Most liked posts in thread: Positives...

6500 who paid £10 for a ticket. I fail to see how that supports the theory of doubling season ticket prices? Also, as others have said, the whole ground needs maintaining regardless which is likely part of our lease conditions. And clearly you're conveniently forgetting the times in the past 10-15 years when a 20k crowd has created a great atmosphere; imagine how much better the atmosphere would have been if there had been 15k+ City fans last night. I'd argue the impact of a better performance last night contributed more to the atmosphere than the removal of half the season ticket base.

I can't think of any mass-market business or sports team who has ever been successful by actively trying to reduce it's number of customers/fans. Add to that reduced commercial income from fewer fans and this becomes one of the most short-sighted, bonkers, proposals I've seen on here and that's saying something.

I really hope I'm ranting at a tongue in cheek comment as I'd hate to think someone could actually be this dim.

 

It worries me that a lot are saying "with Cook in that team we'd be winning". Last night, with Cook NOT in the team, we played some of the best, creative, on the deck football I've seen this season. Not sure if we'd have done that with a target man up front. I'd prefer to think, with Young in that team we're winning that. Nothing against Cookie, but a lot of the chances that we didn't put away, weren't his type of goal - especially this season. I'd say its a big decision for GA to make this Saturday, sticking with the same team, or putting Cook in and changing the dynamic (if he replaces Smith).

 

Oduor is like a man possessed at the moment. Having MacDonald and Smallwood behind him last night allowed him options to either layoff or turn and go, Alexander really has got into his head about effort and desire.

 

It's for me, taking that performance to Barrow.

That said, great appraisal of tonight

 

I just hope that the players now realise we have the ability to go for it

 

Now Odour is putting some real effort in, he looks like he could be our key man for the rest of the season. He was fantastic last night, just let down by his finishing. Gillead at LWB for me, solves the problem there, cover and mobility! Kavanagh looks a really exciting prospect, involved in everything up top. With Cook in that team last night, we're winning that! Typical, Cook was suspended so the team create more in front of goal, and supply the best crosses of the season, with no target man! Really hope injuries don't end up ruining this season

 

If he isn't right for Saturday which seems very doubtful, I hope Platt has recovered. If not then I would probably stick with Ridehalgh as Kelly's replacement rather than bringing Taylor back into the starting 11.

 

I'd rather play Pointon at centre half than see Taylor again

Shame for Kelly, feel like he's really come into his own on the left centre back role in the last few months.

 

Hope Kelly isn't out for a while, I just got used to not seeing Ash Taylor in the matchday 18.

We could do with Barrow and MK losing some to get dragged back into the race, there's a big pack of teams chasing 7th at the minute. But if we play that like, we have to be up and around there. Just need to have some cutting edge in attacks.

 

I don’t think massively reducing the capacity of the ground and depriving supporters of the chance to attend is a good business plan.

 

One positive for me was having fans in the Bradford End again. Felt like it gave a better atmosphere on TV seeing fans behind that goal again. I'd open the TL Dallas up again and move the NWC fans if need be and make it what they wanted originally, an atmosphere stand.

I had 1 season in the NWC when it first opened back up and we were in L1, remember watching Brad Jones' amazing display against Sheff United up there, but the whole season was so naff to watch. The view up there is terrible, I was closer to the bottom of the top tier and you cant make a thing out if anything happens in the corner near the away fans because of the scaffolding under the big screen and that area in general being very gappy, the ball just vanishes when crossed in or even held down there. But the noise just ends there too. Chants were barely heard, but since moving back to the lower kop, it feels the same the other way. I'm in block C and the efforts from the NWC rarely make an impact to my seating area (and I'm only 32, the hearing is working just fine ). Don't know if its the roof, bad design from connecting the two stands or what, but acoustics to and from that corner are poor for the effort.

 

Parader is a huge WUM - people are biting!!!

some of his/her recent posts have been quite funny though tbf

 

One big positive for me is McDonald. His presence in midfield and his use of the ball transforms the way we play. And it allows Gillead to play at left wingback which I think is his best position, and marked upgrade on Ridehalgh.

The worry is whether McDonald can play week in, week out. Young up front instead of Smith, and that team is one Id fancy for the playoffs.

 

We just need to win at Barrow by hook or by Crook (or should it be Cook) and use that performance last night as the catalyst to kick on.

It was in February that we were annihilated at Wembley in the League Cup final and had a mountain to climb (albeit games in hand) circa 2013, and we ground out an ugly win away at York, with Gary (oh Gary Thompson runs down the wing for me) Thompson bagging, that started a mini run and strong end to that season. We know how that ended.

There might be a few tired players on Saturday but the fans appreciated the players efforts - clear on social media and in the stands - and it could be the rallying moment to get behind the team now we have just one focus now.

 

Been in brilliant form? They've lost their last 3 and only won twice out of 9 games played in 2024. Should be an ideal time to play them but we all know what happens in these kinds of scenarios.....

 

How exactly regarding maintenance? An empty building still needs maintaining regardless.

 

I think we saw what this team can do, and what this club can be, when playing in front of 6500 loyal Bradford City supporters on a traditional Bradford City pitch.

The way forward has become clear. Double season ticket prices, and remove the top tiers from the Kop and Main Stand.

 

Honestly…Only on the basis Young is fit.

Front three would be Young , Odour and Kav on Saturday with Cook benched. Some may not like it but a decent weapon for later in the game imho. If Young isn’t fit, Cook plays from the get go, instead.

 

We don't have to give teams any more we deem necessary for league games though do we?

Make them make do with the two blocks in the midland road that's more than suffice, and nobody does us any favours why should we bend over backwards for them?

 

Oduor doesn't seem to have his own thread, so I'll just add my comments here. We've had some great performances from the likes of Gillead and Halliday all season, but for me, Oduor is the most improved player in recent weeks. I thought he played a blinder on Wednesday. I read recently that he was under instructions from Alexander to "run more" (or something like that). Even in previous games when he seemed to be drifting in and out of the action, he was still showing some great touches and technical ability. Now he's combining that with a load more effort, he's having a huge impact on how we take the game to the opposition. It's looking really positive for the run-in over the next couple of months.