Match Thread Cheltenham Town v Bradford City FA Cup 1st Round - Sat 1 Nov 2025 3pm

Yeah and if we played Everton u21 reserves every week then I'm sure Humphrys would be just fine.

 

Have we talked about the blue / silver kit yet? I think it’s a jinx … Northampton, Donny, Rovrum and Cheltenham !!!

 

I accept the narrative people are building is possibly plausible but let's deal in facts.

Will Swans highest league return is 10 and Stephen Humphrys best league return is 11 with both men regularly failing to get to double figures. That trend also seems to be repeating itself in the league campaign with Humphrys scoring twice in 9 and Swan bagging 4 in 13.

I'm not saying Cook is our leading man and I'm not saying that I wouldn't want him replaced. What I am saying is that I'm very doubtful that we have that particular person currently at the club and as such I'm mystified why people are writing him off based on myths and an assumed narrative when he's not even been given a fair crack yet.

Given his record at the club and the lack of firepower mentioned above, I reckon that's the least we should be offering him.

 

If Swan and/or Humphrys were prolific, they'd be easy to pick and there wouldn't be a debate. The fact that they're not is why we're still not sure who the best option up front is - and also why they're playing in League One.

Kavanagh has to play up top or not at all for me - he's simply not good enough in the Bobby/Sarce role and I don't understand why GA continues to play him there. We have attacking midfielders who are very capable.

Cook is our best natural finisher but arguably the worst fit for our system. If Kelly and Byrne play, we'll just lump the ball up to Cook and hope that something comes of it. That didn't work especially well in L2, so should be even less successful in L1. Kelly and Byrne have had some alright games recently but their distribution is still poor and predictable.

On paper we should beat Burton. They will sit in and look to frustrate unless they intend to deviate from their normal approach. If we're still light on centre backs it wouldn't surprise me to see Touray start at CB and give Tyreik another go at LWB. If fit, I think he'll start Humphrys up front.

 

They sit back on rely on the break.. No doubt it will likely be a grueller.?

 

My thoughts entirely.

 

Not Tyreik Wright at LWB - AGAIN!! We know that that simply does not work, Plymouth tried it and GA tried it, Wright is not and never will be a wing-back!!

 

I'd 100% play Touray at LCB anyway. It gives us an extra attacker on that side as Touray and Wright/Richards can overlap, underlap and generally interchange which will hopefully create overloads and keep Burton guessing.

 

Tyreik did have one absolutely cracking game at left wingback recently. Can’t remember which one it was but his defending was excellent and he threatened going forward.

 

Hi Offy, I admit that sometimes Tyreik Wright does have the odd decent game and I will always admit to that, however on the whole his performances are not, for me, up to scratch.
He seems to lack desire, passion, drive and whatever else!
As a loanee from Aston Villa he was an exciting, attacking player who got you on your feet.
Since choosing Plymouth where he was largely a disappointment and failed, then returning to VP, he is far and away the player he was.
Of course I would like to see the old Tyreik back but for me, when he is either chosen in the starting eleven, or comes on as a sub, he does not fill me with much confidence that he has the ability and desire to change the game.

Everyone to their own, eh?!

 

I wasn’t suggesting that he is the best option at LWB. Merely pointing out that there are some occasions when it does work.
I’m as frustrated as everyone else by Tyreik Wright. What happened to that player who beat fullbacks for fun and slotted home chances in his first loan spell? He only shows positive intent in very short bursts. We’ve seen glimpses this season that he can still do it, but glimpses aren’t enough.

 

Hudders?

 

Yes. I think he also did well away at Cardiff too.

 

Thats the problem ,consistency is the difference between a good player and a great player

 

He frustrates the hell out of me! Where is that player that was here on loan first time around? Maybe, his stint at Plymouth where it seemed a bridge too far for him knocked his confidence to an all time low. However, he's had plenty of opportunities to rediscover his form but to me his body language just doesn't seem right. Who knows? He's human. He may have issues away from football.

 

I like TW. Yes he has not lived up to his first spell at City, but he is still creative. At the moment he cannot put it in the net for love nor money. I think we have to support him and show some patience. I probably wouldn’t start with him, but certainly off the bench. It definitely looks like a confidence issue, who knows, but I wouldn’t write him off just yet. Like everyone else it is frustrating to see so many of his chances are not going in.

 

Agree, frustrating enough and completely inconsistent enough to label him a decent L2 left sided player , but sadly I have come to the conclusion he can’t be classed as L1 quality or a starter in any of our best 11.

 

Contract runs out next year, maybe an opportunity to replace him in Jan.

 

So they dont count ?????