Match Thread Bradford City vs Leicester City - EFL Trophy

Angol has a decent first half I thought. Didn’t do much in the second before he was subbed off.

 

They weren’t a poor side! These are players hoping to be getting in a Premiership first team.

 

Very harsh that. We played some excellent stuff tonight, and it was a pleasure to watch at times!
Agreed a couple of players weren’t quite at the races, but overall it was a good game I thought.

 

I was at valley parade tonight pal and Angol started and he did nothing.He might be best coming off the bench.

 

Wasn't the worst game i've ever seen. Some valuable game time for fringe players and another strike for Oliver. I think Hughes knows the spine of his side, Lewis, Foulds, Platt, Halliday, Gilliead, Smallwood, Wright and Cook are definite starters. That leaves three spots up for grabs. Critchlow and Odusina vying for a starting centre half spot, then the likes of Banks, Angol, Chapman and Periara fighting for the 10 role and the right side role. Oliver is the obvious sub to change the pattern of a game along with Angol if he isn't starting. Walker would probably start in the ten role if fit which would allow Chapman to play out wide in his preferred spot. Harratt and Young don't really seem to be on Hughes radar.

 

Yet both their goals came from poor defending on the left.

 

Game of two Half's for me.
Feel like we throw it away cheaply after such a good start.
City's penalties were dire apart from Dion's and to be perfectly honest Leicester deserved something out of an entertaining game.

 

Sorry. Where are you in this debate ? What are you referring to and which comment?

 

I actually agree with a lot of what has been said. I don't think Sutton has proved good enough to be a starter, but it doesn't mean he's as bad as you constantly make out. Everyone on here knows even before kick off that you are going to be on his back. Where we do possibly agree.....I wouldn't have him as my first choice penalty taker.

 

Great game to be at.
I thought we played well and the kind of 3-2-3-1 formation that we were attempting to play looked ok in spells.
The side with Young on it naturally wasn't as good as defending as Hendrie's side and vice versa when attacking.
Sutton in the midfield anchor role kept interchanging with East who was nice and tidy as usual but as always a little lightweight.
The 3 centre backs were solid enough with Odusina on his more natural right side looking a lot better than when on the left side against Wimbledon.
Oliver up front again showing that if the service is good then his heading ability is fantastic.
2 decent balls 1st half yielding a goal and an effort well saved by the keeper.
Harratt was busy as always trying his hardest but you could say he tries too hard which leads to him being a bit erratic.
Lewis in goal again showing off his distribution skills and as it was quiet last night you could really hear him and Songo'o barking out the orders.
Angol looked good strong in the middle playing behind Oliver.
Leicester's young lads were decent.
I kept saying that 2nd half they would come good as they were supremely fit and as shown against Burton, they looked stronger in the last 30 mins and scored twice.
We had our chances, Young smacked a free kick against the bar and their keeper pulled off a few saves to deny Harratt and Gilliead.
Good minutes for those who needed them and extra minutes for Crichlow after missing a few weeks recently.
Not concerned by the penalties at the end.
The bonus point was a good reward for the Leicester lads who stood up well to the challenge we gave them and showed exactly what they can do.
An all round entertaining evening at VP.

 

Is it harsh though? The side we put out tonight was very strong and would be the starting 11 for league games at most league 2 clubs.
Should have been way too much for a team of kids and the less said about the penalties the better.
However, I’m coming accross like I care about this competition when I really don’t. It’s only purpose is to give the fringe players a run out.

 

Was nice to watch a game where the dark arts didn't come into play aswell.

I thought the Leicester players showed some really skillful touches, or beating our lads with a simple turn, dummy or shimmy. Looks to be a few good players there for the future especially braybrook and alves from their middle

 

Despite the end result I too enjoyed the game. thought some of our play going forward wouldn't have been out of place in the championship ...

 

I’m only stating the obvious, even you yourself agree.

The way he approached the penalty for example was naive at best. He picked the ball up walked to the edge of the box whilst the ref and the keeper had just left the centre circle! He had all that time to wait before taking the pen. What is a keepers no 1 objective when faced with a pen….Slow it all down , delay the kick, and let the penalty taker stew in his nervousness! Sutty did it for him!!

Out of 10 what would you give him for last nights 90 mins and penalty?


He wasn’t alone either

Harratt extremely poor.
Young poor - constantly going down a rabbit hole and losing the ball
Crichlow never a full back ( if that’s what he was supposed to be playing) in a million years ….too slow, no overlaps I can recall. Hendrie had less effect as a result. The young winger had Hendrie on toast several times.

The rest I would give a 6, except East who was a 9 first half and 7/8 second half.

I only give my opinion based on what I see, not because someone may agree or disagree , like or dislike it.

 

Yes Braybrook (?) was a good lively player, however East was better in the first half , in the second half that was reversed and explains why the game changed perhaps? Entertaining nevertheless.

 

Pretty fair reflection Vin , but not your comment about East. He ran our show in the first half.

 

That bunch of kids would comfortably finish bottom of this division of they played a full season in it though.

I'm certainly not buying into the doom and gloom after a penalty shoot out loss with a fringe side but neither am I accepting the narrative that Leicesters kids should be competitive at this level.

 

I'm not disputing that, he was very good.
He is a fantastic player with time and space around him.
A few challenges from opposition bigger than him when 2nd balls needed contesting saw him lose out which is why imo Gilliead's new found bite in midfield has East starting PJT matches instead of hustle and bustle lg2 games.

 

You may have a point, but with the right opposition in L2 this season he will start, he’s one for the future for sure.

 

I still think we miss that Cullen type player who is here, there and everywhere. If we could add this type of player or if Odasebe is that type of player, I think we’ll really kick on.