Please lord NO! Terrible defender is Thomas and very much a one good game in 4 attacking wise

Beggars can't be choosers unfortunately, you need to remember what division we're in now. We have very little money and no real incentives for players to come to us.

Given the current trend of selecting players who have a strong affinity with the club, there is a certain full back who I think may be OOC with his current club next month.

No insider knowledge at all here, just a punt/suggestion at someone I think would fit the mold and do a job in League 1.... Elliot Kear???

Tbh I was gutted we didn't keep hold of him when he left. I'd take him back in a breath and hand him the 1 shirt.

Didn't I see somewhere that his dad and Joe Keyes' dad are pals too? I may have made this up...




Signing Oscar Thomas again would be taking desperate to a whole new level.

My lad starts pre season tomorrow night so might have more of an idea about new players

We aren't signing Elliot Kear. Why would he leave a side at the top of the championship and join a league 1 club?
Thomas is a far more realistic signing for a club in our position. Plus he scored against the kiwis so he can't be that bad

Apart from he may be out of contract and has no other offers on the table? Because he's a lifelong Bulls fan? Just a couple of reasons why he might choose the Bulls.

Aside from that, Thomas would be a major disappointment, as re-signing Davies was. Both are no where near Championship standard players and I'd have to suggest they won't stand out in League 1 either. I've played with and against better guys in the Pennine and Yorkshire Leagues. His main issue is that he is a confidence player and given the amount of unforced errors he makes, his confidence is not going to have a chance to improve wherever he plays next season.

Well he did play in World Cup over the weekend. Perhaps he is Mick's 'inside scoop'

So based on current signings, I still think we are short in quite a few positions. I was surprised how many players we have that can play in the front row, although you could argue two are unlikely to receive much game time this year.

This is where I think we are with the current squad in terms of strength in depth and ability to cover across the park (ranked in order). ..

Full Backs – Smith, Ryan, Pickersgill, Rickett
Wingers –Ryan, Rickett, Smith
Centres – Oakes, Gibson, Smith, Halafiha, Ryan, Garside
Stand Offs –Keyes, Smith, Minchella, Pickersgill
Scrum Halves – Chisholm, Keyes, Pickersgill
Props – Crossley, Peltier, Kirk, Wood, Davies, Milton, Hodgson, Wilson
Hookers – Hallas, Halafiha, Butterworth
Second Rowers – Minchella, Garside, Davies, Storton
Loose Forwards – Minchella, Hallas, Garside, Milton, Halafiha, Storton

I think we are weakest in the back line and back row. Definitely need some workhorses to help the forwards out. Going on who we have had confirmed already we have I still think we have 4-5 regular playing positions left to fill.

1 Smith
2 Ryan
3 Gibson
4 Oakes
5
6 Keyes
7 Chisholm
8 Kirk
9 Hallas
10 Crossley
11 Garside
12 Minchella
13 Milton

14 Peltier
15 Wood
16
17

Squad players –
Rickett
Halafiha
Pickersgill
Davies
Wilson
Hodgson
Butterworth
Storton

If Magrin and Sironen could be convinced to stay then out pack would seem much stronger (but I can only see one of them staying). I really do think the backs is what could let us down.

Could you spell my surname correctly please. This could get most annoying

Macani signed for Sheffield. Thought it said magrin at first !! Iv got them mixed up all year .. God knows why.

And did you see what he did a couple of minutes later? One of the most pathetic tackle attempts I've seen from him. Which in all honesty, there's plenty of competition.

Can't see us re-signing Thomas.

Yeah we need to stay away from Thomas. Some of his later performances were shameful. That Batley game was comical if it wasn't so tragic. It's slightly different to Davies who is just providing depth. Full-Back is a position we shouldn't do on the cheap. Pickersgill is the backup and hopefully we have someone coming in as i'm not convinced by Smith there. Much prefer him at centre.

Oops... duly noted and corrected

Can't help but feel you missed a trick there. I'd have changed it to "Daly"

Could really do with a winger.... somebody mentioned Elliott Kear - that would be fantastic but probably a tad unrealistic.

Keeping with the theme of ex Bulls - Finigan, Crookes, Ainscough?

We need more cover at FB, Centre and Halves......... bring back the messiah, Paul Sykes

Ha, thank you my friend

Extract from Bulls website article on Lee Smith and pre season:

Bradford’s enlistment has been strong both on and off the field, with the introduction of two experienced physios, Matt Dukes and Aaron Scholes, and a full-time strength and conditioner, Chris Black.

“The guys have set up a partnership with Bradford University to bring in some masseurs to help out at Tong, but bringing in Chris Black is a massive coup for us.

“He was the Leeds head conditioner when they won the treble in 2015. He’s well educated and everyone will be buying into his stuff and there is no doubt in this preseason, we will get where we need to be and start the season on fire.”

The full time appointment of an experienced strength and conditioning coach impresses me.

Yes, I'd go so far as to say that, with Chisholm, are the best signings so far

Well I'm very glad we've got someone with some pedigree. I was expecting him to be full-time, had he been part-time that would've been disappointing.

We're a head coach and a few signings away from me getting a season ticket!

No gossip from Elliot yet then Roger?

2 new signings to be announced soon but he doesn't know who or what positions

Boxing Day friendly against Halifax, friendly at Dewsbury for Paul Sykes testimonial, possibly friendly against Toronto but not at home

Two forwards and pre-season games against Keighley and St Helens.

With the season not starting until 18th February, they'll be a few pre-season games.

Good to finally have the League One fixtures land this morning ready for next Wednesday.