The Voice - Match preview #7: Bradford City vs AFC Wimbledon Saturday 21st September 2024 3:00pm

I think young Pointon is one of those players who would thrive more in a higher league as opposed to playing against very physical giants like Wimbledon

 

As has been mentioned already, our attack is so one dimensional. Our only route to create a chance is crossing into the box. We never try and slip a ball in for a striker to run on to.

There were a couple of occasions yesterday where Sanderson made a run across the back line when one of our midfielders had the ball and instead of playing him through they just moved the ball wide. Even when we move it wide, we rarely put it in early, we get the ball wide, play it back to the fullback and eventually cross once their back line is ready.

We’re easy to defend against as we offer nothing other than high balls into the box, opposition defences can go right to our strikers as there is no worry about being turned.

 

Just before half time the foul count was 10 against Wimbledon 2 against City even if we accept at times it was six of one and half a dozen of another then the referee wouldn't have stopped the game and given the fouls against Wimbledon, he would have just played on, most who are suggesting the referee had a poor game were questioning why with a foul count like that he did not show one yellow which was actually encouraging them to continue as they are not being penalised for doing it, a simple word and a yellow after the first 2/3 spoiling tactics would have stopped it IMO.
Ironically when Wimbledon upped their game the second and played some positive football the foul count was 4 against Wimbledon and 5 against City but 4 cards were for that hand bags as the game drifted into injury time.

 

I believe that's an area we badly miss Jamie Walker, as he showed with that great cut back for Sanderson at Walsall.

 

Young players will always having good and bad spell, even more so at this level. If he was consistently anywhere near his best a Championship or PL could would've snapped him up by now for their u23s.
I think he's suffering a bit from the competition for places in the middle when we play the 352. For he might be a player that is better off the bench than starting. Jamie Carragher was on the podcast he does a couple of weeks ago and he was talking about Harvey Elliott and how he's not kicked on especially when he starts, I can see similarities between how he was talking about Elliott and how Pointon has started.
I don't think it suited him yesterday on a slow pitch and in RM when he's very left footed.

 

Yet we were all informed he was bought to plat lwb. A position he has has difficulty adapting to. Only City would sign a player to not play in his natural position as a winger.

 

Never mind no hot water in the Gents bogs in the Kop we had no water for the pitch yesterday and GA blamed that for slowing our play down. Only we could feck up the sprinklers on match day.

 

I mean I think everyone on here called it, with very few saying 'but he's young and might adapt' as a fantasy defence.

 

Agree completely. Stopping and starting the game suits them, that is why they do it and the more the ref lets them, the more they will do it. The ref didn't even have a word with any of them whereas a couple of cards would have stopped some of it. They are a very physical and well organised side that know what they know what they are doing.

 

Ironically that was the exact position Oduor was brought in to play, with the same result that it was quickly realised it was a bad idea. I don’t blame Wright for yesterday, he played well linking up with Richards first half but was sold down the river second half. It should have just been Richards for the young full back at half time and get the experienced Halliday who’s defensively solid to move to LB. Poor decision making by management, which is a symptom of this club over recent years.

 

If the FA let this type of Football go on they will bully themselves to promotion, I understand their letting alot more go now but surely not to that extent.

 

No I’ve not seen reports of him fighting in a formby pub

 

Agree with most of that but no one is blaming the ref for our inadequacies but an awful lot of our play yesterday was stopped by foul means and the ref did not take action to put it to a stop. You have your opinion on penalty calls which I respect but don't agree with. There will always be comings together but it is the way that happens that counts as today's Man C game will confirm. I saw both of our penalty shouts yesterday as good calls. Disagree with me; ok but that is my opinion to which I am entitled.

 

More important is to have a referee that has control of the game for the safety of the players.

It's incredibly naive to hand wave that because we didn't get 'cheated'.

It was an abysmal performance, but I guess not everyone saw or understood what was happening or what the incessant casualness of the plonker in the middle was leading to.

 

I believe it was outside of the clubs control.

 

I think Alexander might have been correct in using Pointon sparingly. He’s certainly had more of an influence off the bench, and maybe he should build up his minutes until he is physically strong enough to compete over 90 minutes.

 

Stephen Gent shouldn't have his own bog in the kop, but if he does why were you in it?

I'll get me coit....

 

The FA can’t just let it go, it is part of the rules of playing a match. Cheating and fouling opponents is not part of football. The first few instances like yesterday was ok but after that the Ref should have taken charge, and he didn’t. If we said to the Ref how many fouls will you let go before the first booking? The answer would be none or should be; pulling players back and pushing them from the back is a foul.

 

Yet if you tap the ball away after a free kick, it's a yellow. The ref or the FA should explain why rugby tackling is now allowed in the game of football. I'm sure if they explained to supporters why they deem pulling shirts or grappling, both inside and outside of the penalty area is allowed, we could all sit and watch the game with total knowledge of what's going on.

 

The kicking the ball away one is easy. It's binary and there is no interpretation involved.
The grappling is incredibly difficult to officiate. It's usually both players involved although clearly most fans in the moment disregard their players involvement. The minutecany referee gives a penalty they'll be accused of not being consistent because some other much more minor infringement didn't get pulled up. They literally can't win on this one. As soon as one is given there will be a meltdown every time one of the opposition is touched. In an aerial duel or when players are jostling for position there are always hands and arms involved and the referees have rightly set a very high bar for what constitutes an infringement. Players are constantly getting arms across each other and getting little nips of each other's shirts. I'm really not sure what refs can do about it. The modern fuss about 'consistency' means that refs are scared to set a precedent. As soon as a pen is given the opposition will be hammering refs every time one of their players gets so much as a hand in the chest.

I'll level that the one on Oliver was a decent shout but again Oliver was driving his body back into the defender.