Shrewsbury Home 29th January

Not going to lie I walked out when the penalty went in, it was tpyical City.

Without David Ball we'd be in a pretty foooooked up position. How didn't he get MOTM by the way?! He was class last night.

Desperate to get some bodies in, Akpan is dog shite.

New Woods, looks class though.

 

You've clearly been watching the whole season with a blindfold on then.

 

I love Caddis reaction for the last goal...... what a guy

 

Soft pen dude. He was going the opposite way from the player and caught is trailing leg... and he as been our best player since he arrived so I will cut him some slack. OH YES SIGN HIM UP NOW.

 

Akpan is dog shite? Really?

 

Tough to sum up how important that goal could be. Hopkin is right to call it a potential turning point. Its hard to see how the team could've picked themselves up again after surrendering a 3-1 lead like that, but that goal should give them a huge boost. A complete change in mentality.

I know we've conceded three but I actually thought the back four did pretty well. Woods looks like exactly what we need at left back. A mix up in communication between O'Brien & Wood allowed an easy pass round the back for the first, not much the defence could have done about the free kick apart from giving away needless fouls and a tired error from Caddis for the penalty. All stuff that can be worked on.

Thought Doyle worked hard considering the pelters he gets (from around me anyway). The run he made for the first goal doesn't show the makings of a lazy player, without that run the Shrews defender can go and close Payne down. He just needs to take more chances.

Huge goal from Ball, huge win. But still a huge 48hrs to get players in before the window closes.

 

pena and the free kick did us really. Without them it would have been a lot easier. What is good is that we are confidently shooting now. Payne is class. He reminds me of a "not as good" Maradona... but not bad

 

https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/league-one/11621913/bradford-4-3-shrewsbury

Great play from the throw in for Balls goal.

 

Have you watched the free kick back?? There is no way he's saving that, infact I doubt many decent keepers would save that. You have to admit sometimes that it's an unbelievable goal. As for the 3rd, sh*t happens. He's booted it 35 yards it's then up to our midfield/defence to sort it out.
I think you're looking for an excuse and O'Donnell seems to be it. He's saved us countless times this season, pretty sure with some of our shambolic defending that if it wasn't for him we'd be rock bottom.

 

Overall we can compete but sometimes we need to change the formation or personnel. As the season gets stressful and more pressurised (business end) Our bench will be crucial.

 

I thought NKP was back to his usual unreliable self last night. When he's good and on form, he's quick, in position, and first to the ball whether it be in the air, or played to the feet of their forward.
When he's not, he seems to react slowly, doesn't read the game, headers are missed or seem to come off his head straight up, and his way of dealing with a ball passed back to him in our half of the pitch, is to just lump it up the park.
Not saying he did ALL of this last night, but there were definitely occasions when he just hoofed the ball up the field, creating groans from the crowd. I think he failed to react for their first goal also.
As I said, when he's on it - he's decent. Just need to find that consistency - probably throughout the whole team really. Akpan a classic example. Two very decent games now, which almost chalk out the shockers or coastings of games earlier in the season.

Doyle however. I don't know what to say. I don't see (with the current players we have) what he brings to the team. Yes he scored last night - and it was nice to see him on the spot - but he also missed a few sitters, and was slow to create a one on one chance. He also missed a very good chance from a header, which I thought was meant to be his forte and the reason he's not scoring goals?`He doesn't track back like ball does, and he also doesn't make forward runs. There was one example just a minute or two before half time. We counter attacked down the left hand side, Wood had the ball and no support at all, so kept on running. Doyle was just sauntering alongside. In the end Wood lost the ball. If there would have been a forward run by Doyle into the space created, he'd have been away. I used to like his hold up play, and thought it was a large part of his unseen game, but in recent matches, he doesn't even seem to win balls played up to him. Very disappointing.

Not all doom and gloom! I thought OB, Akpan, Payne, Caddis and Ball were all excellent. Wood and Woods held it together, and even Chicksen put some decent crosses when he came on.

A few more bodies in before tmrw, hopefully a striker to give Doyle a push up the arse, and I think we should be able to build on this win and climb out of the drop zone.

 

Last night he didn't even reach those abysmal standards. He needs moving on in the summer and someone that actually wants to play bringing in.

 

I thought he played well last night. Didnt get to Burton but played like a man possessed apparently. Just hoping hes beginning to turn a corner now and finally getting fit under McElone. Hes playing with a bit now of intent although admittedly weve not seen the best him this season. I certainly wouldnt be ready to get rid just yet, not when weve got grade A dogsh!te on our books we need to jettison first

 

what a finish that was! David Ball is wonderful.

we got lucky though, should never have let them back into the game from 3-1.

 

May I politely suggest that it appears that you are talking bollocks, judging about other people’s comments on his performance. The frustration with him is that he hasn’t performed all season like he has the last few games and we want consistency. Consistency is what makes an average player a good one, especially in the position he plays. If a holding player plays bad you are in trouble as a team. I’m always mystified about how people can judge a performance chalk and cheese unless they go to a match with stubborn pre conceptions.

 

And you with Blinkers yes??

 

What excuse am i looking for? Im just commenting on what i see. If the ball went through the wall into the other side you would say the wall didnt do its job??
Thats his side to guard, he was 2 yards off his line and stepped to the right before realising it was going his way.

 

Close to been man of the match last night. Only beaten by Ball and O Brien imo

 

The balls gone over the wall with pace to the far postage stamp of the goal, no way is he saving that. He takes a slight movement to the right as he thinks he's going to bend it into the near post. The free kick is quality, I don't many keepers saving it.