The Voice - Match preview #18: Crewe Alexandra vs Bradford City Saturday 7th December 2024 12:30pm

But our system of feeding our central striker has won us nothing these last 3 seasons.
How many on here have said we looked better today than we have for a while?

 

Watched the game, first since Colchester. Played better and it wasn’t a bad match for entertainment value, quality was missing but that is understandable in terrible conditions. Personally didn’t think it was a red but it’s hard in real time with adrenaline pumping, which is one benefit of VAR. Not watched the incident back and not bothered to as what’s done is done now. The lads did well to hold on quite comfortably in the end and it was hard to tell we were a man down. The football was better today, more stuff on the floor but that was probably more due to the conditions than not having Cook. I’m not having we have to play hoofball with Cook in the team, Hughes was far from that and Cook scored his highest ever goals tally in a season. So, find away to play better football with Cook in the team or leave Alexander. Thought Pointon was a joy at times today and was unlucky not to get another assist to his collection when Kav hit the post. Walker was busy but ineffective in the main as normal for him, he really needs to contribute more with goals and assists, he has a worse minutes per gain contribution than Bobby which isn’t good enough for a top earner. Keep Patto on the pitch and he will contribute just that, it’s just keeping him on it that’s the issue. No stinking performances, which is nice to say.

 

Same old chestnut again when Cook doesn't play.

I would argue that the premise of your point highlighted is fundamentally flawed.....our system doesn't feed our central striker, far from it! It doesn't feed any of our strikers whatsoever.....reread all the match threads where we've had 1 or maybe 2 attempts at goal all game!! That's why people are bored witless because we're not creating chances or exciting to watch!! Don't try and rewrite narratives.

How many on here have said that Kav has been a poor reflection of himself from last year as well?

Now he's had 1 decent game we should drop the striker that everybody has wanted for the last 10 years or more - a regular consistent 15 / 20 goal a season man? A striker that should finish in 2nd on our all time list of scorers? But probably won't have a promotion due to other players ineptitudes!!

Shouldn't be asking questions of him.....but here we are again!!!

We SHOULD be playing to his strengths as he will score. Get the ball to the byline, put whipped crosses in, whipped freekicks, whipped corners, which we don't do. Exploit the asset ffs not bemoan it!! Really can't make it up can you!!

Why has Kav not put that much effort in before this season? Why did Bobby and Jamie look better on the ball? I would blame the players for being 'lazy' when Cook is on the pitch, easier to whack it up front and let him battle than try and be brave with it!!

Let's put a poll on the forum - should we drop Cook to save our season? Y / N?

See how that goes.....

 

So why get rid of the only one that's contributing on that front and instead find a way to get the other 2 or 3 contributors instead?

 

A big part of their “go to” 11 are aging ….Walker is the now the first weakest link, followed by Gundogan, De Broyna, Grealish, De Silva & Stones. All superb players ( Don’t rate Grealish) but that’s a big chunk of the 11 drifting beyond their prime.
Let’s be honest here …Cookie will soon be going that way too and soon.

 

The performance may have been more spirited, but we scored 1 goal, courtesy of a deflection.

Goalscorers are the hardest thing to find in the game. When you get one, you find the best way of him producing, you don't look to remove him from the team. Madness.

 

Despite as you put it the defence being cobbled together with cast offs and the lack of clean sheets, our defence is performing much better than at the same stage last season. We’ve conceded 19 goals in the first 18 matches compared to 27 last season with Platt, Stubbs and co. This is despite regular defensive injuries this season. It’s lack of goals that is costing us this season with far too much reliance on Cook.

 

“ Removed” , he was banned , he would have played otherwise. Who has suggested he be dropped? ( I think I did back in the MH days ) Let’s face facts though, remember Bobby Cambell, the all time great , was eventually released and signed for a lower division side in Wigan I think it was? We all said then he would never be replaced, it took a while granted

Cook will go the same way ,one way or another . It’s just a case of when ?

 

Great post.

I think many of us were happy when we moved to a front 2 as it seemed to answer the issue that our press from the front was previously none existent. Reality is the formation or set up (or both) have starved virtually any creativity. For me what yesterday showed is that having two attacking CMs supports the press and more creativity behind Cook. Pattison is pivotal cause he’s our best box to box. Then width from Benn and Richards was much higher than recent weeks.

Why can’t we play the same when Cook is in the XI?

 

The attacking players aren't good enough, Pointon aside. Walker doesn't score enough, Odour is awful, Oliver and Kavanagh awful, Smith is awful. High on numbers, low on quality. Amd there's little in the way of creativity and control from midfield.

The squads a long way short of promotion quality

 

I'm referring to posts who suggest or infer we're better without Cook.

 

Of course you do, but unfortunately what GA has done is to put all of the expectation and pressure on Cooky's shoulders yet again without providing him with the tools or the support to do his job. He needs to stop with the 'I'm not worried nobody else is scoring because we've got Cooky to do that' and 'it isn't the second strikers role to score goals' rubbish he keeps coming out with when questioned about the lack of goals in the team and start holding the players to account.

 

That’s a valid opinion rightly or wrongly , just like those who say we are better off with him. He isn’t the problem, pace in and around him from midfield and technical ability is the biggest issue for me.

Yesterday’s game was a horses for courses game due to the severe conditions . I guess that’s what people are suggesting more than anything else? It certainly wasn’t a game for long ball lumping it forrad, because that’s what we tend to do when we are chasing a game?

 

If Cooky wasn't scoring or showing poor form even i'd think of dropping the big man. He's joint top scorer in league 2 FFS. Hughes tried this very thing in the playoff season around Christmas time but soon came to his senses. No team in any league anywhere would drop the divisions top scorer, they would employ a manager who reads the riot act to the rest of the team to buck their ideas up, get better quality balls in the box and actually start contributing to the goals scored themselves.

 

On radio L$%ds yesterday it was suggested Udders come in for Cook in January

 

I think it would be Donny if anybody, they are looking for a striker....

 

Reading this thread reminds me of something you alluded to and rightly pointed out the other day regarding City fans opinions swinging with the wind. A draw against Crewe and you'd think i was watching promotion chasing side judging by some of the comments i've read. Heck i should have commented on here before the game that if we did get a result at Crewe that somehow Andy Cook would be dragged into equation it was so bloody obvious it would happen.

 

I think we could play like we did with Cook in the team. It's just that we need to change the mindset of his teammates when he's playing. I think the initial thought is to seek out Cooky with a long ball. A long ball that we inevitably lose and hand over possession to our opponents far too often. I just think some of our players have an attitude that they don't need to try as hard because Cook always seemingly finds a way to score. Pointon is an exception. The kid will always try his hand when an opportunity arises and has scored some excellent goals. It's up to the rest to change the mentality. I've been a fan of Walker in the past but his input has been less and less recently.
Be interested to know how GA instructs his players to supply Cook when he's in the side. I can't believe or hope it's not just hoof!

 

I think a little bit of credit should go to our CBs. They might have their flaws but both Shepherd and Baldwin fancy themselves as footballing defenders. Both are comfortable with the ball and look to play out of defence rather than hoof it

 

I completely agree. Yes, it was nice to see a battling performance for a change, but we are in no better a situation than Wednesday morning when the majority on here felt we must change things to save the club.