Gary Jones

Released by Bradford.

No, this isn't a thread suggesting we sign a former player.

I read this article. And the comments underneath I couldn't believe. A lot of City fans suggesting Gary Jones is a legend there now, in people's all time XI's etc. And the Rochdale supporters are even more gushing in their praise for him.

So did we see the real Gary Jones at Oakwell? Or is it just that we're used to seeing better players and actually, Jones was a decent fourth tier laiker for two fourth tier clubs?


http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co....ilege____of_playing_for_Bradford_City/?ref=mr

 

The latter

 

Had one good match for us - his first.

 

Aye definitely the latter, he arrived at a time when we were pruning the finances.

 

I didn't think that it helped that he was being touted as the 'next Neil Redfearn' which he patently wasn't.

 

Lovely bloke ***** player.

 

My abiding memory of Jones is from a season review video of the year we went down. He misses with a shot from range, and on the video it's got a close up (in slo-mo) of him mouthing "FOR **** SAKE".

I thought FFS a fair bit when watching him. Still think in his pomp he was better than Stephen Dawson will ever be though.

 

I'd have him over Dawson at least he could occasionally control the ball.

 

He was just anonymous for us. Games passed him by, he couldn't get involved. The thing that really disappointed me was that he was supposed to be tough/hard/strong but the opposition brushed him aside like he wasn't there. Players in the Championship were bigger, faster and stronger than he was and he struggled to cope. It didn't get much better in league 1.

 

Gary Jones is a Dale legend. Games played and his role in some of our greatest sides will ensure that. There were numerous instances where he grabbed matches & his own team by the scruff of the neck and turned things around. At his best he was inspirational.

However he wasn't ever the greatest natural footballer and there were times when he looked limited against players with better awareness. The move to Bradford suited everyone at the time and it reinvigorated his career because he was pretty poor during his last season at Spotland... for a variety of reasons.

There hasn't been much clamour for his return thankfully because he just wouldn't fit into our side right now. Not a chance of getting anywhere near the starting XI and a player of his age and standing should at least be starting if he wants one more season. If he ends up at Bury, I'll laugh. A lot.