Bradford survive

Wednesday 2nd August.

Each day the pendulum seems to swing one way and then the other on the long running Andy Booth saga. One day it looks like the prodigal son will return and a few days later it seems that he won't, and this seems to have gone on all summer. Just as it looked (once again) as if our homegrown product would grace the McAlpine pitch again, he has now been linked with Bradford City. Perish the thought! I hope he has more pride that to even contemplate pulling on a revolting claret and amber shirt, and that he will tell Geoffrey Richmond exactly where to stick his club.

Any road up, who needs a relegated Premiership striker who spent more time in the physiotherapy room than on the Hillsborough pitch, when it looks as though Kevin Gallen might be the first player to put pen to paper for Town this season. Seemingly most arrangements have been sorted out for his transfer although 'one or two details' are still to be overcome but in anticipation of this a medical has been arranged. Perhaps tomorrow will bring a new face to the squad - I can hardly wait.

As the injury list lengthens before a ball has even been kicked in anger, it also seems as though American centre back Gregg Berhalter could be added to the squad. It appears that he is quite keen to move into English football, and the fact that no transfer fee is involved should make him an attractive proposition to the men in suits.

With the first game of the season only 10 days away, the pre-season games continued with a visit to Wigan Athletics' JJB stadium. They finished fourth in the second division, losing narrowly to Gillingham in the play-off final at Wembley. Town maintained their unbeaten pre-season campaign with at 2-1 victory on a typically English summer evening - it pissed it down! Wigan actually had the audacity to take the lead, although by all accounts the weather was a major factor as following another downpour a Neil Redfern shot slipped out of Nico Vaesens grasp and into the back of the net. Never mind, Town responded with 2 goals of their own, both coming from second half substitutes.

Ben Thornley who came on after 54 minutes levelled matters with a 20-yard volley after 54 minutes, and must surely be getting some serious consideration for a start when the proper stuff begins a week on Saturday. Then, on 82 minutes, another substitute Clyde Wijnhard gave Town what proved to be the winner.

Seemingly Bruce must have Kevin Gallen firmly in his transfer plans because he tried an experimental pairing of Gallen and Smith up front, and by all accounts the potential new recruit had a good game showing some good skills. When he gets his fitness levels up he should be a good acquisition, if only the board will give the nod for his signing on fee.

Our other trialist Greg Berhalter seems to have had another good game, being comfortable in possession of the ball and providing some thoughtful distribution out of defence, although he apparently almost made a couple of mistakes through over-confidence. Whether he is wearing a blue and white shirt on the 12th of August remains to be seen, but they will have to get their skates on. Anyway, I am beginning to wonder what on earth has happened to Kevin Gray.

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