Le'strange had very limited game time in Australia with Mat Balin being there primary hooker. Putting all of our hopes on him could be quite a gamble in what is a crucial position. Equally signing a full back to play stand off is also a gamble and at this early stage im not overcome with much confidence.

On the journey back home to Birmingham where I now live I was trying to think of a worse performance I have had to endure since I first started watching Bradford Northern way back in 1964, and believe me I've stood on those terraces through thick and thin throughout the years. I suppose like most people I can accept defeat when i see the team making an effort but I cannot accept a performance like I have witnessed this afternoon. They were inept and clueless in all areas of play and sorry to say but there were periods during that game when they appeared to have thrown the towel in - and that is not on. If nothing else they have a duty to the paying fans to at least make an effort - what the hell have they been doing in pre-season? It was just the same as last year and the year before that - who is responsible for that I ask you?
PATHETIC, ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!!

Well you obviously weren't there for the Wire match at home last year, or Wigan away... or...

I travel every week pretty much home and away - 65 miles to a home match and have been watching similar performances for the last three years - you must have seen a few more than just today surely. If you can keep making the effort you'll get a couple of matches where things seem to turn around and then it'll go pear shaped again

Keep the faith.

The whole team were awful although Scruton tried hard and Sykes should be gone straight away but the display was absolutley awful, we've got the players but not the coach. Saints were pretty average today and don't look threatening this year and put thirty passed us and i've given McNamara three years and he's got to go now when we lose to Cas next week and maybe beat Salford if were lucky and then Wigan stuff us, he's a gonner.

Just looking at your next five fixtures, and (at the way your playing currently) can only see one game where you will probably win - Salford:

Cas (H)
Salford (A)
Wigan (H)
Wire (A)
Hull (A)

What the hell is going on? You've made some decent signings but seem to have gone backwards even from last season?

Exactly what i'm thinking.

Thought we played pretty well for the first 10 minutes then some dodgy decisions from Bentham gave them some momentum. After that though the capitulation was shocking.

There has been some criticism of the half backs and tbh I'm not too concerned about Orford, I think he will come good. I'm not sure about Kearney at stand off though, I never was. I was partially pacified when I saw him pre season but I don't see it. We were all talking during the game and I think he needs to on the end of some the balls that are hitting the three quarters not acting as a pivot. I think he good be a dangerous runner but his kicking was dreadful and distribution was poor.....but what are the options to replace?

Forgive me for criticising home grown talent but when the ball goes to Halley - it dies. He runs the ball up with gusto ( he may even be one of the best kick returners in SL) but the second phase move in the opposition red zone is pedestrian and predictable. I'd be tempted to try Reardon at full back and move Halley back to the wing (where he was successful with Wakefield). Please don't get me wrong on this section. I know he contributed but I question the way we use him sometimes

Sykes, one good move today that's about it

Worrincy - must have had his last chance. A bad rugby league player

Scruton however was immense, took the ball up well and put some thunderous hits in - one of his best ever games for us. Sheriffe also continued with the improved form. Menzies was a massive improvement on the giants game and looked like a strike option outwide until he was err subbed?? I do think that some of the aussies (orford and menzies) sometimes do things that are too quick for those around them and come off as mistakes. Although Orfords homage to Iestyn ( I thought that at the time Paul) were definetely for the end of year howler reel

Hall had a better game but was subbed as he looked to be getting into his stride. And I don't think having Le Strange and Godwin on at the same time works like we used to Tez and Hendo a few seasons back.

This gelling process needs to come to fruition as it looks like everyone else has done it and we're getting left behind.

The worst thing that happened today from teh club's point of view is that, having sent the dwindling fans home cursing and disillusioned so many home games last year, some will have come back for a brand new year with revived hopes and what - again, not only do we lose - that's not the point, anyone can lose against Saints - no, we perform in such a way as to make everyone go home really fed up and cursing.

What is it with us - we seem determined never to put in anything at home, and even with a largely new staff, we contrive to pis[size.[/sizes the home fans off no less than if that was the main game plan.

I did tell ya mate but you think I'm just trollin, when I just call it how I see it.

It won't make anyone feel better but here's another McNamara mistake - Glenn Morrison. The guy's playing out of his skin at Wakefield. Yes I know about the injuries but then in true Bradford style we used him as a battering ram. They're giving him space to run down the flanks and he's busting loose. An early contender for Man-Of-Steel. Glenn Hall ain't fit to lace his boots.

It confirms what we already knew, our style of play is so out of date. Five up the middle and a kick. Rubbish.

I hope this is the week McNamara suffers a serious bout of amnesia and has to learn a different way of coaching. If not I do think the curtain will fall at Easter time. I predict weekend of April 17, Challenge Cup Round Four - when we're humbled by a National League One side. Probably Halifax.

I went as a neutral today and have to say that I could not believe how poor you were today, your style of play just does not work, your whole attacking forrmula is the inside ball or barge your way over, anything else attempted is a dropped ball, sorry to say but you are totally clueless near the line and Saints seemed to get bored in the second half and thought they would show you how to do it with 3 attacks and 3 try's. Your coach really needs to step down now and he seems in cloud cuckoo land with these statements after the game......

"There were a lot of things that looked rusty. It wasn't a great performance at all. Maybe it was part of a process we need to go through as a group to get to where we want to get to."

"We weren't at the races. We expected to perform better but there were obviously reasons for that and we need to rectify that."

"I'd like to think we'll sit here in five days' time with a different situation. We'll be strong and stay together, but quite possibly in the long run this process will make us a better team."

How playing like that is part of a process to making you a better team only he knows!!

I really don't how Macca can re-arrange the team any more to make it work. We could try Kearney at full-back, but Halley has done nothing wrong to lose his place there.
Sykes is not a centre, I suppose we could pout him at stand off.
Reardon for me is not winger or a centre could he be tried at stand off ?
L'estrange offers no more than Wagga two vitually identical hookers why ????
The forwards were average yesterday. Worrincey was ineffective. However, Scruton did stand out and deserved to be recognised.
Ox tried, but how many times was the ball passed behind players ? I think he was expecting the line to be deeper, which I agree it should have been.
And, lastly I'm sorry Sheriffe, not good enough, the high bomb he let bounce near the end summed up the teams entire lack of commitment.

Jeffries had another blinder yesterday by all accounts, Wakey's pace at HB is frightening. But Solomona is out injured again, so you never know.