More stick than twist as Bradford City retained list hints at a quiet summer of transfer business

By Jason McKeown

I guess we should have expected this. For much of the season it felt like Mark Hughes was playing it a little too safe with his team selection, sticking with players even if they weren’t performing at the perceived right level. And so the fact the 2022/23 retained list features fewer departures than we supporters might have liked is no great surprise. There’s a level of familiarity that Hughes seems to like in his charges. He knows what to expect from them, and is happy to keep faith – even accepting their limitations.

Ruthless is not a word you would use to describe the decision to offer Liam Ridehalgh and Alex Gilliead new deals to stay. In the build up to the announcement, as fans debated who should go and who should stay, many were hoping for a bigger clearout. And though Ridehalgh and Gilliead were far from the biggest weaknesses in the Bradford City squad, there was a feeling from some that seeking an upgrade wouldn’t hurt.

To an extent, we do have to be mindful of our emotions. Passions are running high right now, with the rawness of last Saturday’s play off defeat still felt. It’s easy to react in haste. To want to tear everything down. Because in its own way, there’s a positive feeling that comes from doing something – anything really – towards addressing City’s shortcomings. Hughes’ job is ultimately to distance himself from the emotions, and to make considered calls. Whether we agree or disagree, he sees Ridehalgh, Gilliead and of course Andy Cook as part of his plans next season.

Still, the fact only five of the nine players out of contract – who have some level of Bradford City first team experience – are definitely leaving the club indicates a relatively quiet summer ahead.

Assuming Ridehalgh, Gilliead and Cook sign – and we’ll get to that – it means City have a contracted squad of two goalkeepers, two right backs, two left backs, five centre backs, six midfielders and four forwards. That’s a 21-person squad. And though there will of course be new arrivals on top of that, it’s clearly not going to be on the scale of last summer, when 17 signings were made.

The summer transfer business looks set to be all about strengthening rather than rebuilding. And that doesn’t sound bad on the face of it. but The bigger question remains – is there enough quality in those 21 players? And, where there are gaps, can we find the right summer signings to raise the bar?

Keeping Cook is clearly going to be huge for City’s future. The 31-goal man has been offered a new deal and us supporters will spend the next few weeks anxiously loading up the T&A website each morning to find out if he’s going to take it.

For Cook, the next contract that he signs could be life-defining. He’s just had the best season of his career, but at 32-years-old he only has a few more football earning years left. There will naturally be considerable interest elsewhere for Cook’s services, potentially even from League One. And so City have a battle on their hands to convince their number nine to remain at Valley Parade.

We can all see Cook is happy and thriving at City, but can we offer him the best deal? That’s going to be the key question. If you’re Cook, you are naturally going to want a rewarding contract from the Bantams, otherwise you’re looking elsewhere – reluctantly or otherwise. If City can somehow win this race, they will not make a more important signing this summer.

It’s fair to argue that Cook is not going to repeat 31 goals next season, but there are no signs of him significantly dropping off. And given pace is not amongst his attributes, his age should not really be a concern for next year, or the year after. His advancing years do not need to affect his game, for now anyway.  

Cook’s form over the second half of the season was outstanding, so why can’t he go and get at least 20 goals next year? If you’re Hughes and City, you’d absolutely take that – and you will struggle to find it elsewhere. It’s huge what happens with Cook. Especially when you look at those other 20 City players, and their very limited goal returns.

Meanwhile Gilliead is offered a new deal after a two-year spell at Valley Parade where managers, coaching staff and the player himself eventually worked out the type of player he truly could be. Gilliead was signed by Derek Adams in the summer of 2021 as a winger, but with a very mediocre goals and assist record that suggested he would bring limitations. And at Valley Parade, we knew this only too well after Gilliead’s previous two loan spells at the club had seen lots of industrious running and effort, but little end product.

So it really wasn’t a surprise that Gilliead did not especially impress playing as a wide forward under Adams. Again, you could never fault his endeavour, but where was the impact where it really mattered? Gilliead has many attributes that make him look a decent winger, but much of City’s struggles of the past two seasons have lied in the three attackers, behind the striker in the 4-2-3-1, not contributing enough.

By the time this long-standing problem fell onto Hughes’ shoulders, Gilliead was reinventing himself as a deep lying midfielder. One of the two sitting in front of the back four, in that 4-2-3-1. And it suited him much better. Gilliead had a very strong end to 2021/22 playing alongside Elliot Watt – the two offered real balance.

It hasn’t quite been the same this year, with Gilliead partnering Richie Smallwood. But post January, and after the back and forth with the diamond formation, Gilliead did improve again. He certainly suited the diamond well, and when Hughes did go back to 4-2-3-1, the mid-season influence of Adam Clayton inspired Gilliead and Smallwood to deliver better performances. Gilliead was one our better players in the run-in.

Ultimately, Gilliead ends this contract period converted from underachieving winger to decent defensive midfielder, with the licence to roam forward with the ball. Again, we’re not seeing notable goal and assist contributions from Gilliead, but that doesn’t matter as much in this newer role. He’s the guy who wins the ball, brings it forward, and sets up attacks. And he’s done it reasonably well.

Long-term, is Gilliead the answer for a club like City with ambitions to climb up the leagues? Probably not. And so you wonder how much he would be seen as starter next term, or if there will be a gradual progression that seems him become more of a squad player. Given the issues of 2022/23, there is surely no way that Hughes isn’t going to seriously look at strengthening his midfield options this summer. Gilliead may sign a new deal and find that he plays less football.

The decision to offer a new deal to Ridehalgh is a surprise, given the left back has had two years of injury disruption. What Ridehalgh has going for him is a strong record when fit and in the team. In 2021/22, City won 32% and lost 29% of the games Ridehalgh started – when he was injured, they won only 19% and lost 52% of their games. This season was similarly notable. City won 47% and lost 23% of the games Ridehalgh started, compared to winning 36% and losing 32% when he didn’t play.

I think the issue for us City fans watching on is whether the disparity in City’s results, with and without Ridehalgh, is truly down to the left back. For example, his return to the starting line up in February this season coincided with Sam Stubbs making his full debut and becoming just a permanent fixture in the back four for the remainder of his campaign. When looking at the improved results since then, who was truly the biggest influencer? 

Ridehalgh has been solid and defensively it’s difficult to think of too many errors. But in a City team that can be too conservative in going forward, they badly need attack-minded full backs to make it work better. Ridehalgh hasn’t offered enough going forward. Add in his age (32) and his injury record, and it did seem more logical to shake hands and move on, especially with Matty Foulds having had a good loan spell at Harrogate. Instead, Ridehalgh is set to remain at Valley Parade. Hmmm.

Adam Clayton won’t be joining Ridehalgh at City next term. The veteran midfielder always looked a short-term signing, brought in last January to pep up a struggling midfield. And to a degree he delivered what was needed. Clayton improved City initially, although left an overall suspicion that the team’s balance was suffering by having too many defensive-minded midfielders. That’s not necessarily Clayton’s fault, as Hughes could have left out Smallwood or Gilliead to find that balance. But when Clayton got injured in early March, City definitely became a more attacking force in the 34-year-old’s absence.

Clayton returned to the starting line up on the final day of the season at home to Leyton Orient, when City just needed a point. He didn’t do great, but offered the solidity needed that day. Continuing to play Clayton in the play offs was not unexpected, but definitely is something to look at during the post season inquest. He was awful at Carlisle in the second leg and should have been brought off much sooner.

Of the others out of contract and leaving, there’s not too much new to say. Yann Songo’o basically said his goodbyes in January when he was loaned to Walsall. The only surprise is how little he subsequently featured at the Bescot Stadium. Songo’o is a player fairly popular with City fans for his performances in 2021/22, but when Hughes came in and changed the style, his lack of technical ability was a factor. If beleaguered Morecambe can find some semblance of a budget this summer, expect Songo’o to reunite with Adams once more.

Oscar Threlkeld has not figured for City since April 2022 and spent some time on loan at Oldham this season, without pulling up any trees. Unfortunately for him, Threlkeld will only really be remembered when in future years we fans are debating the worst right backs of all time. Abo Eisa might have been a good signing for us but all those injuries got in the way. We just never really saw his true quality. No hard feelings though, Abo.

Kian Scales departs despite having won praise for his performances on loan at Farsley this season. He played 43 times and netted three goals, as Celtic just avoided relegation from the National League North. Scales also caught the eye for City last pre-season. It will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Finally Colin Doyle is staying after City exercised the option to extend his contract. Doyle has not featured once for City this season, with Harry Lewis ever-present. But the superb performances of Lewis are testament to Doyle’s coaching skills and it’s no surprise he is staying on. You would imagine the transition from player to coach will continue at pace.

Ultimately, Hughes has made these retain/release calls whilst having a number of other players still under contract who have not been part of his plans – and who look surplus to requirements. And so there are likely to be more close season departures. If Foulds, Timi Odusina, Jake Young, Ryan East, Luke Hendrie and Vadaine Oliver in particular are unlikely to force their way into the team next season, moving them on seems to be in everyone’s best interests.

In the meantime, let Andy Cook Watch begin.

Categories: Opinion

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