The Voice - Match preview Newport County vs Bradford City Saturday 23rd September 3:00pm

Even if the next draw could match us against one of the top teams giving us a nice little earner.

 

If we could have picked a game for today this was probably it away from home against a side that averaged nearly 2 goals conceded per game and left a lot of space on a big pitch for the counter attack giving players like Tulloch space to run. Much tougher to play like that in home games against the likes of Harrogate which was our biggest issue last season. Great to have Cook back but got to be careful not to make the mistakes we did under Adams and play him for 90 minutes every game until he eventually breaks down.

 

I think that the opinion of the fans is communicated by various means, including this forum. There was widespread criticism of the back 5/3 and it's magically disappeared. What that says about the management is up to individuals to decide but we played in a way many people have asked for for weeks today and look what happened. True, we had Cook back and the opposition were poor, but nevertheless it seems to have taken a long time for changes to be made which were obvious to many supporters.

 

That's not a new thing though. We let the window shut knowing Oliver was out and Cook had been struggling for weeks.

 

Just met Gareth Gates in town. Can this weekend get any better?

 

I agree I very much doubt Hughes reads forums etc but he certainly heard the reaction last Saturday as he past comment with regards the crowds reaction when questioned by Raynor, he had nothing to lose today by going the way he did, if we'd lost then he says I changed it, if he'd stayed with he likes of Smallwood and we'd lost he'd once again be under the microscope.
I haven't read one poster on here backing his team selection and formation so far most are bored to tears with his possession football, he changed it and the team responded, a perfect day if we hadn't conceded, a pleasant return for the traveling Bradford City fans.

 

I’ve thought about it a bit since my original post and I can see both sides.
Cook thrives on confidence and after today will be absolutely buzzing and will probably want the game to be tomorrow.
The fact he played the full 90 minutes after limping after 5 minutes shows he hasn’t lost much match fitness while he’s been out and will definitely be peeved if Hughes leaves him out.

The glass half empty side of me knows that today proves we haven’t got anybody else at the club who will get those sort of goals and if god forbid we lost him for any length of time we really would be up shit creek.
The Boro defenders will be a different level to today and Cook definitely gets frustrated if he’s not getting the ball.

So in answer to your question -I don’t know.

Maybe on the bench and brought on if we go behind.

 

Obviously there is plenty of time for Boro to start picking up points but at the moment they are not in a position they'd like to be in, would Carrick think about playing a weakened side on Tuesday night or have their big hitters on the bench just in case.

 

Agree I said maybe Cook should have been subbed at 3 - 1 but fair do's Hughes left him on and he duly obliged by getting his hat trick.

 

I heard he went to prison. But he didn’t finish his sentence

 

Naughty naughty .

 

Shocking

 

Now Cooky is back amongst the goals i guess he's not overweight any more??

 

Some terrible defending on these highlights

 

433. Never in a million years was that 442 Bantam.

 

Free hit as in the crowd won't be on the players or managers back should we not be battering Boro by half time.

 

100% agree it is much harder when we are trying to break sides down. But just let’s enjoy today

 

The Wrexham effect.
Stockport actually sold seats in the open end lol

 

^^^^^^^^ This.

 

Beating Southampton today has obviously given him a bit more time but the “getting a big team in the next round” argument is as valid for them as it is for us.
I think he’ll put a full team out and we may struggle to compete.