'Let's not get carried away' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

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'Let's not get carried away'

7:30am Wednesday 20th August 2008

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By Mike Crowther »

Stuart McCall is keeping his players’ feet on the ground after the Bantams’ best start to a league season for seven years.

It is the first time since 2001 that City have won their opening two matches but the Valley Parade boss pointed to that campaign to illustrate why no one should get carried away.

He said: “All of the coaching staff here were part of the team when we first came down from the Premiership and we started with three wins.

“We whupped Barnsley here 4-0, went and beat Portsmouth 1-0 and then won again (at home to Coventry 2-1) but we all know how that season ended up.”

It proved to be a false dawn as City slid down the table and boss Jim Jefferies was sacked by Christmas.

“Of course it’s nice to get off to a good start but unless you build on that it means nothing,” McCall added.

“Six points from the first two games was the aim and we’ve achieved that. There have been some pleasing things and also things that we can work on.

“It’s a much better start than last season and for the confidence side of things it’s good but we don’t get carried away with it.

“There is a buzz about the place at the moment and we’re looking forward to Rochdale at home on Saturday but we also know that there is not a lot between the teams.”

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tyker, midland road says...
8:14am Wed 20 Aug 08

the difference this time is that we know we have a team worthy of mounting a great challenge whereas last time around it was well know we were in financial difficulties with overspends on players who were being shipped out to try save a sinking ship.

We have a squad capable now of winning this division:it is the job of SM and his massive back room staff to "big up" his players and saying to each one "if you let your perfnace and fitness levels drop only a tiny amount we have players capable of replacing you and make no mistake I WILL do it"

It's a big test on Saturday and we will have to fight for 90 minutes to get 3 points--a draw will be ok.

Gates are looking good so is there any chance of City doing more schools days out to get more kids in for free or for a quid in undersold areas?

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dave77, Silsden says...
9:02am Wed 20 Aug 08

This will be a tough game saturday.
Last year they looked good in all areas although they lost prekins and he was there main man. Still be best of marking up Adam Le Fondre seems to like playing us . Hope we get the 3 points COME ON CITY

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LeftWanting, Heaton says...
9:09am Wed 20 Aug 08

Seen both games so far and my only concern is that they were both poor. Hope we haven't just had a good opportunity so far because of this. I honestly can't say I have been over impressed by City so far although points are more important than performance at the moment. The Leeds came will show some indication as to performances, as did the Huddersfield game. Still can't get the statement from Julian out of my mind 'back to back promotions.' Talk like that,although may sound good, does not give me over confidence in the Top Table. Other teams are still taking players on board.

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tyker, midland road says...
9:38am Wed 20 Aug 08

as far as players are concerned:I think the squad is the best we have had for a while but would like to see maybe a couple of loan signings of youngsters--maybe strikers who could add some pace up front as and when needed.

At the end of the day if we play poorly and win scrappily there will not be many complaints. Hopefully there will be some sparking attacking games where we skin the opposition especially at home but remmember this:

Pointz meanz prizes!!!!

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bradfordender, says...
1:27pm Wed 20 Aug 08

It's a big test on Saturday and we will have to fight for 90 minutes to get 3 points--a draw will be ok.

Not arguing with first part of this Tyker, but a draw won't be OK, we can't afford to lose points to anyone at home, especially one of our potential main rivals... We need to really get behind the boys from kick off and get the momentum going. Up the City!!

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fatbloke, eccleshill says...
3:50pm Wed 20 Aug 08

Tyker, I wouldn't argue with you. Yes Bradfordender a win would be nice, however everyone will be droping points at some point here there and everywhere. My main concern is that we continue been unbeaten and the performace itself. Anything better would be fantasctic.

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gspot, halifax says...
4:22pm Wed 20 Aug 08

i think we have looked impressice so far and disagree that we haven't faced ay quality cos Notts Cty weren't to bad. away at macc town we manly controlled the game and comparing that to last seasons game at the same ground were we only just sneaked a win due to a magnificent save by loachy from the penaty and then the reaction save after that, it shows that we have improved a lot since then.
giving this improvement and we do go up and show the same level of improvement again then why cant we do well next season?....dont mean to get ahead of ourselves but i'm feeling optimistic not only about this season but going forward.

looking forward to saturday and yeah it will be a tougher challenge but one i'm confident we can come through.

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DonHutchinsAfro, bradford says...
5:53pm Wed 20 Aug 08

Notts Co were 3rd favourites with some bookies, and they were about 150 times better than last season when they came this time, so to say we have played 2 poor sides is a bit off the mark.
If our midfield and forward line all click at the same time I can actually see us really hammering a few teams this season, we know Thorne has goals aplenty in him, Boulding the same, Joe and Omar have the craft to open teams up and McLaren can pick the defense splitting pass, someone WILL get blasted, I hope it's 'dale but don't think it will be.

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audal, waikikamukau says...
6:13pm Wed 20 Aug 08

may i revert back to the leeds game? and remind all historians that they have probably the worse record in the country losing to teams in lower leagues. yes! the great mr. revie had a team who seemed to blip every time a cup compo came around and i recall most managers wanted to play them. so look at history and be thankful it is our turn.go get 'em stu.

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gspot, halifax says...
6:56pm Wed 20 Aug 08

audal wrote:
may i revert back to the leeds game? and remind all historians that they have probably the worse record in the country losing to teams in lower leagues. yes! the great mr. revie had a team who seemed to blip every time a cup compo came around and i recall most managers wanted to play them. so look at history and be thankful it is our turn.go get 'em stu.

good shout!!! after the way i felt after the town game i am wary of getting excited about this game but sod it why cant we win???? lets remember we have more important league games in the meantime!!!

.....but i cant wait!!!!

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soulman, baildon says...
7:54pm Wed 20 Aug 08

Last season we beat Notts County at home and Macclesfield away. So far it is like for like. I thought we looked comfortable against Macclesfield despite the flurry of corners they won. Saturday is a tough test a win would be great a draw acceptable.
However we need to ensure we come away with at least a draw against Aldershot plus Port vale and then 4 or more points from the Exeter and Bournemouth home games. If we can achieve 13+ points by the time we go to Shrewsbury then I will be a very happy man.

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gspot, halifax says...
8:05pm Wed 20 Aug 08

soulman wrote:
Last season we beat Notts County at home and Macclesfield away. So far it is like for like. I thought we looked comfortable against Macclesfield despite the flurry of corners they won. Saturday is a tough test a win would be great a draw acceptable.However we need to ensure we come away with at least a draw against Aldershot plus Port vale and then 4 or more points from the Exeter and Bournemouth home games. If we can achieve 13+ points by the time we go to Shrewsbury then I will be a very happy man.

although obviously you have a valid point that yeah we did beat macc town away last season, last weeks result was far more comfortable and we looked much more organised and more of a unit.

i now think you can tell it's stuarts team rather then a team he inherited which can only be a good thing.

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soulman, baildon says...
9:07pm Wed 20 Aug 08

Yep gspot agree we looked comfortable at Macclesfield, however Rochdale is an 'acid' test as how far the team has come against stronger opposition. The other fixtures upto the Shrewsbury game will be an indication as to whether or not this is a false dawn or the Real Thing......

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Halifax Bantam, halifax says...
9:56pm Wed 20 Aug 08

I agree, we were comfortable on Saturday and 3 points away home is a good start. If anythng though on Saturday we showed that we still havent got the ability to kill a team off, we were comfortable and had the chances but let them put us under too much pressure in second half, Evans kept us in it at times.
This Saturday will be a good indicator of where we are, hopefully another 3pts.
Also thought Baulding looked absolutely class on at Macc, still not match sharp but looks the biz

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fatbloke, eccleshill says...
12:26am Thu 21 Aug 08

Halifax Bantam, we would have killed the game off had Bouldings effort had gone in instead of rolling across the line!!!

It is also good to see people agreeing that we should not win every game and accept points will be dropped along the way.

Here is to a good performance on Saturday and hopefully some form of result, has anyone heard Brandon has gone over on his ankle again or just rubbish rumous?

I have tried to contact him today to see if true with no response which causes me concern. If I get a response will let you know, fingers crossed.

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