The Voice - Match preview Most liked posts in thread: Bradford City vs Carlisle United Tuesday 21st March @ 7:45pm

This isn't a match for wholesale change.
We have 10 days off after this match.
A draw isn't a bad result.
The 10 days gives the whole squad a good rest, recently injured players coming back might get a game behind closed doors.
If Derbyshire is fit then that for me, replacing Costelloe, should be the only change.
Experience of big matches will be key.
This is the biggest match of the season.
Matt Derbyshire getting those chances Costelloe missed on Saturday then we win by 3 or 4.
We would have battered Hartlepool on Saturday with an experienced player next to Cook.
A tight 1-1 or a City win if Derbyshire plays.

 

You'd play Smallwood on the left of a diamond again? I'm amazed tbh.

The personnel isn't so much the issue for me as the shape. With the diamond we look incredibly open and for me it will just invite Carlisle into us, especially in the wide areas and if they play with wing backs we'll be doubled up on time and time again down our left.

 

I think he is committed. If you watch him on the touch line he is just as frustrated as the rest of us. It is the decision making that finds most difficult to comprehend but that is lg2 for you. What I do like about him is his refusal to criticise players publicly. He is cautious over cautious in May respects. He makes a plan and sticks with it even if it clearly isn’t working. I think that is why we see such late subs when he realises the plan is not going to work. I just hope he learns that in this league if the plan is going pear shaped it will continue. Mind you if we had a dynamic leader on the pitch they would change it. He needs a captain who will challenge him if things are not going well. I would have thought that MH has the ability to take advise from wherever it comes from.

 

Sutton was poor, I don’t look at him any differently He didn’t get a regular slot for a reason ! He runs quick in a straight line anything else?

Note he’s been selected for Harrogate only three times since January. Doesn’t that tell you something?

 

Yes he wasn’t good enough. The point is he made the right type of deep runs from midfield beyond the front men. Stretching play. Offering a different problem to the opposition. Do you not see this when watching? Someone with this type of attribute but with the ability to trap a bag of cement and pass the ball accurately is something we’re missing. Again we don’t have that athleticism in the team. It’s all too one paced. Perreira might offer this if he was fit.

 

We definitely need some athletes mixed into the side. We're painfully slow at times and covering the ground quickly, especially in midfield and centre half is often an issue.

 

No trains back to Carlisle at that time

 

I think he has ability, it's clear by the way he goes past people and the odd individual piece of skill. He's also a young lad and will get physically stronger the more he's exposed at first team level.

That doesn't mean he'll automatically make it of course, we've seen similar from Pereria but the building blocks are certainly there so I can see why Burnley wanted to get him some first team football.

 

Even if a contract was put on the table this morning for example, there's surely no way Cooks agent is advising to sign it just yet? The guys in the form of his life, in probably the best shape of his pro career and turns 33 early into next season.... this is most likely the last chance to command a real good money contract.

His agent must be already putting out feelers to most L1 clubs and your Wrexham types, regardless if we go up or stay in L2 and offering the leagues leading scorer out to the highest bidder? Unless City offer him a massively improved deal, I cant see any sense in signing it before hearing out other clubs at the end of the year.

 

I'm normally a huge optimist and always think we are going to win. But I'm worried about tonight. We just seem to struggle to raise our game and I think Carlisle are going to be well up for this. Come on city prove me wrong.

 

My lad is adamant we will win tonight, because we will not draw 4 in a row.
I said if we lose , we have not drawn 4 in a row.
He is super confident, even after i said " if we don't win i will give him a slap for getting my hopes up"

 

Hi Steve, even if you offered two contracts now, he isn't going to sign either at this stage because he doesn't know which league we'll be in. It would be a pointless exercise. There's no loyalty, he's been around and he'll probably wait to see how the season pans out. Footballers are, generally, mercenary and there'll be a lot of competition for his signature and he'll be looking for one last hurrah.

 

That's not letting them loose and playing to an attacking strength.

The issue with Clayton and Smallwood is that they are both similar players. Side way passes and playing it safe etc. We only need one of them in the team now matter the formation.

 

I hope he does.

How many defeats in the last 12? Remind us?

 

Over run in midfield.

 

This game plan won't work against this side. We need to squeeze the entire side 20 yards up the pitch. Stop the ridiculous goal kick routines, go back to a midfield diamond and stop the midfield being exposed, get Oliver on and go much, much more direct.

 

No it missed, it ended up on Cornwall Terrace.

 

I love how opinions can vary so much. Listening on the radio tonight and they are saying it's a great game with 2 good teams up against oneanother. Carlisle edging it, particularly the last 15-20 mins though.

 

These have looked good haven’t they. A point wouldn’t be the worst result tonight.

 

Carlisle are well drilled. Impressive in an understated way - they've controlled it and I hope I'm wrong but I see them getting in front then turning the screw.

I had to chuckle at how the radio commentary spoke in glowing terms about the positive body language and energy our players were showing. 50 seconds into the game.