Away v Grimsby Town

I'm a supporter of OD mate, nowt like that from me. Plus those two saves came from the second phase of set pieces if I remember correctly which is the point I was trying to make.

 

Scannell is in danger of becoming one of those players who gets better the less he plays. Done nothing of note in a city shirt so far. Looked fairly threatening when he came on Saturday but Gibson providing the best balls of the game and one set up the goal.

4-4-2 is not the answer yet imo. It worked for PP with a McMahon on the right wing as we had two very good all action midfielders in Doyle and Jones. We do not have that currently at the club. I agree with @JonButterfield 4-5-1 is the way to go with Scannell down right, Donaldson more left but supporting Vaughan. And id play Gibson as a AMC. Think he’s done enough to earn that and him and Vaughan seem to have a good understanding

 

Could work, heck anything is worth a try at the moment. Scannell has to stay wide right, thats what he does. Not keen on Gibson wide left, right footed for a start and looks more comfortable central. Donaldson left i suppose because we don't have anyone else.

 

No, play a right back at right back and a left back at left back. That do for a start.

The answer is simple. Bradford City urgently need to go back into the transfer market.

You even talking about Gibson playing in any position highlights that for me.

 

Henley can play both. That was stated when he joined. The problem is he’s terrified of crossing half way line. It was clear Bowyer told him to get forward at half time at weekend as our goal came from that side

 

No he can cover both. He can't play both.

He needs to play were he is is at his best.

 

Late last Season I attended an SUFC game with my mate, and a few others (his friends).
To our left, a group of about 30 behaved in the same manor. Andy quipped "Look's like they'll win it this year !" Puzzled, I asked what ? "Arseholes of the year" he replied.
Every Club has 'em, and not just away matches.

 

Defence stood up well to the aerial onslaught. Think there are bigger issues here like the midfield

 

This I agree with.

 

Scannell played a few games at the start of last season under the farce was Collins, got injured, came back after lengthy layoff, played a handful of games towards the end (whilst still regaining fitness) and hasn't been given a chance this season.

It's too early to be writing him off. All some of us want is for him to have a prolonged run in the side playing in his preffered position, which he's yet to have in a city shirt.

 

He hasn't really played on the wing for a long time though. Here are his positions since 2014.



So despite what he says, he hasn't had success on the wing recently, and I wouldn't suggest Bowyer should play him there.

 

The strange thing about Henley playing left back is, he's played 109 games at RB and 18 games at LB.

Of the 18 games at LB, the majority were at Blackburn with Bowyer in charge. So it must just be Bowyer that thinks that's his best position... I was thinking he was in some way forced to play Henley there, but I don't think it's the case.

 

Played on the left twice in 5 years and at the wrong side of 30 will be nowhere near as effective as he once was.

I'd be disappointed if it came to shoehorning Donaldson out of position. Sign a proper left winger and him and Vaughan will score plenty.

 

Fair enough - what formation/plan would you propose as an alternative?

 

Can we forget about a players past experiences, and also GRIMSBY ?

Rightly so, these are now historic events ...... In football, time appears to travel much quicker ....
The reality is, that we have, and need to work with what we have in our locker, and hope to add to in the next few weeks.
NEXT UP is a (winnable) game against Preston, where hopefully Bowyer will also have learned things about his squad, and his tactics, so a non pressured opportunity to tweak things, here and there.

I expected a slow start (With so many departures, and new additions), yet I also hope things improve to a vast degree. Let's remember that we are now Lge 2, and just as a Cart Horse will never win the grand national, nor will a team of thoroughbreds plough a field successfully.
Last season was a major CRASH that all Management, players and supporters are still coming to terms with - For all they / we need time, the sooner we all adapt, the better and stronger we'll all become.

I thought the majority of the Forum pretty much agreed that about 10 games in was around the best time to judge ? CAN we actually get to that point, when all transfers (if any more ?) are done, before we continue to debate the impossible, and slagging each other off ??
In MAY ........ IF, yes IF the squad is good enough - City will be promoted. IF NOT - We won't !! Simple, Logic, but so true. May is some time away, so let's not start dividing ourselves barely half way through August

 

I'd play a flat 3-5-2.

 

I have the same issue with that formation as the call to 4-4-2, and that's the dirth of wingers...

 

How many fullbacks do we know can both roles? I never saw Darby or Meredith switching full back roles. On Saturday it was clear he favours his right foot, thays why he was looking to cut back rather than run down the left touchline. In fact i struggle to remember any fullback at City that could play both sides effectively.

 

You'd like to think it's that simple, it certainly is for me. Im not sure any of the past 3 or 4 managers agree though.

 

We have four wingers and McCartan (who can play on either wing - and has done so more than Donaldson in the last few seasons). It really shouldn't be a problem. Giving more support to Palmer in central midfield too.

I do wonder whether Bowyer is playing the 4-3-3 to keep all of DVD happy, or if there's something in their contract to promise or guarantee a number of starts. If we can all see it's not working... surely he can too but persists. There's got to be some reasons he's sticking with what we can all see isn't working.