Been a while since I added a blog so I thought I'd shake my lazy self and get something down
First of all, it's been my sad duty this morning to attend the funeral of fellow Bulls fan Peter Butterfield whom I worked with in Education Bradford around 10 years ago. I last saw him at Odsal a while back after a defeat and before he developed terminal cancer. As usual he was smiling and more interested in what I'd been up to than getting miserable about events on the pitch. If there was ever a bloke cheerful and confidence inspiring then I'd have to go along way to meet them. My condolences to his wife and sons. It's sad to think I'll never bump him to him up there again. RIP Mate.
Now on to the misfiring sports care that is the Bulls. For months and months I've been saying perhaps Macca is too gentlemanly. Now don't get me wrong I DO NOT want to see him go, along with the team he is building he needs to develop and learn the trade. The problem, I have suggested, is that he is too nice.
Something's been bugging me this season and I could not put my finger on it but yesterday, what most of you will have already noticed, leapt up an hit me in the mush, no not that Cas got the most ill gotten 10k ever when they allowed Platt to don the hallowed Bulls jumper, something amost more sinister.
Every team has recognised that they can take liberties with us. Look at yesterday, Wakey speared Jeffries and what was the teams reaction? Brilliant, a break whilst we recover our breath. Imagine if you would, the same incident happening in 97? Maybe 2003? Would the team have used the chance to recover from poor fitness?
In these two years we have Lowes and latterly Fielden on the park. Can you imagine either of these two walking away from this without taking the chance to get a few verbals into the opposition and perhaps put them in two minds as to whether they should take up the next drive? Even Peacock would have been in to help his mate out, but the class of 08? Not a murmur.
On paper we seem to have a decent pack and we all enjoy the hits Burgess and Big Joe put in but that seems to be it. I don't condone Burgess getting ten minutes for getting involved but wasn't it nice to see some passion? The point I make is that we have no 'enforcer' anymore. No-one who fires our pack up or has the occasional shoving session with the opposition just to let them know they are about. Even Terry's been coached in being a Gentleman on the pitch!
I feel until we get some fire in the pack the team will underperform.
Yesterday when Jefferies made a break on a pass from Tadulala to hit the line ready to offload he turned to find....the rest of the chaps were still 20m away passing the time of day. Not one of the team looked ashamed and no-one took it upon themselves to berate the laziness that could have cost us another try. The only certainty of it was had he been playing for Scum or Stains he'd have had a try assist. We seem to have developed a 'Play the game' attitude. Let's get some fire!!!
Another thing I noticed yesterday was the amount of fans who, other than buying their ticket, do not actually contribute financially to the club. I refer principally to the game day draw. We all like to sit about crowing about how skint we are and bemoan the less than inspiring signings we make and I am tight as the rest but it seemed from the sellers I watched that only 1 in 10 bought a drawn ticket. Imagine the revenue if we all bought one. So, can we sacrifice one of our pints for a draw ticket? Will this bring more money into the club? Perhaps some-one else nearer the working of the club can answer this. But dear lord we are tight (me included) but not when it comes to Burgers, Beer and other consumables!!!
Talking of beer looks like summer has finally arrived and cool beverages at Odsal are on the cards! But hang on, we have only got two home games left! Summer rugby eh! So with the big day tomorrow will these be the final two games for the Grand Old Lady before the much needed facelift?
Let's hope so and that announcements regarding OSV are made soon! As mentioned before I have been persuaded to abandon my New Home cry as soon every team will have a sterile, dull, state of the art stadium and I hope we keep the Bowl!
To the play offs!!!!!!