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

I saw Walker around 6.00 on the car park. Hobbling badly, I would say no chance for Tuesday and probably next Saturday

 

Scouse quiet tonight. No tagging from @Fordy117 eh lad

 

Worrying thing for me is our full backs
We have 2 WBs and 2 FBs
None really interchangeable if someone is injured

 

Depends whether you want to play 5-2-3 or 5-3-2. I thought the latter was what we were aiming for in which case you could accommodate them both with Smallwood/Gilliead/McDonald behind them and two of Cook, Smith and Oduor up front. That's the formation I'd like to see but you could also make a case for Oduor in the midfield mix.

 

Brilliant result to kick start our league campaign

Yes there were lots of things to improve upon, but let’s savour it for tonight. Good atmosphere too

Last season we would’ve conceded an injury time equaliser or worse

 

And yet the ref saw fit not to even awards free kick yet booked our player early on for next to nothing. The standard of officiating continues to be an embarrassment.

 

A nice problem to have when all fit.....Chapman and Pointon be back soon enough too. Competition is good.

 

I was especially cross when Goodman tipped Oduor's shot on to the bar and over and a goal kick was awarded. If the ref didn't see it then his assistant should have done. Ben Garner saw it from the half way line!

 

I'd be fuming if I was the keeper and the ref hadn't seen my wonder save. It was a great effort from the impressive Oduor.

 

Pathetic decision. 1 million percent a save and corner. 17,000 saw it but the 2 officials didnt.

 

Happens all the time. Players blocking refs view maybe. Even noticed a few of our players jogging back to defensive positions after it went over the bar. He made a mistake just like anyone else would during 90 minutes reffing a game. If he'd seen it he would've given a corner. He didn't so he made a mistake. Thought the ref had a decent game overall.

 

The assistant referee had a clear view unblocked by any player. He couldn't have been concentrating. It was poor.

 

Linesman missed as well though.

 

I’m busy about to watch Peter Kay.

Thought we just played ok. We we better when Walker went off.

We urgently need need need players though.

Now you go and had practice making tea for Sparks while I go and laugh at Mr Kay.

 

Aye. They seem to defer to the refs decision 99% of the time.

 

I sit in MR and was directly behind oduors shot. It was flying into the top corner until the keeper pulled off a wonder save and pushed it onto the bar

Pathetic decision to not award a corner and yet another appalling and frustrating season of officiating beckons

 

Well that's 3 points on the board. Not convinced we should be sitting back with 20 mins + stoppage time to go.

Pattison and Odour are a great combination and will create and score loads.

Once any of our CB's are exposed one on one we look really shaky . They broke through our lines a few times in the second half with worrying ease.

We need to get better fast, as a decent side would have punished us today .

 

I think the one good thing to come out of this new approach by the refs is the stopping of the sly little kicking of the ball away when a free kick is conceded.
The best ones at it would only kick it 2 or 3 yards but it stopped the momentum of the other team.
Today as soon as players conceded a free kick they knew they had to leave the ball and get back in position.
There was none of the usual running away carrying the ball and then launching it 20 yards in the air.
As with most changes I’m not sure refs will be as diligent later in the season but at the moment I think it helps to keep the flow of the game going.

 

Big game on Tuesday. Stockport have lost their first two.

 

Another boring series of complaints about referees after every single game beckons. Just like it always has and just like it always will.