Preseason lack of goals anything to worry about

Good thoughts Jon and I certainly think that if he could offload them both he would do, knowing that he could get three or even four players to replace them using the wages that they are on.
Having said that I think he rates them enough to use them and get the best out of them while they are here. In fact with the injuries and general niggles amongst the players we may see one of both of them start the first game.

 

Heard Gareth Bale is available!! We are a league 2 club based in one of the most undesirable areas of the country. Just who do you think we can attract ?

 

Hmmm? A choice of eating cockroaches and dogs or chicken cottage - tough call that!

 

Agree, the fact that we appear to be causing problems inside the opposition penalty box is a good thing. Good that we are getting in the box and good that we appear to be drawing the fouls from defenders. Both Vaughan and Donaldson could have scored in the first half yesterday, movement was really good and a save from the keeper and a clearance off the line prevented the goals from coming.

 

Well keep up!

He's not for sale now.

 

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

 

Most of our players don’t earn enough money to live in the nicer areas of Leeds or Harrogate.

 

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.

 

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

 

You are right to say that there are some decent areas on the outskirts of Bradford but it is a valid point that unless we pay above the odds then many players might prefer somewhere else. Very similar scenario why Newcastle and Sunderland have failed to bring in top class PL players in the past.

 

I don’t think area matters. Carbone once signed here.

Its all about the £££££££££ for that sort of player.

There are then purists like Gary Jones who saw the club for the big one it is and wanted to thrive under the pressure.

Some want to work for certain managers - Henley coming here to work with his former Blackburn coach a current example.

Then you get washed up players desperate for cash, like Lee Hendrie and Keith Gillespie, who will take anything for money to see to other issues they have going on.

 

Fair point, still a decent side!

 

The one thing that this pre-season has shown is that, in my opinion, not much has changed from last season. The club got lots of stick for the games lined up last season, but what did we do differently this time?

Players got 45mins each against Guiseley
Players got 45mins each against Liverpool
Players got 64mins (or 26) against Wigan
Players got xxmins against Bolton
Players got 45mins (would have been more) against Rochdale

Is this really enough games/mins to get the players match fit and partnerships developing? Is it really a million miles away from last season?

In terms of the games, Donaldson is already showing he’s a handful and has ‘won’ at least 3 of the 4 penalties we have been awarded, as well as heading a goal.

But back to the original question, yes, it is a little concerning. We have managed just 6 goals in 405mins and only 2 from open play. And even they were scored in the opening game against Guiseley. We’ve not scored from open play in our last 3.5 games.

 

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.

 

I wasn’t comparing the quality of signings or coaching though. I’m merely talking about the players only getting 5 games or part games, which isn’t much different to last season.

On everything else, I agree with you

 

The cost of living in other parts

There have been two behind closed door friendlies as well

 

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.

 

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.

 

Regarding the goals issue. Did you factor in the calibre of opposition? Created problems for all 3.

 

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