Opening Home Game vs Cambridge United Aug 3rd

Exactly mate, playing in centre mid with a wingers mentality almost.

 

Thoroughly enjoyed the occasion today and will certainly be back to Valley Parade before Christmas. Really enjoyed the stadium and there was a good atmosphere, particularly coming from the Kop. The anxiety coming from the stands was certainly there at times, without it taking much for some moans and groans to burp up. Understandable, though, it's obviously been a difficult period and everyone is so desperate for things to pick up, and I was as frustrated as everyone else when they didn't capitalise on the extra man. Cambridge did a pretty tidy job of spoiling, it has to be said.

I think City will do well this year, on that basis. Might be the benefit of neutrality but I thought there was a lot of positives from a team with lots of new players and a new (iffy, limited) system. The players were gritty and dug in and knocked it about alright, just lacked width and speed of passing. There's obviously not much pace in the side but what seemed more laboured was the playing it through the lines... your man Doyle doesn't look cut out for that role in the hole.

Vaughan's overhead effort in the first half was tremendous and Donaldson was desperately close in the second. Vaughan should have done better with his chance when he robbed the defender, and Scannell snatched at one, too. On another day, two of three of them go in and it's the comfortable victory Bradford deserved.

Mellor, Richards-Everton and Donaldson all stood out for me, so too the lad wearing number 24 who came off the bench.

Overall, enjoyed the day, pity they didn't nick the goal they were worthy of. I remember the last time Newcastle went down; we lost at Fulham then at home to Huddersfield. That was bloody miserable and pessimistic, but we won the league. So, early doors, keep the faith!

 

Nice to read a neutral point of view. Think you have it spot on too.

Hope you enjoyed your day in Sunny Bradford, and the locals looked after you

 

The number 24 is our home grown player Danny Devine. Like you I thought he did well when he came on. It is not a universal opinion however and I am anticipating pelters for us both for saying he did OK. He has suffered from being our home grown player as he has been kept as a bench filler when a period playing first team football elsewhere would have benefited him. Ironic for a rule intended to support young talent.

 

Read all the comments so far, as ever, differences of opinion, but that’s how it goes! FWIW - mine are:
O’Donnell - not a lot to do, but, composed when needed. I thought he looked to pick a pass when kicking out, and, got it right most of the time.
O’Connor - again, composed. BRE - enjoyed his tackling, but think he’ll always have a mistake in him. Full-backs had a thankless task for 75 minutes, with barely any midfield support. However, didn’t like that Henley and Longridge were cutting back to their right foot. Left-side had nothing.
Palmer - I actually thought he had a reasonable game - swap him for where Doyle (let go or put on the bench) was trying to play and he could easily pick out through-balls.
Vaughan and Donaldson - I think they’ll get the better of most defences.
Anderson and Gibson - no thanks.

Overall, pleased with the effort, if not the execution. Obvious after 5 minutes that width was needed. Wouldn’t have wanted any of their players in our team.

 

All about learning mate and we have plenty to improve on after today average at best showing, I know the modern game is very much about systems/formations but can lads on the bottom run of the ladder take these systems/formations onboard and play them.
Sorry I'm still a fan of 4-4-2 it does not have to be two wide men as someone posted the other day Parkinson played with the one wide man in Reid and Thompson out wide on the right but more as a right sided midfield player who could cross, Stuart the same Marshall your wide man and McMahon playing in a wide midfield birth.
certainly on today display we as a team have a lot to learn if Bowyer persist with 4-3-3.

 

He did more in his first five seconds than Anderson did all the time he was on.

 

What about the only incitefull through pass in the whole match that set Vaughan up at the start of the second half.We really struggled after they had a man sent off and at the same time Anderson went

 

You keep coming mate because you saw the game exactly how i saw it. Can't disagree with any of your comments.

 

I think you might just be forgetting about the pass of the match from Gibson to set up Vaughans overhead kick.

 

That was Palmer wasn’t it?

 

Thought that was the one he meant, quality ball and unlucky with the scissor kick, what a way to win the game on your debut.

 

I maybe wrong, my regular postings indicate i usually am.

 

Devine would be far better in a deep role keeping it simple and breaking up play. He got the ball just outside the box a few times when he came on, attacking play just doesn’t suit him imo every time he got it I just expected nothing to come of it.

 

Park mentioned second half, the overhead was first half.

 

Just thought Danny looked much more composed and was actually trying to make things happen.

 

Yes of course there was so much to comment and remember about the game I got excited and much have got my wires crossed not for the first time .

 

Devine played further forward when he came on Anderson sat back more and I thought he tackled pretty well personally I was disappointed in Palmer no doubt he is a good footballer with a good pass on him but he was far to deep for me. And for the most part his free kicks and corners were a disappointment

 

That bit of skill by Vaughan is something we’ve seen all too rarely. But in typically City fashion it didn’t make the blindest bit of f*cking difference

 

just seen it on twitter, it was Gibson with the pass. The first touch by Vaughan and speed of thought to go for the shot is something i haven't seen in a striker at VP since Wells. The lad has pace to burn and his commitment for the team is there for all to see. You can tell i like this lad a lot.