Match Thread Papa Johns Trophy Bradford City V Sheffield Wednesday 30/8/2022

Not only that, he got back and defended well with a couple of important headers. He was excellent tonight, but like you say, a rough diamond and just as likely to have a mare if he starts on Saturday as he is to play another blinder.

 

So do I but I’m 67!

 

Respect your opinion. Why keep Platt when Crichlow is a much more mobile player as Odusina sounds to be. 2 quick CH's mopping up would be a dream combination at this level.

 

Hope some on here aren't gonna flip flop with their opinion from game to game. Give Hughes time and he will get it right. I think a few have over reacted to our league start when in reality we aren't that far off from getting it right. Tonight showed we can play well against open sides, if a team comes to park the bus then we will have to be patient.

 

Not Young, I thought both his goals were quality, especially his second bamboozled the Wednesday defence and the keeper.

 

In theory youre right but i'll guarantee you if Smallwood is fit he will start every game. He's that important.

 

Yes a tough call Dave,, goals were well taken.Can’t knock him!

 

So what did he do…That’s all I asked?

 

I find the thought of dropping Smallwood truly and utterly hilarious. He wasn't even that bad on Saturday, did very little wrong and did his job in winning possession and giving it to a creative team mate.

We always seem to look for problems that are not there. The issue is not the keeper, back four or midfield two. The issue is a lack of boldness by the creative front three and I very much include Banks in this - although playing Angol in that position was the biggest issues.

Smallwood has not come here a replacement for Watt. He's a midfield enforcer, something we've lacked in years. In fact I'd say he's the first midfield 'boss' Gary Jones.

He needs to be judged for what he's in the team for, not what version of Mason Mount we think we should be getting at L2 level.

 

Agreed ..... but for Gillead? Not a chance imo.

 

I've said a couple of times that Angol is our best option for holding the ball up in the lone striker role. Trouble is he doesn't score many and Cook does. The question is which of them would lead to the team scoring most goals. From what we've seen so far signing Oliver looks like a big mistake and I can't understand the thinking behind it.

 

As you say both full backs had good games, I think Ridehalgh has done enough to keep his place but I would seriously think about bringing Hendrie back, at 6'2" he just shades the right full back position IMO.

 

Could Hughes find a formation to get the best out of a Cook, Angol pairing we know they looked the part at the start of last season under Adams ?.

 

Really enjoyable game. Good finishes. Defended well.

 

Had the pleasure of sitting in front of some of the "yoof" this evening, a thoroughly pleasurable evening of plastic cups and lollies thrown at the back of people's heads and one absolute scrote dropping a glass bottle of moretti on the floor between the seats.

Top stuff really, and that's without mentioning the constant c bombs and 17 year old chav birds threatening to "throw some hands" at pretty much every person they mentioned all night.

Must be fun in the NWC corner.

 

Quite possibly. Hughes also said that Harratt wants to play down the middle too and he hasn't been able to fit him in there. And I suspect Young would be happier in a more central role too. But if we stick with one main striker a few are going to be disappointed. And if Pereira turns up as well that's going to further complicate the issue. I've said a few times that our recruitment seems, yet again, to have been done without considering a clear pattern of play. We've loads of very good and very promising players but I'm blowed if I can see the best system or best option to get the most effective team on the pitch and keep them all happy. Tonight's display threw up more questions than it answered.

 

Ran the midfield with East. Won and intercepted the ball and then pushed the forwards to attack supplying the forwards with the ball so they did not have to come back in to midfield looking for it. Some of his runs split there defence and created the chances to score which has been lacking in previous games

 

Give over. “Ran the midfield”, I nearly fell off my chair laughing!

 

Yes intit great, not heard Sparkies post match interview yet but bringing two new faces in after our summer recruitment is mind blowing especially if one is "Dion The Wanderer".

 

That of course is your opinion but the fact remains when played in his proper midfield role we create chances. Some players look good and create nothing while others may do less but what they do counts towards a winning team. This his first game and he will get better given the chance