January 2023 - Transfer Talk - Stick or Twist

He looked really poor against Rochdale. I had hoped with more game time he would have pushed on,but it does not seem to have happened.

 

It’s not the kid from Huddersfield
https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2023/january/bantams-secure-bola-loan/

 

At last someone else who realises that Foulds, for a promotion chasing team, isn't good enough.

Notice, he played well when he had the hard working Wright in front of him. Significant to see that in the last few matches he's gone back to the nervous performances of last season.

Halliday is what a decent full back looks like, if you're an ambitious L2 team.

 

Another loanee to join the other batch of loanees,and people wonder why Bradford City can’t build a team. A scattergun approach to building a team. Next summer another batch of about 15 signings to replace the clear out at the end of the season.

 

We were fooled. Without Wright in front of him, I'm afraid he's not that good. Shame really, as there's nothing like one of our coming through. But if he was that good, he's have made more progress at aged 24

 

It's the same with virtually every L2 club. We'll have a higher pool of permanents this season than last.

 

We'll whoever AK-47 is on twitter he was spot on.

 

Slightly surprised at the arrival of a new left back, it suggests that either Ridehalgh is further away than fitness than initially thought or he's on his way out.

I'm not going to write Foulds off just yet, I think he has recently suffered a dip in form compared to the level was playing at earlier in the season but he is not very experienced in men's football (even though he is nearly 25) and this season is already the longest run he's ever had in terms of consecutive games so it's not too surprising that he has not been able to match the constency that we have seen from Halliday at RB.

It'll be interesting to see who starts at LB on Saturday as to whether the new lad is expected to walk straight in to the team or is here to provide a bit of extra competition and galvanise a response from Foulds but it's clear that we do need an improvement on recent performances in that area of the team.

 

Halliday is very good going forward, but he isn't a great defender. Call me old fashioned but I like my fullbacks to be good defenders first, then anything else is a bonus

 

Good luck to the lad. 17 games at first team level at the age of 24 doesn't give us much to go on but let's see what he's got.

 

So still a couple of weeks of the window left and probably only 1 significant addition needed. Unheard of at VP. We definitely need that midfield general to get it sorted. No USG, not you.

 

Agree slightly but in comparison Foulds is second best. The daft free kicks he gave away allowing them set pieces was criminal. Hughes has probably recognised that?

 

I'll be amazed if Bola doesn't start.

I'll give Foulds a bit more benefit of my doubt. However, he's a victim of us been apart of a lightweight side at times. A more robust LB/LWB is needed.

Incidentally, Hughes has pointed out he can play LWB. Unfortunately, for our full backs if the diamond is to work, then the full backs have to take a naturally more forward position.

 

I don't think he'll bother about midfield. I admit to been probably the only person who thinks we don't need improvement. What we need is tougher in both mind and spirit players at the tip of the diamond and at LB

And with Walker (eventually!!) back plus the new B - we've got that. Any two central midfielders would look exposed with some of the lightweights they have near to them.

 

I think Halliday is good all round, but has been exposed all season to the counter-attack.

When Banks is in front of him, the youngster just isn't streetwise enough to position himself well and give the same protective foil Wright did to Foulds.

The diamond always exposes the full backs - so you need to accept that they'll be beaten more often, but they need to be good at going forward.

 

In the diamond formation full backs have the hardest job in the team there is a lot of space to cover

 

Foulds to me has always looked like what he is, a centre half playing left back.

Steady away but never going to be the kind of dynamic forward thinking full back that can help you change games.

 

I’m sure he’s given away a few “clumsy” penalties - Swindon & Rochdale spring to mind at least

 

That's a very harsh perspective. Neither were penalties for me and especially not the Swindon one which was an horrendous call for which the referee even apologised.

 

We've 14 players who will be hear next season. Three have even longer deals. All but around two, are arguably first team quality.

7 loans is not ridiculous.

Most L2 clubs take advantage of the system where they can. We and I think it can only be down to Hughes seem to attract potentially good loanees and so quite rightly take advantage.