The Voice - Match preview Crawley Town vs Bradford City Friday 7th April @ 3:00pm

No time for experimentation at this stage of the season. If it’s forced, it’s forced but he won’t change , neither would I.

The Grimsby goals
1st was Lewis fault, he told Platt to leave it, he did so don’t blame Platt
2nd A general melee after a fail to clear by several players.

We don’t have time to mess about. MH would get pilloried all over Bradford if it failed!

 

2 defeats in 17 starting all those with 4 at the back.
Not a chance he will change like you say.
A tweek or 2 up top to create chances and score more goals maybe.

 

Agree, as much as I like Crichlow, now is not the time to experiment with only 8 crucial games left.

Regarding the Grimsby goals, I put both of them down to Lewis. Yes he’s been a good keeper on the whole for us this season, but the howler at Newport and his inability to distribute decent balls game after game could have cost us vital points

 

I believe Lewis shouted for Platt to leave it - pretty sure I heard it anyway!

 

No way of telling for a shout, I just think neither knew where the striker was and when they did he had momentum and yards on both. It's tier 4, naff defending and awareness happens. Thankfully for us it hasn't happened that often this season.

I'd probably start Platt, but I think over the last month or so he's slipped compared to performances at the start of the season, just thinking back to a few games where he isn't winning as many headers, he got bullied at home a few weeks back but Stubbs cleans up most anyway. Although Saturday was probably Platts worst game at VP I dont see the value in changing a back line that doesn't lose unless of injury or suspension.

 

I think that one was 100 percent on Lewis myself.

A rare howler, but we got away with it in the end!

 

Several from the Kop said Lewis shouted “ keeper”. I certainly can’t corroborate it!

 

My take is Costello in for Chapman, with Derbyshire for the last 20?
Banks ….I’m not sure , but he needs to up his game!

Costello has been really effective away from VP in taking weight off Cookies shoulders . Chapman has his own problems at the moment, so Costello for me.

 

So it DOES have an effect on supporter numbers then?

 

Agreed about Costelloe at Doncaster and Gillingham but at Walsall and Newport he was really poor.
Hughes isn't afraid to make the changes if necessary.
Personally, I like both Banks and Chapman and for all their flaws I think both are more capable of providing a bit of magic whereas Costelloe is more work manlike and puts in the yards.
I'm sure those who look at opposition's stats will know where their weaknesses are and what we need.
Runners or technical players??
Hughes will use these to decide who to play.

 

Absolutely for regular away games.
However, if this was a play off semi and it was live on Sky there would still be a queue snaking round the car park from about 5am to get tickets.
It’s been said that people will make more effort for must win games with something riding on them.
Well I would say the last 8 games have EVERYTHING riding on them and supporters should be pulling out all the stops to get to games as if they’re all cup finals.
We have an amazing chance this season to get auto promotion. Support the lads from the stands not your fecking armchairs

 

A positive one yes.

 

That's simply untrue.

 

It probably doesn't help that public transport will be Sunday service on Good Friday. This may dissuade some southern-based Bantams who might otherwise have gone to Crawley.

Also, it's a bloody long schlepp to West Sussex from Bradford unless you have other reasons to go to London to stay with family or friends. And it's Easter weekend, so many people (eg me) have family visiting them, or are visiting family, making it unacceptable for them to just bugger off for a whole day for a football match, however much they might want to.

There are a lot of away games coming up - five, in under a month, which is almost unprecedented. It's hardly surprising if people are prioritising other matches, such as Rochdale, Crewe and Northampton, which are easier to get to.

Not everyone is a fanatic, whose social and family life allows them a pass-out to go to every game, home or away, without seriously upsetting their nearest and dearest. And, even if they are, most people can't afford afford five awaydays in a month. So maybe you should consider backing off on the holier than thou guilt-tripping.

 

I think the point he's making is that if you add up the number attending in person, plus those watching on iFollow, the total will be considerably greater than if there was no iFollow option, because most of those watching on iFollow wouldn't have gone to Crawley anyway.
It probably has a marginal effect on those attending - because most of those who would go to Crawley are hard core, committed types who go all over the pace, regardless of distance. But it attracts thousands watching on iFollow who wouldn't have gone, so the club benefits from money it wouldn't otherwise have got.

 

I heard it loud and clear from my seat in lower kop

 

Sorry, I'm in Manchester on Saturday at a six course Japanese tasting event, Can't wait, especially as every time I've been in Manchester on a match day this season, we have won away from home. Bring home the tree pints lads, whilst I tuck into to tepanyaki

 

That's not the original point made though. The discussion was whether football league games being televised had a negative effect on attendance.

They are being disingenuous and attempting to spin the discussion.