Match Thread Bolton Wanderers (away) - Carabao (League) Cup

don't think we have a poor squad but we sure need additions. the performances of the 2 youngsters improves our confidence in the squad depth but we still need some pace up front and cover for injuries, loss of form etc

 

When i saw the starting XI yesterday i have to admit i was underwhelmed and couldn’t see any goals in it - on paper. The reality was that whether or not yesterdays starting XI was any weaker or stronger than last season, from what i saw the players looked more organised than the games i saw last season.

We know we need additions however good signs that we’re hopefully starting to assemble a squad that at least allow us to finally enjoy some Bradford City football.

 

Decent start still short of players in important positions
Not getting too carried away, see where we are in November when injuries/ suspensions hit
Let's hope this win is not just papering over the cracks
We still need new signings

 

I’m not quite sure people understand the significance of the salary cap and squad size. Gone are the days of ‘strong’ squads as it’s not possible

 

Exactly, it is more squads that cope best with their issues, and/or luck that you don’t get such issues

 

Good team effort yesterday.
Nice to be in the hat for the next round, it's been an age.
First real competitive game early,early days but yesterday's performance was miles better than the dross witnessed at Salford which seems a very long time ago.

 

Great result, even though our squad is lacking, I thought our team lineup looked capable of getting a result, Bolton aren’t as good as people make out but a great result all the same.

Added bonus I put a £5 on us and won £35.

 

V true. Those injury prone players will be even more of a risk. Which makes me think. How does pay as you play deals work?

 

It's not just the injury prone players that are a concern, with a much smaller squad you need everyone to be capable of playing a full 90 minutes if called upon. I'm not sure Donaldson will be able to offer that, he looked knackered after 5 minutes yesterday and whilst he may be useful for the odd 20 minute cameo at the end of a game here and there, if that's all he offers, we are essentially half a player down.

 

I notice that there are lots of people echoing Stuarts comments and are 'not getting carried away'. I don't suppose we can get an undertaking that there's a similarly measured reaction following our first defeat of the season when it comes.

 

I'm feeling fine but as I said over the last two days that I thought Bradford would win 3-1.

Yesterday's result meant nothing barring giving us confidence. I can't take the results of league cup seriously.

 

Sounds as though he is planning on wholesale changes for the Doncaster match.I would much rather he stuck with a winning team,rather than worry about the opposition.

 

Listening to McCalls post match interview he says both he and Kenny Black prefer a smaller squad, and to me it sounded like he has a couple of players lined up from higher league teams but not sure he'll bring many more in.

 

Disagree at this stage, the fitness and development of the players is more important. With a heavy schedule guaranteed each member of the squad is going to get game time and this is a perfect opportunity to get proper game time under the belt. The short turn around at this time of the season is not worth risking players who are not yet fully upto speed and this is the trophy that has the least importance to the club.

 

Given the fractured and unusual nature of pre-season, I think he HAS to make changes, freshen things up and not overload players at the start of the season. The EFL cup is a nonsense. I’d actually quite like to see the likes of Scales come in, lets see what might be able to offer.

 

Your right with small squads it’s important to have everybody up to speed

 

Bit short this week, can you lend me a fiver?

 

Looking at posts from page 1 to now is certainly entertaining. Ok it was a cup game that cant be judged, ok it was only an away game in an empty stadium, ok it was only an unorganised Bolton la la la.

So if no credit can be given how about our weakened, inexperinced, young team in part played with confiction and to the best of their ability in anorganised display.

Lets be positive. If not what benchmark are we using for comparison? Last season, season before. Lets hear it.