The Voice - Match preview #33: Bromley vs Bradford City Tuesday 25th February 2025 7:45pm

Romy will be rested for sure , for me Shrpherd back , so Hunts + Baldwin for the back three.

 

Its another sode that has to come out for the win which plays into our hands would take a point bute get a win my word it sets up for Saturday

 

I’d take a point if push comes to shove . They are still “ land of the giants” are they not…?. That’s why I’m saying rest Romy to be honest Gaz . If we can keep it on the deck we should play around them hopefully .

Just watched their highlights…. Snow on ball crosses to the big centre forward , either knock downs or headed goals. He’s a big powerful lad!

 

Agree, partially my thinking in resting Romy for Huntingdon.

 

Yes I would go with that too. Really like Rom who I think has done well since returning, but this is the sort of game where he could get bullied.
If we can be solid and stand up to the inevitable aerial bombardment we should hopefully have enough quality to get over the line in this one.

 

If you watch their highlights from yesterday Harrogate waltzed through their midfield several times .

 

If we deal with the direct threat these pose then we have enough threat going forward to win this and win it well.

 

Different type of test tomorrow. No team has less of the ball than Bromley, they average 39% possesion so far this season which is the lowest not just in L2, but the EFL. Nobody passes the ball less than Bromley either, they average 272 passes per game which again is the fewest in the EFL. Smallwood averages the most passes per game in a City shirt this season at 50, the rest of our back line are next average passes around the 37/38 per game.... Bromleys Grant Smith averages their most passes per match at 32.9, Grant Smith is their goalkeeper. Their outfielder with the most passes is their DM Ashley Charles who averages just 26 passes per game.

They get their shots away still, in fact they have a slightly better average of shots per game than we do. It's not going to be a pretty game, but they don't want the ball and when they have it, it's going direct. Big, physical team who love a set piece. They have 22 goals from set pieces this season (including pens), which is the most in L2 and joint 2nd in the EFL. Our lads are going to have to be alert and be ready for the battle.

 

I hope Huntington is fit enough to do 90 minutes as I think we will need him for this match.

Back 3 tomorrow of Baldwin - Huntington - Shepherd and I think we will come away with at least a point.

 

Crying out for Huntington then?

 

I'd say so. Baldwin - Huntington - Shepherd would be my back 3.

 

Are they big units up front then?
I only know Cheek.

 

Hang on.............we're playing Bromley not Benfica ...!!

 

Cheek plays on his own, 2 wingers and a 10 supporting him for the knock downs. They have McKirdy now if anyone remembers him from his Swindon days, a player who doesn't need a second invite to go down easy and try win a free kick.

 

He was subbed off after 55 on Saturday so may be a fitness issue.

One of those players who has a bit of talent but prefers to put all his efforts in to the shitty dark arts side of the game

I remember him completely winding up the whole of the Midland road stand when he played for Swindon.

 

Watch their last two or three highlights on Y/T … They target Cheeks head from set piece or boring long throws and rely on that for knockdowns.

Otherwise not much else from what I can see. Midfield looked pretty sparse, so the limited number of passes throughout the team is easily explained…. One skybourne pass in the air and the ball has covered 50 yards?

Nullify Cheek and his supply ………!

 

And scored!

 

27 years old now and still being called a 'kid' by managers.

Interesting signing for a direct side - could work, probably won't.

 

He had a heart issue didn't he at Hibs and had to have cardiac surgery about 18 months back? He might well be one that needs his minutes managed for the rest of his career. I think he's moved back towards his family routes, so its a move that makes sense personally but having him in a hoof ball team seems odd on paper.