Match Thread Away V Cheltenham Saturday 20th February @ 3.00pm

We could benefit from AOC playing right back, as he can supplement Paudie and Canavan - hopefully they can dominate aerially.

Tozer only has three assists this season, apparently, but that doesn't tell us how many long throws actually led to goals.

 

Read that Will Boyle (Centre half) has 4 goals from 4 Ben Tozer throw ins.... And that block he did against mendy on the line against Man City....

 

This one:

 

Yes that one. Fantastic clearance.

 

In his interview Manager Duff agrees. Said they were fortunate to win with a poor performance and admits we are a lot better now, "top of the form table with some good signings". Apparently they may be missing 2 and although ok now if any more go down he may have to look at free agents.
Despite that they are a good team with a good recent record but not to be feared.

 

We shouldn't fear any team in this league. I think that is what has changed in recent months. We finally are getting to a place in which we should be.

As a club we need to get fans feeling that a draw is a defeat and not acceptable. Until we reach that point in div 2 then we could struggle.

We shouldn't be scared of any team in this division. The amount of times I read for example @Park bantam saying this will be a tough game etc just highlights to me that in his head he lacks confidence in the team/squad.

Things are improving but winning should be expected.

 

Give it a rest Fordy, We have no divine right to win every game, just because we are Bradford city.
This will be a tough match , away to the team third in the league who are in good form , will always be hard, even if you are top of the league. All fans are hopefull of a victory and a point would not be bad either. Its not about being scared, its being realistic. We cant all be Man city in this world.

 

No it doesn't. It simply highlights that some of the teams we play are better than others, and Cheltenham are one of the better ones. Games against good teams are usually tougher than games against poor teams.
Having confidence that we can go there and win, which we should have given our current form, doesn't alter the fact that Cheltenham are likely to be tough opponents.

 

I don't think he's saying that. Hes not talking about a devine right, hes talking about a winning mindset. It takes time to build. It means you don't go into any game thinking 'I'd take a point here'. That isn't to say that sometimes a point isn't a good result, and its not to say we should be arrogant as such, we should just be pushing ourselves and demanding the best we can be. Thats what winners do. But it has to be earned.

 

As soon as I see Man City quoted I know where the conversation is heading. I actually agree with Fordys general point, there isn't one stand out team in the whole division, if we play to our potential we win. Management speak dictates that the press conferences will reference 'tough place to go' and 'no easy games' etc but in the dressing room there'll be none of that talk. This isn't the same team we watched roll over and have its belly tickled every other week, its a different animal, one that others are now very wary of. Talk of a point and other drivel, this team wants all three.

 

Totally missed my point mate. Read @Faithful Bantam post below yours to understand it.

It's about building a winning winning mindset with the owner, CEO, Directors and more importantly fans. We are not there yet being able to do this is a key to success.

We shouldn't fear any team.

 

Of course we shouldn't. But that doesn't alter the fact that some games are likely to be tough and others aren't.

 

But we have to get to a point in which a draw feels like a defeat.

Not saying matches will be easy. Games are not easy but having that winning mindset is what needs to be created.

 

With you totally on this Fordy. The good thing is we have got the right players now , it's as you say about the mindset plus keeping players fit. If we only draw today it has got to feel like a defeat to the players.
With so games coming up we are going to need everyone available, and that includes Billy Clarke. Yes he will probably be on his way in the summer but we need his quality on the bench to cover tired legs to get us over the line in games.

 

Spot on. This will be a tough game and we may come away with nothing. But we’re capable of going there and winning. We’re capable of beating any side in this division. We’re seeing a more positive, forward thinking and ambitious mindset from the club. We need to echo it. I want us to go out on the front foot, take the game to Cheltenham and come away with 3 points. But if we don’t then we’ll learn from it and it’ll shape our approach for upcoming games and next season.

 

I pointed out on another thread about this club achieving things in the past against the odds. All those teams had that mindset, both as a team and individually. That's what we need now.

 

I thinks it's been noticeable that other teams are no where near as confident playing us as they were. They will be looking at the likes of Rowe Vernham etc as a real threat and worrying about us. No need to fear these, a decent team they may be but we should be looking for the 3 points against them.

Personally I think there's no way we'll go down and it's not like we're clinging onto a top spot scared to drop points. Although it would be nice to be right up there the position we're in now should alow the players to go on the pitch without pressure or fear. We should be looking to batter every team in this division.

 

Who is saying we are fearing any team all we are saying is it is a tough match which it is. That doesn’t mean fear or not having the belief it just acknowledges a fact

 

Just coughed up to watch.... come on City... fear no bugger!

 

I agree, someone used the Man City analogy but i'd switch that analogy around and say that sort of perfection is what you're aiming for. Not in terms of world class players but instilling into your team that you genuinely are good enough to win every game when given a level playing field. Something the players very rarely had under McCalls last spell.