Match Thread Bradford City v Liverpool (U21)EFL Trophy Tuesday 5/12/2023 @ 7.30pm (with Poll)

With Pattison back in the picture does he come in for Gilliead? It might not be for a few games yet, but I can’t see him replacing Walker. Pointon will be pushed further down the pecking order.

 

Alexander has hit upon a method that seems to get the best from the squad he's inherited. Unfortunately it seems Bobby will be pushed further down as hes really competing for the space with Walker and Pattison now the full backs are pushed up. Not sure where the likes of Tulloch or Wilson fit in with this line up.

 

Saw what you did there a proper Charlie.
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I think you may be wrong on that. According to the FA website the punishment for "Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick" is one match.

Furthermore, since 2016, this trophy has adopted a standalone procedure in relation to red & yellow cards in that those given in this competition don't apply to other competitions and vice versa, so a player suspended for league fixtures can play in the EFL trophy.

Essentially the comment by GA that he didn't pick Taylor because he couldn't play against Salford (and as such he wanted a settled back three) is correct, and Taylor was eligible but just not picked.

I would wager that Hughes' haphazard approach to things would have seen him pick Taylor for this match.

 

And his shot !!

 

I wouldn't be worried about their number 50 (Ben Doak) causing us a lot of issues, he is well above League 2 level and he's played a made 3 starts for the 1st team this season as well as coming off the bench against Chelsea and a few sub appearances last season, he also made his Celtic debut aged 16. If he only went off with cramp last night I'd expect he'll start in their Europa League game next week. He's unfortunate that he's behind one of the best right wingers in the World in Mo Salah or he would have more first team minutes.

 

The only disappointment from last night was both Halliday and Kelly picking up their 2nd yellow cards of the tournament so they will be suspended for the next round.

 

There was one point in the first half when they looked to have sliced through and he was out very quickly to slide and take the ball before their forward got there. That was good I thought as he had nothing to do but was right on the ball for that moment.

 

I don’t understand your point. You could put Man City v Grimsby and even Grimsby would have a few chances, even if it’s only half chances to score. That’s football.

 

You were seen driving off in your Merc mate

 

It is a fantastic position for us to finally be in, the competition for places is of a great standard

 

Yeah you'd expect Pattison to come in for Gillead when fully fit. So that affectively means you have Pattison, Walker, Gillead, Pointon, Chapman, Osadebe and Odour all fighting for 2 attacking midfielder spots.

Although with Oyegoke's injury, I could see Gillead covering both wing back slots now.

As for Tulloch and Afoka, they don't really have a place in the team so should be sent back in Jan. Wilson has a similar problem, but we've tied him down on a long contract, so we should try mould him into a left wing back (no idea what his defensive capabilities are) or send him out on loan.

 

You'd have thought the poor sod in front would be wearing some ear muffs

Not for the cold though, but to block out the gibberish being chuntered from the specimen called Charlie

 

I bow to you General.

 

Walker has it nailed down for me at the moment, looks a different player in this set up. Gilliead for me more of a deeper player in this set up. Early days and players will always make mistakes but GAs current set up doesn't look to have any fundamental errors bar the lack of pace in the back line. But then I think he realised quickly that Stubbs and Taylor together in a back four leaves you open to the ball over the top.

 

I hope I still have that enthusiasm for football when I'm 70. Blokes living his best life.

 

Yes, exactly, there's a glut of games coming up back end of this month, chances for starting places will come, and then it's up to the individual to shine and nail it down for themselves.

 

Spot on. We’ve disposed of two crap teams in the last two games, but for a change we didn’t make a meal of them. We scored 7 over the two games and it could and should have been more but for bad misses and good goalkeeping. The players look happier as well, even Cook gave a bit of a smile after scoring which is rare lately.

 

I had him sat next to me for half a season when they moved him up there because of the issues he was causing in the main stand. What a terrible time that was,