What could possibly go wrong? Despite Darren Moore’s assertion that they are better than their league position suggests, all the signs are that they are there for the taking on Saturday and I can’t imagine any of us would not be disappointed with anything less than 3 points, especially after our recent heroics.

As the old adages go, it’s 11 against 11, any team in this league can beat any other team on their day etc etc…but we don’t want to think about that do we?

What we want to see is an improved performance, a professional attitude, a clean sheet, goals and a statement win that sets us up for the theoretically tougher run of games ahead.

Bring it on.

 

 

My summary of the day - Leeds Ring Road was shut . M62 was shut . Both on way over, left home at 11:45, got to ground after 2:30. Assumed start of a bad day.

First 25-30 minutes thought I had it spot on Vale pushing and harrying, keeper made some saves !! Johnston one superb block. 
 

Became clear they were very open especially down our left. ACD and Burstow not in game. Cissoko main outlet, Christie looked slow.

Burstow gets in game lays back to ACD 1-0, probably against run of play. We started to play well…very well at times. Sheehan a player I have criticised was playing on front foot picking up ball in the final third and dictating play.  
 

Simons bags the 2nd, ACD back in the game, easy to miss how good the lay off was, lovely strike by the X man.

Second half, Vale pushing but very short lived. We just play good sustained football. Christie has hit the elixir of youth at half time he is like a young Conner Bradley up the right wing. Burstow gets involved again ADC bags again. Subs start coming in. ADC turns provider Dempsey is back, great moment. 
 

Stay till the end, stay to clap players off, half an hour sat on car park but listening to Bolton FM just laughing.

Motorway slow rather than closed on way home. Get home only 7 hours after I left home. Yoof and g/f come for curry. I get a free beer when collecting and 3 After Eight mints. Missus picked a shit film, think I will go on Wways and post a very long post about today. And still there are fireworks scaring the dogs. 

 

2 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Away form (and defending) is still a concern for me 

Yes the last 2 wins are what we do, we play well and win most of the home games.  I'm not taking that for granted, but we've been no better in the last 2 than in the first 6 at home, its fantastic but the home form isn't the reason we aren't top.  Nothing has changed away yet (it can't because we aren't playing away!)  

That's for another day, for now let's relish the prospect of the Bradford game and being right in amongst the leaders for the first time in about 18 months presumably.  Also, only one team now on 2 points per game instead of 4 very recently, the bar has been lowered finally and we're catching them all up.

Stood at the car park terminal thing after game and a cluster of Vale behind me were talking.

They said we were by far the best team they'd played, there's no way we won't be winning the league.

I can't disagree tbf.

1 minute ago, gonzo said:

Stood at the car park terminal thing after game and a cluster of Vale behind me were talking.

They said we were by far the best team they'd played, there's no way we won't be winning the league.

I can't disagree tbf.

Why do you pay every week  ? no wonder you never get off car park. Register on line, get one game free too. 

1 hour ago, Mounts Kipper said:

Interesting to hear Cogley didn’t make the squad. 

We had that conversation inthe ground. I reckon tactical as Christie has better quality against a low block, Cogleys more your man for the decoy run to create space for ACD when defence is pushed up more. Tutu can (theoretically) cover right back and both wings so better sub option. 

10 minutes ago, Ani said:

Why do you pay every week  ? no wonder you never get off car park. Register on line, get one game free too. 

I know it's done if I pay at the terminal.

Don't trust all that online app malarkey

57 minutes ago, Ani said:

ACD has 12 goals involvements this season, 6 goals and 6 assists 

Next best in league is 9 - Burstow and Wooton 

Burstow 3 assists in last 3 games.  But strangely quiet in all 3 games other than the assists and hasn't had a sniff of goal.  Last 8 goals in league and FA Cup by non-strikers.

Also first time in ages I listened to BBC RM phone jn. 

 

If Ben or Stephen are on here....you're both clueless 

3 hours ago, onefinfrandsen said:

Great interview, speaks really well and sounds genuinely committed. His experience and willingness to pass it on to other squad members could be a  big help in us being successful.

He showed what he was today, someone who's operated at a higher level for years, quality in all the aspects of his game. Very good signing

Some of the post above above are way to long . We were poor first 30 minutes then won 

35 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Burstow 3 assists in last 3 games.  But strangely quiet in all 3 games other than the assists and hasn't had a sniff of goal.  Last 8 goals in league and FA Cup by non-strikers.

I saw an interesting little thing down below me in the technical area, as Burstow had come off, looking a bit frustrated, one of the coaches taking a minute to talk to him, no doubt about how well he'd done, with the two assists and a selfless effort. 

Being a good all round striker's as much about the work to help others shine as just banging them in

unfortunately captures the bum note in the remembrance bit at the start. 

1 hour ago, Kane57 said:

Also first time in ages I listened to BBC RM phone jn. 

 

If Ben or Stephen are on here....you're both clueless 

Neither of them said anything that could be described as such in my view. 

You more into clickbait dickheadery?

We just look like a good team don't we? Yes we know ACD is a cheat code, but everybody else is playing their part.

We've also got Dempsey now, Erahon, Forrester and Gale on their way backs. We brought Forss off the bench which says everything about the strength of this team at the moment.

I love just watching ACD specifically at times. Noticed that he's had clear instruction to just roam around and find the pockets. Teams know how much of a problem he is but can't do anything about it as he can move anywhere. As close to a League 1 Messi that you'll find.

Bradford is a huge huge game. Probably the biggest crowd we've seen for a long time. Will be a near sell out. This season is ours. COYWM.

I've watched us for a long long time, special times under Jimmy Armfield, Ian Greaves, Bruce Rioch, Big Sam, even Parky & Evatt and i'm getting that same feeling that we're on the verge of achieving something special.

The blend is right, the defence has tightened, we're scoring goals.

We can do it this season.

Still can’t get over the results around us and goal difference swing yesterday. Nearest winner in 9th place, Luton. Just doesn’t happen normally. 

12 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

Asked my lad as he was going off, would he rather have ACD or Bradley already knowing the impact he had for us 

I didn’t think any loan player would have the same if not better effect on the team that Bradley did but ACD does for me. 
 

the goals and assists and how fundamental he is to us at the minute is beyond what I expected 

That is a tough one. For me Bradley still just edges it (although if ACD keeps scoring every game for a few more games I'll change my mind). Wingback is such a tough position and he made it look easy, and scored and assisted quite a lot. 

Imagine having the two of them down the right together 

7 hours ago, Lostock Whites said:

 

I love just watching ACD specifically at times. Noticed that he's had clear instruction to just roam around and find the pockets. Teams know how much of a problem he is but can't do anything about it as he can move anywhere. As close to a League 1 Messi that you'll find.

Their full back clattered into him twice early doors and the ref did nowt. It was clear how they intended to handle him and I suspect it'll happen a few more times this season.  He has the ability to overcome such an approach, I just hope refs protect him too. 

13 hours ago, Cheese said:

 

Fantastic interview.

For those who automatically pass over these I urge you to have a listen to this one.

He talks like a manager/coach in the making. 

Having somebody with his knowledge, understanding and experience in the game, alongside the type of calm, composed and effective performance he offered yesterday, can only be a good thing.

Loved his line to Duberry “stay where you are celebrated” 

Any promotion winning squad needs experience alongside youth and talent.  Christie and Dempsey could be those vital cogs this season. 

8 hours ago, Ani said:

unfortunately captures the bum note in the remembrance bit at the start. 

Wasn't even a high note! 😁

 

Bet the Vale fan who thought it was finished and shouted Come on Vale felt a bit silly

Nice touch.

 

 

I was thinking about how a month or so ago we weren’t quite showing promotion form and that in the tightest division in living memory, we couldn’t trust our league position given the teams that had games in hand on us and the quirkiness of predicting results. 
This morning, after perhaps the most surprising set of results I’ve ever seen, we lie third and even if the teams with games in hand win them, the lowest we can be is sixth and in the playoffs and that’s due to an excellent run of form in which we have stopped leaking goals as we did earlier in the season without sacrificing our attacking intent. It’s been brilliant.

The games against top teams after the break will be crucial to keep us up there - still too early in the season to call them six-pointers - more an opportunity to narrow the field - and our last few games have left me feeling that we can do it. I’m finally feeling confident that we are proper contenders and listening to Cyrus’s excellent interview fills me with the old enemy, hope.

We are here despite lying 19th in the away form table so that needs to be improved, but we can do it, especially if we keep injuries to a minimum, we cope with winter pitches and as SS requests, our excellent fan base sticks behind the team through thick and thin.

Very, very happy with the way it’s going this morning.

 

2 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

I was thinking about how a month or so ago we weren’t quite showing promotion form and that in the tightest division in living memory, we couldn’t trust our league position given the teams that had games in hand on us and the quirkiness of predicting results. 
This morning, after perhaps the most surprising set of results I’ve ever seen, we lie third and even if the teams with games in hand win them, the lowest we can be is sixth and in the playoffs and that’s due to an excellent run of form in which we have stopped leaking goals as we did earlier in the season without sacrificing our attacking intent. It’s been brilliant.

The games against top teams after the break will be crucial to keep us up there - still too early in the season to call them six-pointers - more an opportunity to narrow the field - and our last few games have left me feeling that we can do it. I’m finally feeling confident that we are proper contenders and listening to Cyrus’s excellent interview fills me with the old enemy, hope.

We are here despite lying 19th in the away form table so that needs to be improved, but we can do it, especially if we keep injuries to a minimum, we cope with winter pitches and as SS requests, our excellent fan base sticks behind the team through thick and thin.

Very, very happy with the way it’s going this morning.

 

Yep, mental isnt it! We are now favourites for promotion, and weve only won one away game! Strange league!