Match Thread Stockport County vs Bradford City Tuesday 10th December 2024

The first game of ours in ages that I've really enjoyed. It was cracking entertainment proven by the fact my young 'un actually watched most of it on TV! Hopefully he sticks with this system for a bit. Two in the middle of the park provides more balance and we can all agree that we don't need to partner Cook with anyone - let a combination of Bobby, Kav, Walker etc. play in those wide positions as chief support. The likes of Sanderson, Oliver and Smith just don't offer anything so no point trying to shoehorn a second striker in when they aren't up to it.

 

I hope after last night that GA gives serious consideration to the thought that, when everyone is fit, we just might be a better side without Smallwood.

 

Walker has 3 games to show he can be a difference maker otherwise i think he is the one out for Pattison come new years. Evans did very well I thought. Wasn't expecting him to play 90, the last time Evans managed a full 90 minutes was Boxing Day 2022! And even more to that, he'd only finished 5 games in 3 months before his big injury. His fitness was a concern at Sunderland, add on top of that practically 18 months away from first team football and it's a completely mystery still what player is in there.

It's a weird thing with our recruitment, that we have Pattison, Smallwood, Evans, Sarcevic and Walker currently who could be deployed in a CM partnership and all 5 are very different players. Pattison is a box to box type who would be comfy as a 10, Walker is a 10 asked to play deeper, Smallwood is our only defensive minded midfielder, Evans is still finding his feet but looks like he wanted to tick play along more than break it up, and Sarce is still pretty much an unknown. I'd say whichever 2 you pick, the team around will have to adapt very differently. It's not like our remit was that we want 2 ball winners and 2 play makers, we have a 5 man jumble which cant be good for fluidity. Especially as all but Smallwood have fitness question marks over their careers.

 

The good thing about Pattison's performance last night was that it may see an improvement in Walker's performances going forward. After watching that he'll realise there's now a genuine competition to compete for.

 

Fans are so fickle (I include myself)! From not being bothered after the Barrow game I'm now looking forward to Saturday after the last two performances.
Should I be optimistic?

 

Well with the recent run I complete forgot this was on and it just turned up in my youtube feed! Got to say well done Callum K - been a big critic but an excellent finish for the winner and in the right place for the opener. Please, please, please take some of that to the league matches. Hopefully a boost to confidence.

 

Just go with an open mind.
We really could turn out a performance from Turgid to terrific
Its a Bradford city thing.

 

Yes they were both excellent , you would think they hadn’t been absent long term whatsoever.
No one has mentioned the back three which is pretty unusual, let’s face it both their goals were errors on our right from Doyle and Halliday/ Doyle , the central three didn’t give them much of a sniff all night from memory . Didnt Shepherd get booked again though?

As long as Pattison and Evans are fit and no ill effects , I can see Walker and Smallwood being on the bench Saturday. I certainly would if I were in GA’s shoes.. It’s harder to make the tough decisions rather than the lazy calls of keeping faith with familiar faces.

 

I think Pattison will be starting the ban for his red card

 

All that will happen is that Walker will try too hard and either get sent off or injured.

 

Maybe it’s time to suggest that the on field problems in the last 6 seasons have been more about the managers and players rather than the owner.
We have a group of players that are expensive, experienced and talented when used correctly.

if the manager isn’t talented enough to pick formations that work with the players he has then get rid of him and bring someone else in that can.
Alexander has proved in some games that these players CAN perform, he just needs to make them tick more consistently.

 

Yep, it's definitely manager, after manager, style after style rather than the one or two constants at the club.

 

Yep, I do remember when Gilliead took the armband for one game (smallwod on paternity?). We were a different, high pressing, high energy side. I think Gilly got MOTM

 

Jamie always tries hard. He was excellent at Crewe.

 

Inconsistency is his problem loz?

 

In previous seasons no but I thought he had a very disappointing November. Possibly wary at getting yellow number 5.

 

Absolute baloney

Just my opinion of course

 

Corry Evans > Richie Smallwood

 

All about opinions, no hard feelings.
I’ll just wait for the day that Rupp sells and any new owner makes no difference or even worse as I honestly don’t expect this mythical new owner we crave will be a Saudi prince or Hollywood superstar. It’ll be some wannabe football club owner without a pot to piss in.
I do however think it’s time Sparks was moved on and the CEO role given exclusively to Sharpe.