The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Harrogate Town Saturday 16th September 3:00pm

It's been a strange start of the season and pre season, the formation change, Lewis supposed transfer, the transfers and to me the players and manager don't seem to be up for it.

 

Was it on target? Was it a good decision to shoot from that angle when chasing the game? Pointless comment

 

As with the Grimsby match, if they hadn't scored then its unlikely that we would have either......

 

Didn’t watch yesterday for the first time in a while as I was out for my wife’s birthday. Was checking the BBC match stats during the game and could see 70% possession with zero shots on target. Was just waiting for the city 0 - harrogate 1 to pop up and lo and behold it did. I didn’t need to be watching to figure out that was going to happen and it’s a sign of the times with city. Time for Hughes to go. We need to go all out and try to get Steve evans. I know he won’t be popular with some. Be he has a genuine passion to be the manager of Bradford city. Knows what is required to get out of this division (and the one above) and his teams score goals! He creates an us against the world mentality which I really believe would suit us. Enough is enough. We need success. He is the man to deliver it.

 

Agree with most of what you say but……..

“His genuine passion for BCAFC” , I wretched!

 

I wasn't knocking Pointon, I like him, but there was one occasion in the second half when there was a huge space behind the full back, but instead he turned back inside into a crowd of players. He is very one-footed. Did no one else think Wilson looked to have something? had a decent effort over the bar off his left but also got to line and pulled a ball back across the box with his right

 

He mentioned the team not upping the tempo again. How many times has he said that over the last 18 months? Why doesn't he drop the players who aren't listening to his instructions? Enough is enough for me too. I think I've seen about 3 exciting games with Hughes in charge. He's all about possession, building from the back and playing 1 up front. Despite having 2 windows in 2023, we end up with Smallwood and Gilliead in a midfield 2 again. He wouldn't know how to build an attacking team if he was in charge of Barcelona at their pomp. The sad thing is, even with the returning players, we're void of confidence, void of fitness to press longer than 15 minutes and have a squad of players that most don't fit one system or the other. We've seen our players go out on loan and thrive. I just don't think our lads are enjoying under Hughes and Hodges. Every game is a regression of the game before. We have a bloated squad which leads to chopping and changing to keep them happy. This is a shit show for which Sparks has to take some responsibility. He should have closed his wallet and told Hughes to get the most out of what he's got. I do believe we have a good core of 18 players, who with the right positive instructions could deliver the football we all crave. Change now and we still have hope. Delay the inevitable and the season will just drift away.

 

I think this idea that Evans goes to bed every night dreaming of the day he gets to manage Bradford City is hilarious. Yes he made some comments about wanting the job - when he was out of work! - but anyone that thinks he is going to just walk out at Stevenage (4th in league 1, one point off first) to come to Bradford (17th in league 2) need to give their head a wobble.

 

He also got to the line and pulled a good low ball across the box.

 

I'm not trying be be edgy at all, and I'm not knocking Pointon. He reminds me of when Banks first starting playing regularly last season. People were screaming for him to get to the line but he always came inside. Banks was able to adapt and eventually back himself to go wide and he improved massively as a result. I hope Pointon can do the same. But I did like the look of Wilson. In his brief cameo he showed he could do both.

 

Anyone else heard the rumour doing the rounds with regards Rupp entertaining potential new owners, not sure it has legs but if true it might lift some of the gloom around Valley Parade.

 

Hopefully the start of a long career progression for both.

 

Agree, and they are both our own players. I would rather play and develop both instead of our hit and miss loan players

 

Yes, heard the same. After that showing yesterday though, they probably said thanks but no thanks.

 

There were one or two younger players on show yesterday who I think can have good careers but we’re let down by more experienced pros (Smallwood) we need a fit and firing Cook back I don’t like the sound of him coming back carrying a knee injury. Pattison in midfield will also make the difference. But the biggest think for me is a slightly more direct style of play is needed we spend far to much time passing it about at the back. I think Lewis kicked out from his hands once yesterday a better balance is needed

 

Regarding Wilson I agree, looked like he could go both ways and good ball control. Only a debut, well to my eyes as I’d not seen him yet, but thought the lad had potential. Probably too many step overs though, reminded me of a poor mans Ronaldo when he was young.

Pointon reminds me of Banks when he first arrived, who seemed to get better with his right near the end of his spell. Let’s hope he can work on that in the training ground.

 

Both Daly and Odoh look well off side, Odoh being the more guilty of the two.

 

Unfortunately with no Cook or even Oliver, we have no presence up top so the option of mixing it up and going long isnt really there.

 

Just my opinion @AngryGaz, by the way we have more than your above players out injured, Smith, Cook, Pattison, of which IMO Chapman, Cook and Pattison would be starters.