Match Thread Bury FC v Bradford City AFC Saturday 8 July 2023 3pm

And nearly got caught in possession, I don't like it at our level but Saturday suggested its here to stay.

 

Yes noticed that on Sat Rod.

His cutback and Pointon’s cross to oncoming Walker and Derbyshire were excellent.

 

I don’t knock Gilly Dave, as you know, but I did post after the game, I don’t see how he gets into the side with the other options ahead of him. I would suggest , unless we see a massive fall off in form or long term injuries , Gilly will be making all his appearances off the bench. A decent workhorse for the last 20 and he’s done his job.

 

Gilly will get his starts in, Hughes and rotation go hand in hand throughout his career. Even a fit McDonald at this stage isn't playing 90 minutes when the Sat-Tues-Sat schedule picks up in the season. There were times last season when Smallwood could have done with sitting the odd game out for a refresh but the options weren't there with Clayton and Osadebes fitness when it got tough, with our depth this season that shouldn't be a problem.

Always think back to the last time we went up. In my mind it was Jones & Doyle every game in midfield, but Ricky Ravenhill still had 21 starts in the league through rotation. It was always Hanson & Wells up top but Connell and Andy Gray had 14 starts between them. In that side, no player started more than 38 league games. Every successful side needs to give it's best players a game or two to refresh from time to time and it felt like last season we couldn't rest our best players as the depth wasn't there, I think so far we've gone a long way to correcting that.

 

That’s fair.

 

Hughes rotating is not how I remember it. Gilliead and Smallwood were the default midfielders even when we had good results with East in the side. I feel for East now because he’s even lower down the line and can only see him going out on loan. Osadebe, Patterson, Smallwood, Gilliead and McDonald will all start ahead of him. Smallwood will start as captain so that leaves one space at defensive midfield to rotate.

 

No longer in management though eh.....viewed as a joke.

 

Your opinion on Gilliead is not the general consensus though.....if all fans could see it, and Hughes couldn't, then you may have a point.

You lambasted Park for his comment first and foremost.....

 

And there is nothing wrong with that - what some of our fans fail to grasp is we need a strong starting 11, 5 or 6 who can make the step up with ease and the rest being capable hands to fill in when required. We don't need a squad of 24-25 who can make up the starting 11.

a) its unmanageable
b) its expensive
c) its pretty much impossible to build

 

Is he? Or has he just decided media work is less pressurised and more enjoyable?

 

Mike Bassett is online

 

I think his stint as Team GB boss pretty much ruined him. Dont think he has had a job since.

 

Why does it have to be general consensus? Are managers only ever wrong if the whole fan base agrees they are? Despite the fans also being automatically wrong as they have never managed a professional club?

That's a confusing way to look at things?

 

He managed Forest after that and was coaching at West Ham only the other year.

 

That's the point of my post. Hughes has always been a rotator throughout his career, but didn't have consistently the options in areas last season, and Gilly & Smallwood were always fit and probably were his best options. Osadebe and Clayton had fitness or injuries issues and East barely pulled any trees when he featured, not enough to enforce the change anyway.

Good results with East in the side? He was on the winning side in just 1 of his league starts, which was Salford away in the middle of October. There was only 1 other win in the league in which he played more than a few minutes which was Colchester at home when he came on after an hour. He had 12 games in the league in which he started or came on with meaningful time to contribute rather than a few minute cameo, and we won 2 of those games. I like the lad, I think he's a tidy player but in no way did the team suddenly benefit from his time enough to drop our starters.

 

I think you are in the minority over your disdain Gilliead. You don't like him but it is clouding your judgement on what he can offer, and what his role is.

 

Ahhh yes, midtable at Forest and sacked.

 

Absolutely right.

 

He’s certainly not in the minority, and I don’t think it’s disdain for Gillead. It’s more frustration that Gilliead has all the tools to become a more effective player, but he’s simply not utilising his ability. His stats speak for themselves, I’d put money on Pattison having more than 1 goal and 1 assist in the first 10 games. That’s was Gillieads total contribution last season, from a pivotal position.

 

Totally agree with all of that, and good on you for this response.

Gilliead is probably the most frustrating player in recent years. I just can't understand his reluctance to attack, and provide a final ball or shot.

Moving him into a more defensive position limits the number of times he opts to NOT try something, but he's been here so long across both spells that we all remember him as the completely ineffective winger he was.

Now, though, it's time to judge him on his defensive performances and his energy in the middle. I do think he's all right at that, but I'm surprised 'all right' got him a deal.