Yesterday I glanced at some of the other West Yorkshire club forums . Given our understandable concentration on matters financial over the past few months as we lurch from one crisis to the next, I thought I'd try to remember what it feels like to be a fan expectantly looking forward to a new campaign. You all remember-- . Speculation about which players are declining which youngsters will break through , what tactics the coach will use etc.

Amongst the threads I came across a thread on the Rhinos board which asks their fans to predict the 2014 season. If our team needs any motivation they only have to look there. Everyone predicts London in last spot and a large majority have us in 13th place. There are no obvious gloats or insults. I gained the impression that not only are we written off but are completely disregarded. I think I prefer the traditional tone of fierce rivalry even when it descends into taunting rather than being discounted as totally out of the mix.

Personally I believe the squad as it stands today is an improvement on the last 2 seasons-- better balanced with a few of the younger players at the point of proving themselves in the league. If (and I know it's a big if ) we can avoid losing more than a couple of players , I am cautiously optimistic of mid table with a decent run in the cup.

What do others think?

Will we start the season?



If so, with what squad?



If we do, will we finish the season?



I think those questions will do me for now. At least in recent times we had someone to moan at for ignoring the fan base, now we haven't even got that. Our pre-season consists of the odd cryptic self-interested claim and counterclaim when the local rag can be bothered to report anything, and the fiasco over who may or may not own or run the club shows no sign of abating, so those who have us finishing ahead of anybody could arguably be said to be the wildest optimists.

IF we manage to start and finish the season with the squad we have I think we’ll finish around 10th-12th. We may have a bit of quality and a better balance than last year but the overall quality and more importantly depth of the squad isn’t there to get in the top 8 yet. Widnes surely must improve and Cas will be better. Our main rivals will be Wakey who are starting from scratch. London’s fortunes are as hard to predict as our own but at least they’re sure to begin the season!

IF the squad stays the same,I really believe we will make the 8.I think we are a lot stronger this year.Lulia and Heath are big losses,but all the players that have come in are an improvement on who they have replaced.Henry is unknown so he too could be a very good signing.Carvell for Langley?,Ferguson is definately better than Bateman at this moment in time,Bateman is potential at the moment.George for Platt,Gaskell will definately add something we didn't have last season.Quite optimistic,in a strange way

Pretty sure you've nailed our situation, though I think you have to add Salford to the list of improvers. I suspect they'll maybe start off with a few 'getting to know you' games, but a combo of Nobby and a bottomless bag of cash spells a decent side over the season.



As you imply, much will depend on [iexactly[/i what our squad is when the curtain goes up, though, for some reason, I feel pretty confident we'll make the starting gun. Must confess I haven't booked anything for Catalans as yet though, which maybe suggests I'm not quite as confident as I pretend..

Bulliac I have Salford finishing 8th or 9th. They'll take time to gel but they have enough solid experienced pros to make a big improvement on last year.



Hope you’re proved right Roger. I hope Adam Henry proves to be decent. I still have memories of Platt and Sykes in the centres and how our fringe defence was awful. Carvell will give us something extra especially with his offloads and Gaskell will provided much needed competition for places at halfback.



When everyone’s fit and in form we are top 8 material. I just don’t think we have the depth to manage it over a full season. How we cope with Easter will be key. Last year there were too many missed tackles and losses of concentration, often I expect due to loss of form, injury and fatigue. I expect the kids like Mellor and Roberts to get plenty of games as a result.



If we start to lose players to make ends meet it’ll be even tougher as I don’t expect replacements to be off the same quality.

Almost two separate competitions this year: placing in the top 8, and avoiding the bottom two places.

Realistically we are in the second one with probably London, Wakey, Cas and Widnes - assuming of course London don't get special "expansion" treatment if they finish in the bottom two. I do think the squad we currently have is better than 2013 - but with such small squads the finally positioning will likely come down to who can best keep the players in shape for the longest

As of right now I'd say we have a stronger 17 than London, Wakey, Cas and Widnes. How that will change between now and the start of the season, and how often injuries actually allow us to name something close to our strongest 17, will determine whether we actually finish above any or all of those teams.

For me, as an outsiders, I'm in a catch 22 when predicting the fortunes of Bradford next year: if you keep the same squad together, I'm not convinced you'll see the end of the season, it is pretty much the same finances that has failed two times all over again. If you have a fire sale, similar to Wakefield, I can't see who you can bring into the squad to give you a fighting chance (especially as you'll be fighting with London for signatures)



Both options don't leave me with much hope for next season for bradford

It was said by the directors that if any player was sold then a replacement would be brought in. It might be a player of lesser ability or for a different position but there would be a replacement. I think the issue might be would has the money and space under the cap to buy any of our better players. I can see that they would want to offload the high earners first but these may not necessarily be wanted by other clubs as they’d not be value for money. Then of course the player himself has to agree to the move.



As you say that could leave us struggling to make savings. Could make life interesting.

. If we do have to lose 2 or maybe 3 of our better players then we could be in trouble, but if we can get away with only losing only one.... Mmm, well maybe we'll live to fight another day - there are too many ifs and buts to be definite about anything, to be honest.

'

It's that old chestnut again about the real cost of star players - as it is often these guys who attract sponsors to a club and fans through the gate.



Don't envy the position the directors find themselves in, it would be a mighty task even without the baggage and squabbles which seem to dog the club