“To have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.”
Since his appointment in late August Phil Parkinson has hardly breezed into the club, instead he has swept through the club like a tornado. Changing matters both on and off the pitch that he identified as problems that were holding the club back in its progress. The dynamics of the playing staff have changed drastically immediately upon his arrival he brought in a left winger after identifying a lack of genuine pace and threat in the side more signings have followed, both a mixture of permanent and loan signings. The news breaking from the club this week regarding new training facilities that the club are investing in will hopefully put to an end to the days of the weather stricken pitches at Apperley Bridge and the excuses that follow. It was said that during the premiership days the training facilities were an ‘in’ joke amongst the incoming players. Peter Jackson upon his appointment last year immediately harboured back to his playing days and how he himself had trained and changed in the very same changing rooms all those years ago. The fact that Phil Parkinson has been allowed to make these changes then, gives a clear insight into just how highly he is rated by the powers that be at Valley Parade. The former Colchester, Hull and Charlton boss upon his appointment was seen as the ideal after the previous managers flaws were readily pointed out by disillusioned fans. The club legend option of Stuart McCall was branded too ‘inexperienced’ and ‘naïve’ as with all managers his tactics were questioned; his decision not to appoint an experienced right hand man was again condemned. However on a side note, it is of interest to note that Stuart did appoint an experienced assistant manager at Motherwell and now sits proudly in third place in the S.P.L .
His successor to the City hot seat former England manager Peter Taylor fared no better in his conquest to bring success to the club. This time instead of his wealth of experience benefitting the club he was quickly turned on by the masses. No matter how many times he would go to the press recollecting on the time he handed David Beckham the England captaincy, his boring, unadventurous style of football left the fans cold. After the unanimous praise poured onto Taylor during his early reign, Mark Lawn is now quick to point out just how bad an appointment that turned out to be. The departure of Jackson after a promising pre- season full of promises to bring the good times back through attacking football, with a team of hungry young players quickly disbanded and Jackson left the club under a cloud of mystery in late August.
Parkinson then hopes to have the ‘ideal’ of both experience and fresh ideas then. His reign so far has brought about mixed results; performances have improved however points tallies have not. Looking towards the end of the season and towards next, it’s likely to be a period similar to any of the last five; a mass of players deemed not good enough and a group of players with similar strengths and weaknesses will arrive. The hunt will certainly continue for the illusive ’20 goals’ a season striker that every team in the football league craves. The decision not to sign Paul Benson from a mixture of apparent failed medical and dispute over his price looks likely to haunt the club as he has received rave reviews from Swindon Town fans so far. A positive aspect to Parkinson’s signings so far have been in the sense that the majority are here with a view to a longer stay, one example has been the signing of Ricky Ravenhill a player who after an average at best debut has quickly won the hearts of fans through his committed displays. Other players such as Will Atkinson and Howarth will have to improve if they are to warrant an extended stay at the club. However, Parkinson in his judgement of the players that were brought into the club by his predecessors seems quick to freeze them out of first team contention Guy Branston was quickly farmed out on loan despite his improving displays after a poor start to his city career. It looks likely that he will again be shown the door on return from injury with Lincoln City rumoured to be interested. Although his wages of to which the Torquay chairman was astounded by, may put an end to that. It looks likely that Parkinson thinks Branston’s wages could be better allocated elsewhere and the signing of Matt Fry after his release by West Ham may push the former captain a place further down the pecking order. Fry a young player who Parkinson signed at Charlton has signed and is reportedly a left sided centre back that can fill in at left back. The type of utility player, that Parkinson seems favour after the signing of Marcel Seip earlier in the season. Decisions will need to be made about the injury prone Simon Ramsden and Michael Flynn, two players that on their day are as good as any in league 2. The demise of the development squad and the shifting out of players frozen out of the first team picture such as Stewart and Williams may indicate that Parkinson will cut down on numbers and go for a squad of more ‘quality’ players next term. The signing of the illusive striker will be one that is likely to provide the difference as to if the Bantams will continue to flounder in the bottom reached of League 2 or flourish and flirt near the more prosperous parts of the table. One thing is for certain and that is the next few months will provide for interesting viewing for the Bantams faithful in one way or another.
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