I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, the coaching staff needs to change. Mark Dunning doesn’t have the skills and experience to get the best out of these players. He can’t coach average players to improve or young players to hit their potential so he relies on DR and loanee players. The likes of Lawford and Flanagan Jr will never get the chance they need because the agenda at Bradford is to be in the SL at all costs. So the young and potential type players won’t get anywhere that’s why Flanagan jr is ready to go. I think that this is the only time for Dunning because if we get promoted he will be sacked for a better coach and if he fails he will be sacked because he didn’t get us up. Nothing will change until the coaching staff has changed.
He will have his interview and come out with all the cliches in the book to paper over the fact he’s not the man for Bradford or it’s young players

Don't think Flanagan Jnr is anywhere near ready for 1st team championship rugby.

My point exactly

https://giantsrl.com/article/8328/giant ... gby-league Remembering of course that he’s not our player

https://giantsrl.com/article/8328/giant ... gby-league Remembering of course that he’s not our player

I said this when he got the job. Need a proper coach. He’s done okay in patches (Toulouse, Widnes etc) but it’s overwhelmed by performances against a crap York, today and Keighley.



This is where I have an issue. If it was SL at all costs, why would we loan or DR in players who have been poor (Ruan, Roberts, Bibby, Butler etc). If you watched GFJ last season you’d know he’s far off first team Championship week in week out. For me his debut was only talked about because of a try. His defence wasn’t great and the following game was poor. Ran alongside someone who broke through and jumped on them as they were scoring. He’s young and he’ll improve no doubt. But to say he’s ready to go for a lack of chance is rubbish. He won’t get anywhere near Hudds side next year. He’ll be in the reserves. Or loaned to a League 1 side. Why would he play Myers today if it was SL at all costs?

Don’t think many will care but I don’t think we were poor today. It’s a weird one. If we lost 21-16 but played with effort I don’t think anyone would have an issue with the scoreline. It’s the fact we were so flat and lacking energy.

Being picky. We had a good defensive set. DFJ drops the ball with no Batley player near him for 20m. Forcing offloads on the 2nd tackle. Etc.

I didn’t think Batley played well at all. Nowhere near how they can play. Just had more enthusiasm (dragging Gill to touch etc). Thought we threw the ball around better.

Lilley going for a 40/20 after scoring a try taking the lead (whilst a man down) was a dumb decision. Just play the set out. Have a good kick chase. Keep the defence nice and tight. Like we had been doing.

The passes out to the halfbacks are still so poor. Sick of seeing Lilley and Patton jumping or catching the ball above their head. Really slows down an already slow attack.

I really think we need Lilley at 9. Holmes in the halves. Whether its with Patton or Lawford. I don’t care, with Walker or Jowitt at 1.

Thought we struggled when Baldwinson went off.

Thought Myers and Holmes played really well.

How on earth did we get Holmes? A class above everyone in this team at the moment.

DFJ was crap today. You can see why he misses out whenever Tindall is available. Flanagan snr has had his day as well.

Thought out last tackle plays we're pretty abysmal. Kicking game was too predictable. Patton seemed to play his rugby 5 metres in front of the defence which totally nullified our attack at times.

Today cried out for Jowitt at fullback and Holmes at scrum half and Lilley at dummy half. Do that and we win the game.

Agree with a lot of what you say BB2011. We lacked energy but that could be due to the short turnaround and lack of available bodies. I thought we were ok in general but some dumb plays / Unlucky breaks lost us the game coupled with our ill discipline.

Penalty count of 13-3 against and losing a game in which we scored 3 trys to Batley’s 2 says it all

Seemed to lack ideas in the final 20. Was like a return to the days of John Kear with our kicking game. We need more variety of kick on the last.

Was also a bit mystified by the referee - the ptb was the slowest I've seen in ages and he seemed unwilling to penalise any holding down at all.

[quote="Bulls Boy 2011"]I said this when he got the job. Need a proper coach. He’s done okay in patches (Toulouse, Widnes etc) but it’s overwhelmed by performances against a crap York, today and Keighley.

This is where I have an issue. If it was SL at all costs, why would we loan or DR in players who have been poor (Ruan, Roberts, Bibby, Butler etc). If you watched GFJ last season you’d know he’s far off first team Championship week in week out. For me his debut was only talked about because of a try. His defence wasn’t great and the following game was poor. Ran alongside someone who broke through and jumped on them as they were scoring. He’s young and he’ll improve no doubt. But to say he’s ready to go for a lack of chance is rubbish. He won’t get anywhere near Hudds side next year. He’ll be in the reserves. Or loaned to a League 1 side. Why would he play Myers today if it was SL at all costs?

I agree with most of what you said but please don’t miss understand me about Flanagan Jr. I do t think he’s ready either but that’s my point, under this coaching team and agenda the likes of him will never improve.

I do thinkit is SL at all costs tho that’s why I think he doesn’t have a long term contract as yet. I could be wrong but it seems that no one really has committed themselves to the club due to loanees DR and short term contracts only.

Flanagan again, for me, was a weird one. He’s usually buzzing and full of energy and this is twice now (Keighley and Batley) that he’s looking like he’s not bothered or fired up. Especially being two derbies!

I wonder if he’s been told to reign it in by Dunning to avoid penalties and bans? His whole game is based on running around the ruck area to inject life into the attack and that’s been missing.