The Glenn Hall thread kinda got me thinking there. Just how many of the numerous McNamara signings he made were could you actually count as being a success? In this I am referring to players he has brought in from the Super League or the NRL.

I can think of two real successes of the top of my head, in Menzies and Scruton. What say you?

Morrison, Kearney (when fit), L'Strange.

I guess depending on how the youngsters come through you could claim some of those.

well this could be a short thread

If Orford could have lasted the season he would have been Macca's best (even if most expensive) buy.

I sometimes get in two minds about Sykes, but can't really consider him a good buy, but not really a bad one either.

Orford. Macnamara cannot be blamed for his injury surely? How good he was demonstrated by what has happened to us since he has been out?

Platt. Evans. Sheriffe. Donaldson. Whitehead? And I think it should be recalled just how many people were in two minds about signing Menzies. Bit harsh to berate him for gambles that didn't come off and then present those that did as no-brainers. And a bit harsh to make out the signing of Glenn Hall was doltish when his record in the NRL suggested he could do a good job for us. He still might even though the oracle has elsewhere stated improvement is impossible.

Tadulala was a belting signing that many derided at the time it was made.

Scruton, Menzies, L'Estrange, Kearney, Platt, Tadulala, Orford ( I tip he will become one), Morrison.

Then the likes of Donaldson, Whitehead etc who are coming through the academy.

You've got to be kidding. A good start to 2007 (when his sparkling attack papered over the cracks of some poor defensive plays), but went down hill after that with brain explosion after brain explosion, leading to him being dropped from the first team and returning in a different position (in which he hardly excells at). I suppose this is indicative of how low standards have dropped at Bradford if you think Platt was a success - an average player at best, a liability at worst.

Including academy players is scraping the barrel, especially given that someone else is in charge of that department.

Thanks. Now jog on.



Good thread this, and that is a decent list from Ewen. I would add Hall, as he owes us a great season, and I remain to be convinced that he's lost it, but the jury is out so won't.

there's also other youngsters, such as the Burgii, that McNamara brought to the club, and who may form part of his legacy in coming years but obviously don't -yet -make any such list.

Platt? No. He's just about adequate at best IMO. Evans, steady. Sheriffe, has gone from awful to adequate.

No real stunning successes there like there was with Mike Forshaw or Paul Anderson. Though I accept it's harder to pick up these sort of players.

As for Donno and Whitehead. They're coming along nicely and as I said it may be a few years before we see the value of some of the McNamara signings.

Unfortunately McNamara also signed Tupou, Jeffries, Worrincy, Feather and Simon Finnigan and Reardon. I'm afraid the bad far outweigh the good and it's a big reason why we are where we are.

With a couple of exceptions I haven't felt that any of the signings have been howlers when they were announced, rather that there has been a pattern of players arriving at Bradford and getting worse.

3 contract decisions I have been astonished by have been those that rewarded Platt, Godwin and Sykes with 3 year deals after performing poorly in the previous season. I actually think Platt has played well at right centre considering we play without a stand off, or a loose forward who passes and is often the only back who appears able to tackle one on one.

Considering we now know the full salary cap was spent every year except 2010, the scale of the debacle is truly eye watering.

That's the thing that amazes me too. Even allowing for other clubs with their "Singapore Parachutes" it's still hard to believe that we were at full cap.

No problem. I await your next post denouncing Maislebugs and Bullseye as trolls.