Most liked posts in thread: Preseason lack of goals anything to worry about

Wow...

Wow...

Are you joking?

Is this a joke?

Last season:

Cancelled friendly vs Eccleshill.
5 friendlies against non league opposition.
1 win.
3 run outs for our first team.
1 game against opposition above us in the league.
Michael Collins saying the opening two defeats are positives.
Edin Rahic signing dross.
No idea about formation.
No idea about best first XI.
Apologies ahead of the first game of the season.
Collins declaring the honeymoon period is over mid-preseason.

Last season's preseason was the ultimate farce. There was no professionalism, no quality set up anywhere to be seen. No positive PR, no bond between club and fans, nothing.

You're comparing THAT, to THIS?

Ridiculous.

 

We’ve played three games against opposition from a higher league including the European champions.
Playing a side that has chopped and changed.
I’m not too worried by what we’ve done so far, but do think we might lack goals from midfield.

 

One thing about the penalties gained, is that our strikers, Donaldson in particular, have been getting into dangerous positions to draw the fouls.

 

If after 6/7 league games we aren’t scoring from open play then yes worry, friendlies where you don’t often play your full strength team for 90 minutes nah.

 

The other difference is that we were clueless on the training ground last season. Sounded like it was a bit of a doss down at Apperley Bridge. We had no proper fitness coach. Did we even have a GK coach? Hopkin said the players didnt have protein bars and ice baths to aid recoveries either etc.

This year I think Bowyer has worked them properly. Staff are in place and we’ve done teambuilding trips to various places, like the assault course place and boxing gym.....it feels like this has been a proper pre-season.

 

If we weren't getting into the opponents penalty area we wouldn't be getting penalties.
From what i've seen of the pre season we seem to be playing some good football going forward and we should create chances.
It's not long since we went nearly all season without winning a penalty.
I hope we win a penalty every game this season.

 

I think it's going to be interesting to say the least to say what Donaldson, Vaughan and Scannell can produce in terms of goals.

In terms of 'big' players, no team will have a more reputable front three.

But that means nothing if they don't work well together and actually put the ball in the back of the net - and they certainly haven't been free scoring in preseason.

Part of me worries they just won't kick on and tear teams apart... Because if they don't, we're pretty much relying on set pieces to eek out 1-0 wins. Our midfield had nothing, and is our defence really that tight?

At the moment, I'm thinking more scraping into the play offs than automatic promotion.

That's not a negative or a problem for me either, it is what it is.

 

Why does that matter? Most if not all of our players live in Leeds anyway.

 

It really annoys me when people use the 'they aren't going to want to come and live in Bradford' argument like we are the most disgusting place on earth. There are actually some very nice areas within the BD postcode and failing that, like you say, Leeds is just up the road, and places like Harrogate, York and Manchester are all within an easy commute.

 

i don't get this worry going around. On Saturday at Dale, we pretty much dominated the first half and could have had 3, if not 4 at a stretch. We had a few one on ones with some lovely through balls played. The 3 up top looked really good, and Doyle looked very comfortable in the middle and was putting in a good shift. Gibson had another great game, he made forward runs and beat other players, playing the right balls with good consistency. Palmer and Anderson looked very assured. The defence looked solid and we restricted them to 1 shot on target. I don't know what people expect, we aren't going to be like a Luton or a Bournemouth and put 3 to 4 goals a week past teams. That takes time and years of building a team. However I still believe we can score in the majority of games this season.

 

I think once we get a settled 11/14, the goals will come. We have real experience at the top, I still think we need a ball carrying midfielder, but I am hopeful we can get one of those soon. If not, we will have to hope our current players can step up to the plate.

 

Five penalties I think so far. 2 v brighouse, 1 v Liverpool, 1 v wigan and another 1 v rochdale

 

Worry about? No. Consider whether it demonstrates the need to strengthen our midfield and left wing? Absolutely. We need a couple more with real quality to give our forwards the ammunition to fill their boots.

 

Everything points to a lack of creative and goals from midfield for me.

Until we address that by signing a player to solve that problem we won't be able to rest.

 

Well they must be delighted that house prices in Bradford are so reasonable then.

 

We could have always played an under 18s team and knocked in double figures for goals and that would have got our stats up. But so what? Makes no odds.

Comparing it to last season is laughable. Every pre season players play bit parts. Always works like that. Especially when you’ve got a whole new squad like we have to blend in. Plus with a limited budget you need every opportunity to look at potential new signings like we have done. The lads will have done more than enough in training and in the game time they’ve had to be ready for next week. These days they are that fit it’s more about protecting them like Bowyer has in the friendlies

 

The one disallowed at liverpool was contentious from where I was sat ( I had also been drinking) and the 2nd effort would have gone in all day long had it not been a PL keeper in goal. We're creating chances, testing teams and restricting the opposition to minimal chances themselves. If we keep doing the fundamentals right as we seem to be doing, the goals will come and we'll start to get that bit of luck you sometimes need to put it in the net.

 

So 10 goals from 7.5 games? Average of 4 goals every 3 games. If we could up it to 5 in 3 it would be roughly same as Lincoln last year.

 

Correction - we didn’t play the European Champions.

 

If we play Vaughan and Donaldson up top with Scannell out side right of left we will carry a big goal threat at this level, especially with Doyle on the bench or even playing just behind the front two.
I know a lot of forum contributors here are still not happy with Doyle, and I respect their opinion but my personal view is that we need to get away from judging players on last season's shambles and have some faith in Gary Bowyer. If he feels a player is worth a place in the starting eleven or on the bench they will have my support, until they start letting us down or not pulling their weight.
Although it pains me to say that even includes Anthony O' Connor.