New CB

[Smyth]

Didn’t make the squad as we had no full back on the bench so Grehan who can allegedly do both was on the bench. Won’t always be like that.

That's just pointing out the bench was unbalanced,  noticeable you couldn't explain circumstances  where that happens,  new cb could get injured,  or banned,  at the same time as McGrath or Grehan. THEN there might be a place on the bench for someone given a two year contract,  brought in as an organiser of the defence, an early signing targeted with that ability and role in mind by the manager, but now disregarded in favour of someone else to be  a vocal organiser of defence,  well, new cb  MAY shout alot himself but what are his own defensive abilities?
We'll find out today but if it's the fella from Bradford then I'm baffled.

Grant says he goes straight into his starting 11, same Grant who has always ended a season saying he likes to have early signings so that person can be well integrated and understand his requirements. Yet this new signing that very possibly hasn't played much first team football this season, goes immediatly into the  side, after one half arsed training session this morning?   

[Smyth]

Could be misinformation and Grant plans for  Pearson to start next game and if it is Byrne signing he's brought in in case of a bizarre set of circumstances happen, such as losing  McGrath,  Grehan and or Bailey and he's needed in emergency to be in the starting line up.
That would  make sense.

[selby]

  We have and have had all season a problem in defence that leaks goals.
  We have brought players in on the young side and the older end no better than what we have brought through ourselves and foisted them out at the earliest opportunity and have solved nothing and have not improved in fact are weaker than the finish to last season in the run in.
 Its scatter gun management but in the defence of the management team is the market price we shop in and sadly depends on luck.

[steve@dcfd]

If it is the player mentioned a very underwhelming signing he can't have been on the original list as a replacement for ORiordon. We appear not to have the funds to compete for good players in this league. Backup centre half with league 2 promotions and not played at all this season. I hope the rumours wrong and we get a good surprise.

[selby]

  I have no idea nor am I that bothered who he is or where he has played its what he brings to the team when he gets here. I hope he is a instant and long success here.
  The class and performances of those that are here and have played here give me as a supporter of the club concerns of their suitability for division1 standard football on a regular basis.
  I am not confident they are good enough, its as simple as that, but I am not going to comment on any new player without seeing them play a number of games, and assume the management team sign players that can add to the side, and are a step up on who we have
 been playing this season and have us at the wrong end of the table.

[Ian Nimmo]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

[Metalmicky]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

One other matter is that he is unlikely to come in match fit having not played since early January...

[GazLaz]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

Its almost as if "experience" is not the most important thing when signing players and should be treated as a "nice to have"... Having a starting point of "experienced" or "leader" when recruiting can lead you into all sorts of traps.

What is a requirement of being experienced? Does your age have to start with a 3? What value have we got out of the players that have been 30+ years old when we have signed them in the last 10 years? Very little I'd imagine. Its a comfort blanket for managers/ recruitment teams who cant identify talent IMO. That's not necessarily a dig at our current men recruiting, because it happens throughout football.

[danumdon]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

One other matter is that he is unlikely to come in match fit having not played since early January...

This after all the talk was of someone who could hit the ground running!

When you play as open as we do its vitally imperative that we have a centre half who can cover the ground and his playing partners, if we just bring in more of the same we haven't solved the long standing issue and we'll continue to see the same results.

[Petche]

He's only been playing league 2 football since 2021 and only made 115 appearances in that time. Now I'm a big fan of Grant but who's he trying to kid here with this experience nonsense? Very underwhelming if this turns out to be true and won't make any difference to our defensive problems.

[RugbyRover]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

Most probably on his way before the window shuts judging by what McCann said.

[ncRover]

He's only been playing league 2 football since 2021 and only made 115 appearances in that time. Now I'm a big fan of Grant but who's he trying to kid here with this experience nonsense? Very underwhelming if this turns out to be true and won't make any difference to our defensive problems.

I don’t understand his dropping in of two promotions either. He didn’t get those sides promoted all on his own did he?!
Even still when they’re League Two promotions.
Not relevant in the slightest but are clubs swayed by such pointless CV filling facts like this?

[Chris Black come back]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

[danumdon]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

Certainly didn't surprise at Bradford!

[steve@dcfd]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

If it's him then he's played 1 game this season in the EFL Cup in September against Newcastle. Hes not played in League. He played 16 games in their promotion from league 2. Sorry this will be an embarrassing signing

[Bessie Red]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

If it's him then he's played 1 game this season in the EFL Cup in September against Newcastle. Hes not played in League. He played 16 games in their promotion from league 2. Sorry this will be an embarrassing signing

He has played in the league this season, although his last outing in the league was on New Years Day away at Mansfield where Bradford lost 3-0!!

[Smyth]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

If it's him then he's played 1 game this season in the EFL Cup in September against Newcastle. Hes not played in League. He played 16 games in their promotion from league 2. Sorry this will be an embarrassing signing

He has played in the league this season, although his last outing in the league was on New Years Day away at Mansfield where Bradford lost 3-0!!

Leave his experience and organisation abilities at home that day?

[Ian Nimmo]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

Its almost as if "experience" is not the most important thing when signing players and should be treated as a "nice to have"... Having a starting point of "experienced" or "leader" when recruiting can lead you into all sorts of traps.

What is a requirement of being experienced? Does your age have to start with a 3? What value have we got out of the players that have been 30+ years old when we have signed them in the last 10 years? Very little I'd imagine. Its a comfort blanket for managers/ recruitment teams who cant identify talent IMO. That's not necessarily a dig at our current men recruiting, because it happens throughout football.

I am not sure what you mean by your post, in this instance experience as got nothing to do with age. In our position we need someone who is experienced and can perform well playing at L1 level. It’s really quite simple.

[steve@dcfd]

Where's Pearson he's experienced he's a leader he's 32 yet he can't get in the squad so why sign another player that age who's not played regular at league 1 level. We  went with younger centre halves in the summer and now we are looking for so called experienced ones. We have not got the funds to get better and Grant and his scouting team are scrambling around  to get one that suits our meagre budget.

[Fal]

Maybe just maybe that the only reason he hasn't played enough games for them is simply due to 2 other CBs at the club are more favoured by Alexander and he just can't get in the team? Just like McGrath is favoured a lot by McCann, last season for example Anderson and Wood weren't bad defenders at all, its just that Olowu and McGrath were in such good form and had a good partnership that he didn't want to change it until he was forced to due to injury.

Having just checked i notice they play 3 at the back with Tilt, Baldwin and Joe Wright mainly and sometimes not having a CB on the bench.

If it is him it is a bit strange saying that he is going to be straight into the squad for Leyton Orient tomorrow, to then not be able to play against his parent club on Saturday? Assuming its a loan of course.

[ForsolongaRover]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

Its almost as if "experience" is not the most important thing when signing players and should be treated as a "nice to have"... Having a starting point of "experienced" or "leader" when recruiting can lead you into all sorts of traps.

What is a requirement of being experienced? Does your age have to start with a 3? What value have we got out of the players that have been 30+ years old when we have signed them in the last 10 years? Very little I'd imagine. Its a comfort blanket for managers/ recruitment teams who cant identify talent IMO. That's not necessarily a dig at our current men recruiting, because it happens throughout football.

I am not sure what you mean by your post, in this instance experience as got nothing to do with age. In our position we need someone who is experienced and can perform well playing at L1 level. It’s really quite simple.

To perform well at our level requires an individual who actually performs well at our level now, not a player who is not a League 1 regular. It seems that we cannot afford to pay a transfer fee and that we can only afford a loan fee in which case, should it not be at Championship clubs that we should be looking? If a L1 player can't get a regular game with his present club you question whether he is really likely to be better than what we have already. Do L1 clubs really have players not good enough to get regular games yet comfortably better than what we already have? It really shows very little of the ambition with which we supposedly began this season.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Crikey, Reading some of these posts, what chance has the new lad got? Knives are out before he's even kicked a ball.

We're doomed, we're all doomed !!!!!

[Bessie Red]

Lots of people getting very worked up about this lad. Let’s see what he brings first. Might even surprise people.

If it's him then he's played 1 game this season in the EFL Cup in September against Newcastle. Hes not played in League. He played 16 games in their promotion from league 2. Sorry this will be an embarrassing signing

He has played in the league this season, although his last outing in the league was on New Years Day away at Mansfield where Bradford lost 3-0!!

Leave his experience and organisation abilities at home that day?

Looks like he did!

[Draytonian III]

Lee Glover became a scout instead of a coach at the end of the season, he was replaced by Mad Baz.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Who’s the experienced one gonna be do we think?

Byrne has only 699 minutes of L1 football in his career (Tom Nixon has 749) so he’s obviously not gonna be the experienced one.

[StocksArmy]

If the sounds about Byrne from this thread and fans from other clubs on X are true then McCann and his team really should be shown the door if they don’t keep us up. Sounds like it could be a horrific addition. Maybe this is all the budget leaves us to shop in? Hope everyone is wrong.

[Metalmicky]

Would piss myself if McCann rolls out someone else.... 

[TonySoprano]

Reading some of the old comments from Bradford fans about Byrne. He sounds absolutely terrible 

[Ronnie Dovers]

It’s very likely to be Byrne, some posts this morning on the city forum suggesting he’s joining us.
If it his him, then I don’t see him has having the same experience as Matty Pearson, thus this begs the question why is matty not playing?

Its almost as if "experience" is not the most important thing when signing players and should be treated as a "nice to have"... Having a starting point of "experienced" or "leader" when recruiting can lead you into all sorts of traps.

What is a requirement of being experienced? Does your age have to start with a 3? What value have we got out of the players that have been 30+ years old when we have signed them in the last 10 years? Very little I'd imagine. Its a comfort blanket for managers/ recruitment teams who cant identify talent IMO. That's not necessarily a dig at our current men recruiting, because it happens throughout football.

I am not sure what you mean by your post, in this instance experience as got nothing to do with age. In our position we need someone who is experienced and can perform well playing at L1 level. It’s really quite simple.

To perform well at our level requires an individual who actually performs well at our level now, not a player who is not a League 1 regular. It seems that we cannot afford to pay a transfer fee and that we can only afford a loan fee in which case, should it not be at Championship clubs that we should be looking? If a L1 player can't get a regular game with his present club you question whether he is really likely to be better than what we have already. Do L1 clubs really have players not good enough to get regular games yet comfortably better than what we already have? It really shows very little of the ambition with which we supposedly began this season.

Arguably Wigan's best player on Saturday is on loan there from another League One club

[TonySoprano]

Would piss myself if McCann rolls out someone else....

I would be so relieved