The last couple of years you always got the impression that whilst the players were supposedly more talented we would always struggle if it came to a fight for the points. This year it is the opposite. The youngsters and loan players all seem to have a point to prove so are determined to get stuck in. Whilst at the back of my mind I've dreaded Fax coming over the hill because I feared we would just fold and put in a disappointing performance, this year I think it could at least be a good match, win or lose

When I think back to last year one of the most dispiriting performances was away at Fax shortly before Lowes left. We looked dispirited and utterly bereft of ideas in attack. Our only threat was from Adam O’Brien and Fax worked hard to suppress that. Our attacking ideas seemed to be limited to laboured passing along a line of almost stationery players. The contrast to this year is huge. Despite having a much weaker side on paper we’re far more of an attacking threat. Our main Achilles heel has been dropping the ball and we did a lot to tighten that up on Sunday.

Agree with what's been said. That away day at Halifax still haunts me. One image will forever stick in my mind from that game. We won a drop-put and our superstar signing Richie Mathers could not be d doing his job and going back to the half way line to catch the drop out. Instead shouting at someone else to then go back where he would have been, while he stayed on the 10m line. I can take being crap, but i will never accept a lack of effort and desire that he showed that day. It was so painful and infuriating to watch. Can you imagine Johnny Campbell shirking his duties like that? Stark contrast.

While Greg may say this is the worst Bradford team, it's a damn lot more spirited than the previous lot. I'm not expecting a win Friday, but i know each one will have given their all which cannot be said the last year or 2.

Not wishing to bull up our chances but to be described as a mid table team by a Halifax fan is a bit disingenuous. If we hadn't had the 12 points deduction we would be on the same points as them with a very similar points difference. That's with hardly any pre season work and a team not put together until three games into the season. If we are a mid table team this would suggest that Halifax are too. I think we have done amazingly well from where we started.

Looks like Lilley has been recalled, as he's been named in the Leeds 19 for Friday.

Would expect Chisholm to be in ours then. Probably on the bench on Friday night. Keyes and Pryce to start.

He's also down for the Hunslet game and will do them all. He's not called 3 Piece Sweet for nothing.

Cue tumbleweed.

Just had a email from Halifax. Rooley Lane End will be open for the game on Friday night.

No Dan Murray in the squad. Gledhill is saying he's been recalled by Salford. Whilst it probably is true (we all speculated it might happen), I'll wait until I see Murray's name in Salford's squad before I believe it. Reliable sources and all that.

Our 18-man Squad:
Bentley, Campbell, Caro, Davies, Halifihi, Hodgson, Keyes, Kirk, Larroyer, Macani, Magrin, Moore, Oakes, Pryce, Roche, Ryan, Thomas, Wilkinson.

I hope it's 18 because they're going to add Chisholm to it later, rather than because we only have 18 available players. Otherwise we're stuffed for Easter Monday too!

Powell was talking about using his full squad over Easter and re-calling Larroyer if need be.

Murrary is a massive loss but inevitable with easter coming up. Notice only 18 players announced so presume trying to register Chisholm before then.

For me (if chisholm plays)

Thomas
Campbell
Ryan
Oakes
Caro
Pryce
Keyes
Roche
Moore
Margrin
Larroyer
Bentley
Wilkinson

Chisholm
Davis
Kirk
Hodgson

Got a strong feeling Macani will play. Exactly the type of character we don't need. Think fax will steam roll our forwards sadly.

Murray hasn't been named in Salford's 19 for Good Friday. Every chance he'll be in for Monday obviously, but also every chance it's total bull, with no pun intended.

No Murray would reduce our chances by a fair bit. We have nobody that is able to fill his boots in the front row. Roche and Hodgson will give 100% but I suspect we'll struggle like we did at Oldham when he was lost due to sickness.

Not surprised if Salford call him back.

What's up with Lee Smith?