleep a bit better at night knowing that you've got a goal threat. That's what he is.

"Nahki's blessed with pace and he's got two good feet. He is also getting better at other things which he needs to do. The main thing is he keeps listening and learning from the manager and other staff."

The fact that Wells is still a work in progress must send a chill down the spine of every League One defender. But you can see the huge strides he continues to take under the careful tutelage of Phil Parkinson and his coaching staff.

Gone is the one-dimensional goal chaser who was all pace and shooting. Wells is becoming a more rounded team player with a growing football intelligence.

Parkin said: "For me, he's still got a long way to go. But he's got a good attitude and the other players don't let him get too big for his boots.

"He's got to remember what's got him there – the time and effort that other people have put in and his team-mates. It's not all about him and Nahki realises that."

But he was certainly the ultimate difference between the two sides in a pulsating Yorkshire derby.

Had it been Wells in Jamie Murphy's shoes when the Blades winger broke clear in the third minute, this contest could easily have swung the other way.

It was the type of predatory chance that the City hitman gobbles up for breakfast. But Murphy was foiled by the alertness of Jon McLaughlin.

Had it been Wells stretching to make the close-range volley that Joe Ironside put into the TL Dallas Stand, the game could have been level 20 minutes from time.

At the moment – well, since April 20 to be fair – Wells is in the sort of dream form where he cannot miss.

He is also benefiting from the confidence and momentum of those around him as City continue to ride the promotion wave. Memories of last week's blip at Port Vale were swiftly blown away.

Victory over Sheffield United at Valley Parade has been a long time coming. James Hanson was five days old when City last triumphed in November 1987; Wells not even a twinkle in the eye.

Eight games since have swung hugely in the visitors' favour, although Saturday was their first time back for a decade.

Such a big game was always going to be another early indicator of how City stand in League One. The audience of 18,041 was Valley Parade's largest league crowd since Portsmouth's promotion party on the last day of the 2003 season.

And if the atmosphere for the first home game was raucous, it had nothing on this. The place bounced from the opening minute right through to the last.

The City faithful have had to be so patient to see their beloved side finally rise up – and they are clearly determined to make the very most of every second of it.

The 12th man was outstanding again. Not that the 11 out on the pitch were too shabby either. Gone was the sloppiness and lapses in concentration that cost City at Vale Park.

There was a steely resolve about the hosts against opposition who were a definite step up on the previous Saturday.

The Blades are in a period of transition, a new manager merging new players into a new system. But there is plenty of talent there.

David Weir, who did a passable impression of Barack Obama on the touchline with his white shirt and stately poise, has been told he will have the time to mould them into a complete unit. But it won't happen overnight.

So while they posed a danger on the counter-attack, there was a lack of cutting edge. While Wells scores for fun, Blades lone frontman Lyle Taylor is still waiting to open his account after a summer move from Falkirk.

Wells had already checked his sights to force two saves from George Long – one unwittingly with his face – before the club record was set on the stroke of half-time.

Garry Thompson flicked a header into his path in the corner of the box but there was still plenty to be done. Wells leaned one way and then the other to throw off Sean McGinty before arrowing a drive across Long's dive.

City's advantage remained slender as the Blades had a go after the break. But Andrew Davies and boyhood Sheffield Wednesday fan Rory McArdle ensured the back door remained firmly shut.

A late second goal gave them much-needed breathing space – and no guesses for who got it.

Raffaele De Vita's snapshot popped up from Long's hands, the impressive Hanson steered it to Wells slap bang in front of goal and the result was beyond doubt.

So that's two home games, two wins and no goals conceded as City go marching on nicely. And another two on the growing scoresheet for the number 21 – but let's keep it to ourselves.

Attendance: 18,041


===========================


James Hanson thrilled to play alongside record-breaking Nahki Wells


Hanson thrilled to play alongside record-breaking Bradford City forward partner Wells

8:10am Monday 26th August 2013

By Simon Parker

James Hanson today saluted City record breaker Nahki Wells as the dream strike partner.

The club once again stressed that their Bermudian hot-shot is not going anywhere in the final week of the transfer window after his Valley Parade double sunk Sheffield United.

That is music to the ears of Hanson, who was thrilled to see Wells set a new City landmark after scoring for the eighth game in a row.

Hanson said: "Nahki's a pleasure to play with. He makes everyone else look better around him when he's playing that well.

"Sometimes he makes my assists look so easy. With the second one, as soon as I got the header in I knew it would be a goal – he's a match-winner.

"The gaffer keeps us on our toes and we're always working on different stuff on the training ground.

"Nahki's a big part of my game and we've got a great understanding. It can only be good for the club if we can keep him."

Assistant boss Steve Parkin underlined City's stance that they are not interested in any late bids for Wells. They rejected a Peterborough offer earlier in the summer.

Parkin said: "As far as we're concerned, it's a no-go area.

"Both chairmen have been really supportive of me and Phil (Parkinson) since we've been here. They've let us build a squad that was capable of getting promoted last year and is hopefully capable of competing this season.

"The key thing, and I've been there before, is that you don't sell your best players if you want success."

Parkin also praised the crucial role played by Hanson in City's second home win of the new season – at both ends of the pitch.

"He's a battering ram and his game's getting more subtle, holding the ball up better," said the Bantams number two.

"He's our talisman up top and he's fantastic picking up defensive set plays, as you saw again."

With seven points from the first four games, City have made a good start to League One and Hanson believes they have what it takes to be genuine contenders.

The big striker said: "We're quietly confident we can definitely be in the top six. I'm sure a performance like that will make people sit up and take notice of us.

"When the gaffer signed a lot of good players last summer, we all knew they were capable of playing in League One. Maybe that's what he was building for.

"It's been a good start and we've shown what we are capable of as squad. We play our own way, it's effective and it's working so far.

"The gaffer told us before the game that this time last year we were getting ready to play Wimbledon. Now we've got a Yorkshire derby in front of a full house and I'm sure it was great to watch.

"It had everything – such a quick tempo with tackles flying in, headers, no time for two touches – and I think we deserved to come out on top in the end."

===========================

2013 suite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYVaty8hdHg



===========================

http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/mcburnie-signs-1009910.aspx
PUBLISHED

15:07 23rd August 2013

City have handed talented young striker Oliver McBurnie a professional contract with the football club following his impressive recent scoring form.

McBurnie, 17, has penned a three-year pro deal this Friday at the Coral Windows Stadium to keep him at the football club until the summer of 2016.

Having started the season as an apprentice, the contract, which is effective immediately, is the first professional deal for McBurnie in his fledgling career.

The striker, who recently began training with Phil Parkinson's first team, will continue to play for City's youth team but will be available for selection for the senior side if and when the Bantams boss requires.

See the link for the full article

===========================

http://thespectatorsview.com/2013/08/23/from-madrid-to-bradford-a-case-of-wasted-potential/

===========================

The Jacko links
Living With Jacko, by Alison and Peter Jackson, will be published next month by Great Northern Books.

Reliving the aftermath of Bradford Fire
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10634700.Peter_Jackson_autobiography__Reliving_the_aftermath_of_Bradford_Fire/

Lifting the lid on life at Valley Parade
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10634706.Peter_Jackson_autobiography__Lifting_the_lid_on_life_at_Valley_Parade/

Jacko finally reveals why he resigned from Bradford City
http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10634710.Exclusive__Jackson_finally_reveals_why_he_resigned_from_Bradford_City/



===========================

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/sportbcfc/10636891.Wells_is_going_nowhere__insists_Bradford_City_boss/


Wells is going nowhere, insists Bradford City boss

8:00am Wednesday 28th August 2013

By Simon Parker

Phil Parkinson insists there is no substance to the latest Nahki Wells rumours.

And the City chief is confident that his star striker is not about to disappear from Valley Parade through the transfer window.

Wells has begun the new campaign in explosive fashion with six goals in the first five games and is inevitably attracting talk of higher-level interest.

With the window open until next Monday night, QPR are the latest name to be thrown in the mix. National reports have linked Harry Redknapp's big spenders with a possible £3million bid.

But Parkinson is comfortable with the speculation and stressed that Wells is staying put.

He said: "There are always going to be rumours. You expect that.

"QPR have just signed Charlie Austin and others. I'm sure they won't be interested.

"It's fairly difficult at this point to let anyone go because it would be almost impossible to bring someone in. It's something we don't want.

"I want to keep improving the squad and not weakening it by losing players. That's the situation."

Wells netted twice against Sheffield United at the weekend to extend his remarkable scoring run to eight games on the trot.

It was thought he had set the new club record at the time but the Bermudian has actually equalled the tally set by Derek Stokes between December 1959 and February 1960.

Wells' finishing prowess was the difference in a pulsating Yorkshire derby. But the striker acknowledges the efforts of his team-mates.

Parkinson added: "Nahki knows the work that went in from the team on Saturday to make sure those goals were winning goals. He understands that.

"He is getting the headlines, which is great, but it was a terrific performance from the whole team.

"It's been a good start but we aren't getting carried away. We are just building something here."

City's back four laid the foundations for a first league win over the Blades in 26 years with a second home clean sheet. Wells grabbed the plaudits but Parkinson made sure the defensive efforts did not go unnoticed.

"The defence gave us a great platform to go and win the game from. The Carlisle game was quite an easy victory but we had to really push defensively – and everybody stood up to it.

"There were some terrific moments defensively which sometimes don't get highlighted but they do from me. Some of the blocks and headers were tremendous.

"It was a great advert for the division and I really enjoyed being involved. There were two honest, committed teams going head to head."


===========================

No comments: