Match Thread Bradford City v Barnsley - EFL Trophy

I just hope that Alexander remembers on Saturday we are playing a very good first team eleven and not kids. I say this because I just hope he doesn't fall into the trap of seeing some of these players like Taylor and Odour and starting them after tonight's game against kids.

 

We've a squad of 30+. Surely we could lose a couple of squad fillers and employ a DOF or equivalent?
Paul Jewell lives around the corner. You could even get someone on 3/4 days a week.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune.

 

West Yorkshire Sport Daily - Bradford City 5-1 Barnsley (EFL Trophy): Graham Alexander - BBC Sounds

 

Accrington looked an excellent side against Wrexham on saturday we're in for a game for sure, the players need to believe in themselves get the crowd up for it early doors, we have our moans and groans but 16.000 Bradford City fans cheering their side on can be quite daunting.

 

I've heard Jewells name mentioned before only a couple of seasons ago he was at Swindon as DoF when Wellens was the Swindon manager, surely he wouldn't break the bank, and he's openly stated Bradford is his second home/team after Liverpool and I cant see them coming in for him .

 

He’s busy at Bradford golf club he is this years captain

 

Fortune favours the brave.

 

And they are sixth?

 

Some not so easy games there. Pleased we'll be at home.

 

With those hoops they all look like they could use losing a stone or so!

Hopefully this win will give them a needed confidence boost.

RCB

 

I'd have thought he'd be involved more his end York, Harrogate etc, would it be a job that needed him 24/7. does being Captain have a salary, we'll never know until he's asked unfortunatly as I posted I wouldn't expect Ryan to make that call as he obviously believes he can do both jobs.

 

Well...... this match thread has transformed into yet another Sparks/Rupp/Mismanagement thread

For anyone who wanted to talk about the game (and the second half of Notts), actually playing a back 3 as opposed to the flat back 5 Hughes pushed out looks to suit our movement options a lot more. The problem with the Hughes setup, was it was a back 5 line, 4 man midfield and Cook on his own up top. Which meant we could never transition out of play because the key men in that system (wing backs) were too deep, the midfield couldn't find room because we played so compact trying to have a high line too, but left Cook with 30 yards to his nearest team mate as well as asking him to run the channels for the ball because we had no width. Doomed tactic, no idea how Hughes even thought it could work.

Moving Halliday and Richards that extra 10 yards up in position and letting them go forward and press had freed up so much more room and let both lads who seem eager to push, the license to do so. Their added width, along with the 3 CBs not pushing all the way up gives our 3 man midfield much more room to find on the pitch or find a pass, and adding a partner to Cook leave him the job of the target man/pressing man and lets his partner, the 2 pressing guys in midfield, as well as the wing backs the ability to try run the channel space.

If you play with 5 defenders, you need 2 strikers and wing backs that have the faith put in them to play forward. Whilst knowing you might well get caught in transition, but you need to have faith in your 3 CBs to have some pace and knowledge. Now, the pace thing might let us down but it seems far better than a stretched 442.

 

Well can't remember the last time it took me to the following morning to see how city had faired.

Hopefully shoots of recovery.

 

It was actually a good game last night,admittedly against a weak Barnsley side, but good movement from the midfield and front players and the build up to Odours goal was excellent. Bigger test on Saturday to see if we have genuine improvement.

 

We can only play what is in front of us. I can’t remember when we had a score like that. Let’s celebrate while we can. Yes much more of a challenge on Saturday. If we beat Accy then we are in recovery mode.

 

Spot on. I said lots of similar things at the time. Furthermore, two of our midfield 4 were wingers, completely confusing our wingbacks and getting in each others way, while still leaving only two in central midfield who were easily played through. An absolute crazy system.

 

Only the kids at Barnsley, but it'll still be a confidence boost after the weekend's debacle. I like the 343 system and feel it suits the players we have well (notwithstanding the quality issues we clearly have). At the weekend, I'd like to see:

Lewis
Platt, Stubbs, Kelly
Halliday Smallwood Pointon Gillead
Walker Chapman
Cook

Gillead and Halliday would suit the wingback roles well in my view. And it'd be good to see how Pointon fares next to Smallwood. I think he has the mobility and technical skills to play that role.

 

Thought Odour suited the midfield well, Bags of running and energy and strong in the tackle winning possession back. He needs more chances in the team