The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Colchester United Saturday 12th August 2023 @ 3:00pm

Need pace in that back 3

 

I didn't catch that one tbf.

Hopefully the shape improves with more games.

 

His lack of defensive duties, lumbering around are worrying. Certainly exposed us on the right

 

Predictable crap glad I never checked lol

Enjoyed that, three points in the bag, bit to work on, new boys looked great, CTID

 

Decent result and definitely some positive signs that we could make something of this new tactical approach. We look good in attack and could have had more goals if Cook didn’t keep fluffing his lines. Defensively we still look a bit ropey although there goal was a stupid error rather than anything tactical.

Liked the look of Smith, I’d be quite happy for him to start over Walker as I’m running out of patience for Walker. Runs around a lot and shows glimpses of being dangerous but he has zero end product (either the final pass or a shot). Smith was direct and looked dangerous for the time he was on. Shout out to Odour as well who had a great game.

Overall, good to get the 3 points and on to the next one.

 

Agreed completely.

Having that much pace and attacking in midfield intent is exactly what we were crying out for last season.

Goal is something we need to be cutting out, teams will still score against us from open player even if we keep it tight, we can't afford to be giving teams head starts.

But the way we turned it round and in the second half dominated for large spells and shut them down for the last 20 minutes has me excited about the future.

Obviously it's early days we've had a good performance and we've had a poor performance (thanks, ref), we'll even everything out, but I really do think with that midfield and when it's up to speed we'll be a handful for anyone.

No more looking misty eyed at other teams, we're one of the teams to beat for me.

 

Agree with all of that, and the fact Cook and Lewis are two of our best players tells me they'll obviously come good.

Work to do on the defensive side, and Osadebe had a shocker, but plenty to look forward to.

 

We look to have a cutting edge when things might not be going out way.
Only players who looked out of sorts today were Cook and Lewis.
I felt the rest played well with the handicap of Hughes playing players who made us narrow.
Gilliead at LWB and Odour at right side attack.
Granted he scored the leveller.
Smith looks direct but needs minutes.
Pattison scored a quality goal.
Kelly solid.
Only Colchester but you can only beat whats in front of you

 

He was feeling his calf a bit before he was subbed.

 

Walker has been a disappointment overall and needs to do better to justify his wages for me. He's not cheap!

 

I think that's more about the shape than the player. I don't see how we fit Pattison, Walker and Odour into the same side, with that system.

 

Cook was bloody gutted he didn't get the through ball there, don't mind that, hope he and Pattison have a bit of a goalscoring rivalry this season - they're already linking up nicely.

 

Well that's one way of looking at it. Another, would be: there was a consensus amongst most on here that Ridehalgh and Halliday won't work as wing backs before a ball was even kicked. It took 2 games for Hughes to see it. So maybe, when there's a popular opinion amongst fans it's for a good reason and maybe in some cases, the fans actually have a better view than the manager?

Do managers credit for picking players in clear and obvious roles?

In any event, both Gilllead and Ogeyoke did well and their mobility showed exactly what's needed in that role, and again highlighted why Ridehlagh and Halliday aren't up to that particular task.

 

I'm hoping the defensive shape improves with match practice. It's a problem and will be exposed by better teams. McDonald coming in, probably for Walker, will help.

 

I liked McDonald's performance after he came on. He was calm on the ball and you could see he reads the game very well.

 

That's right. We've shoehorned Walker into an attacking role he's not comfortable with. We should have a system and play/recruit players to fit it. That's what I've said countless times but we continue to play people where they're not happy. As soon as a natural forward came on in Smith we looked a different side. I know Walker was originally a winger but he doesn't look happy there now. He's a warrior though.

 

We have recruited to a system.

It doesn't suit Walker, but it certainly suits Pattison and Oduor, and we've recruited McDonald to allow Pattison to push further forward. As you say, Smith did well when he came on. All new players to suit the new formation.

The fact Walker doesn't fit it isn't a big deal. We didn't sign him for this formation, we already had him. It's up to him to either fit on or push out.

 

Made that hard work. Lucky win.

Must improve and quickly..

 

Also, we already have 2 goals on the back of a long Lewis punt and Cook winning a flick on. And already have 1 conceded as a result of Lewis d*cking about. Goal kicks need to be booted, whatever the general style of play.

 

Enjoyed that felt like we really got going at the start of the second half and controlled the match from there. A rare off day for Harry but thankfully it didn't cost us hope he just puts that out if his mind he's saved us so many points he doesn't deserve a bashing!

Patison looks to be what we were missing last season and was impressed with Oduor. If we can consistently play like we did at the beginning of the second half we'll do well this season.