Match Thread Away V Walsall Tues 25th January @ 7.45

He played as a 10 for T & S last season, sometimes we would have 60% but create very few chances. Sorry to say he’ll be always one of those, a bit like Knott where people make excuses for him. He’s also becoming famous for doing a Nicky Law 180 turn when we’re on a counter. He’s got talent for this level, but let’s not kid ourselves that he isn’t replaceable and we need better if we have real ambition. That said there’s a good few players that need replacing first and that’s not a compliment to him.

 

Again, in a team that went on a good run but actually watching the pattern of the games, we very rarely attacked and manged to nick a lot of one goal wins. The stats showed that run/luck wasn't going to last. Again not playing to his strengths either.
However I do agree, if we aren't going to play to his strengths, what's the point in having him here.

 

Should a team play to a players strengths that aren’t to score goals when he’s an attacking player? I do agree about us having to nick wins, but he was part of that.

 

Yes good points. I didn't watch the game so am hesitant to comment, but, if we were pinned back and defending deep, that's a different ball game then when we're at home trying to force the action.

I think we are okay at defending deep, but when we have a high back line and teams hit us on the break we're very shaky.

But like I say I didn't see the game. Did we defend well in all facets, high line included?

 

Don't disagree. I was just giving him credit for at least showing consistency under the Sellars pairing. But, to be honest I've never been convinced. The excellent earlier description from @vin weasel, made me realise that I too am not certain what kind of midfield player he is.

 

I don't think I've ever trawled through a more negative collection of post-match comments after a victory in all of my time on any Bradford City forum.

For me, there's two ways of looking at it.

One perspective is that it uncomfortably resembles the beginning of the end of Bowyer's tenure. We were clinging on to the play-off positions by picking up points despite at times playing consistently appallingly, and most of us had the sense that a play-off position wasn't going to last whilst playing in this manner and we turned out to be right. There's an eery resemblance of that type of atmosphere right now amongst the fans, even those that were desperate to give Adams a chance. The transfer window is over in a few days and we're still playing bad with 4 new players in the squad, albeit picking up points whilst doing so.

Another perspective could be that despite the football generally not improving, we are actually picking up wins now, somehow. Could it be that since dropping ROD we have started saving one or two more goals per game that otherwise we might have conceded under his overall poor goalkeeping? Or are we becoming more resolute and playing to our strengths?

Or is it just a case of a mid-season fluke run that doesn't match what should be happening based on the performances (i.e, that random winning spell we had under Hopkin before the wheels fell back off).

Either way, one thing's for sure - the jury is still out. I'm happy we're picking up wins, and points, but if we don't back it up with a minimum of 4 points from these next 2 home games, it counts for little.

 

Hardly. 6pts against two teams at home below us is doobale anf we would be in reach of the play offs.

Its very possible. Staying there after is tougher.

 

Yesterday was flukey and way below par.To win we have to gain control of the game and at the moment we are totally unbalanced and unable to play our way out of trouble. Maybe a confidence thing but hope Adams can get the lads playing and playing to their strengths for the benefit of the team as a whole.

 

Exactly that. We were forced pretty deep but I think that was less because of a tactical decision, more because we used the ball pretty woefully. And I agree, it will be a different assignment for the back four playing at home against Crawley & Orient.

Defending a bit more aggressively and further up the field will hopefully become more comfortable knowing we have a keeper of Bass' quality. Bass seemed confident enough (sometimes overly eager) to get off his line and sweep things up which should help. It caused a problem against Walsall which we got away with but he's a young goalkeeper and most modern goalkeepers have that aspect to their game. It's clear though that there is still a weak link of the defence at right back.

 

I found that when I teleported from Spain to the USA it stopped doing it.

 

Just how many of the Star Trek concepts of the future have made it?

 

We got lucky as Miller missed a sitter somehow and that should have been buried. That was from a cross from our left. I don’t think we played well at all on Tuesday. We were chasing them all night in midfield and looked uncomfortable. That system must be addressed tomorrow.