The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Colchester United Saturday 12th August 2023 @ 3:00pm

He couldn't play it back. The forward was blocking him.

He couldn't play to Kelly - you do see the forward about 4 metres away from him, right?

He didn't pass it to Smallwood. He was tackled and the ball simply went that way.

So, the only scenario he could have done was to kick it first time.

 

They - yes, correct. It's collective responsibility. Not just Lewis. That's the point I'm making, just shovelling it to Lewis is only passing on the problem.

 

Overall, a reasonable performance with room for improvement. The goal given away was sloppy and teams will try to use this type of play to their advantage. Once we were in front we were in control though, we lost our way in the middle of the 2nd half and the subs took time to get into the game. I always felt we needed a 3rd goal.
As the season progresses if we build on yesterday’s performance we will be up there.

 

Can't agree bots
He had time to find row Z in MR if he felt uneasy
I can agree our defenders make him the "get out" option far too often instead of getting their heads up for a forward pass
Smallwood has to take a portion of the blame he had a yard on their player to get to the ball but was too slow

 

I'd have thought some will have to go out to make room, but I suppose the best time to judge is at the end of the window.

 

Exactly, so why not launch it forward.

 

Too many unnecessary substitutions yesterday in my opinion disrupting the impetus we had in the second half.

Hate the 5 subs rule

 

Yes, he could have but he's told not to - to Hughes' comment post match - we made a mistake trying to do the right thing - or something similar. If he'd tried to boot it and made a mistake then he'd have been criticised more.

Two points still remain though - the formation has changed and players need tk work harder to get into space. Secondly, defenders have to take more responsibility and stop just shovelling it to Lewis to deal with it.

 

There's a reason for that.

 

Walker went off injured, Kelly was taken off as a precaution after he got a knock, Oduor probably to make sure he's fit and raring to go again on Tuesday (he said after the game he was cramping up), and Smallwood came off to give McDonald some much needed minutes. Don't see what's unnecessary about any of them tbh.

 

I thought we had some really good passages of play. Odour looked really promising and Pattison and Smith added that much longed for pace. Cook looks to be trying too and needs a goal soon to ease his frustration. Change in wing backs worked for me. Thought Gilly did well in an unnatural position for him.
Overall, came out smiling - you wouldn’t expect a near perfect performance yet, but i enjoyed that game.

 

The Palace lad was nailed on apparently. Well according to Nixon. Olise refusing to play and an injury have held that up.

Like Hughes and Sparks said all along - players become available late in the window - look at Banks, Dion and Wright 12 months ago. May as well wait it out and try and get the right targets than signing dross for the sake of numbers.

 

Lewis fault. He is told to play a certain way but common sense should over ride that in situations like that.

Safety first. Always.

 

I think you are funnier than Peter Kay

 

First time I'd seen City play this season ( other than TV). Very much a mixed bag.
I wont dwell on the negatives ( for a change).
I found myself impressed by most of the new boys, Pattison gave a much needed energy in the middle, Odour also lively and going to be an hand-full. Really liked Smith intelligent play, very thoughtful in his darting runs into channels. Didn't see much of McDonald, however as soon as he came on he was instructing others around him, making sure they were doing their jobs. If he gets match fit, he's a no brainer as Captain.
Oh and a little shout out to Kelly, if he polishes up there's a solid stopper in him, reminds me a bit of Jones who was at Man Utd.

 

Apparently we started 10 minutes late because the ref ordered Colchester to change the colour of their socks.

 

On the clamp down on time wasting, I don’t mind that. Like most others, it used to really wind me up. I think all the additional time will make use of and timings of substitutions more important. I bet in first two league matches we are not far from playing an additional half of football. Usual fitness work won’t be able to cope with that if similar timings continue into the season, especially on two game weeks. I suppose it’s up to clubs to adapt their approach. Be interesting to see if it continues into the season.
It’s a tough one on shirt pulling. Another thing that had got totally out of hand in the penalty boxes at set pieces in particular. However, it does seem daft that a shirt pull in the middle of the pitch results in a card being shown and a poor tackle does not.

 

It was Wright and Dion near the deadline. Banks came in a day or 2 after opening day when Walker and Paddy suffered bad injuries.

 

Thanks Serge, I couldn’t remember.

 

No issues from me. Turnstiles were a mess at 3pm. So damn slow.