The Voice - Match preview Tranmere Rovers vs Bradford City Tuesday 13 September @ 7:45pm

We shall see, depends on the opponents perhaps. Smaller lone man up fron I would not expect Songo’o due to lack of pace.

 

Yes Young appears to be ineffective against a full back who is prepared to bully him. Last night was a classic example.

 

You might be right, and he is young after all, but with Wright on the bench we have the perfect replacement to exploit that kind of physical defending. The more orthodox/direct wing play by Wright looked to cause them issues down their right flank. A nice balance of options available on that side of the park.

 

I'd look at playing Wright from the start against Stevenage. They play a very large back 3 or back 5 and are well marshalled with Piergianni and Sweeney (who perhaps surprisingly moved from Forest Green). Pace will be key. They've not been behind much this season so an early goal would be good.

 

Just watched last nights highlights to be certain, after everyone’s comments about Crichlow.

Their goal was entirely of his making. Instead of putting a ball coming down the sideline into row Z he half hit if back up the wing after being bundled by their centre forward , leaving him on his knees and totally stranded once he had got up. One cross field ball as a result and it was in the back of the net.

Pretty strange thing to do as he has been hoofing it into touch ALL the first half in similar circumstances.

Down to him that one. I urge one to watch it on YouTube

 

Have to agree. Critchlow is not the finished article and Platt was far more commanding when challenged and going to meet the ball.To me, although he looks good and has time to play an eloquent pass when in space,Romoney is like an octopus in a close man on man situation. He certainly enjoys an odd push and throwing his body into the mix, but he seems weak when he needs to contest a high ball. He is certainly not a towering figure as a CH. I hope that Odusina now gets his chance personally. Thought Foulds looked competent last night. But another well earned 3 points and this team are beginning to gel and we have now got a squad that are adaptable but more importantly, can push on for 90 minutes!

 

Should have had a penalty though with one burst into the box just before they scored

 

I couldn’t see from the camera angle tbh

 

Yes, I thought so too. Evens up the possible handball in the last second of the game.

 

He overran the ball and went down theatrically, aka like a sack of spuds, in between the two Tranmere defenders. Absolutely no foul. Good defending.

Right in front of it and quite a few around laughing at the penalty appeal

 

Wasn't sure about the penalty to be honest. Young was definitely the meat in a defender sandwich, but he went down quite easily.
Couldn't see the handball claim at all, it being at the other end.

 

Morning all.
For those who watched it on TV and are saying we played poorly, get a grip.
We controlled the 1st half.
As they attacked the away end it was really noticeable how much we limited them to hopeful long, angled balls that were gobbled up by Lewis.
Maybe the last 10 mins we dropped of and gave ourselves a few nervous moments but we were totally the better side.
2nd half they changed shape slightly.
They played more narrow packing the midfield and once in possession got out wide really quickly.
They really upped their tempo and intensity and it looked like we were shocked by it.
I agree that Crichlow didn' t have an amazing game. He doesn't put his head in where it hurts and seems to struggle with the physical side of league 2.
This seems to put him out of his stride which makes him do things like when we conceded.
On the flip side he put himself about still and for me would have played the full 90 mins if he hadn't have been slammed into the boards by Hemmings.
The officials were really poor again.
Their 14 I think it was should have been off for multiple offences.
Hacking Perriera in the 1st 10 mins which didn't get a yellow , a deliberate handball and constantly in the refs face.
2nd half after they had a 25 min spell of pressure, we adjusted really well once Sutton and Wright came on.
We sat back a little deeper and played on the break which imo really suited us.
This brought Chapman back into the game and Wright looked quality as well.
We tightened up and the play went back to how it was 1st half with us in control.
After Cooks goal both Chapman and Wright had chances to make it 3. Their keeper pulled off a save he knew nothing about to deny Chapman a great solo goal.
Between Smallwood, Sutton and Oliver we ran the clock down very well through short corners during the 6 mins of injury time, only looking nervy when they got a corner and a shout for handball which would have been harsh considering the poor officiating throughout.
All in all imo we totally deserved the victory after controlling 70% of the game.
Lewis, Platt, Foulds, Halliday, Smallwood, Gilliead, Chapman, Wright and Cook all very good.
On to Saturday and a test against Steve Evans Stevenage.
If we keep disciplined and can hold it tight through any spells of pressure then surely we will be too strong for them.
We have the strongest squad in the division definitely.

 

It wasn’t a handball for me, ball bounced up and hit his arm. Like the United one last week which was wrongly given imo you can’t make your arms disappear when it hits the ground or another body part first it’s impossible to predict it hitting your arm.

The laws do need clearing up around handball though, it seems to change with the wind.

 

Not handball for me either Wilsden. Quite liked the lad up front for them - Hemmings, quite a handful and scored a great goal. Crichlow and Chapman need to up their game, and soon!

 

Said this exact same thing, at the game last night

 

Again I thought Chapman improved once the subs were made and he made is way out to the left to cut in, his best position imo and nearly brought him a goal. We miss Walker badly as he’s the only one who really looks totally comfortable in that role, but can’t complain if we keep going how we are. Not a bad position to be in, I can’t remember our squad depth so good in a long time.

Yes I think Hemmings played for Oxford or someone like that against us, has all the attributes you want at this level. That said he did it’s get any change from Platt, unfortunately it was one of Critchlows worse games for us and the injury probably did us a favour as when Yann came on I thought they didn’t threaten again.

 

Amen. Can't disagree

 

I was in the Peterborough end for one of our games against them when Evans was in charge within earshot of the bench and (apart from the pair of them being an absolute disgrace all the way through) that Raynor is a genuinely weird, strange man

 

Have to put my money in a tin under the bed then

 

Songo’O is right footed and struggles at the best of times using it. Despite this, he’s a great warrior and is deserving of a starting position. Unfortunately though it has to be Odusina for me. Like for like should mean minimal disruption to Platt and Foulds/Ridealgh.