The Voice - Match preview Newport County vs Bradford City Saturday 23rd September 3:00pm

Based on absolutely nothing. Have you even seen them play this season? You're basing this on absolutely nothing. I think we'll improve when we have key players back but we are currently playing like a team in lower mid table.

Winning 1-0 every week does not equate to 'scraping' wins. You can only make that judgement if you watch the game.

 

Why are you upset that Gillingham aren't playing well? Weird hill to die on.

 

You'd come across a bit better if you shared your qualification to pass judgement on Gillingham's performances rather than throwing out the childish 'upset' line.

 

Not to totally derail the thread (sorry mods) but Gillingham fans are vocal about their unhappiness with performances.

https://forums.vitalfootball.co.uk/threads/our-attack-or-lack-of.133757/

There's more in the Morecambe thread.

There's no question their performances have been mediocre. Press comments, manager comments, fan comments all saying the same thing.

I suppose somewhere a Gillingham fan is saying Bradford City might be playing really well, as there is no way of knowing....

Is real analysis from the regulars enough @Bumblebee_Tuna, or is a total mystery?

 

I'd love us to play boring football. Yes they are bemoaning their lack of attacking quality but there isn't a single post saying they are playing badly. Just a lot of posts saying they are playing defensive, boring and pragmatic football. A number of them are happy with that approach. I'd love it if we were in their shoes. We have never looked like winning, never mind playing well. I'm not sure how much longer you can keep this up. Hopefully you won't need to when we get some key players back.

 

My overarching point is really that we only need to improve a bit to be getting Gillingham-esque results.

Either cut out the 1 goal we're conceding, or score a second.

Either way, turning the draws into narrow wins is the next step.

I'm not telling you it's going to be easy, but we also don't need to be starry-eyed when we look at other bang average teams who are probably out-performing us by 10-20 % at best.

Who knows.

Maybe we're going to stay bottom half until we sack Hughes. Maybe we're going to start narrowly winning games, building confidence, and winning fans back.

But I can't help but be a cynical bugger and think if we were playing like Gillingham are, narrowly winning, and being 'boring', many many City fans would not be happy about it. Some would, because results are really all that matter. But others hate 'boring' football regardless of how successful it is.

 

We do play boring football. Mind numbingly boring.

 

...... from 6th to 17th.

 

That's the point though Jon, we really don't.

We're miles away from a series of 1 0 wins like Gillingham have achieved.

Just saying, "yeah but it's only 1 goal" isn't quite enough when in games you're having your first shot on target in the 90th minute.

 

I think it's fair to say that V Harrogate we didn't even have a shot on target. The keeper fumbled and Walker knew very little about it. That just hit his head and went in.

 

We had one in target in the first half. Walker from a very acute angle.

 

You've said that a couple of times now, and I've said my part a couple of times now.

I believe I'm right, you believe you're right.

You can win still 1-0 with only a 90th minute shot.

It's not going to mean we played well or turned a corner, but it's certainly possible.+

Either we cut out the stray goals we're conceding most games (bar Morecambe where we got trounced) or we have to score another. If we're only getting one shot on target per game, it's gonna have to be the former.

 

Must have been when I went to the bog

 

Let's be honest, long distance trips and City wins have not gone hand in hand over the last couple of years. There's been a couple of good ones - Stevenage, Sutton - but also times when we haven't shown up - Crawley, Swindon.

If we lose then one of Salford or Harrogate will most probably be above us and maybe Colchester as well (although their match is tougher). Even a draw puts us at the back of a long line of mediocrity in the middle of the table.

So, we need to win. I'd like to see us come fast out of the blocks and push for an early goal. Like others, I worry where the goals will come from and given our lack of options up front I would be spending over time on set pieces and corners where a good routine could easily get us a goal or two.

Not very confident about the match overall.

 

Which is what we've been asking for in the last 60 games or so ...

 

So it looks like Cook and Patison will not be available against Newport with Hughes admits "Highly Doubtful" for the pair.

 

Hope the team bus sets off in good time..(Wales), heard one bloke say that he had been overtaken by 2 sheep on a tandem... !!

 

And that's exactly where we differ and in fairness, I'm delighted in that.

I apologise for being curt Jon but I absolutely, will never, ever, get on board with that kind of mentality.

I believe, I've seen with my own eyes, that the manager, and recruitment isn't good enough. If you believe it is then fine. I'll see you in August when you're trotting out the same narrative for next year's League two promotion push.

 

Edited for you

 

You don't need to. I've got my own narrative and I'm absolutely certain it's 100% correct