The Voice - Match preview #33: Bromley vs Bradford City Tuesday 25th February 2025 7:45pm

Good job his absence didnt start in August because frankly my friend we wouldnt be anywhere near to me you come across as someone that was hapoy when he was out of the team ...... .. ... so rather than blaming Cook for being the focal point why not blame the manager for going down that route ???,
Or are you saying that GA didnt have a clue and was forced down this route ????

The most dangerous striker at this level couldnt fit into side that is creating chances with 3 attacking players beside him yet somehow he wouldnt score goals ?????

 

I agree 100%. He seemed to have a calm air about him. I didn't really notice any of the players going absolutely mad at him and he seemed almost apologetic at having to book Bobby. I'd have wanted a pen for the handball if I was Bromley but that's the only major thing he really got wrong.

He was well better than the numpties we had against Newport and Franchise Dons.

 

Not sure on that, i saw at least three occasions where he chased a bromley defender down, tackled them and came away with the ball as opposed to pressing and prevent a pass being made. I couldnt fault him on effort last night

 

Yep. I’ve said elsewhere that there’s this desire to make decisions less subjective, but that’s impossible in a game like football with some aspects, including handball.

My daughters play hockey, where if the ball hits a foot in the circle, it’s a penalty corner irrespective of intent - indeed some attackers will deliberately play for it.

Not quite the same as the award of a penalty in football, but the only way you’d ever completely clarify handball is if you just say all handballs are a pen irrespective. Not sure that’s what people want, however.

 

We would have had 5 -10 more goals if cookie was on the pitch. The rest are now shooting and working hard. Be very interesting to see what Patto/ Sara and Bobby get combined.

 

Same with the off side law, simple decision for the linesman 'an attacker level with the second-last defender is onside" and giving the advantage to the attacking player to encourage attacking football.

 

He's deceptively strong though. Won a few balls back that Kav wouldn't as he's too lightweight. One in particular i remember in the second half he stole the ball from their left back/left centre back close to the right touchline which created an attack. So he does bring something different unfortunately we havent seen much of his finishing yet.

 

Tell that to those that have it in there heads that somehow he alone was holding us back
They all kicked off after after the Notts C game which resulted in two attacking performances against Vale and Chesterfield which weirdly enough included Cook.

 

The occasional long ball up to Mellon is understandable he's the same height as Cooky, but it was a lost cause hitting high balls to Kava although the lad tried his best he was never going to win many headers against 6'+ defenders.
At the moment we're a delight to watch and I just can't understand why the Cook debate keeps raising it's head, as some have said it was mainly down to Cook goals we had the springboard to build on once our injured players returned.

 

Some seem to think out upturn in form coincided with the injury to Cook, it was actually the switch from 3-5-2 to 3-4-2-1 which we have played since late last year. Cooky actually played as the lone striker in the early games of the 3-4-2-1, what actually made is better was the positioning of Sarcevic and Pointon in front of Smallwood and Pattison. It allows our 'wing backs' to get forward, we have a back three as opposed to a back five. It allowed the impressive Khela to slot in seemlessly.last night to deputise.for Pattison. Put it this way, their keeper doesn't make that double save with Cooky on the pitch, he buries either of those headers.

 

For me it's questioning the narrative we've changed the way we play since he's been injured, as I just posted it's simply not true.

 

I can accept that, but I'd hope with our better seasoned players coming back they would have found a more productive way of supplying Cook the chances you mention.
Adkins just got the boot at Tranmere.

 

Can't believe he was there that long. I've got them to go down

 

Harsh I know as Mellon did what the text book people tell strikers to do with headers "head them down" but it looked like with a bit more composure Mellon could have found the far corner or am In being unrealistic, we've seen Cooky miss those sort of chances with his record at Valley Parade I know who I'd prefer to be on the end of those two chances, hey won won let's be happy, 3 points from Salford is not unrealistic the way we're playing from back to front we look solid.

 

Is it really “a change of the way we play” RT, or are we now seeing the improvement in the tactics because we now have the right players to carry it out.? ( Nothing to do with Cooks position)

ie Sarcevic and Pattison’s return to fitness and form more or less at the same time?
Bobby is maturing fast
Smallwood is a different player .

How decent we must be to be able to bring on a player like Patto as a sub . Many a team in the division would envy such?

It’s the midfield personnel that has changed/ blossomed, not the change in tactics or Cookies sad injury.

In all honesty with Cookie playing we would be even MORE effective .

 

Along with Carlisle , looking like the burns unit will be getting a donation soon.

 

That's exactly it. We now own the midfield. Smallwood was bang at it again last night and that brings everyone else into play. I'd say the lone striker, whether it be Leigh, Mellon or Kav, is our least influential position right now and that's the difference. Hence why I think Cook could do the role any of the aforementioned are or have done.

 

Not sure about that his pressing won the ball for the first goal on Saturday he did the same later in the match that could have resulted in a goal

 

It's also the narrative that we're now playing total football with the ball constantly on the deck. That's also simply not true, plenty of times we go really direct and try to pressure them in the final third.