The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Sutton United Saturday 17th February 2024 3:00pm

In fact that comment is a poor reflection on GA's preparation and coaching.

He will have known he wanted to keep Kevin Mc back for Wycombe so he should have been trying several options in central midfield to see who would be best.

It was a comment that was meant to show how professional Stubbs is, which was nice of him, but in doing so it made him look silly.

 

They tried it at training Friday so was played in training just not confirmed until Saturday

 

I think he had a fallout with their keeper at the end of the match and they had to be kept apart. The keeper then stormed off toward the bench.

 

Chapman wasn’t on the bench yesterday, but if he had been, do you honestly think him or pointon would have won anything at all against smith?? For me that would have been tantamount to tactical suicide, smith would’ve absolutely battered the pair of them and we would’ve probably conceded

 

In a small sided game GA said.....so hardly realistic.....

 

Why are you so intent on criticising? I'm all for doing that when it's warrented, but we've just won 3 league games on the bounce and GA has got the tactics right in each game. Who cares whether it was a small sided game or 11 v 11 in training if the end result worked OK?

 

Stubbs in midfield worked. He had a decent game tbf and kept possession and did a job.

we may have started with a lot of defenders but it was a banana skin of a game - one we’d often lose - and we should have had put them out of sight were it not for Cook’s wasteful finishing.

 

I'm not sure it did. Result wise we came away with the spoils but for a known long ball side Sutton had way more possession in midfield. That's not criticism of Stubbs but I thought the worst team in the whole league controlled large parts of the game in midfield.

 

The first half he was like a fish out of water, let’s be honest. GA played him deeper in the second half and it didn’t seem as noticeable . Should he do it again ? Only as Saturday, a last gasp no option choice..

 

To be fair, Smallwood would probably have done the same. Gilly sometimes too.

 

That one incident certainly riled the crowd. It was palpable.

 

I didn't notice that tbh. I have no issues with Stubbs himself. GA put him there and in the circumstances all I can ask is that he gives everything and does his best. Yes he isn't Messi, but I don't think he let anyone down.

 

Can't disagree especially Smallwood would have done it and slowed the game down, possibly the reason I noticed was because Odour had made the run once he passed to Stubbs, its just basics you are taught with regards playing football pass and move, at the end of the day we got all three points and that's the only thing that counted.

 

Not through choice no, but with Smallwood suspended and McDonald rested for Wednesday, I can understand why he felt the need to switch it up. Would never have envisaged it before seeing the line-up but he didn’t let anyone down in the end.

we got away with it against a poor side whose main threat was the big lad from long balls and set pieces. Thankfully Patrick and Angol were both garbage!

 

Agree 100%.

 

I don’t think it’s on any of the highlights. Odour won the ball on the edge of the main stand side penalty area in the first half. A clever run saw him breeze past three of the oppo, passed to Stubbs, just wanting a simple one-two passed forward and we were away . Stubbs held the ball and passed it sideways out to the wing towards the dug outs, perhaps Halliday? I heard the crowd groan in Norfolk!

 

That's the one I was alluding too, maybe it took Stubbs by surprise thinking this isn't how it works once Odour had made the run hence the sideways pass, HUGHES IS NO LONGER MANAGER SAM, I'd better comment it got us what we needed all three points or maybe someone would ask if I prefered we lost playing as we did against MK Dons .

 

I get the impression that GA is in Odour's ear quite a lot, not just in training but at half-time when he needs it, he obviously sees the talent in him. I think he was pushing him on Saturday as well by keeping him on for the full game, his legs looked to have gone after 70 minutes.
Not just to avoid a booking but I am glad GA is now sitting in the stand at the moment, from there he will get a better view of player's movement and workrate. A few pundits and journalists have been commenting on his more direct tactics, sometimes in a look down your nose way. However I think he is much better than that and is quite a clever coach/manager who looks to not only get the best out of players but also improve them, apparently he spends a lot of time on Andy Cook.

 

I think it’s pretty clear from GA’s comments that he needed to rotate the midfield and rest McDonald but given the injuries/suspensions didn’t have many options. Hence Stubbs did the job. It worked out ok given they play a very direct, physical game.

Feels like you’re being purposely obtuse just to have a moan. We haven’t started a CB in CM before and I’m fairly sure he won’t do it again if we have other options.

As for the love in for Pointon and Chapman, they’ve had their chances this season and not pulled up any trees. Given their direct competition (Kavanagh and Odour) have 3 goals and 2 assists between them in the last 2 games I’m not sure who you want to drop for them but surely not those two?