Bradford City (H)

[ianofcleveleys]

5 minutes ago, Ani said:

McAtee is frustrating as he clearly has something about him and does the odd very good thing.

JR I feel sorry for but just do not see how he fits in. He is totally lacking in confidence, this is a lad who has previously taken a break from the game for his mental health, I just think trying to make it work for him will only make it worse. Hounding him out of the club is just pathetic but I just do not see the situation getting any better for him here. 

As I see it with Randall, a decent lad I imagine, not going to happen for him here but no need to overly get on his case for it. A victim of circumstances and the dealings of football to an extent, Evatt's daft belief in what he could do and MacAnthony's eye for rinsing us and saddling him with a grossly inflated price tag. Add to that Evatt getting potted within days and little wonder it's weighed him down. 

Some time elsewhere, at a club and in a team that suits him better, might do him a lot of good. 

[Johnnyrotten]

McAtee is a striker with an OK scoring record, and whenever he plays he looks like he might score, and sometimes does.  Randall is a midfielder who never looks like scoring, we've got a situation now where they are compared as if they are similar types of players, like Burstow and Dalby or Sheehan and Morley.

If Randall is going to be considered, it has to be an alternative to Dempsey, a midfielder who likes to get forward, get on the end of things, ghost into the box etc - but we'd be playing with 1 striker not 2. 

I don't know why McAtee is grouped with these when he's clearly a 2nd striker.  For me its him or Forss, when we signed Forss and he scored 2 v Wigan he looked a class above.  Since then, not a lot.  That miss yesterday, I'd have to see it again but at the time nobody could work out what he'd tried to do or how the attempt was so limp. 

On current form, McAtee is no downgrade on Forss, who if I'm honest has been nearly as much a disappointment as Dalby so far.  McAtee is judged more harshly than everyone else, when he's as likely to score as any of our 4 strikers currently.

[CumbrianWhite]

13 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

McAtee is a striker with an OK scoring record, and whenever he plays he looks like he might score, and sometimes does.  Randall is a midfielder who never looks like scoring, we've got a situation now where they are compared as if they are similar types of players, like Burstow and Dalby or Sheehan and Morley.

If Randall is going to be considered, it has to be an alternative to Dempsey, a midfielder who likes to get forward, get on the end of things, ghost into the box etc - but we'd be playing with 1 striker not 2. 

I don't know why McAtee is grouped with these when he's clearly a 2nd striker.  For me its him or Forss, when we signed Forss and he scored 2 v Wigan he looked a class above.  Since then, not a lot.  That miss yesterday, I'd have to see it again but at the time nobody could work out what he'd tried to do or how the attempt was so limp. 

On current form, McAtee is no downgrade on Forss, who if I'm honest has been nearly as much a disappointment as Dalby so far.  McAtee is judged more harshly than everyone else, when he's as likely to score as any of our 4 strikers currently.

A little unfair on Forss. I think if anyone comes in up top to give Burstow a rest then it should be Forss.

He’s a striker being asked to play number 10 at the moment. I’d also say he’s technically the best striker we have, I think he’s just been a victim of Burstows unexpected excellent start. 

[Kane57]

Randall is last pick in midfield. McAtee is last pick up front. We should be looking to move them both on in January and sign better midfielders and strikers.

[Traf]

37 minutes ago, Big E said:

Mcatee has done more than Randall and Dalby combined. Sadly that does not say much 

It's a very low bar.

[Johnnyrotten]

3 minutes ago, CumbrianWhite said:

A little unfair on Forss. I think if anyone comes in up top to give Burstow a rest then it should be Forss.

He’s a striker being asked to play number 10 at the moment. I’d also say he’s technically the best striker we have, I think he’s just been a victim of Burstows unexpected excellent start. 

I don't see Forss ever replacing Burstow.  Barring injuries, its going to be the physicality of Burstow or the physicality of Dalby.  Forss would be another Collins in that respect, just not cut out for it.  That's not a criticism of either player, they are just different types to the centre forward that SS bases the forward line around.

Whoever plays, I'd want 2 strikers, yesterday's experiment of 1 striker at home didn't work.  Burstow or Dalby with Forss or McAtee.  Not a striker and an attacking midfielder IMO.

[Mounts Kipper]

1 minute ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I don't see Forss ever replacing Burstow.  Barring injuries, its going to be the physicality of Burstow or the physicality of Dalby.  Forss would be another Collins in that respect, just not cut out for it.  That's not a criticism of either player, they are just different types to the centre forward that SS bases the forward line around.

Whoever plays, I'd want 2 strikers, yesterday's experiment of 1 striker at home didn't work.  Burstow or Dalby with Forss or McAtee.  Not a striker and an attacking midfielder IMO.

Said same on here prematch, Schumacher selections yesterday were very average. 

[Eagle85]

+ Defense again. Johnston, Toal and TSL superb.

+ Great first half, enough chances to be 3 up. ACD getting in some great positions off the ball to add to his already great goals and work rate. Should have done better with the chances but looks good for the long term.

- Missed JDC, I know Christie is better at the simple stuff and doesn't give the ball away as much but we missed his energy getting forward, particularly in the second half, also Bradfords main threat was targeting Christie lack of pace

- 2 strikers. Burstow was poor which is fair enough considering how good hes been, but work rate was much lower than usual, hope hes not one of those that relaxes once hes made a bit of a name for himself. Dalby not just a terrible player, but so frustrating to watch. Cant run or even kick a ball properly from what we've seen so far.

- Struggling to create chances at home in the second half which isn't like us. Like it when Morley comes on as sub, when fresh hes good at picking it up and distributing late on, think that had a big part in it, can only assume Simons wasn't 100%. Think a combination of that, Dalby being awful and missing JDCs overlaps against a tired team late on had an impact.

 

[desperado]

9 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Whoever plays, I'd want 2 strikers, yesterday's experiment of 1 striker at home didn't work.  Burstow or Dalby with Forss or McAtee.  Not a striker and an attacking midfielder IMO.

Not sure I agree with that.

And I’d probably use some of your own evidence from this season to back that up.

You talk regularly about not knowing what you get from our players week in, week out. Consistency, conversion rate, home/away form etc etc.

Very rarely this season have we looked impotent in front of goal.

Yesterday, and on another day we score 3/4. I’m not sure Tutu’s miss, ACDs chances, (especially the one where Morley does really well harrying and dispossessing the CB)  Burstow’s 2nd half miss from Dempsey’s flick on  etc are converted because we have a second striker on board.

Get Dempsey to be more ruthless in that 10/8 position we’ve got another scoring threat to add.

Makes us more solid too.

Should be something we see again home or away 

[L/H White]

Scott Airfields time at the club is more memorable than mcatee's

Edited November 23, 2025 by L/H White

[ianofcleveleys]

8 minutes ago, desperado said:

Not sure I agree with that.

And I’d probably use some of your own evidence from this season to back that up.

You talk regularly about not knowing what you get from our players week in, week out. Consistency, conversion rate, home/away form etc etc.

Very rarely this season have we looked impotent in front of goal.

Yesterday, and on another day we score 3/4. I’m not sure Tutu’s miss, ACDs chances, (especially the one where Morley does really well harrying and dispossessing the CB)  Burstow’s 2nd half miss from Dempsey’s flick on  etc are converted because we have a second striker on board.

Get Dempsey to be more ruthless in that 10/8 position we’ve got another scoring threat to add.

Makes us more solid too.

Should be something we see again home or away 

We had 10 shots to zero first half, which should have been more had Dempsey not passed up two really good opportunities. We got into more than enough good areas to have gone in at least 1 if not 2 up. We should have won the game in that period.

I expected it to be tougher second half and it was, we didn't create much but still got into some promising areas, poor control, decision making and execution were the issues.

[desperado]

1 minute ago, ianofcleveleys said:

We had 10 shots to zero first half, which should have been more had Dempsey not passed up two really good opportunities. We got into more than enough good areas to have gone in at least 1 if not 2 up. We should have won the game in that period.

I expected it to be tougher second half and it was, we didn't create much but still got into some promising areas, poor control, decision making and execution were the issues.

Yeh I agree.

More evidence that suggests that there wasn’t a problem that having 2 strikers would naturally and obviously have solved. 

On another day, those players, that formation and methodology turns up a win. 

[Johnnyrotten]

9 minutes ago, desperado said:

Not sure I agree with that.

And I’d probably use some of your own evidence from this season to back that up.

You talk regularly about not knowing what you get from our players week in, week out. Consistency, conversion rate, home/away form etc etc.

Very rarely this season have we looked impotent in front of goal.

Yesterday, and on another day we score 3/4. I’m not sure Tutu’s miss, ACDs chances, (especially the one where Morley does really well harrying and dispossessing the CB)  Burstow’s 2nd half miss from Dempsey’s flick on  etc are converted because we have a second striker on board.

Get Dempsey to be more ruthless in that 10/8 position we’ve got another scoring threat to add.

Makes us more solid too.

Should be something we see again home or away 

Yeah, yesterday was a great eg of we don't know what we're going to get from player a, b or c one week to the next, its in the lap of the gods and I won't get hung up too much on who gets picked as a rule. 

Bradford buzzing at seemingly matching us yesterday, yes they probably earned a draw, but they had the fortune to get us at our worst (at home).  We'll never finish as bad as that again at home surely - ACD, Burstow, Forss, plus no Simons or Gale to worry about, if we'd been on form as v Wigan, Bradford would have gone into H-T well beaten.  SS comments about not being disappointed, about 2 good teams etc, well I'm disappointed because so many players didn't perform, I'm hoping his public comments aren't what he really thinks, he has to know we were below par yesterday against an out of form team and that was 2 points dropped, when we've already dropped too many (away).

Tutu's miss was a half decent shot on target, well saved.  For a "miss", I'd say ACD first half a couple of times, Burstow and Forss dreadfully 2nd half.  Dempsey 1st half.  A bit of credit due for Tutu at least making the keeper work.

My preference for a 2nd striker is that Burstow really did look isolated, his chance was a total one off on the day.  Its upto SS to get a workable midfield, there's an argument for sacrificing a winger maybe to keep the threat of Dempsey, but its asking too much of Burstow (or Dalby) to run the line on their own IMO.

[Johnnyrotten]

17 minutes ago, desperado said:

Yeh I agree.

More evidence that suggests that there wasn’t a problem that having 2 strikers would naturally and obviously have solved. 

On another day, those players, that formation and methodology turns up a win. 

I'm not suggesting we couldn't have won yesterday with one up front.  We are a better team than them IMO, if a few players are on form which they weren't yesterday.  I'm saying we'd be better with 2 strikers, that we can improve on yesterday.  We thrashed Wigan with 2 up front, we were dire in a few away games with 2 strikers, there are no guarantees, we can win or lose with either formation, its just my preference.

On shooting stats, bear in mind Toal's 25 yard pot shot, Christie's optimistic left footer from 20 yards, Burstow's 2 poor attempts 2nd half, ACD's many speculative efforts are all counted.  Bradford supposedly had 9 shots yesterday and the only threat I recall was the 2 saves from TSL.  Anyone can shoot, from anywhere on the pitch, it isn't an indication of quality unless the keeper has made a great save or its had us all expecting/fearing a goal. 

[Wanderlust]

58 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

I'm not suggesting we couldn't have won yesterday with one up front.  We are a better team than them IMO, if a few players are on form which they weren't yesterday.  I'm saying we'd be better with 2 strikers, that we can improve on yesterday.  We thrashed Wigan with 2 up front, we were dire in a few away games with 2 strikers, there are no guarantees, we can win or lose with either formation, its just my preference.

On shooting stats, bear in mind Toal's 25 yard pot shot, Christie's optimistic left footer from 20 yards, Burstow's 2 poor attempts 2nd half, ACD's many speculative efforts are all counted.  Bradford supposedly had 9 shots yesterday and the only threat I recall was the 2 saves from TSL.  Anyone can shoot, from anywhere on the pitch, it isn't an indication of quality unless the keeper has made a great save or its had us all expecting/fearing a goal. 

It’s an interesting equation for SS to address every game because we have several types of players in most positions and I assume he picks the team based on analysis of the opposition and the need to rotate at times but…..I think his most pressing issue is our shooting and finishing in general. 

[ianofcleveleys]

7 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

.I think his most pressing issue is our shooting and finishing in general

Said elsewhere, felt we rushed things and lacked a bit of composure around their box, snatching at shots, taking them on the stretch / from poor angles, letting the ball run away. It probably felt like a one goal game and there was a bit of haste to score it, from them as well as us. 

There's a few times this season where we've looked like we could do with an experienced head up front, who'd know the right choice to make and have that little bit of time when the whites of the keepers eyes come into view to put chances away with minimum fuss. Having said that, I know such people aren't easy to find and would also have to be able to contribute to the rest of the game. Someone who could do that even for 25 minutes late on though could help us clinch tight games. 

That long late run to L2 promotion was a lot down to the guile and nouse of the likes of Lee, Doyle and, dare I say it, even Sarcevic. We've great young talents in the forward positions but as the season wears on they might need a bit of help.

[BoltonPro15]

I see Burstow and Morley seen to be taking a bit of flack from the weekend.

Tbh, I don't think either of them had particularly bad game at the weekend. Morley showed some nice touches and a nice interception for a couple of ACD chances in the 1st half. Burstow has shown he's a class act and is a handful to play against, I imagine. Should have done better with his chance.

I think i'm missing something with Simons. Seems to get loads of praise on here but he's been pretty average IMO. A good signing and no doubt good at this level, but certainly not the Iniesta he's made out to be on here.

I'm probably wrong.

[Mounts Kipper]

16 minutes ago, BoltonPro15 said:

I see Burstow and Morley seen to be taking a bit of flack from the weekend.

Tbh, I don't think either of them had particularly bad game at the weekend. Morley showed some nice touches and a nice interception for a couple of ACD chances in the 1st half. Burstow has shown he's a class act and is a handful to play against, I imagine. Should have done better with his chance.

I think i'm missing something with Simons. Seems to get loads of praise on here but he's been pretty average IMO. A good signing and no doubt good at this level, but certainly not the Iniesta he's made out to be on here.

I'm probably wrong.

I agree on Simon’s…. Erahon looks at least as good to me if not better. 

[Whitesince63]

22 hours ago, Big E said:

If we played crosses in Vic would score. He’s proved that. 

agree about players not being quite at it. I wasn’t trying to blame ACD. 
 

 

To be fair so would Dalby but like Vic we don’t play to his strengths enough.

[Stig]

56 minutes ago, Whitesince63 said:

To be fair so would Dalby but like Vic we don’t play to his strengths enough.

Aye. Once Dalby is on I'd be tempted to revert the wingers back to more orthodox sides and get cross after cross in.

He's a big lump who gives us a good alternative option if we use him right.

Forss, Dempsey or McAtee behind looking for the scraps

[masi 51]

20 minutes ago, Stig said:

Aye. Once Dalby is on I'd be tempted to revert the wingers back to more orthodox sides and get cross after cross in.

He's a big lump who gives us a good alternative option if we use him right.

Forss, Dempsey or McAtee behind looking for the scraps

Great point. If we are to start Burstow and two wingers alongside a ten or two eights like we did Saturday once we replace him with Dalby we have to change and go Direct with another player feeding off him

[gonzo]

2 minutes ago, masi 51 said:

Great point. If we are to start Burstow and two wingers alongside a ten or two eights like we did Saturday once we replace him with Dalby we have to change and go Direct with another player feeding off him

Getting wingers on the 'right' sides would help 

[Rival Son]

1 hour ago, gonzo said:

Getting wingers on the 'right' sides would help 

Not necessarily. As we saw at Huddersfield, an inswinging cross from an inverted winger can cause havoc. Our full backs are on the right side, so the combination of the two roles can provide both inswinging and outswinging (or pullback) crosses.

[gonzo]

1 hour ago, Rival Son said:

Not necessarily. As we saw at Huddersfield, an inswinging cross from an inverted winger can cause havoc. Our full backs are on the right side, so the combination of the two roles can provide both inswinging and outswinging (or pullback) crosses.

Of course but our wingers cutting inside wasn't working on Saturday.

The full backs weren't overlapping and they had little support and just ran in to traffic. A little switch wouldn't have done much harm imo. We changed personnel but didn't change the approach much.

[Traf]

3 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Of course but our wingers cutting inside wasn't working on Saturday.

The full backs weren't overlapping and they had little support and just ran in to traffic. A little switch wouldn't have done much harm imo. We changed personnel but didn't change the approach much.

ACD doesn't really want to go down the left and cross it to Dalby or someone else.
He wants to play on the right, cut in and shoot.
It has worked plenty so far, but there are times when the cross/pass would be a better option. Hopefully the decision making will improve with games/experience.