BfB

On a wet Tuesday afternoon at Valley Parade Bradford City lost 3-1 to Manchester City with Peter Thorne getting his second goal of pre-season in the first half and a clutch of trialist getting a run out as Stuart McCall continues to whittle his squad.

City’s side was best described as a mix of kids, second stringers trial players and the odd full professional such as Thorne who scored midway through the first half to put the Bantams back on level terms. The Manchester City team was mostly drawn from the Academy and can be best described as “a bunch of players who have next to no chance of playing for Manchester City” despite some impressive skills on display.

Impressive for the Bantams was James Hanson who seeks to join Steve Williams in jumping from non-league to full professional with City while Jevgeni Novikov and Jordan Hadfield – who held midfield for City – fight for spaces in the Bantams midfield for next season seemed to shrink with the news that Andy Holdsworth would – should he come to League Two – sign for City over his former manager Peter Jackson at Lincoln City.

Irish keeper Alan Mannus has left City without a contract after failing to impress while not conversing a goal in two and a half games for the club.

The Bantams are believed to be signing Frank Fielding on loan from Blackburn, or trying to at least, while Jon McLaughlin will take the gloves for Saturday’s friendly with Barnsley.

Missing from that is likely to be Paul Arnison who has suffered the repeated problem of being a Bradford City right back. Arnison follows Darren Holloway and Darren Williams in failing to make the position stick although seemed to come closer than both.

When things went well for City last season Arnison seemed to be present supporting the right flank while making a fist of keeping the space behind him covered but as things fell apart it emerged that Arni and the rest of the squad failed to see eye to eye on a number of issues and as a result of that rather than ability the player moves with Darlington his expected destination.

What Darlington boss Colon Todd can do with him remains to be seem but one doubts that with Dean Windass as player and coach that Arnison’s rumoured attitude in the dressing room will be welcomed.