Bradford after game thoughts.

[mygiddypant]

A much more positive vibe on here following last night's performance. Not dissing the need for points, but surely the performance is more important at this stage.

The two goals were terrific, particularly the first. There were also some signs in individual performances that suggest better times are ahead. Even the crowd started to get involved towards the end.

Watching on iF I think I heard some booing when Dawson was announced as mom. I thought that was very disappointing as he made some good saves. Please correct me if I'm wrong about the negativity from some supporters.

I've read on another post that we played too high. I thought so too, and would have liked to see someone dropping into a sweeper role when required. Bradford were very one-dimensional in knocking it long, but we didn't seem to learn from the occasions when it caused us a problem.

Benson had some subtle touches, and it was great to see Martha running at pace and beating players. He strike me as possessing both good instincts and an ability to learn.

Even NWC managed some positive thoughts, so must have been good.

[Ronners]

What keeper errors?. Centre half didn't jump for first cross. Striker had open goal for second.
He was my man of the match.

I agree jocks, Dawson has had his critics this season, rightfully at times, but he had a good game last night. UTM

[Jocksgloves1]

Goalkeeping has changed since our days on Ferham Park mate. They are giant athletes. Great shot stoppers with terrific reflexes, and also expected to play with a degree of skill with their feet.
The days of Ray Mount ford charging through a crowd of players to gather on the penalty spot have long gone. Who was the last one had who did that?
Would you have trusted me with a ball at my feet Ronners?

[NorthWestCorner]

A much more positive vibe on here following last night's performance. Not dissing the need for points, but surely the performance is more important at this stage.

The two goals were terrific, particularly the first. There were also some signs in individual performances that suggest better times are ahead. Even the crowd started to get involved towards the end.

Watching on iF I think I heard some booing when Dawson was announced as mom. I thought that was very disappointing as he made some good saves. Please correct me if I'm wrong about the negativity from some supporters.

I've read on another post that we played too high. I thought so too, and would have liked to see someone dropping into a sweeper role when required. Bradford were very one-dimensional in knocking it long, but we didn't seem to learn from the occasions when it caused us a problem.

Benson had some subtle touches, and it was great to see Martha running at pace and beating players. He strike me as possessing both good instincts and an ability to learn.

Even NWC managed some positive thoughts, so must have been good.

I don’t have high standards but I do expect us to compete at this level. Both of our goals were actually very well crafted and you can see the patterns of play MH is try to install. But, as I have said, there are still some fundamental issues with his signings and team selection that greatly concern me. Yes, we are in transition but no, I cannot accept that we should be in the bottoms four given the level we are playing at.

MH has a chance now to build from that point but he remains under significant pressure.

[Ronners]

Goalkeeping has changed since our days on Ferham Park mate. They are giant athletes. Great shot stoppers with terrific reflexes, and also expected to play with a degree of skill with their feet.
The days of Ray Mount ford charging through a crowd of players to gather on the penalty spot have long gone. Who was the last one had who did that?
Would you have trusted me with a ball at my feet Ronners?

The thought of you with the ball at your feet as a goalkeeper in our playing days is probably still the reason I don't sleep too well jocks 😉. Yes the goalkeeping role has progressed to the point of him being asked to play the ball out more, although that is more championship/premier league teams i would say, as most teams in league 1, like us and Bradford on Thursday, tend to hit it long from the keeper. The goalkeeper struggles to come for the ball now at set pieces because the opposing team block him in, but I do think Dawson should be looking to roll the ball out to our full backs more rather than kick long, unless those are his instructions. UTM

[GlennMiller]

Dawson caught the ball from a corner on Thursday, to some ironic cheers, and duly rolled the ball out to a Bradford player! It was, however, one of his few errors on the night.

When we're under pressure, it would help if our full backs made themselves available for a rollout from Dawson. We don't have much aerial prowess to make the most of long kicks and we inevitably come back under pressure instantly. Playing the ball out would at least give us the opportunity of moving the ball forward to one of our players.

[Ronners]

Dawson caught the ball from a corner on Thursday, to some ironic cheers, and duly rolled the ball out to a Bradford player! It was, however, one of his few errors on the night.

When we're under pressure, it would help if our full backs made themselves available for a rollout from Dawson. We don't have much aerial prowess to make the most of long kicks and we inevitably come back under pressure instantly. Playing the ball out would at least give us the opportunity of moving the ball forward to one of our players.

I do agree Glenn that sometimes Dawson does roll it out, and I see our full backs regularly running out wide to give the keeper the option to give it to them, but for me he doesn't do it as often as he should, thus making me wonder if he's under orders to punt it forward. UTM

[GlennMiller]

I do agree Glenn that sometimes Dawson does roll it out, and I see our full backs regularly running out wide to give the keeper the option to give it to them, but for me he doesn't do it as often as he should, thus making me wonder if he's under orders to punt it forward. UTM

It does make you wonder Ronners. So far this season, most opposition teams have dominated us in the air from our goal kicks. Surely, the management team have seen that and realise that it's essentially giving away possession? We have sufficient talent in midfield to try playing it out from the back more frequently. In Tom Holmes' single appearance, he showed how an intelligent pass from the back opened up the midfield, mainly for Powell, to launch an effective attack.

[caytonmiller]

Problem with the modern day manager is they are a slave to stats.
Why don't teams put a player on the halfway line when defending a corner. Stats tell them more goals are conceded with less bodies in the box.
Why is it every time we get a throwing within 25 yards of the opposition goal line it's a long throw into the box, even when someone is available for the short throw.
The list goes on

[Ronners]

It does make you wonder Ronners. So far this season, most opposition teams have dominated us in the air from our goal kicks. Surely, the management team have seen that and realise that it's essentially giving away possession? We have sufficient talent in midfield to try playing it out from the back more frequently. In Tom Holmes' single appearance, he showed how an intelligent pass from the back opened up the midfield, mainly for Powell, to launch an effective attack.

We have definitely been dominated in the air up front glenn Glenn, some of that is to do with both Etete and Sherif being injured and we had Hugill and Kayode playing up front who are lightweights against some big centre backs. I also agree with you fully that we have enough talent in midfield to try playing out, although our own supporters can be very unforgiving if it went badly wrong at times. We are very much a work in progress, but I personally am starting to see some good things in our play, but we need to keep progressing and hopefully then start climbing the table, patience is a virtue. UTM

[uttis]

Agbaire the other night constantly made himself available for Dawson was continually ushered away so too did Rafferty and James drives me nuts when we constantly give the ball back to the opposition as has been said we have some good ball players in midfield let’s use them or at least mix it up a bit Sherif for instance doesn’t look like he can hold the ball up but is really good running for through balls and using his pace and strength

[Old_time_miller]

People should start to understand that we are in danger of going down. Simple as.
We can score the odd goal, but when we continually leak goals, have a woeful defence and keeper (the nervous ball watcher) and will always have players injured, any plus points are continually being overridden.
It becomes, as is being shown, a difficult task.

[Yak]

People should start to understand that we are in danger of going down. Simple as.
We can score the odd goal, but when we continually leak goals, have a woeful defence and keeper (the nervous ball watcher) and will always have players injured, any plus points are continually being overridden.
It becomes, as is being shown, a difficult task.

No way we?re going down. Get a grip .

[Derbymiller]

No way we?re going down. Get a grip .

we are over 21% of the way through the season, we are in a relegation place - FACT
We haven't got a single point from an away game - FACT
Our two best players - Nombe & Holmes are both unlikely to be back before November
We keep suffering a large amount of injuries and struggle to keep players fit, and the management has stated they don't know why
We have dropped 10 points from leading position in 40% of the League games we have started
We have only kept 1 clean sheet all season
The manager has stated that we are lacking confidence (a huge factor in performance in sport)

So I hope you are right but to say we are not and telling people that are concerned to get a grip, seems to ignore the problems and the situation we are in.

[NorthWestCorner]

we are over 21% of the way through the season, we are in a relegation place - FACT
We haven't got a single point from an away game - FACT
Our two best players - Nombe & Holmes are both unlikely to be back before November
We keep suffering a large amount of injuries and struggle to keep players fit, and the management has stated they don't know why
We have dropped 10 points from leading position in 40% of the League games we have started
We have only kept 1 clean sheet all season
The manager has stated that we are lacking confidence (a huge factor in performance in sport)

So I hope you are right but to say we are not and telling people that are concerned to get a grip, seems to ignore the problems and the situation we are in.

Can I ask a question? Not just you but several people keep saying this Holmes fella is our best player. We’ve seen him once, a good debate during which he got injured. He’s played intermittently in the past 4 or 5 years according to Wiki. Are we really sure he is all that? Luton released him and don’t seem to be pulling up trees so I would be cautious as to this being the second coming.