Match Thread Most liked posts in thread: Bradford City v Barnsley - EFL Trophy

As much as I detest this competition, none of us can deny this game was a vital morale boost for a team of players extremely low on confidence. Regardless of the strength of the opposition, this could be an invaluable night which helps to finally point us in a better direction. Fingers crossed

 

Well...... this match thread has transformed into yet another Sparks/Rupp/Mismanagement thread

For anyone who wanted to talk about the game (and the second half of Notts), actually playing a back 3 as opposed to the flat back 5 Hughes pushed out looks to suit our movement options a lot more. The problem with the Hughes setup, was it was a back 5 line, 4 man midfield and Cook on his own up top. Which meant we could never transition out of play because the key men in that system (wing backs) were too deep, the midfield couldn't find room because we played so compact trying to have a high line too, but left Cook with 30 yards to his nearest team mate as well as asking him to run the channels for the ball because we had no width. Doomed tactic, no idea how Hughes even thought it could work.

Moving Halliday and Richards that extra 10 yards up in position and letting them go forward and press had freed up so much more room and let both lads who seem eager to push, the license to do so. Their added width, along with the 3 CBs not pushing all the way up gives our 3 man midfield much more room to find on the pitch or find a pass, and adding a partner to Cook leave him the job of the target man/pressing man and lets his partner, the 2 pressing guys in midfield, as well as the wing backs the ability to try run the channel space.

If you play with 5 defenders, you need 2 strikers and wing backs that have the faith put in them to play forward. Whilst knowing you might well get caught in transition, but you need to have faith in your 3 CBs to have some pace and knowledge. Now, the pace thing might let us down but it seems far better than a stretched 442.

 

I would like to see the eleven playing that will play on Saturday.
Get this bunch used to playing on the front foot from minute one and playing to a system.
Sod giving them time off, time to get the finger out and get playing - shape up or ship out!

 

Reading some of the comments some would rather us not winning then they can have a go at whoever

 

He didn't need to make more than 2/3 saves, but what he did do was show his fellow defenders how to command his box anything around his area was his something unfortunately Harry hasn't done this season.

 

That's my feeling too.

Frankly, we've been fecking about with permutations of players and systems since August. We need to stop that, get some solidity and confidence in the team and define a playing style that causes problems for the opposition. Albeit it was a dead game after half-time on Saturday, but one can grasp at straws and wonder/hopeif that set-up might be something to build on.

 

This loan just doesn't make sense at all. Pursued past the deadline, defence crying out for pace and a ball player yet Hughes, Macdonald, Trueman and Alexander haven't picked him. He's obviously way off being a starter and I'd imagine he'll return to Norwich without making a significant contribution to the club. Gent really needs to come out and explain the rationale behind a whole host of signings. We've wasted so much time, money and effort on these youngsters.

 

Accrington looked an excellent side against Wrexham on saturday we're in for a game for sure, the players need to believe in themselves get the crowd up for it early doors, we have our moans and groans but 16.000 Bradford City fans cheering their side on can be quite daunting.

 

GA will just want a win under his belt.

Can't blame him really.

Might also give Cook target practice he didn't even get in preseason.

 

Who's scored so far? Has Cook scored and is now not fat again?

 

I hope Lewis is watching Doyle on Saturday

 

I just hope that Alexander remembers on Saturday we are playing a very good first team eleven and not kids. I say this because I just hope he doesn't fall into the trap of seeing some of these players like Taylor and Odour and starting them after tonight's game against kids.

 

We can only play what is in front of us. I can’t remember when we had a score like that. Let’s celebrate while we can. Yes much more of a challenge on Saturday. If we beat Accy then we are in recovery mode.

 

Well tough! The owner isn’t putting in then why should fans?