Match Thread #3: Bradford City vs Bromley Saturday 24th August 2024 3:00pm

Yes, from some of the comments on here when these players signed, i was half expecting Norman Wisdom to be partnering Benny Hill at the back for us this season.
Its early days, but so far they have not looked too bad at all.

 

It was a dominant first half, foot off the gas second half but the win was never under threat. Baldwin showed why he's been signed, very comfortable on the ball and some great long range passing, I did criticise Kelly and Byrne against Salford for their poor long balls.
I suppose you've plenty of wiggle room with 8th - 14th, we can finish in the playoffs or finish near the bottom and you still wouldn't have been far off! Just don't see the logic behind predicting us to finish lower midtable when we finished 8th last year with everything that went wrong and in a much stronger division. The squads been together longer, GA has a full pre season and more of his own players. No logic in us finishing worse off than last season.

 

Even when Bromley had corners we brought all 11 of our players into our penalty box even though they had men outside the box, surely in a situation like that we could afford the luxury of Wright outside the area.

 

I liked the way Baldwin powered the header towards goal, which led to the penalty. I can not remember our defenders attacking a corner like that very much last season. The less said about Byrne's volley the second half the better, should have at least made the keeper save it.

 

I could not agree more Dave. Leave Wright outside the box and they then have to pull 2 out to mark him, cant leave him 1 on 1.With them a man down it also reduces them down to 7 outfield players to our 9 when we are defending corners- set pieces.

 

Baldwin was signed for his passing, like you say, and that might be particularly effective in games when we're on top.

We've all seen it at VP down the years, a lesser side (whether they're just crap or they're down to 10 men) will sit in, and sooner or later we resort to pumping aimless balls forward from the back and we'll just never break them down.

Having a CB that can actually distribute the ball to key areas and spot a pass could be massive in those games. All right we were well on top against Bromley even on the scoreline, but it's when it's 0-0 in the second half and the game starts to drag and we're banging our heads against a brick wall - that's when you need something different.

Hope it works out like that, could be a very shrewd signing.

 

It wasn't just Baldwins long passing. I like the way he moved the ball really quickly to Halliday. Previously we have been too ponderous with those easy balls and waited til the opposition were covering leaving little option other than to play it back to the CB. What we need now is more movement from the midfield and forwards to give Halliday options when he gets the ball

 

You say there's no logic in my opinion but then offer your own opinions and pass them off as logical thinking. On this forum it does feel at times that any realistic worry is challenged vociferously yet anything positive is generally lapped up and attempted to be passed as fact.

I sincerely hope you're correct in your prediction but there's certainly nothing of substance either at the club currently or in your reasoning to suggest that is the case.

Don't forget, this sort of debate goes around and around every season but despite constantly being called negative (it's lazy btw), my predictions of finishing towards the middle most years have proven to be more accurate than the predictions of those that have given me that tag.

 

6 years of misery in L2. We are 3 games into the season. Pipe down fella.

 

I did mention that in the post you're replying to Sergio.
I'm hoping its you that stays piped down because that'd probably mean we're winning

 

Late to the party here.

Impressed with the players on Saturday. Sarcevic was a bit anonymous apart from a couple of flicks in the second half.

We went quiet for about 20 minutes in the second half and it was all a bit weird. We could and should have been 4-0 up at half time.

That was the sort of game we'd usually draw or lose so good to get a nice comfortable win.

Cooky looked good again. Pattison ran around a lot. Kav not quite sure what he's meant to be doing but works hard.

Pleased for another Bobby goal.

A win vs Grimsby and things look good.

 

My worry preseason was that we’d lost Platt (and expected Stubbs to follow) but replaced with Baldwin and Byrne.

They've looked better than I expected to be fair.

didnt see MKD but gather we rode our luck a bit. Still, great result.

we were robbed vs Salford but looked solid at back. Werent great attacking wise until Pointon came on.

against Bromley the early red meant it was hard to fully judge, but we should have put four or five past them and looked in full control.

We have such a strong bench with Pointon, Walker, Sanderson not yet starting, Young hasn’t been involved, and the Wigan lad also to chuck in. I’m feeling optimistic, and i’m often ‘glass half empty’ RE City.

 

I've thought that about our bench for the last year or two, very good options that don't weaken us. Wasn't long ago we could only pick Theo or Lavery if we wanted o change things!

 

Can you think of many stronger benches in L2? MK Dons must have a good one? Maybe Port vale who have recruited a bit and relegated Carlisle? There can’t be many though with Pointon and Walker’s quality to call upon. Id have both in my starting XI tbh!

 

No mate, agree with you that those 3 will be the only ones close. The likes of Walker and Pointon start for most teams in this league, even Gilliead at least gets on the bench. You won't find a better 4th/5th choice league two striker than Smith. I know we rotated for the game but have a look at our bench away at Grimsby, some good headaches for GA

 

We all get some wrong - although in fairness I don't think one of them (can't remember which) was given much of a chance as they were never that bad, but feel to GA's 'wingless wonders' tactics.

I've got a few right in my time. 50/50 - which is about the level of a good scout. LOL!!

 

Both didn't make the grade under Hughes, it was nothing to do with GA and anyone with eyeballs could see that they weren't of a high enough standard at that time. Indeed, both have left the English league for now with Tulloch playing in Ireland after also not impressing at Shrewsbury and Afoka is still without a club after being released.

Also .... 50/50? I bet there's more than me that would debate that one seeing as you've bigged up just about every signing we've made since you joined the board!

 

Are you in a permanent mood?

Let's not be silly here. Virtually every player in the squad, had a poor first part of last season, due to Hughe's confusion on tactics. Other than Halliday and Gilly - I can't think of any others that enhanced their reputations. Even Platt looked dozy for half the games.

During the 2018 to 2021 years, rarely did I big many up. Happy for you to troll through my posts as I'm sure there'll be one that you feel I got wrong. It is lovely to have my very own stalker!!

And "bigging up" isn't the same as saying a player should be given a chance when they get here - as opposed to the 'he's crap' mantra. Both Wright (in his first spell) and Kavanagh both got some very indifferent responses on social media, when we first signed them.

Of course that wouldn't be you, because you always call them correct don't you??

And in fairness to Gent etc, other than the panic buys this time last year, because Hughes suddenly realised he needed wide men (and note I call him out), the recruitment during the last couple of years, could not be bettered much. This years singings all look at the very least, decent squad players - remember, just because they don't get a game doesn't mean they are rubbish!! But of course, I forget, every signing should work out or the scout is crap.

 

So Afoka and Tulloch were now "panic buys" and you'd called him out on it at the time? Yeah, ok captain flip flop.

Read your last paragraph again though and compare this sentence in it "the recruitment during the last couple of years, could not be bettered much" with your statement that you've got about 50% right on new signings.

I don't need to say any more, I've leave everyone else to ponder if they can name more good signings than bad since gent came in. I'd be absolutely certain that it's probably a no though.

 

Interesting to see the majority of people calling me out for tagging park in a post actually liking a post I'm tagged in and that even includes park himself. Yet not one person calling it out as "bullying" or the like.

Feels like there's a decent amount of hypocrisy from some of the forum mortality police.