The Voice - Match preview Tranmere Rovers vs Bradford City Tuesday 13 September @ 7:45pm

Pleased with the result but I think it highlights how much we miss Walker. Of all the games to date, I’m yet to see a really dominant performance where all the players average 7 or above. At the back end of last season we seemed to pull sides apart with strength on both wings, but we haven’t dominated both wings simultaneously for a while. Hopefully this will come, but it seems our front 3 behind Cook struggle to affect the game for more time than the 20-30 minutes currently. The points total keeps ticking over which is the main thing, but reading the Tranmere forum, I’d have to agree we were average but took our few chances last night and they were poor.

I was pleased to see Foulds back in the side as he delivers great balls into the box, something Ridealgh did last season but isn’t do so this. Oliver would probably benefit more with Foulds and Wright down that side of the pitch.

 

I think Crichlow is getting some unfair stick around here to be honest. He’s been solid at the start of the season an has only made a handful of mistakes in recent games which is what you expect from a League Two defender. That being said, Platt was solid yesterday. Commanding performance from the young lad. Kept their strike force quiet throughout the first half

Was impressed with Foulds. He’s much better on the attacking side of things compared to Ridehalgh. Halliday had a good game as well. He just needs to be more consistent

I liked the look of Wright. He was fast an Direct. Definitely a useful asset for this season. Chapman had his best game, or best half should I say, so far this season. But I still don’t feel comfortable with him in that role behind the striker

 

Random musings from last night;

Cook is on the best form i've seen from a city striker. Doesn't look like missing.
Gilliead has made the central midfield spot his own.
Wright is an astute signing.
Smallwood is the captain we've lacked for years.
Atmosphere was something else. I'm usually critical of what is regularly an apathetic fan base but last night was rocking.
A bit off topic but the city of Liverpool. Never really been before but had a good look around yesterday. Very impressive, kinda has everything Bradford city centre doesn't. Will definitely go again.

 

I think that the role just behind the striker would suit Harratt more than Chapman Bantam75 - at least until Walker comes back.

 

Cant argue with your resume. Pretty much the same opinion after watching on ifollow.

 

He does seem a bit wedded to Chapman in the number 10 position. It would be nice to see how Banks or Pereira got on in that role. Even if only for a half.

 

The laws remain virtually the same, it’s different referee’s interpretation of them and their inconsistency that’s the problem!

 

We may have looked average to them but we ain’t knowhere beat our best but still occupy a play off spot once we do get proper going then I wouldn’t fear anything

 

And then blowing straight away the final whistle, to add to the frustration of the Tranmere players. My interpretation... Classic refereeing

 

Foulds did a great job and an excellent assist for Cookies second.

 

Yes bottled it. I can’t say I could see handball in that melee from the camera angle.

 

He's a frustrating player but a player i've been told is a confidence player. He did a lot of things right last night, pressed at the right time and worked himself into a number of good positions. But the final ball or finish hasn't been there. Still work to with that forward line set up, important we get more first time ball into the box. Cooks second another example of a first time cross from Foulds this time, most of Cooks goals so far have come from that sort of quick ball. Wright had a great chance last night to do the same when Cook made the run but he checked back.

 

Winning goal from the home end.

 

Any decent centre forward worth his salt would love a cross like that! Good stuff from Foulds.

 

If Stevenage play the way Evans teams usually do they are usually physical and offer a threat in the air and according to Hartlepool fans Odusina is weak in the air

 

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The lads who went last night also attended the Tranmere game last season when we looked great the first have and very poor the second half, after Tranmere leveled we looked at each other and said not another 3 points thrown away, but to be honest when we countered we looked capable of scoring.
I do wish Dion once he's beaten his opponent he got either a cross or a shot in, the short time Wright was on he looked a good player and was more direct than Dion.

 

Late in the game Crichlow went down a couple of times and I thought Sparkie would bring Odusina on as Crichlow had given his all, Platt meet the Tranmere forwards head on some good aerial battles Platt winning most.

 

Bang on @AndyRanger we knew second half Tranmere would come at us, Micky Mellon and his team were screaming their heads off at the Tranmere players I think as you said they'd had rocket at half time.

 

The vocal support both he and the players got during and after the final whistle was brilliant.
Just the one blip I believe someone set a flair off but it was quickly dealt with by the Tranmere stewards I was told.

 

I can't for a long time remember City having this kind of depth on the bench before. Usually it would be the first 11 and then we might get lucky with a sub. Now you look at the bench and you have a mix of experience and youth who can go on and close a game out (Oliver and Songo for example) or someone dynamic who can come on and mix up the game (Harratt and Wright).

Osadebe and Walker will come back from injury in time and players like Banks aren't even making the bench.

We are still early in the season when many teams are playing at full strength, come December when injuries kick in I think we will be in a strong position where teams like Barrow and Stevenage will be struggling to russle up numbers.