The Voice - Match preview Most liked posts in thread: Bradford City vs Doncaster Rovers Tuesday 5th March 2024 @ 7:45pm

I was one who said that the weather was only a small reason for the Salford attendance, that due to the fact I’m one of those not bothering with Tuesday night games atm. Not been to one since Middlesbrough in the cup and have no regrets. Whether I pay £10 or £1000 for a season ticket I go to enjoy the experience and be entertained, I’ve watched most of the Tuesday games on iFollow and it’s safe to say it is not meeting the criteria. I couldn’t care less if I’m not considered loyal enough, I’ve a lot more going on than I did 5-10 years ago and the product at City is far worse than then. It’s the club who needs to take responsibility for the empty seats and do something to win them back.

 

We couldn't really afford to drop points tonight, but I don't really want to have a dig at any of the players. The effort, energy and attitude of the players was spot on all night. No issues there.

The criticism is that it was all a bit frantic. We lacked control and structure and I think much of that was rooted in the decision to play Odour in a midfield pair. Baffling. As was the decision not to bring in a central midfielder in January.

 

The club used to reckon “Tuesday nights under the lights are magical”. People just don’t want to venture into Bradford after dark these days, it’s grim.

I got asked for spare change 3 times within 5 minutes of walking out of Broadway!

I much prefer the Saturday 3pm slot and to be honest I might just watch next week’s Tues game on iFollow.

 

Well played Adam Wilson in from the wilderness.

 

I thought we improved immensely when the subs came on and Gilliead moved to midfield.
I was impressed with Wilson, who was loads better than Wright who he replaced. I always like a winger who takes on opponents and drives with the ball. I hope he has done enough for Alexander to give him more game time.

 

Terrible officials ruined the game.

Think GA got the starting XI wrong and we lost the impact Odour has had on recent games. However changes were positive and all 4 contributed to getting us back in the game. Great finish from Smith, equally from Chapman to set him up.

Draw better than defeat but a back step in performance versus the Wycombe game.

 

Poor game and fortunate to get a point out of that. Strange selections by Alexander, none more so than Oduor in CM, completely negating everything that was good about him for the past few games. And after some good football against Wycombe, back to the ugly and ineffective hoofball just because Cook is on the pitch. Really bizarre.

 

How did either team get through that without a red, I know referees get bad press at times but that clown deserved all he got.

 

Fortunate point on the balance of 90 minutes play. The starting XI just left us so unbalanced. Should have started with Richards with AG in midfield but hey, what do I know!!!

Little positives to take away from tonight, with the play offs over, few chances created, disjointed and midfield that was far too light that ultimately led us going long (hoof) and giving up possession, time after time. Lacked composure and Donny harassed and were incisive when they attacked. Truly I believe, if they had a marksman, they would have been out of sight.

So another season of failure under our terrible owner means more khazi league football ultimately next time out.
Falling attendances (c 8k there tonight), apathy towards the owner and RS, a terrible pitch, a bloated squad and more 4th division football visiting the likes of Harrogate and Crawley in this tenure of Rupp.

Please Rupp , sell our football club, you really have been part and the main reason, the last 7 years have been awful.

 

Or 15th in league two after 34 games.

 

All the forwards were poor tonight because we had no control in midfield hence they were feeding on scraps. In fact I can't recall Kavanagh even touching the ball in the first half and Wright not much more. Totally wrong formation tonight, which is bewildering because it looked like GA was finally understanding these players strengths and finding the formation to suit them. Baffling!

 

I'm more surprised Wilson isn't getting more game time. I've been impressed with him on all of the very few times he's been given an opportunity to play.

 

Tonight was very quiet.

Roads completely clear too.

I think many thousands of City fans have given up.

 

Even these cheeky gits are taking the p1ss,

 

I'm still baffled why GA went with that starting line up when we had two left backs sat on the bench. Start one of them and Gilliead can play in the middle and Oduor can play further forward where he's more effective.

 

Oops! Every time I say this about someone, they score!!

 

Dreadful refereeing but credit to Doncaster, they played well and it was a fair result.

 

Bang on the money. The lack of available central midfielders killed us tonight. MacDonald isolated without legs around him and moving Oduor to a deeper central role negates everything he's been doing well the last month or so. Credit to Doncaster, they look a better side than the one thats struggled for most of this season and to be fair they deserved the three points. I thought Adam Wilson looked sharp when he came on but then thats what Clarke Oduor should have been doing all game if he hadn't been picked in another position.
I guess a point gained if your looking for positives from a poor performance but really needed the three tonight.

 

Worst player on the field, though, was probably Tyreik.

 

Points make prizes usually is my motto but again this season we are into double for drawing matches that we should be taking by the scruff of the neck and winning.
I'm hoping that our form against decent teams, which isn't bad, starting Saturday, gets us into a position with at least something to play for right into April because if the season is over by the end of March, then no matter how much I like him, GA will have failed his 1st test.
BUT!!
There are green shoots of recovery to think about.
Take away his first 2 games in charge, getting to know the players and implementing his philosophies and methods etc, since Notts County away which we all agree he will have really learned about the players, we have a record of won 7 drawn 6 lost 3.
At an average of 1.678 ppg, that over a season equates to 77 points.
We've only conceded 13 goals in the last 16 matches.
We've scored 22 goals in the same period.
Over a season that again is positive with a plus 26 goal difference.
Our goalscoring opportunities since Walker was injured have really challenged us, with his potential back up Pattison also out then let's be honest injuries have really hampered us attack wise, on top of some really bad recruitment under Hughes.
His past record of a high-ish win %, getting teams promoted and how we are solid at the back does give me hope that if we fail this season it won't be because we've made the wrong appointment, it'll be because we didn't start the season under him, which I know wouldn't have happened as he was at MK Dons, but listening to his after match interview last night, gives me belief the GA is still the man for this job.