The Next Bradford? (3 Viewers)

[JulianDarbyFTW]

Almost every pre-season I am optimistic, and believe we are in with a shout of the play-offs. This time, though, it was different.

I now believe we are destined for the drop - with or without a takeover - and am truly worried that we'll end up being in the same state as Bradford, dropping like a stone and then hanging around aimlessly in League 2 without a cat in hells chance of any form of success in my lifetime.

Has my optimism been replaced by realism, or am I just needlessly depressed?

 

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[Disorganised1]

I think it may be serious ~ what made you pick Julian Darby for your user name ?

 

[SkyBlueDickie]

Almost every pre-season I am optimistic, and believe we are in with a shout of the play-offs. This time, though, it was different.

I now believe we are destined for the drop - with or without a takeover - and am truly worried that we'll end up being in the same state as Bradford, dropping like a stone and then hanging around aimlessly in League 2 without a cat in hells chance of any form of success in my lifetime.

Has my optimism been replaced by realism, or am I just needlessly depressed?

Exactly the same with me. Every year I believe we can do something whether it be top half or play offs but this year I have no ambition whatsoever. Just surviving would be a massive achievement in my eyes.

Although if it takes going down to become stable and rebuild then maybe it is worth it.

 

[Ernie Machin]

My missus is a Bradford fan, so we're used to being perma-depressed. They have the same problem as us, no money and no ground ownership, excessive rent, big expectations.

Chin up, chaps!

 

[SydneySkyBlue]

I always like to think things can turn around quickly. If I didn't I wouldn't bother going.

So I'd like to think we'll have a takeover, buy a striker, start converting our chances, bring in some more quality in January, get into the play-offs, win the play-off final, start the 2012/13 season back in the Premiership...

If we don't have hope we have nothing!

Ok so I may be getting ahead of myself but I do genuinely think we'd be sitting higher up the table if we still had King. It's amazing what difference one quality player can make.

 

[SydneySkyBlue]

My missus is a Bradford fan, so we're used to being perma-depressed. They have the same problem as us, no money and no ground ownership, excessive rent, big expectations.

Chin up, chaps!

That must be one gloomy household on a Saturday evening!

 

[JulianDarbyFTW]

what made you pick Julian Darby for your user name ?

I had a conversation with Phil Neal when he was manager, and he insisted that our midfield would be up there with the best when Lee Hurst regained fitness (!) and could play alongside young Jules. That conversation has haunted me for years, primarily as my Uncle made a random comment about Roy Wegerle and ladies with their privates exposed (don't ask) and Phil made a comment about how inappropriate it was for women to play sport. As that is the most bizarre footballing conversation I have ever had, the username just felt right.

 

[TheRoyalScam]

Julian Darby = the worst player I've ever had the misfortune to watch playing in sky blue since 1966.

 

[Otis]

Exactly the same with me. Every year I believe we can do something whether it be top half or play offs but this year I have no ambition whatsoever. Just surviving would be a massive achievement in my eyes.

Although if it takes going down to become stable and rebuild then maybe it is worth it.

Me too! Every year I am really optimistic and feel we can do something, but this season, with this squad, so short of numbers, I am really, really concerned. If we get a takeover or cash injection I think we will be okay, but if we try and get through this entire campaign with a squad of players as thin as this I think we are living in cloud cuckooland if we believe we are going to do anything else but go down.

To make matters worse, not only is the squad wafer thin, it is devoid of goals too and that will really, really kill us anyway.

It really is cash or bust I'm afraid.

 

[PhilWasn'tBabb]

Don't bradford (or as we used to call them when I lived in huddersfield, sadford) have other issue's too. I believe they were sold down the river with an offer of a life time season ticket by Jeffery Richmond which cost about £3,000, it paid for the likes for Stan Collymore. but there hardcore of supports all got one, so they have even less money coming in.

 

[stupot07]

Just because Leeds, leicester and Southampton bounced back up from league one doesn't mean we will. I am very worried about going down - you could argue that we have reduced the wage bill sufficiently to have league one squad (bar turner,clingan and juke) and we are still losing a reported £6m a year. Relegation would mean even less supporters attending, less sponsorship and less league money and tv rights. Sisu would further reduce the wage bill and the quality of players. I really think we'd struggle to get back up.

 

[Houchens Head]

I totally agree with Stupot. I can remember the day we were relegated to this league under that Scots git Gormless Strapon. How many of us said "We'll be back next year!" and really believed it? I know I did. I felt that a season (maybe 2) in the Championship would be a real wake up call for the club. If someone had told me then that by the start of the 2011-2012 season we would be looking at relegation - even at the start of the season, NEVER having finished in a play-off position, I would have jawed them!
If we go down, I'm afraid it really will be the end for this club. Sorry to be pessamistic but it's just the way I feel at the moment.

 

[Kuklinski]

The minute we were relegated I knew we were f'kd, and I was slagged off mercilessly for saying so. I take no pride in being proven correct. I would rather we had been promoted immediately and have egg on my face than what has since transpired.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Hang on a second, when has there ever been a time in the last 7 or 8 years where we could realistically think about promotion? The cycle of below average players and poor managers keeps turning every 12 - 18 months at this club.

 

[gally9]

Don't bradford (or as we used to call them when I lived in huddersfield, sadford) have other issue's too. I believe they were sold down the river with an offer of a life time season ticket by Jeffery Richmond which cost about £3,000, it paid for the likes for Stan Collymore. but there hardcore of supports all got one, so they have even less money coming in.

I read about that, what a cretinous thing to do!

 

[Clive Plattini]

Julian Darby = the worst player I've ever had the misfortune to watch playing in sky blue since 1966.

David Rennie?

 

[stupot07]

John gayle?

 

[sky_blue_up_north]

Bradford, we could be Luton...

 

[PhilWasn'tBabb]

Bradford, we could be Luton...

oh dear, The Luton story is a sorry one indeed. didn't we also toy with the idea of a plastic pitch back in the day ?