The Voice - Match preview Stevenage vs Bradford City Saturday 11th February @ 3:00pm

Have I read right that Andy Cook, who adds nothing to the team apart from scoring, also got two assists? Surely that can't be right can it, seeing as he's crap and we should have sold him in January?

 

Agree the spin on the ball brought it back out.

 

It was touch and go first bounce, second bounce was over and then clearly over before their keeper grabbed it. I think his reaction said it all as he'd have tried to scramble it out or something if close.

It took a while for the lino to put his flag up for the goal though. He was very poor. At one point they gained ground up to our penalty area from a hoof that started well out of play. He mustn't have been looking at the ball. About 10 mins later I think he got fed up of being shouted at because he gave us a goal kick when it was a corner but I just think he wanted to get up the pitch and away from everyone shouting at him.

 

It’s good management from Hughes in my opinion. Cook was becoming less and less influential during that spell up to Christmas and was rightly dropped. He was kept out of the side and has comeback firing on all cylinders. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him given another break (unless he maintains this form), just so he can be brought back chomping at the bit again. Having said that, the same should apply to all positions.

 

Can't agree with this. We've actually changed the way we play and gone more direct. We still don't create much, the only game he was poor in in my opinion was Carlisle where he uncharacteristically missed all the chances created. I think Hughes was wrong to drop him after one poor performance. Good players don't need a break.

 

I thought he had a few ineffective games prior to the Carlisle one, which on its own, didn’t merit dropping him and that’s why he was dropped. From my point of view I don’t care who plays up there or who scores, provided we get the necessary points to go up. As for not needing a break, even Cook said he got comfortable last season because of the lack of competition, we saw the extra few pounds he put on as a result. So every player needs to know they’re not guaranteed a start, regardless of how good they think they are. Competition should breed hunger and if the Oliver break has the same effect on him as it clearly has Cook, then all City fans on both sides of the debate will be happy.

 

I'd suggest Cook could use the same argument this season .

He was also out injured and although as a professional athlete he should be in control of his fitness/weight whilst out injured he has intimated he was in no rush to get back playing for Derek Adams.

 

I believe you play your best side every week, week in week out. I don't believe any player is undroppable but i think when a striker is as prolific as Cook is then that warrants being the first name on the team sheet.

 

Imagine if we had a forward line as potent as this. Oh... Wait...

 

In fairness Rog, I think there was only the shot from around 6 yards that he actually fluffed.

The header he had (I think) was too high and he couldn't stretch enough and other than that I don't think we created much more for him.

 

A goal and 2 assists is not bad for a guy who contributes very little ! Well according to some. All strikers have lean spells.

 

2 goals off top scorer in the division, as well.

Safe to say, without Cook, we probably wouldn't be where we are.

 

Nice!

Didn't notice Angol had scored yesterday, good for him!

 

We won two and drew two without him as well

 

Entertaining game of football! Got dragged into their long ball game in the first half and suffered for it, but second half we gained a bit more composure on the ball and actually played a bit of football which delivered the goals.

I thought we managed the game out really well with the likes of Kelly and Oliver coming on and solidifying us - did we switch a 3 CBs and Gillead at LWB when Kelly game on?

Cook getting all the plaudits as deserved but Clayton is looking like a great signing. He has slotted straight into the team and already looks like a key player. Composed on the ball, mixes up his passes and generally seems to give the whole midfield a lift (notable that Gillead seems to have kicked on since he arrived). Great bit of business by MH.

 

I'm not sure what that has to do with the post you tagged me into I never mentioned Cook, but as you did, we won a hell of a site more with Cook in the side scoring goals to get us into a position where Hughes could make the call of resting Cook (although I disagreed with it at the time) that's the point, seriously if Hughes thought we'd continue with Oliver as our main striker why would he drop him for Cook who has come back scoring as if he'd never been away.

 

This brings me back to the point I made - said lean spell was just 2 games without a goal!

 

Did Fatty Arbuckle....sorry erm Evans get either booked or sent off towards the end?

 

I’m getting confused with all this fatty Cook and “lean spell”.