Are you watching, Rodney Marsh?

Let's take the Rams by the horns

The mauling at Coventry and the events up to last week's transfer deadline suggest a change in the attitude and expectations of two-thirds of that unholy trinity of management, players and fans - ie, coaches and players have accepted that relegation is probable.

Recently the management arranged the departure of six players permanently or loaned out. They went without a whimper - rats and sinking ships spring to mind.

You would have been forgiven for thinking this massive saving of wages could be a way of making room, both financially and squad-wise, for one or two big signings.

Would we make a bid for Everton's unsettled Scottish international Don Hutchison before the dreadline?

We must assume the now-depleted squad is considered good enough to keep us up.

Before the Man Utd game - it was no match - we have had an unchanged starting outfield team for the last seven encounters (three defeats, two draws and two wins). At half-time against Man U we were losing 2-0 but the only change after the break was that Yorath stood on the other side of Paul Jewell.

Come on, management is all about making things happen and controlling events - not just letting it unfurl before you eyes.

I have a feeling that City's management have decided that Derby, not ourselves, will keep us up. It's a dangerous obsession to put our fate in the hands of the Bald Eagle.

But some of us believe all's not lost. Here are my vital elements of the special Bantams survival kit.

CONFIDENCE in the present squad. After all, it's too late to sign anyone else. We didn't bother signing anyone before the transfer deadline which was a bit of a let-down to say the least. So that must mean the current squad is good enough.

ISIAH Rankin comes back and scores a hat-ful of goals. Let's give the lad a chance - he didn't get one at City before. We need goals and he's gettin 'em for Birmingham.

TERRIFIC workrate. For a set of old guys the lads have grafted really hard this season. Can't fault them for effort even if the quality's sometimes been missing.

YORATH to take a job in the Nationwide - building society. I've nothing personal against him but I don't think he's giving us the tactical nous we need.

Stuart McCall. We're lucky to have him. He's determined to keep us up but he needs someone alongside him who can pass the ball and play - Whalley's too lightweight. Stu will win the ball for us.

THE Bulls to win the Challenge Cup and inspire the city. I'm a soccer man but I think the Bulls are brilliant. I hope their success rubs off of the footie players.

A NEW board - to nail over our goals. We've tried everything else, even Neville.

YESTERDAY. Memories of the past should be enough to keep us up. Do we really want to play at Rochdale, Hull City or Bournemouth again?

USE substitues better. Why do we only put them on when we're 2-0 down. We should put them on when it's 0-0 and they've a chance to change the game. We're rubbish at using subs.

PRIDE - After 70 years we will not give up without a fight. Playing in the Premiership is brilliant - just think of the quality of players we've seen. Watching Ginola was fantastic and Manchester United were superb. Our lads worked their socks off but United were awesome. We want more of this!

John Armitage

Rodders puts the record straight

Rodney Marsh rang us to issue a special statement to City fans through this page after his weekend comments on Sky's Gillette Soccer Saturday.

With tongue in cheek, Rodney predicted United would beat City 9-1 and said the Old Trafford youth team could have beaten the Bantams first team - comments which unfortunately upset City boss Paul Jewell.

But the pundit issued the following statement to "Are You Watching

Rodney Marsh?" this week: "I didn't mean to upset Paul Jewell - I have a lot of respect for him and what Bradford City have achieved. I was

simply trying to say what a superb squad Manchester United have.

"I don't want City fans thinking I've got it in for them. It's nothing

personal. Football's all about opinions and entertainment."

Show a little disrespect

The smell of Armani suits and Ferrari leather clung to my nostrils as the well-oiled £1 billion football machine swaggered into town, swept aside and trampled all over the not-so-mighty City team.

I came to the ground not expecting to get anything from the game. I wonder if that's what happens when Midas Utd come to town - fans show utmost respect. Maybe that is another contributing factor why they are so successful.

When Beckham sliced his corner and Scholes shinned a weak effort luckily goalward I admit that I clapped, possibly the goal of the season.

Yes, I can understand the crowd's appreciation of a wonder goa. But can someone explain why the majority of the Valley Parade ground clapped Roy Keane off when being subbed? Come on boys and girls, we were not at Old Trafford, we were in Manningham. Arsenal didn't get that, L***s certainly didn't, so why did Manchester Utd?

I know they are great side but how would you feel if your own fans were full of adoration for the opposing side?

On the other hand, maybe all you readers out there were trying to outwit Fergie with reverse psychology. He tells his players everybody hates them and they want you to lose. But you pretend you want to lick the sweat of Giggsy's neck.

Telegraph & Argus reporter Richard Sutcliffe wrote in the match-day programme, using a Stone Roses song title and lyrics "This Is The One - we're waiting for". I'm sorry, Paul, that was "Fools Gold" because it was "Here It Comes", "The Hardest Thing In The World" and I hope we're not "Going Down" and dropping down like an "Elephant Stone".

Mark Beetham

Bantams Banter

SIR - Having watched the game at Coventry, I'm now convinced that Paul Jewell has completely lost the plot on how to keep City in the Premier League.

For example, he always waits until City are a goal or more down before he brings on a new player.

Also, he takes a player off who is playing fairly well instead of a player who is playing badly.

And I'm lost for words why he has loaned out Rankin, and Mills, both of whom cost over £1 million each. Both these players are highly rated, and in good form so why has the manager loaned them out, especially at such an important time of the season?

David Gallagher, Staveley Road, Ingrow, Keighley

SIR - It is all very well for Stuart McCall to apologise to City supporters for the "spineless excuse for a performance" at Coventry, as Telegraph & Argus reporter Richard Sutcliffe described it, but I for one would like to know the reason for it.

I just cannot believe that every member of the team can have an off day at the same time, for no reason - especially after the marvellous performance against Leeds United six days previously.

What on earth is going on? Is there friction in the dressing-room over wages, I wonder. Cadete, for instance is reportedly being paid £15,000 a week, which must be far more than most of the rest of the squad.

I have supported City for 65 years and have always said that I could forgive players anything as long as they gave 100 per cent effort. They have certainly done so far most of this season, but obviously this was not the case at Coventry, nor at Gillingham or Sheffield Wednesday.

I no longer go to away games, chiefly because of my age, but I would remind the players that many supporters do spend considerable sums of hard-earned money to do so, and to "reward" them with performances like Saturday's is unacceptable, whatever the reason.

Finally for heaven's sake, City, bring back Rankin and give him a run. The Birmingham supporters idolise him!

George Roberts, Bude Road, Bradford

SIR - After watching Match of the Day recently, you could have been forgiven for thinking that the only reason we appear as one of the main games is because we have lost and have justified the tag of relegation favourites.

There have been two examples of this.

First, the Coventry match. OK, we deserved to be beaten but at times we showed the kind of form that has brought us closer to survival and we may have scored one or two ourselves. However the chosen pundit, Mark Lawrenson, didn't seem to notice this and decided to berate us continuously for our poor defending.

The second example is not about a time when we lost, but when we beat Arsenal, against all expectations and much to the delight of City fans everywhere. The game was not one of the main featured games, but they showed an extended report on the match to make up for this.

It was arguably the greatest result in the club's history and certainly one of the most extraordinary results in Premiership history. So one would have thought they would have concentrated on Bradford's win and speculate that if they could beat Arsenal, maybe they could stay in the league.

But all Gary Lineker did was to ask what this result meant to Arsenal's championship challenge.

The BBC football department have to learn that the clubs at the top don't always win and the clubs at the bottom don't always lose.

Having taken this on board, may we see a balanced analysis on Bradford City in the future? (Oh no, sorry, according to Lawrenson, we've been relegated already.)

James Ramsden, Walker Close, Glusburn

SIR - After watching City's shambollic display at Coventry the situation must be addressed urgently.

City this year made more cash than ever before through extra sponsorship and Sky TV money.

Approximately a month ago our beloved chairman Mr Richmond stated: "There's money to spend", so why hasn't it been spent on a class ball-distributing midfielder.

Without this sort of player there's one thing for sure - Rodney 'The Mouth' Marsh isn't going to lose his hair - and he's going to have one over on you, Geoffrey.

Darren Slingsby, Undercliffe

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