The Voice - Match preview #6: Walsall vs Bradford City Saturday 14th September 2024 3:00pm

With regards their players reactions on the final whistle that was far from appreciation I saw it with my own eyes they were openly goading the traveling away support and it could have caused a bad situation, I agree no need for the smoke bomb but it's not a party without pyrotechnics I'm told.

 

He's obviously been talking to Park

 

I need to see the reply but though it was a soft call, Walsall were at it with every challenge which was IMO strange as they looked a very competent side with the ball causing us lots of trouble first half.
I said previously we haven't played well so far this season but I thought that second half display was the best so far, we should have got something from the game.

 

Correct, it was borderline inciting a riot and they should be investigated by the EFL.
I can’t recall any time where our players have baited the away fans like that after the game.
I counted at least 10 bottles were thrown at the keeper along with a whole tray of chips. Lol

 

I’m struggling to see the hype behind Bobby Pointon to be honest. I get why the fans what him to do well but he’s nothing particularly special in my opinion. His game time is hindered for whatever reason but he averages a goal and assist around every 400-500 minutes he plays. That’s not enough output from an attacking player. Hes still only 20 so of course has time on his side but even as an impact player from the bench he doesn’t do enough. Walsall bring on Johnson and Adomah and within 10 minutes have combined to score a goal. Oliver and Pointon in the same time frame did sod all.

 

There's banter and there's what we saw at the end of yesterday's game, as fans we give it and when the opposition score you expect them to react especially in front of 17,000 at Valley Parade but that yesterday was uncalled for they'd won the game but wanted to prove a point with their antics sad f***s for professional sportsmen.
I thought the stewards and police handled the situation pretty well because feelings were certainly running high both inside and out in the coach park after the game.
As I said it's been a while since I've witnessed those type of antics and it really was uncalled for we'd lost the game to a smash and grab with 2 minutes plus extra time we felt gutted then we had to put up with that ( not for a few seconds) but minutes on the final whistle.
Although it looked comical at the time Cook throwing the keepers bottle of water into the City fans his booking was a no brainer although I'm not sure the ref actually saw it or was it communicated to him by his lino.

 

That's a decent review of proceedings Bronco but for me it's the officials that take the limelight once again not the football.
Week in week out I witness very poor officials in league two who simply apply the rules of the game to the extent I don't know any more what any simple law constitutes such is the ridiculous self interpretation by the referee's up and down the country.
In my opinion only once this season have I seen a referee apply the rules without been the centre of attention and that was the premier league ref against Salford.
I pay money to watch a game of football but sadly the stop start, whistle blowing card happy individuals are spoiling any chance of that.

 

Watch the YouTube highlights.
Their player doesn't even get his foot to the ball.
Smallwood slides in and his left foot sends the ball towards Walker.
Compare that to Cook getting dragged back before trying to shoot against Carlisle last week.
Also yesterday Jamil Matt diving across his man in the corner, not even touched and the lino was flapping his flag like a happy child at a party!!!
Matt winks and sticks his tongue out to the away end FFS.
Halliday then gets steamed into from behind in front of the same lino 2nd half, nothing given!!!
It's not sour grapes, it's small details which add up over the season.
We are constantly getting inept officials in charge of our matches that are costing us points.
Have we had a soft penalty given to us? No.
Have we scored legitimate goals that the officials haven't seen? Yes.
Have we been punished for doing exactly the same as what another team weren't punished for in the same match? Yes. Example being at Grimsby, Vernam stood in front of our free kick and when Smallwood tried to take it quickly it hits Vernam and ref waved play on and we didn't have the ball.
2nd half we do exactly the same thing and get a yellow card FFS!!
We need to play better at times yes but when you are constantly been hampered by bad officials it's gonna affect your game and attitude.

 

It’s not just a league 2 problem either. I’m not sure if anyone saw Bournemouth Chelsea last night but there was a premier league record for yellow cards given out. I watched it and some of them given, especially to Chelsea players was a a complete joke. Port Vale yesterday got 6 yellow cards against Chesterfield. My mate who was there said the ref didn’t have a clue what the rules of the game were. The standard of officiating has never been great at our level but it just appears to be crap everywhere from what I can see.

 

Cook needs fining by the club for doing that.
Limits his physical impact on a match by getting himself booked for something so stupid.

 

I’m no happy clapper in fact the people I go to City with find it hilarious that I’m described as that,but our defence did fine when all fit including the much derided by yourself Baldwin. Stubbs was incredibly slow last season, whether it’s fitness as he admits he couldn’t train properly but he was certainly no Bobby Moore. Our worst defender is the on loan Shepherd by some distance.

 

Wow your a hard man to please, Pointon was starting games at the latter end of last season during that good finish to the season, Alexander obviously thinks he's brought players in who can contribute more and is starting them ahead of Pointon, the kid did well in his 30 minutes camio against Carlisle not sure what he could do in the 6 minutes he got yesterday.

 

Yes you make a valid point it's rife through out the football pyramid but those who are sitting at the top table fail to put their house in order and allow these so called referees to play out a one man show every weekend much to the paying customers disgust how will they ever be held accountable?
I can only base my thoughts on real time viewing of Bradford City game's and unfortunately poor officiating is killing the game as a watchable spectacle.
I'm spending most of the game moaning about the referee than our performance good or bad.

 

Not sure about a fine but even though at the time it looked funny with the fans reacting with (where's your water gone) I believe before Cooks booking ? it might have been a reaction from the antics from there 19 year old keeper claiming the ball rolling around to face the City fans and then winking/sticking his tongue out to them, that was banter unlike what we witnessed at the end of the game, but your correct given a yellow Cook then had to watch himself for the last 20 minutes or so of the game.

 

A small criticism could be he didn't get anywhere near the guy who crossed it for the winner.
Although you could aim that at Wright also.

 

I hate to say it because I hate to see it, but we need to start employing some of the dark arts used against us at times. If we are under the cosh, feign an injury to disrupt the opposition and give us time to regroup. That spell in the second half where we were putting them under so much pressure and had corner after corner came to an end because their keeper went down doing exactly that. He even winked and grinned at one of his team mates as soon as he was sat on the ground. It's all well and good complaining about the standard of officiating at this level but it isn't going to change anytime soon so if you can't beat them, join them, and do whatever it takes to get out of this tinpot league.

 

Like I said look at his stats.. He’s played over 2000 minutes of football and has contributed 4 assists. I’m not writing him off I'm just not seeing why everyone else thinks bringing him on or starting him means he will contribute effectively. He rarely does. The manager played him last season due to pressure from the fans and nothing more. He got 6 minutes yesterday because Alexander clearly doesn’t see what the rest of you hope to see.

 

I think someone is going to get a fine for speaking out but he's right.

 

It wasn't pressure from the fans, it was Gilly getting injured that forced his hand.