The Voice - Match preview AFC Wimbledon vs Bradford City Saturday 14th October 2023 3:00pm

Certainly looked like a pen to me. We got away with one there.

 

I’ve questioned what Osedebe is any good at. Looks like it’s scoring goals!
He certainly seems more confident after the Grimsby game, and more effective as a consequence. Long may it continue.

 

Watching Osadebe's comeback I believe at times he's been trying too hard to make up for last season, like him or not he always tries to carry the ball forward with his play.

 

Like it or not Parky's return will bring a bumper crowd if that Big club Wrexham can fill their allocation 19,000+ is more than achievable.

 

I believe Wrexham have already sold out their allocation of 2300. Definitely should be looking at 19000+

 

Halliday did well to put his hands up as the player got close to him so to me (and maybe the ref) it looked like their lad fell over or dived maybe. Good experience from Halliday either way.

 

But when we actually had the opportunity to get it down we played it very well around them and they couldn't cope.

 

Agree. He isn't keen on the 50/50s though (understandable given his injury last season). He pulled out or didn't attempt a couple today. Just means others need to cover for him or he needs to think about how to get in quicker to the ball and win it.

 

Makes a change from Sheringham

 

Enjoy guys/gals : https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/league-two/12984506/afc-wimbledon-0-1-bradford-league-two-highlights

 

Agreed, he did !

 

You really talk silly.

 

Two quotes came to mind whilst watching City’s impressive victory at Wimbledon.

Paul Jewell once said you have to firstly out-work the opposition, then you earn the right to play and your ability will shine through, this we saw this afternoon.

A complete transformation to two weeks ago, watching lethargic players going through a methodology that they clearly had no belief in and felt difficult to carry out.

The second quote about Bradford City came from former England manager Graham Taylor when he managed Watford after we’d just beaten them 2:0 in our promotion season to the Premiership, he said “Bradford don’t have a lot of possession, but when they do, they hurt you.

These two qualities are synonymous with Bradford City’s successful history, and they are back with an abundance.

Out of the three victories under KM, this one is the most impressive. Wimbledon are easily the best opposition we’ve played in the league this season. They oozed confidence and played on the foot front with pace.

They couldn’t match the two qualities I previously mentioned.

We edged the game and earned three deserved points.

Osadebe showed in the pre-season of 2022 and the opening 7 minutes prior to having his leg-broke that he is a very useful slightly unconventional player. He has long limbs, a bit gangly, never looks fully InControl of the ball, however has heart and is strong, his confidence since coming back from his horrendous injury is slowly growing. I said in the summer of 2022 he reminds me of a league 2 Pogba, and I’m feeling that way again. Some games he’ll be anonymous, some games a match winner.

Every player deserved a 7/10 just for work-rate.


Interesting to read in the media after the Grimsby game how KM’s rhetoric on wishing to remain a player as opposed to manager softened a little.

KM has to look at maybe playing 50% of games in his final season registered as a player, in balance to a shot at a club in the lower league the size of Bradford . Clubs our size don’t come knocking every day for you to cut your teeth at.


Now, I’m not saying on the back of three games give KM the job.

There’s more than a bit of heart required in a unchanged squad that’s won two league games to getting a team promotion. There’s former managers out there with bags of experience to deal with signings, formations, injuries, loss of form, and tactical decisions etc etc …


However if KM is still in charge for the Wrexham game and we turn them over with the same qualities of the past three games, then the welcome breathing space KM has afforded Sparks in not having to appoint a manager imminently, almost becomes a dilemma, because there’s a ready made guy here who commands respect, has bags of footballing experience, and may well be the diamond we’re looking for…


Given to the end of the season maybe?

Who know, it’s a bloody lottery haha

 

They are a very physical and dirty side, we got no help from the ref (Who was poor).

 

McDonald admitting we rode our luck and could have been better.

Not sure Hughes ever really admitted any deficiencies in his games.

 

And it won't get any easier if he continues winning football games, pressure from both the players and fans will be difficult to ignore, but he's said he wants to continue playing and for a player coming to the end of his playing career it would be difficult to disagree time will tell.

 

If he does want to continue playing,these few games as manager won’t do him any harm when he does decide to go into it full time.

 

I didn’t go to any of the friendlies before last season, but my son and grandsons did. They raved about Osadebe they loved and have been disappointed with his return but understand his injury may take more time. KM saying that you have to keep onto him about defending.

 

Having seen it once I thought it was a stonewall penalty, but who cares? But I thought we could have had one for a foul on Osadebe so these things even out.

 

I think we are a year or 2 too late for him. Winning the U21 Euros in the summer will give him a chance at the Senior job when Southgate leaves and even if he doesn't get that with the work he's done with the England youth teams and before that at Brentford and Birmingham he could probably get a job in the Championship at least. He's also been linked with the Republic of Ireland job when Stephen Kenny is sacked.