Bradford had not won in the league since Cook last played a month ago.

Well yeah, we were playing without any presence up front whatsoever we were always going to struggle, whether or not it was a player of Cook's quality who was out (and he did look like he was struggling before his injury). Knowing Oliver was out I don't know why we didn't just get some lower league clogger to fill in should Cook get injured - it didn't need to be anybody particularly good even, just someone to knock the centre backs about for a few games whilst Cook came back

 

Im glad we didnt bring a player in rather than someone who isn't particularly good.

The club gets criticised enough for panic signings on deadline days.

 

Agree Jon, I don’t think it’s a case of “ Talisman” though , rather we are just so lightweight without him.
Generally he needs two centre backs to mark him, thus creating space for others. Sadly we won’t see too many performances like that , because there won’t be many opponents willing to play open expansive football , as Park alluded to last night , especially at Valley Parade.
Agree however, he has been missed, similar to the Bobby Campbell effect of old?

 

I’ll get stick for this, but I’ve said all along that Oliver is nearly as important to the squad as Cook is.

The option to take Cook out of the firing line, whether that’s an in game sub, rested from the start, dropped through form or cover when injured, is about as pivotal to our season as anything else.

In Oliver I hold hope we have solid competition for Cook and I hope when he’s fit he can come in and give us a much needed bolster to the front line. On paper Cook, Smith and Oliver is a very decent frontline to be pushing for top 7.

 

Difference yesterday to the rest of the games Cook has played this season was actually getting balls into the box. There was a chance for him before he'd scored where he headed over but it reminded you what he was capable of if chances were being created, something our previous set ups had not been doing.

 

Agree. Offensively we were so much better yesterday and got the ball into the box so much more. In fairness, whilst Cook was out we had no focal point so crossing it to no target didn’t make sense.

This said, credit has to be given to Cook for his two headers. The first was good but the second was absolutely quality. The way he attacked it and managed to direct into the corner from 10 yards out was class.

 

The Newport radio team were singing his praises. Saying he’s absolutely unplayable and giving their centre back Drysdale and absolute hiding. Also impressed with Tulloch.

 

There are always factors as to why you play well as a team. I've not seen a team give us so much space in attacking areas this season, and their captain had possibly the worst individual performance I've seen all season. That said you have to take advantage of these situations and that first 45 minutes we looked a level above what I thought looked a pretty limited side.

 

But it wasn't a panic signing in June when pretty much everyone said we needed another centre forward to take the pressure off Cook given that Oliver was having an operation and we knew he'd be out long term.

 

It always seems a huge pitch thus giving us the space ?. Maybe it’s an illusion?

 

Our two main outlets have not been on the pitch. It will only get better. Osadabe needs removing and we will be fine..,

 

I said on the match thread that it sounds like I am being wise after the event but I was absolutely convinced we would be better when Cook got his mojo back.
It’s not even that big a claim and doesn’t make me some sort of soothsayer.
We had to be better when he came back and got some decent service.
He was the best striker in the division by a distance last season FFS.

How could any team not be better with their best striker back.

All his 3 goals yesterday couldn’t be scored by anybody else in our squad.

Tulloch got lots of praise but McDonald in midfield might be the biggest factor in Cook getting his mojo back.
No Smallwood means the ball gets forward a bit quicker and the front players don’t get frustrated at watching the ball go backwards and forwards between Smallwood and the 2 CH’s.

Get Pattison back fit and firing and we will be even better.

The argument that they both played in the shit games is a valid one but everybody in those games was woeful.
We saw last season that at this level in their respective positions they are as good as anybody in Lge 2.

It’s taken Cook a while to get off the mark but hopefully this is the start of a decent run.

 

You have clearly twisted what I said.

I was replying to the post that suggested we could have brought someone in who didnt have to be' particularly good' just to cover Cook.

For the record, all summer I said we needed another striker. Perhaps my ambitions are higher though as I prefer to bring in quality over quantity

 

oliver is about as much use as a chocolate tea pot .

 

He was a disappointment last season for sure. Had a poor start and couldnt get any sort of run in the side due to Cooks superb season. He is the only similar type of player we have though. The point is, had he been fit he would have replaced Cook over the past month and we wouldnt have had to completely change the way we play. Lots of criticism about the slow build up etc but with no focal point up front, the option of going long just hasnt been there.

 

He struggled at the start but last season when he was back up to Cook he played a huge role in allowing Cook to come off to give him a rest which we didn't have the season before. When Cook lost form around Christmas Oliver came in and had a decent game against Harrogate and a very good game against Salford. His stats from last season in terms of aerial duels won per 90 minutes were up there with the best in the league and for a lot of last season he was ahead or level with Cook.

 

Spot on @Morley Bantam @Birky Bantam . Get Oliver match fit and in theory we’re nicely set up. I think we all hoped for more from him last season but as you’ve said Cook’s form and lack of chances really didn’t give him much chance.

The one pass I’ve given Hughes is he was dealt a tough card losing Cook when Oliver was also out. However he should have found another solution in our approach to games.

 

Turning this around, Cook started both games we lost, and were unbeaten without him.

Stats eh?

 

We get criticised anyway so I'd rather we did what was best for the squad regardless of what Johnny Numbers on Twitter thinks of it