The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs AFC Wimbledon Saturday 3rd February 2024 3:00pm

There is no intent, positivity or desire with the style of play under GA. Watching turgid, long ball rubbish is soul destroying.

Let's play an attacking style and bring the young prospects into the team.

 

The NW Kollective weren't that collective at all. More than half of them seemed to rebel against the others and moved to the top of the section leaving the drummer and about 20 of them down below in their usual places. It was those at the top chanting at those at the bottom, not at the kop!! Pathetic really....shows the support is fragmented.....

 

I'm not sure if Walkers contract is up at the end of the season or not, but it's time to cut away. We just haven't had value for money or the performance levels that were on show during his first season with us, where he looked a cut above most in the league at that time. Looking back, when you consider that side from the end of Hughes first season, 5 players stood out and the rest of the squad were bang average. O'Connor, Watt, Vernham, Walker and Pierera. The football was the best we'd seen in a while and had us on the front foot most of the time. I suppose the end of that season told us a lot about Hughes and should've been a warning. He again completely went away from what seemed to be working, when a similar approach with better players might have seen us in league one today. Something he did again to his detriment 12 months later.

If we release Smallwood too, I'd imagine the wage savings will be quite considerable and should allow GA to bring in younger more reliable players. The time has come to stop recruiting players with a history of injury issues (although we've been unlucky with Pattison) regardless of their alleged quality. It's no use being the best player in the physios room. We seem to have lost so many key players for considerable lengths of time. Is the medical department really up to the job? Walker, Chapman, Oliver, Pattison and Macdonald all had lengthy spells out and when you don't have strength in depth, you end up around 18th in league 2.

 

Assist in his first game also.

 

Cabo Verde shame they couldn't find a way past South Africa yesterday.

 

Completely disagree re Walker. Yes, injuries have been a disappointment and we have not had the return from him in terms of game time. However IMO there’s no surprise our atrocious form of late coincides with him been out.

Aside of Halliday and Gillead he is the only player who shows any endeavour and presses effectively. The difference to the other two is he does it at the top and middle of pitch. His movement and ability to link play is completely missing whilst he’s out.

Absolutely zero chance I would be letting him go. What I would be doing is making sure I had suitable alternatives so we are not so heavily relying on him. Pattison is one of those options, we’ve been unfortunate there. Maybe even Pointon could be in the future.

 

Totally agree with your post.

He does seem to have settled on the 3-4-3 but his selections today were criminal. As Jason has detailed in his width of a post report report, Young isn't a target man and he should have selected one of Gilliead or Smallwood - that second point showed particularly weak management on the same day he decided to drop Cook to make a point.

The back three and middle four in his 3-4-3 should be pretty settled now. It's the front three he should be working with to get more goals.

That said, the formation is nothing without a plan to get the ball up the pitch and this is also where GA is failing. The hoofball is dire. He has enough footballers to play better football. He is choosing not to. It annoys me!

 

There’s no doubting we’re missing Walker but how many times have we said that over his spell at the club? He doesn’t do a couple of weeks out, it’s months. How can any manager build a squad knowing they’ll be without one of their main players for over 50% of the time he’s needed. I’m not sure how much he’s on but he won’t be cheap. Having a suitable replacement won’t come cheap either and when all fit who drops out? Agree about Pointon but GA doesn’t appear to trust him, maybe another manager would.

 

Oh yes for sure , he absolutely knows how to win the free kicks….” Dived” on several occasions.

 

Seriously. I’d carry him on my back to VP 8 days a week. An old fashioned centre forward. His approach play is something we miss in ours unfortunately.

Oddly reminded me of one Bobby Campbell and more current, Ollie McBurnie.

Strange how we see things differently .

 

You can see what’s going to happen, with flares at away games and possibly racial comments from the front of Midland Rd it looked like , towards their diving centre forward maybe?

 

I said it during the game, another chance Cook should have buried? Harsh?

 

Yes , set pieces from throw ins to balls in the box are painfully tedious . Seems like there isn’t a care in the world?

 

I’d be shocked if we saw either Walker or Pattison at all this season Dave. What a shit show their injuries have been!

 

Best game for Richards so far imho!

 

Wow I’ve just woken up at Valley Parade this morning in my seat after dozing off in the second half.

 

Like the chap said at the Latvian who was spot on about the club being run like a non league club, the physio department is no different..

 

Not watched many then?

 

Just how Villa played yesterday up to Watkins. It’s effective if any side has players with to receive the ball , besides those from the back who can deliver it!

When executed properly it’s effective……we are in L2!

Nuff said.

 

My take on yesterday
Solid at the back. The 3 younger centre halves are the way to go. Would like to try and get Tompklnson in permanent, he and Kelly will mature with game time and both look very capable, Platt is steady enough to play between then, Stubs although only 25 is very slow but ok as cover Taylor goes for me.
Richards and Halliday are fine as wingbacks. Ridehaugh has to go.
Midfield Gillead is fine and if he had a younger more mobile ball playing midfielder alongside him, we would be much better. Mcdonald and Smallwood are done, we should have won 1-0 yesterday and Smallwood's attempt to finish first half was criminal.
The forwards are still an enigma to me, we have a lot of attacking players and other than Cook , non actually look like going on a scoring run,even cook looks off the pace . I will admit the service to them is not the best, but we do create chances but only convert 1 in every 10 or 12. The return of Walker and Wright can not come soon enough. Although Walker is not value for money , he is out with injury so much and will be taking a good chunk in salary.
I think Alexander is still to find his best striking formation, Cook Young Smith Kavanagh Chapman Wilson Wright Walker Pattinson Pointon Derbyshire, all attacking options. Derbyshire another odd signing.