The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs Tranmere Rovers Tuesday 14th February 2023 @ 7:45pm

Agree. I travel all over the country to away games because for whatever reason they are much more enjoyable.
The matchday experience at VP currently is very poor, especially midweek games.

 

I certainly don't condone the booing but understand the frustration. To be fair to Clayton he has just said in his post match interview that we during the period before the second goal we got sloppy and brought pressure on ourselves.

 

We controlled that game. Having been sceptical, that performance tonight will be enough to get us over the line come the end of the season. Getting promoted and winning games in this league does not require scintillating, dynamic football. Measured, controlled and pragmatic football will be enough. I thought we played well tonight. We bossed midfield and picked our moments well. Walker was the pick for me.

I'm increasingly irritated by the obsession of some fans with passing the ball forward. I'd much rather not give the ball straight to the opposition by needlessly looking to break the lines when we are not chasing the game. I thought we got the balance right tonight.

 

Sometimes I really wonder about our fans. We're all quick to boo and moan about the pre historic hoofball shite served up by Bowyer, Adams et al but now we're a possession based side there's people booing, jeering and screaming that old chestnut "gerrit forrad" when we're winning, controlling the game and restricting the opposition to zero shots or corners.

Yes we need to move the ball faster and yes we need to take more risk with our passing sometimes. And most definitely we need to show greater intent and urgency to score a second goal.

But playing out from the back is what Hughes wants us to be about and having periods where the ball is being exchanged between the defence and midfield is going to happen and isn't always a negative.

Would people rather we spent the game booting it in the air to Eisa and Cook? Show some patience for christ sake so the players can develop this style of play without them feeling the crowd will get on their back if they don't pass forwards.

 

Got a thigh strain according to Hughes, don’t know how long he’ll be out.

 

We have a weird fan base.

 

We rarely had 15,000 in your/our times mate take the odd FA Cup tie away, you knew who would be stood where every home game .

 

and just to add, in that period before our second goal several players looked to be almost out on there arses. Walker, Clayton and I think Stubbs....although I don't know if Stubbs is just quite slow anyway ( not a big criticism I think he's quality). I was relieved when we took Walker off because I though he had a red card in him as he was tiring. I had to close my eyes when he flew into that tackle in front of the Midland Road

 

Because everyone is so upset that we train at a school?

 

Clayton himself admitted in his interview that we brought pressure on ourselves in that period before our second goal. In that period we had possession but we weren't in control. We were making some sloppy lazy decisions. I thought we managed the rest of the game pretty well

 

I might be wrong...

But I think Hughes' style isn't "drinking football", which might wind up those who have had a few sherberts lmao

 

He would have been my MOTM but Clayton is making a big difference in the team.

 

Have you got your tin hat ready.

 

There was a spell of about 10 minutes before the second goal where a few easy passes went astray. We got sloppy but I wouldn't put that down to is being Conservative. I'd just put it down to a lack of focus.

 

The shouting is really annoying, especially when one of our deep lying players is under pressure and there's no out ball. Still get fans moaning that they are playing it backward. It's like listening to a 5 year old asking why we kicked it backwards.

 

I can agree with that

 

and another thing while moaning about a 2 nil victory .....why do our forwards never show down the line when the ball goes out to the full back. It leaves the FB no option other than to pass backwards or inside.

 

All fair points but so is the fact we have watched the same scenario played out so many times especially at home although we are apt to conceding late winners at places like Barrow and Colchester so I believe the crowd were a little worried we may concede when Tranmere pushed us back as it turned out that lump of wood Andy Cook did what he does best, there were a few balls flashed across our box that forunatly Tranmere didn't connect with, frustration nothing more.

 

One observation that did occur to me was the Tranmere fans. I don't think I remember a quiter and more inanimate group of away fans ever. I know they didn't have much to cheer but I don't think I noticed a single movement, never mind noise, from their block throughout the whole game

 

A bit like the home fans to be fair, the atmosphere was flat as a fart tonight.