Home vs Crawley Town 19th October

Well I can find value in the arguments of almost everyone on this thread... it's a great dilemma to have! Like someone said recently, nice to be arguing who should be playing rather than who shouldn't for a change.

For what it's worth, I'd bring Mellor in for Henley, maybe Vaughan in for Donaldson (keep changing my mind on this) and keep the O'Cs unless Crawley have a particularly big monster up front - harsh on BRE as he's probably been our best player so far this year but, like Vaughan, if you get a silly suspension and the player who replaces you plays well you only have yourself to blame if you can't get back in

 

It's not harsh at all. It's football.

You play your best team unless it's a cup match or meanless match or if a player is out of form.

BRE wasn't out of form and is out best defender.

Think about what you're saying. Barca go unbeaten without Messi do you think they're benching him? No! He will go straight back in when fit.

Play your best players when fit!

AOC will have to live with it but he I hope he understands it's football.

 

I'd leave BRE out. The team have been winning, the centre backs have performed well enough and I think it's an important principle for the team that if you come in and do well, you keep your shirt. Team above individuals.

Added to which, it was a moronic sending off. He shouldn't just waltz back in.

 

Love your comparison mate Messi and BRE, but I do agree until his suspension BRE was IMO our best central defender.

 

It's a point.. you don't leave out your best players if fit!

BRE is better than AOC.

Bradford City the Charity club! We need to start having some balls!

A number of our fans mindset is weak. We need to start getting tough. We need to stop feeling sorry for people when it comes to the game. It's a game but you can't be weak!

Start demanding more and expecting better!!

 

Think we will go 4-4-2 team
O Donnell

A OC P OC. BRE. Wood

Connelly. Cooke. Akpan. Pritchard

Vaughan. Oteh

 

Why would you play a CB at RB when we have two more than capable right backs in Mellor and Henley? Don’t agree with shoehorning 3 CBs into the side because they’re playing well, surely this is a dream of a headache for Bowyer picking 2 out of the 3 when they’re all playing so well.

 

You don't change a winning team, the CB's have done well without him. Leave it as it is and if one of the CB's has/having a bad game then change it. BRE lost his place due to being banned and has to earn his place back in the team and not just have a place guaranteed. It's not good for moral dropping a player whose doing well and done nothing wrong.

 

Before his sending off BRE had got into a habit of making clumsy/dangerous tackles which had been detrimental to the team. Sitting on the bench will give him time to consider his actions in the future.

 

Absolutely baffled by this. Why?

 

Centre back conundrum aside, how good is it waking up on a Saturday and not just hoping to win, but expecting to win!

bowyer must be given a lot of credit for turning the demise around, I can see us topping the table Tuesday night

 

Just to change the subject a little. Raining today and has been for e while. Must get the sprinklers on and quickly

 

Crawley have scored a few but also conceded a lot. We need to get into them from the kickoff I’m going 3-1 City. Will Finnie today’s referee it’s his first season as an EFL official in ten games so far 42 yellows 1 red. Maybe anything could happen.

 

You don't change a winning team if it includes all your best players on form.

 

BRE is our best CB in the air, without a doubt. But AOC is better on the deck. BRE cost us a valuable away point at Cheltenham with an unnecessary tackle from behind and them got himself sent off doing the same thing.
Since he's been out we've played better as a team and our midfield has improved via Cooke and Akpan's better form. AOC is much better at linking play with the midfield than BRE so there's a very good case for retaining him. He's been a significant part of our recent better results and should keep his place, unless Crawley have a big beast up front.

 

Is he still the best player when he's missed the last three games, hasn't played competitively for three weeks and is likely rusty?

Everyone wanted Paudie in the team once fit but when he did get in he was rusty for a couple of matches.

Another good saying in football - don't change a winning team!

 

They've scored at least one in their last 19 matches. Hopefully we can score more than one although I'm fearing for another cagey first 45 minutes, 0-0 at HT and then Bowyer getting into them at HT to make them play in the second half.

 

Its a bloody good position to be in, whom ever is selected to play today. Last season we were scratching around for one decent centre half in form, never mind three.
Long may it continue

 

BRE makes exciting recovery tackles. As someone who has played centre back, I prefer AoC, who reads the game better and so does not get caught out as much and have to make last ditch recovery tackles. As a pairing, though, they work well. The great news is Paudie also works pretty well with them. I'm not sure of I prefer Paudie to BRE or not. I'll reserve judgement on that but, obviously, Paudie is good and has loads of potential to develop. Maybe, we might have to decide at the end of the season on who scores most goals. I think they'll all get a few. AoC scored 6 last season so I could see him getting more if he plays regularly. Plus he distributes the ball better so long as he doesn't drop the odd hollywood howler. AoC is best but I'm pleased to say there's not much in it and perfectly happy with the other two.

Don't change a winning team, especially the back 4. Tinkering leads to trouble. We've seen this many times in the past. Players that play well and get dropped sometimes stop playing well. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 

4-4 f****** 2 today for me
O donnell
Mellor Poc Aoc wood
Connelly akpan Cooke Pritchard
Donaldson Vaughan