Congratulations Bradford!

[joepoolman]

What a run from the Bantams, and all the teams in this league should take note at how well you can do in the cup competitions with hard work, spirit and a bit of luck. To knock out three PL teams along with a team from the Championship, League 1 and League 2 is an incredible achievement.

Also on a slightly more selfish level, I'm hopeful that we have one less potential promotion rival now.

[Snake]

I agree with every word of that - I watched the Villa game live in a Swansea casino tonight, though it was a bit of a crush to get near to the big screen.

Personally I hope that Bradford don't have to play the Champions League winners in the final as they'd get an easier game if another unexpected result happened at The Liberty on Wednesday.

Either way this is a footballing miracle unfolding and I feel privileged to be still alive to witness first hand some of the drama.

[Mooro]

Why shy clear of anyone....if I was a Bradford fan I'd be wanting Chelsea to win tonight....mind you, if I was a Chelsea or Swansea fan then I'd have wanted Villa to win last night.

I know that if chelsea win the LEague cup and occupy a european spot in the league, then Bradford would not be allocated the European spot (unlike the FA cup which does pass to the losing finalists), but has it been confirmed that Swansea would be allowed to take the League Cup winners place in Europe next season should they triumph?

So yes a great night for everyone except Villa fans,some Chelsea/Swansea fans and fans of managers being allowed time to succeed. It is a shame for Lambert in a way, as by making a decent run in the cup, with a couple of notable victories en route (eg Man City) he has probably made a bigger rod for his own back than had they gone out earlier.

Well done Bradford

[theox]

Normally, when we are on a cup run everyone wants us out of it because it has the potential to ruin the league form. This cup run certainly has ruined Bradford's league form.

The question is, would we trade a promotion season for a league cup final? On the basis that we beat Bradford I think we can safely assume that they will lose to a full strength Chelsea or Swansea in the final (Villa are so bad at the moment but still won the second leg) but I guess the financial rewards for getting to the final (even if you lose) must be pretty decent so should set them up for a few years and enable them to make a big push next season.

Also, I presume they have the possiblity of a foray into the Europa League?

[Paul Cooper]

The old discussion about the League or the Cup.

I think that Bradford's success is so phenominal that they probably would take it over the league. Certainly as Parkinson suggested in 30/40 years time people will still remember Bradford's sensational cup run. Real history being made (as opposed to coming third in the English 4th Division)

As others have said well done Bradford. One of the few times that footballl fans (except for Villa fans) were almost united in wanting Bradfrod to win (and it will be the same in the final whoever they play)

[Joey's Toe]

I think that Bradford's success is so phenominal that they probably would take it over the league. Certainly as Parkinson suggested in 30/40 years time people will still remember Bradford's sensational cup run. Real history being made (as opposed to coming third in the English 4th Division)

I think that's the point - a cup run which takes you to Wembley (or even a semi-final in a 'big' competition like the FA Cup or League Cup) seems like a worthwhile season, to me. Much less than that and you can't help but wonder what might have been in the league. And, of course, you never know how your run will turn out when you play that first-round game and have to debate whether or not to put out a strong team.

I still say that if we'd got to the final of the JPT and had a day out at Wembley, I would have regarded this season as a memorable one. Not sure how widely that view is shared!

[slappy]

I don't know what the financial rewards are for the various rounds in the League Cup, or what you get from the final play-off receipts.

But in recent years, an away FA Cup tie at Manchester United has probably raised between £500K and £1MM (guessing at shared gate receipts of 70,000 x £30 say) for non-league clubs Exeter, Burton, Crawley, and the clubs gained promotion on the back of this either in the same season or in later seasons.

[slappy]

http&#58//www&#46bbc&#46co&#46uk/news/u ... s-21156787
Bradford City's historic trip to Wembley could be worth £1m to the club, according to its joint chairman.
...
Bradford City have been in administration twice since 2002, and had been expected to overspend on wages by £600,000 this season as they push for promotion to League One.

However they had already more than covered this shortfall by earning at least £1.3m from their quarter-final and semi-final ties.

[joepoolman]

I don't completely buy into the whole cup run spoiling the league season, Bradford were doing very well in the league until the Arsenal game, and they only have one more cup game left now this season. Let's just hope they take points of other top half teams but struggle in the games against little teams. Still I guess it must be at least a bit hard to get yourself up for the visit of Wycombe or a trip to Fleetwood after that.

[theox]

http&#58//www&#46bbc&#46co&#46uk/news/u ... s-21156787
Bradford City have been in administration twice since 2002, and had been expected to overspend on wages by £600,000 this season as they push for promotion to League One

Hang on. Does this mean that they are (Or 'were' at least) trying to do a Slumdon and 'cheat' their way out of the division by spending more than the league rules allow?

[Isaac]

I think it shows the wage cap rules aren't working or aren't being applied. How are Bradford overspending by 600k? Are you allowed to as long as you're &quotgoing for promotion?&quot

If Slumdon legally operated within them by using &quotsoft loans&quot from their owner, then it makes the wage cap rules completely meaningless.

[slappy]

My guess on Bradford is they worked out the maximum wage allowed under the salary cap, and this would lead to a £600K financial loss, which is allowed within the rules.

As for Slumdon, I think the club has been issuing new share capital, which is also an allowable way of funding wages outside of the Salary Cap, as shares are not a repayable debt, unlike loans from the owners. (This is I think what happened last year when the transfer embargo was brought in). Even if there are soft loans, this may just be a way of funding the losses run up in using the Salary Cap limits in full.

[Isaac]

Sounds to me that the wage cap rules need reworking if a league 2 side can lose 600K while still operating within them.

Problem is, that to me (and probably a few owners) a gamble like that might be worth taking - have a few seasons overspending in an attempt to get up a league or 2. Then, if you fail, go into administration, wipe out approx 90% of the debt, take a rather pitiful 10 point penalty and repeat.

[slappy]

The current salary cap rules don't work when the top line of total income can vary so much according to whether you own the stadium and it's revenues.

I would prefer a system like in the first of the conference years, when it was I think £500K plus 25% of turnover. Make an allowance for relegated teams who may have expensive players on long term contracts, and also for owners to put in more money by way of share capital.

[Snake]

I’m all prepared and having an early night tonight ready for a big day tomorrow. I’ve been checking every hour or so today that I still have my train and Wembley tickets (as you do on such occasions) and it’s such a vivid reminder of the pre-match nerves of the 1986 League Cup Final, and (for younger readers of this board) the game against York City (and I don’t mean today’s 0-0 draw).

Never in history has there been a one more sided major cup final, so if Swansea lose then I will look on the bright side and stay and clap Bradford off the pitch because that will be as much of a miracle as what the Swans have achieved in the last ten years under astute management and the proper support of the local community.

Football has its ups and downs and teams like Swansea and Bradford have both in the last 10 years gone from near liquidation and Conference danger to the Premiership and back and that’s nothing that someone who follows a club like Arsenal or Manchester United (mainly on the telly) could ever understand so I will feel privileged to be there tomorrow, win or lose.

I still feel bad about my ‘divorce’ from Oxford United during recent times but in the last decade the situation at Minchery Farm has simply stagnated with very few moments of the usual roller-coaster of joy or despair associated with most clubs, and that’s not down to the efforts of Oxford supporters. In my view the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of its owners, and as with marital divorce there comes a time when enough is enough especially as I see that although today’s attendance against York is still the highest in League II it was well down on last season’s average and I fear for season ticket sales during the summer.

And before anyone tells me that a club is “for life