The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Barrow Saturday 11th November 2023 3:00pm

We need to keep the faith . Graham Alexander I feel will sort it out it seems he likes to play two up front . So disappointing to go behind after 20 seconds. We looked threatening in the second half the injuries didnt help. Good turnout again marching on together. Oops sorry Dave

 

To be fair ridehalgh took a very naughty elbow to the face, which all the officials missed

 

For me the missing ingredient is TEMPO, while we saunter around the pitch like it's a sunday afternoon stroll all the opposing sides are running around snapping at our heels usually 2 or 3 players on any of our lads that might have the ball, and they keep this up for the whole 90 minutes....get them fit and get them moving ....

 

A cracking interview, very honest in his comments with regards they rode their luck at times but he also had us worked out, he mentioned Cook any balls into the box that were far few got dealt with by Canavan and Ray with ease.
Reading a few posts on here pre Alexanders appointment I expected route one, but they played some very good stuff at times again giving the man with the ball options where we at times didn't have that option so once again reverted back to playing it square or backwards getting the crowd frustrated, Wild got his set up right even accepting as he says they rode their luck at times I thought we were worth a point but on the day not all three.

 

MacDonald had it for his first few games then the novelty wore and we reverted back to being shite. We need it but it only covers the cracks of this poorly assembled squad.

 

That's why although I never want to see us lose, I think yesterday's result will be good for us in the long term. Had we got a last gasp equaliser or somehow managed to win it, it would indeed have papered over the cracks yet again. We don't want GA to be lulled into a false sense of security, we want him to see the reality of the situation, warts and all so that he is left in no doubt of the task ahead of him. Good luck GA, you're going to need it.

 

Should have given him some serious thought re taking over at VP not that I am unhappy with GA a good example of a young up,and coming manager
Your last sentence says it all for me "we were worth a point"
At home to BARROW !!!!!! Crikey

 

It was mentioned a couple of times but was met with the usual comment "the jobs too big for him, and he plays route one football" nothing wrong with mixing going direct with a passing game, in his interview he got it bang on with regards work ethic, something I hope Alexander gets into our squad you can be outstanding as an individual but it means nothing if the lesser players around you dont make themselves available, we looked to have improved second half, but as I posted IMO the first 20 minutes or so it could have been Hughes in the dugout very little looked to have changed, and the crowd were starting to get frustrated at what they were seeing.
I can only call it as I saw it and yes we were worth a point but not all three even though it was Barrow.

 

I can only assume he's a bit rubbish

 

If Gent found him,it’s a given.

 

He'd have to be more than just a bit rubbish if the view is thst Taylor is a more preferable option!!!!

 

Barrow were very impressive in both how they were snapping at us all over the pitch, and how they were so confident in bringing the ball out of defence, not with the boring sideways gash we mainly saw under Hughes, but quick close passing getting them out of tight situations at times.

Barrow impressed me throughout yesterday. Maybe I've not given Pete Wild the credit he obviously deserves whenever is name as cropped up when fans have mentioned him as a potential manager in the past.

 

Agree but to do the above players have got to have confidence others are doing their job and sorry to repeat once again we had little movement off the ball early in the game thankfully we improved but still a long way to go, at times they had 3/4 players bursting a gut to get into the box, hopefully Alexander will generate more confidence in this squad and we start to see players making runs for the player with the ball.

 

I thought the same.
The 4 across their midfield were all small but snapped at our heels all game and were very comfortable at bringing the ball forward.
We massively helped their back four however by launching lots of balls that Canavan and his partner just easily headed away.

 

That just about sums yesterdays game up little more to add.

 

Can't help but compare how Tomkinson has [not] got on at City versus his Norwich club mate Brad Hills another centre half who's on loan at Accy Stanley and playing week in week out. I've seen quite a bit of him this season and the lad is an absolute player despite being two years younger than City's loanee. He's far better than anyone I've seen in his position play for City this season. He's strong, quick and decent on the ball with a good range of passing ability. How come a club like Accrington Stanley can find these players, but most of City's loanees rarely seem to work, particularly this season? I'm afraid it only further highlights City's failures on the football side of the business to me and Gent in particular.

 

Agree Broncs, but thing is as well, even if we did make runs most of our players are too slow of thought to make the right pass. There were were a couple of times in the last 10 minutes when Wilson was in acres of space and calling for the ball just in front of us. Stubbs had the ball on the same side of the pitch but didn't even look to his left because he already had it in his head he was going to play a log hopeful diagonal to the other wing

 

Its the sort of player we haven't had for a few years, since Lewis O'Brien. Pattison is similar but suits a more advanced role.

 

Had we won yesterday the crowd would have been hailing our march to the title ......... yesterday was a huge reality check in how far we really are off
Sad isnt it we aint halfway through November and already it looks like another wasted season

 

Don't want to take away from what was a very good away performance from Barrow. Pete Wild has them punching well above their weight and that was a decent away following. Shows what can be achieved with the right people in charge.