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Post by paz on Feb 17, 2024 20:15:43 GMT
I assume that Steve either doesn't want to over-use Duke-McKenna and risk burn-out, or he prefers to deploy him as an impact player. Although the QPR loanee's looked lively for us, he's yet to score or provide an assist. Today's was another battling performance with no reward. We had more of the ball than Bradford, who threatened mainly on the break rather than through sustained pressure. And that was how they scored, nine minutes in to the second half. Harry Smith had earlier brought two saves out of the home keeper; we really needed one of those to go in. Deano then kept us in the game with a couple of fine saves. We gave it a real go in the last ten, but the breakthrough just wouldn't come. We've not been obviously outclassed in any game since Steve's arrival, and haven't lost by more than the odd goal. But winning football matches is about scoring more goals than the opposition, and we've just not rediscovered the knack of doing that. Jose M?
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Post by boomboom on Feb 18, 2024 6:00:49 GMT
Do we need snookers yet! I stand to be corrected but I think the last time one of our “strikers” scored in a league game was at Grimsby in November! That was Harry Smith pre second sending off! Only Tope since. Still 39 points to play for!!!! That really is a damning statistic! However, I think the lack of goals is an issue that runs deeper. In recent seasons, albeit my memory might be playing tricks, I can't recall any striker, with the exception of Olafe, even approaching what might be termed "prolific". However, that was compensated for by players chipping in more than decent returns from other areas of the pitch, notably wide players such as Randall and Ajeboye. On top of that were the midfielders (I seem to remember Beautyman being top scorer one season). Finally, there were the defenders from corners, and open play, not forgetting Milsom's free kicks. That's not been happening this season for reasons we can but conjecture about but the likes of Coley, Clay and N'Guessan appeared to have very few goals in them. Ditto the January arrivals it seems.
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Post by steveb on Feb 18, 2024 7:34:09 GMT
I overlooked an Angol goal at Mansfield so tally should be one.
I guess Dan Fitchett was our last real goal scorer (other than Tanto).
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Post by Andy K on Feb 18, 2024 11:40:03 GMT
Undone by a soft goal where we basically allowed Bradford to stroll up the field unchallenged. But I don't think that was the real issue yesterday - more how we couldn't score. Harry S had a good chance in the 2nd half but obviously shot with his weaker foot, their keeper did a great save in a goalmouth scramble, but for most of it, we couldn't hit the target.
As the Aleman says, Morison now has the lowest PPG of all our 3 managers this season, and we've not won any of the 8 games in charge, and we should have at least won 2 of them, if not more. In a more positive look, we're not going to games knowing teams are going to score 3, 4, 5 or even 8 against us, and in each game there not been more than one goal in it. But we really need to start scoring. Even more frustrating when none of our players had a bad game yesterday.
A couple of stats that came out yesterday 1) We're the only side in the league this season not to get a penalty awarded to us (although that should have been the case on Tues) 2) It's been nearly a year since we won a league game outside the M25 (Newport County on 25th Feb 2023).
If we beat FGR, Grimsby and Colchester we are still in with a slim fighting chance. Failure to win any of those 3 games and we're down. But then we need to almost double our total wins this season. So already that seems like a tall ask.
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Post by baboonfish on Feb 18, 2024 12:23:08 GMT
The fact that we're still within sighting distance of Grimsby and Colchester shows just how bad you have to be to get relegated out of this league. When we look back on a dismal season, I think the moment we gifted - and it truly was a gift - Doncaster that equaliser with the last kick of the game will be the defining moment. Donny have taken 7 points since that draw, while we've taken zero. I genuinely believe if we'd defended our lead properly, it would be the reverse and we'd have at least 6 more points than we currently do.
It looks to me that this side is pyschologically incapable of getting results. We have developed the footballing equivilent of impotence and we will continue to lose matches we should be drawing, and draw matches we should be winning until relegation is certain.
The next run of games against sides around us will tell us everything we need to know.
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,306
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Post by markf on Feb 18, 2024 16:12:36 GMT
Thought we did ok again yesterday. Loads of effort, got the ball down, passed it and made some chances; still lost though. MotM for me was Dean Bouzanis; some great saves.
Mr Angry is back and while some of it is aimed at the ref for a really odd performance, not all. Inconsistency to the point of pettiness over where throw-ins should be taken and the booking of Dean was a joke. Dean places f-k for offside in line with the assistant. Ref, who has back to his lino, tells Dean to move it back. Dean points to lino and ref books him. Absolutely bizarre but sadly not a shock anymore. The two linos were unable to keep up with play at times; watch the highlights as Harry S gets through early in the second half. That was par for the course yesterday.
The Bradford stewards get the most though. 87 people in a section that holds what, 500 and fans get told to sit down. Even the printed ground rules came out!! There were standing fans in other part of the ground which were certainly more populated. One of the stewards was very provocative and appeared to be "up for it". What he called one of our younger fans (into his ear) he got back at the end. Suffice to say he didn't like it.
Also the FLP gave their 'keeper MotM. Yep he made some good saves but none better than the one Dean made from Cook in the first half or in the second. The FLP stats table suggested we only had one shot on target. Really and if so how does that warrant giving the home goalie MotM? Journalism or match reporting anyway, as bad as the refereeing in L2.
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Post by brian54 on Feb 18, 2024 16:38:23 GMT
I thought it was a good effort yesterday just a shame we failed to score more goals than our opponents.It was good to see Jack Taylor from our Accademy promoted to the first team squad yesterday even more pleasing as the last update from the club I recall was that he had gone out on loan. Good to see Jay Wiliams named in the squad as well. A bigger weldone to the supporters'coach drivers for getting us on the coach home safely in such horrible driving conditions especially after the windscreen wipers packed up. Onto a home match next against an improving Colchester. It is odd how different club stewards set rules and react yesterday though we were small of number spread out in a relatively big seating area the stewards were at us from the word go trying to create issues. At 70 years to be searched and roughly patted down by two stewards before being permitted to enter was completely over the top then finding very limited catering facilities as well nothing at Bradfords stadium was welcoming I trust this is reflected in their efl customer grading!
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Post by andycapp on Feb 18, 2024 17:20:13 GMT
No one has mentioned the pitch it looked a shocker and made our current pitch looks like Wembley.
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Post by os on Feb 18, 2024 20:22:27 GMT
Although there is still a chance of survival, its looking more likely that Lord Lucan will show up. Yesterday was like Duja Ve, or being stuck in the same loop 'Groundhog Day'.
No doubt that Matt was unlucky with injuries, losing Ben, then losing Eastie didn't help, but I don't think the squad was balanced going into the season. We had absolutely no backup for Craig in the middle, and while he was out our midfield was non existent, we have also struggled at left back. IMO these are things that could be seen in the squad right back at the start of the season.
I think we are now being competitive in every match because we have got Ben and Eastie back, but up front we simply lack the quality needed at this level. People will say we couldn't afford the likes of Tanto, but if that's what you need, that is what you need.
There is another chap down the road, scored a hattrick for Bromley yesterday against Chesterfield, he may have been a little cheaper?
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Post by Stewart on Feb 26, 2024 17:26:41 GMT
Thought we did ok again yesterday. Loads of effort, got the ball down, passed it and made some chances; still lost though. MotM for me was Dean Bouzanis; some great saves. Mr Angry is back and while some of it is aimed at the ref for a really odd performance, not all. Inconsistency to the point of pettiness over where throw-ins should be taken and the booking of Dean was a joke. Dean places f-k for offside in line with the assistant. Ref, who has back to his lino, tells Dean to move it back. Dean points to lino and ref books him. Absolutely bizarre but sadly not a shock anymore. The two linos were unable to keep up with play at times; watch the highlights as Harry S gets through early in the second half. That was par for the course yesterday. The Bradford stewards get the most though. 87 people in a section that holds what, 500 and fans get told to sit down. Even the printed ground rules came out!! There were standing fans in other part of the ground which were certainly more populated. One of the stewards was very provocative and appeared to be "up for it". What he called one of our younger fans (into his ear) he got back at the end. Suffice to say he didn't like it. Also the FLP gave their 'keeper MotM. Yep he made some good saves but none better than the one Dean made from Cook in the first half or in the second. The FLP stats table suggested we only had one shot on target. Really and if so how does that warrant giving the home goalie MotM? Journalism or match reporting anyway, as bad as the refereeing in L2. You will be pleased to know Mark, one steward will not be working for Bradford City again.
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markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,306
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Post by markf on Feb 26, 2024 19:40:00 GMT
So they took notice of the complaint? Wow.
He laughed at me when I told him Dan had reported him.
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