We found a Bradford fan, so we spoke to him. About Bradford City. Read on.
As you may have heard, there is a football match on Saturday. We welcome Phil Parkinson’s former club, and to get the lowdown on Bradford City we spoke to Bantams fan George Dibb, who actually moved to Bolton on the same day as Phil Parkinson.
He didn’t tell us if they shared a lift.
As a Bradford fan in Bolton, how has it been for you in the run up to Saturday?
Having moved to Bolton the day that Phil Parkinson was officially revealed as Wanderers manager, it has been quite strange. I imagine a lot of Bolton fans live outside the town centre, much like Bradford fans, consequently I am yet to actually bump into any Bolton fans.
That said, given the circumstances, Bolton away is the stand out game this season. The mixture of visiting a new stadium, a Yorkshire/Lancashire derby, current league position and the obvious sequence of events with regards to Parkinson, has led to a general level of excitement for the game.
What reception will Parkinson get from the away end on Saturday?
I don’t think anybody knows, I would like to think that it would be a positive one though. The change he brought around at Bradford is something which many Bradford City fans will never forget and for that he will be remembered fondly. That said, the manner and state in which he left the club has led to a lot of bitterness among certain sections of our support. Had City been sat at the bottom end of the table with a weak and poorly assembled squad, I imagine the reception he would get would be considerably different.
Are you happy with your start to the season?
Very much so. We have built a squad which many feel is stronger than last year and have now got a genuine strength in depth. On the pitch, we have witnessed a different style of football and we have held our own against some of the stronger teams in the league. The one problem has been our inability to convert our dominance and chances into goals and thus points.
What should we expect in terms of your style of play?
You should expect a mixed approach. We now play a more attractive and exciting brand of football than was the case in previous seasons. We play the ball on the floor, making use of more technically gifted players who are given more freedom, while at the same time having the option to play the long ball to James Hanson.
Unfortunately one of Parkinson’s strongest traits is his ability to nullify the opposition, I can imagine he will be happy to cede possession to City in the middle third, allowing us a degree of possession at the expense of actually doing anything with it.
Any particular player we should look out for?
Josh Cullen, a player Parkinson had last year and one whom he wanted to sign this summer. He is on loan from West Ham and many City fans see him has one of the best midfielders in the division. It will be an interesting battle putting him up against the likes of Spearing. If not Cullen then James Hanson, most opposition fans fear him the most due to his physical presence and ability to disrupt the defence.