It's interesting how Parky's promotion was considered irrelevant in 09/10 but now that he's struggling at Bradford it suddenly means something. He shouldn't have got the job permanently in the first place but he did well in 09/10 despite not winning promotion. We almost won automatic promotion with no goalscoring striker, unwanted players we couldn't get rid of leaving him to work with a unbalanced squad. I always get the impression with anyone that still insists Parky was terrible for us made up their mind in the relegation season and wouldn't change their mind whatever happened. When he got so close in 09/10 they made excuses like he had a Championship squad - despite the fact that no one really rates the likes of Racon, Sam, Semedo, Burton, Dailly etc at Championship level. Cup defeats are also brought up - but looking back it's clear we were concentrating on he league. Northwich we played McLeod up front on his own and Soton in the JPT it was Mooney. Neither could play like that but we has to keep a small squad fit. In the end we are now in a better position with a manager we can all support, who has a big young and exciting squad on longer term contracts. He's working with a new board who have also improved the scouting and youth set ups.
That's a very thoughtful post, Scoham. I don't agree with all of it, but what a boring place this board would be if we all agreed all of the time.
Good post, Scohum. I can understand some of the defence of Parky, but equally appreciate the reasons why he is derided in some quarters. He was the wrong choice to begin with. His first season in League One was littered with mistakes which cost us dear - when so near to automatic promotion. N.Victoria, Hereford and Shrewsbury were horrific to watch. Many hundreds of pounds thrown down the drain - much to the chagrin of my wife! Defeats at home to Orient, Walsall and Swindon were the pits. The football absolutely atrocious. Even with a tiny budget, no manager should ever invest in Pavel Abbott and Paul Benson. He would have seen us finish higher up the league than Chris Powell last season. He had no money to spend and was lumbered with overrated and overpaid planks such as Racon, Semedo and Youga. Who can blame him for giving it a go?
I've said it before and I'll probably say it again- our decline since Curbs left was masterminded by the organgrinder, not the monkey.
I posted it for your eyes only. Every time you post your wildly exaggerated criticisms of Parkinson I will post a wildly exaggerated eulogy. When you desist, I will too (unless the mods suspend us first). I was thinking of carrying out a similar campaign of protest against Ponders' vendetta against Benson, but I supposed talented novelists must be allowed some eccentricities.
Thank you, Eddie. Poetic licence is key in today's world. After all, that is how Benno labels himself as a footballer, is it not?
Interesting quote from the Halifax manager. "Apart from the two Sheffield sides or Bradford, we could not have wished for a better draw [than] to play the team top of League One ..." You can see why he would relish playing against the two Sheffield teams (near neighbours), or against Charlton (rated the top team in the draw), all three clubs having top tier pedigrees, but why would Bradford be his fourth option? I guess the missing part of the quote was "because every manager wants to pit his wits against the very best".
Wasn't a bad game- though not fluent. Surprised with Bradford's team. PP bought in some very good players for league 2 in ***an and seip. Both played under him before, so it reiterates the point that players do seem to respect him. Best of luck to PP and Bradford.
From the Bradford gazette (or something) "Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson wants to hear cheers not jeers against Rochdale"
Bradford are a big team, with decent crowds and local rivals. Surprised he didn't mention Huddersfield, as they are local rivals as well, and a lot nearer than Sheffield.
