Leyton Orient away 14/12/2019

I think you’re missing the point of a lot of posters when you say ‘hysterical reactions’ , reactions which are predominantly down to the lack of entertainment, attacking intent and general boring approach to away games and those that go are feeling very short changed.

I’ve said it before Bowyer should see out the season, I’m also comfortable with our points tally but don’t expect hordes of city fans to keep following the team away because its just mind numbingly poor to watch.

 

One thing I think managers forget in their tactical
world,is football is an "entertainment" industry!
Fans pay their money to be entertained.

If results are the be all and end all then ask the
1000 who were their Saturday if a point in a
dour encounter made it worth their while
bothering?

 

Apart from two or three usual suspects, no one is saying it's a disaster. You are overreacting to what you claim is an overreaction.

Of course it's not a disaster. Being threatened with relegation would be a disaster. Being effectively joint third is clearly not a disaster.

But it's a bit more than disappointing.

We all know that we've had a terrible run of injuries that have affected our options and I agree that Bowyer has done well to get us where we are in those circumstances. But Donaldson and Devitt aside, we've got a virtually full squad available now.
We have, for this level, quality midfielders in Cooke, Pritchard, Palmer and now Reeves. Any three of those should be passing teams off the park, creating chances galore and bossing games at this level, but they're not being allowed to be positive. We've got sheer pace in Connolly and trickery in Ismael, but they're not getting games, even off the bench. We have two fullbacks who have shown themselves to be good at getting forward and putting crosses into the box, but they're hardly crossing the halfway line. We have a proven PL/Championship striker and a promising, rapid, Championship loanee who are getting two or three half chances per game between them and, therefore, not scoring, when they really ought to be scoring for fun at this level.

A point away at the worst form team in the division, with the second worst defence, is more than just disappointing, especially when you set up in a way that makes it damn near impossible to create scoring chances. It's pretty shameful, actually.

I'm generally seen as a happy clapper. I defended Parky's pragmatism. I even tried to support Hopkin until it became obvious that he'd lost the plot. I want to like Bowyer; he seems like a decent bloke, with the interests of the club at heart. But this unnecessary ultra negativity is straining even my patience. I don't expect to travel away and watch PL skills or tika taka football. And I understand being negative if you're in a relegation battle. But with the players we have and the position we're in I do expect us to attempt to win games against teams with bad defences at the bottom of the league. Bowyer keeps praising our wonderful away following but seems happy to serve them up utter dross like Saturday. There is a limit to how much boredom people will pay to endure when they see a team that, on paper is capable of so much more. No one expects us to throw caution to the wind, but there has to be a happy medium, surely?

 

I recall the pics spread over the back pages of various tabloids - Featuring hoards of Arsenal fans (with their banners) wanting Wenger OUT. OH! What they'd do to have him back, right now, huh ?

An old cliche, I know - But the season is a marathon, not a sprint.

 

Articulately put, and I buy into a lot of what you say. Bowyer is placing himself on a 'high wire', where just one slip could be devastating. HAD Orient got a fluky goal, City didn't show any wherewithal to be able to pull anything back - and that is the concern for me regarding Bowyers tactics.

 

Definitely. We were fortunate to get a draw. They hit the bar, had several goalmouth scrambles and shots blocked and a penalty shout turned down. If they'd scored I don't think we'd have found a way back. We gifted them the momentum by being so ultra negative.

 

I'm sure the fans who went down to Orient on Saturday thought this was the game we'd have a conclusive victory,unfortunately that was not the case.
I can't remember in the games I've attended so far this season teams being entertaining, certainly not at Valley Parade, Crewe have been the only team that looked like they could play on the ground.
I'm not sure Bowyer wants criticism from Bradford City fans but maybe he thinks this is the best way with players at his disposal to get out of this league and if I'm honest I'll go along with that to get us straight out of this league.
Then the test would be getting players into the club who could keep us in league one possibly playing a more attractive game.

 

The problem with the last three games especially is the line up from the start. It negates any goalscoring threat that Vaughan may have by giving Reeves no outlets to get the attack moving. 2 goals in those three games, one gifted to us does not bode well moving forward, especially when there are attacking options on the bench.

 

The worst thing is we've got Reeves back so most of us thought Cooke would be allowed to push further up and support the strikers but it's been anything but that. Cooke, Reeves and Taylor all played as defensive midfielders on saturday which just invited more pressure onto us.

 

I think the hordes of fans who follow City away will still continue to turn up, irrespective of how we may be playing at the moment. Its the nature of fans to do so

 

Reeves does what Cooke has been doing only better. Can't have them both doing the same role. Taylor is a good foil for Reeves, got to then decide how we get an attacking threat going. Two upfront? Cooke pushed further up? A winger or two? Reeves and Vaughan have to play which leaves 4 positions open to create goal scoring opportunities. I don't think Reeves and Cooke would work as a two, they're too similar, Reeves and Taylor works better for me. Could push Cooke further up but i'm not sure thats the answer. Don't like Pritchard wide at all, don't mind him central. Devitt is a big miss on the right of a front three. Donaldson is a big miss as a pivot for a front three. Both Ismail and Connolly are very hit and miss, more miss than hit. Otehs pace and strength at times is our only outlet, i think with playing so many bloody different variations none of them have had enough time to sure which is more promising. I forgot Palmer but again he's too similar to Cooke and Reeves and Reeves is the better of the three.

i'd probably go with this injuries permitting 4,2,3,1

Usual keeper and back four
Reeves , Taylor
Devitt Pritchard, Connolly
Donaldson or Vaughan

 

Not sure Idle, i'll wait and see how we line up against Salford and i've been to most away games this season.

 

Well if Bowyer is as good as his word in the interview with Radio Leeds his quote was "why change a winning team especially with a return of 4 points from a possible 6 and two clean sheets".

 

Theres no way he can possibly name an unchanged side on Saturday

 

Don't shoot the messenger @bantam2708 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p07xxs42, but I do agree at home to Salford we must be more positive.

 

Can't imagine any club sacking a manager whilst the team is in a play off position. Wonder how it would turn out were it ever to happen. Certainly wont happen with JR in charge so just as well he doesn't know football.

 

The trouble is that it's very rare at our level to find a manager who can effectively organise defence, midfield and attack. Just like the players in League 2, they're inconsistent. For what seems like ages we've had managers who were midfielders themselves, usually defensive ones, and none of them had or has the slightest clue how to coach attacking play. They have usually been able to organise defence and midfield ok but then they're just guessing. And I include Stuart in that. I began to doubt Bowyer in the very first friendly of the season at Guiseley when we played two halves of 4-3-3 and created very little. He's floundering at the moment, that's for sure, and I've no idea how the rest of the season will pan out. But if we carry on playing as we are things could easily turn very unpleasant for him.

 

Play him in the box not 35 yards from goal looking for flick ons etc like Vaughan is.

 

I agree with all your post except for the highlighted, if Bowyer is getting results as he has been doing, and we are still in the top 5 or so, yes fans will grumble but if promotion is our goal we may have to accept getting results against performances.

 

I'm disappointed at the lack of quality in league two, last time we were here the standard of the teams was much better.