Appreciated, very civil of you - though I could hardly have complained if anyone had suggested Freudian overtones.

I think the argument that "we're only losing by a few points" had some validity early in the season, particularly when those defeats were against the likes of Huddersfield. The argument is becoming more and more difficult to sustain as the season goes on.

Our last two narrow defeats were against the newcomers. Admittedly Celtic played a bit better than their record suggested and we're in good company losing to Salford, although I thought they were very ordinary for an hour against us. But I dont think we can take much comfort from the fact that we only lost those matches by a few points.

If all these future world-beating youngsters are only at Bradford due to Mac & he is converting them in a Dead Poets Society stylee perhpas the job for him is Director of Yoof Development. And I am semi-serious.

I agree, but the thread is about Bradford's interests.

1. If he replicated his Quins' record, albeit graded up for the relative underlying strengths of the club, you would not be happy. His sides have still been pretty abject on frequent occasions, and he has yet to even get very near the play-offs with them. We will see how this season pans out, but he has yet to put anything on his cv of the equivalent of SM's 2007 minor premiership challenge. As far as I can see, BM's main advantage is that he has commited his coaching 'crimes' with a side most Bulls fans know and care little about.

2. You haven't named a replacement for SM, only stated he should go. When pressed you've suggested people we won't or wouldn't have got. AN Other is your candidate until you come up with another.

And I will ask a serious question to anyone who knows a bit more about it. (af, RER etc. )

If McNamara DID go, do you honestly think that all these young players would simply "take their ball home" and leave the club, and that the work that he is doing would simply be left to rot?

After all, it is widely believed that the board are passionate about the continuing youth development and surely such an ability would be a pre-requisite for any possible new coach?

Also, I worry about this youth development anyway if it is to be at to the detriment of the side. Cherry picking will always go on (we have done it often enough in the past) and what is to say that in two years time that we are so far out of the picture that our best young stars get snapped up by sides at the top of the table?

Don't get me wrong, youth development is hugely important but there has to be a happy medium so that it is not to the detriment of the first team, which looks to be the case at this time.

Dear me.

I have mentioned the likes of Tony Smith, Justin Morgan and Mr McDermott himself over the last year or so. Fair enough - we will not get Mr Smith or perhaps Mr Morgan now but we may have done when I first mentioned them as possibles, I don't know and cannot say.

However, I doubt it really matters to you WHO I say because you will just keep on saying that there is no guarantee that change would be for the better anyway so the whole exercise is futile.

Maybe.

I was just trying to point out that we've hardly been the whipping boys of the comp, we just seem to have had more than our fair share of narrowly losing out.

I'm desperately searching for the answers, as we all are. Being ever the optimist means I'll always try and find a positive, much as others (with their glass half empty) will always find the negative. (That's not a dig btw).

I still persist with my view that we're not too far away and SM is the right man.

I consider myself pretty optimistic but I must confess I'm finding it increasingly hard to support the coach right now. I am certain he is working hard to sort this mess out and that he has put some good things in place at the club. We may well have a much stronger academy and I am sure McNamara can take a big chunk of the credit for this. But watching the Bulls each week, we're simply not progressing. We don't look pumped up for the fight in matches, we're lethargic and lacking spark.

If McNamara does not drop some of the under performers/less than 100%ers then surely he is on borrowed time? I have written this season off now, but we need to see some massive improvement on the pitch in this 2nd half.. otherwise I dread to think what sort of crowds we'll attract in 2010. I've heard all the excuses.. I've offered quite a few, but the coach and the players have to now stand up and back up their statements once and for all. If they fail, big changes surely have to be made to keep the fans on side, because they're the life of this club.

But are you still willing to bet anyone?

Couldn't put it better.

I would go further and hope that the club has a contingency plan in place in case we're still in the same position come July/August.

If the second half of this season is like the first we may as well write off next season too if we keep the same personnel

Im with you Mr Bullseye. If we'r in this position come the end of the season we might be getting worried about franchises

Yes!