The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Walsall Saturday 3 September @ 3:00pm

Goodnight Mr Drysdale..

 

why because we get peed off week after week that a sub standard ref is turning up to spoil yet another game


So please tell me how in the first half did the ref not say a single word to the Walsall players during there blatant time wasting during the first half yet magically was all over us during the 2nd half is that not right ............. or the reality is that he was nothing but an attention Twit who probably craves booos to make himself look good .........

 

Sutton has been bypassed technically by the squad. Running around like a semi headless chicken and running one’s socks off don’t make a footballer . His limitations , of which there are a lot , are there to be seen. Let’s not get carried away he’s improved……he hasn’t. In fact the complete opposite. No on has or is questioning his commitment by the way, me included, but technically..meh!

 

Unbelievably we agree on something. I really like Sutton but he does seem to have gone backwards a bit. But I still think he will have a part to play, and if he can regain his form he will make a big difference

 

I think Sutton shone in a squad full of players who lacked basic skill and desire. He ran harder and showed effort. Unfortunately if that's regaining form, then we need a little bit more. The only position that suits his skill set would be right back, but he's 3rd choice there. I like him because he tries but in my opinion he's fortunate with the injuries we have because I couldn't see him making the bench otherwise.

 

He will still make the bench not because of injuries but because we only have a few central midfielders and he is the only one of them that makes the runs and makes us play further up the pitch. I'll await the response from the usual suspects.

 

It was obvious last season that Sutton has certain attributes, namely his energy levels and his pace. Will come on and do a job if required but isn't the guy you want in a two man midfield. Lacks positional awareness at times due to his assets of non stop running which can leave his midfield partner exposed.

 

You won’t get a bite from me

 

I agree, if he was more disciplined however I think he could be a useful defensive midfielder used to use his energy to break up play. But you can’t do that in no man’s land. For me unfortunately since his Covid he’s not as effective as he once was, I think it’d be wise for him to alter his game and try focus on one position or he’ll be another Jack of all trades master of non type player.

 

But the reason he is in the team is to make those runs forwards. If Hughes wanted to play safe and have his 2 CMs sat in front of the defence he would play Songo'o. However, it was noticeable on Saturday that if Smallwood made a foray forward Sutton dropped back.

 

Very very fair point.

 

I do agree with you that he hasn't been the same player since his illness, but I think the reason Hughes plays him is to do exactly what he does now, although it will more often be from the bench than as a starter

 

To be fair i thought Levi was one of the only ones to play well first half. And if played in a certain position, namely right back with an emphasis to get forward, i think he'd be an asset to a team looking for that sort of player. However, if you are looking to get promoted then you need better in central midfield, he just doesn't excel there.

 

I actually agree that I don't think he will be a regular starter, but think Hughes will always have him on the bench because he gives us something the other CMs don't, and also has the versatility to play, for example RB ( although I don't think he's a great defender in that position!)

 

He suffers from being a bit of a free spirit in a game where positional discipline is very important. With Wright here and Walker when he's back, we have those players that can make those runs. I think Hughes originally envisaged starting the season with Angol because he makes those runs in to space as well. On Saturday we suffered to an extent because no of the four in attacking positions naturally makes those runs behind. Its why Sutton stood out because he's the only one that did.

 

The problem is, and I get your point , with the right back position is that he needs to “grow into the position” over time . The conundrum is he will never get that opportunity when there are two fully established right backs in front of him. Looking at Cook’s goal on Saturday. Whilst Halliday is putting in , never give up , crosses in like that, Sutton has zero chance of replacing him .
He couldn’t do it in a reserve set up because we don’t have one…..On that basis he will never get game time to grow into the right back slot RT?

 

I'm not actually sure he is a good enough defender to be RB! He does what he does. Sometimes the team will need that, sometimes not

 

Great point. I've never been a fan of utility players because by that their very nature they ain't good enough to hold down a slot in a regular position. They serve a role based on others being out either injured or suspended. Notice know we have a right back who is a right back. None of this ludicrous stuff we were seeing on here last season with people asking for Foulds to play right back because he'd filled in for half a game or so. Same with our centre backs, we now have three proper ones. Whenever i read 'midfielder but can also play left back' i think we need to look elsewhere. Similar reason as to why we've let FCD and Staunton go, no one really knew what position they excelled in.

 

I could see him being a right wing back in a 532 formation. He has the pace to get up and down and with Odesina, Critchlow and Platt we have three CBs who could play that system.
I'd like to see it given a try as a way to get more width and two strikers up top. But otherwise I agree that Sutton is likely to be used more off the bench than starting.

 

We really are spoilt for choice at RB, we have Sutton for his energy, happy with Halliday for his work rate and crossing then we have Hendrie for his height defending corners..