Bradford City (A)

[Traf]

I should also add that Cyrus Christie possibly had his best game for us; we all know his limitations, but I thought he coped pretty well today. Forino was like a man mountain, but as a defence we do give far too many cheap free kicks away near our box.

As for Thierry Gale, he did nothing wrong.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

A positive is that it looks like a few of our best attacking players are getting into their groove at just the right time

[Johnnyrotten]

15 minutes ago, Cheshire Youri said:

I think that's the concern ... 2 wins in 9.

Playing well, but can't get across the line to actually win.

 

In the 9 games, we won 2.  In the other 7, we didn't score in 3 and wouldn't have done if we were still playing.  That leaves 4 games, and we were losing in the 80 oddth minute in the first 3.  We haven't been playing well, we've been trying to rescue most games.  Today was the first time we've been the better team and not won, so this isn't about getting across the line (that'd be Huddersfield, who had injury time equalisers against them 3 games running).

Today was our first dropped points from a winning position since Luton in November (that was with 10 men). 

[Eddie]

4 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

In the 9 games, we won 2.  In the other 7, we didn't score in 3 and wouldn't have done if we were still playing.  That leaves 4 games, and we were losing in the 80 oddth minute in the first 3.  We haven't been playing well, we've been trying to rescue most games.  Today was the first time we've been the better team and not won, so this isn't about getting across the line (that'd be Huddersfield, who had injury time equalisers against them 3 games running).

Today was our first dropped points from a winning position since Luton in November (that was with 10 men). 

We’ve lost 2 of 20 - let’s not get too overcritical 

[Tonge moor green jacket]

7 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

In the 9 games, we won 2.  In the other 7, we didn't score in 3 and wouldn't have done if we were still playing.  That leaves 4 games, and we were losing in the 80 oddth minute in the first 3.  We haven't been playing well, we've been trying to rescue most games.  Today was the first time we've been the better team and not won, so this isn't about getting across the line (that'd be Huddersfield, who had injury time equalisers against them 3 games running).

Today was our first dropped points from a winning position since Luton in November (that was with 10 men). 

Another statistical analysis used to create a particular narrative. 

Against Huddersfield, we only had 10 players, yet still turned round a two goal deficit.

Of course there have been some really poor performances, but there have been some notable ones too.

Both ourselves and Cardiff stumbled somewhat, and we lost out in the end, but looking at those around us, none of them have been overly consistent neither.

Probably why we're all in the play offs.

It's a bit of a lottery now we're in the play offs, but we've as much chance as anyone, and with any luck, we'll have two more midfielders fit and ready, and our leading scorer likewise. 

Plenty to be positive about, even if we're all papping it quietly.

Just like to avoid Stockport though! 🙂 

 

[bwfc4ife]

I thought we looked the better team first half just lacked that bit of composure. Their plan was go long and pick up on the second balls which they did time and again. Add set pieces to that. 
 

They seemed quite solid at the back and I felt that we lacked Dalby’s presence up top. Mason worked his socks off and did well for Kenny’s assist but he’s a sub at best for me. 
 

Christie looked in trouble a few times, when’s tutu back? Was it 1 or 3 games? 
 

I thought toal and Forino both had good solid games, just disappointing that Bonham spooned that catch because they were actually creating nothing. 
 

Thought Sheehan was very quiet today, rueben looked very neat and tidy but gave the ball away in dangerous areas a couple of times. 
 

I think if we’d have had another option up front from the bench, we may have won that with a change earlier in the game.

Shout out to Cissoko, he was class today just a shame that nothing comes from it but he certainly gave the full back nightmares

[Tombwfc]

8 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

In the 9 games, we won 2.  In the other 7, we didn't score in 3 and wouldn't have done if we were still playing.  That leaves 4 games, and we were losing in the 80 oddth minute in the first 3.  We haven't been playing well, we've been trying to rescue most games.  Today was the first time we've been the better team and not won, so this isn't about getting across the line (that'd be Huddersfield, who had injury time equalisers against them 3 games running).

Today was our first dropped points from a winning position since Luton in November (that was with 10 men). 

 

The last 9 includes Port Vale, Doncaster, Rotherham and Cardiff and we were shite in all of those. And that's almost half the games, so I take the point.

However... and christ knows as someone who thinks we've been under par all season... I do think we've played well in these last three. We were properly turgid win, lose or draw for months but against Stevenage and Huddersfield we looked more like the side that was beating teams at home comfortably at the start of the season. And we translated that to an away game for a decent amount of the game today (against a team with the third best home record in the league) whereas in the past we've looked like a totally different side on the road.

Small sample size, but I think there's enough there to believe that (with RR and Kenny properly integrated into the side and ACD fit again) we can play our best football coming into the playoffs. That doesn't mean we'll blow anyone away - we still concede basically any time the opposition put us under any pressure - but I think there's room for optimism.

[Johnnyrotten]

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

We’ve lost 2 of 20 - let’s not get too overcritical 

I wasn't being over critical, I was responding to the "not getting over the line".  Aside from today, its just not been an issue all season, if we've been leading, we've generally won, and if we've been losing we've usually equalised.  Most teams would love to have that habit.

Anyway, its not about how many we've lost (same as Cardiff), its more about how many we've won (9th best in L1).  9 wins in last 24.

But who cares if we win 2 of the 3 that matter coming up.

 

 

[Farnywhite]

21 minutes ago, Eddie said:

We’ve lost 2 of 20 - let’s not get too overcritical 

Loosing  isn’t wining 

[Johnnyrotten]

10 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Another statistical analysis used to create a particular narrative. 

 

Not creating any narrative, it was simply stats to show that we haven't tossed away leads, before today.  Not sure how that can be disputed.

Giving justified credit for the great comeback with 10 men last week is a separate point.

But I agree with every bit of the rest of your post.

[Johnnyrotten]

11 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

The last 9 includes Port Vale, Doncaster, Rotherham and Cardiff and we were shite in all of those. And that's almost half the games, so I take the point.

However... and christ knows as someone who thinks we've been under par all season... I do think we've played well in these last three. We were properly turgid win, lose or draw for months but against Stevenage and Huddersfield we looked more like the side that was beating teams at home comfortably at the start of the season. And we translated that to an away game for a decent amount of the game today (against a team with the third best home record in the league) whereas in the past we've looked like a totally different side on the road.

Small sample size, but I think there's enough there to believe that (with RR and Kenny properly integrated into the side and ACD fit again) we can play our best football coming into the playoffs. That doesn't mean we'll blow anyone away - we still concede basically any time the opposition put us under any pressure - but I think there's room for optimism.

Yes, definite signs of improvement v Stevenage, Huddersfield and Bradford.  

And the positive going into the play offs is the only defeat in the first 6 of the 7 "tough end to the season" fixtures is the one that always looked unwinnable.

[Alf Hartigan]

11 minutes ago, Farnywhite said:

Loosing  isn’t wining 

That's better than a Little Whitt post.

Take a bow 👏

[Farnywhite]

If we’re good enough we will go up no excuses it’s pretty straight forward it all boils down to the playoffs no matter the permutations who we play and Wembley . we not good enough for top two  we get a second shot if we’re third best then we will prove it 

Edited 3 hours ago by Farnywhite

[TrickyTrotter]

Decent day out.  Should have won.

Parked in Manningham (North West of the ground).   F..k me what an utter shithole, filthy and run down. Bottled out of the first parking space I found and parked on a main road.  Made Bolton look like a Cotswold village.  These stats make grim reading.

• Manningham has a total population of 21,180 people

• 62.7% of people living in Manningham identified as Pakistani, White 11.9% Bangladeshi 9.7%, Indian 4.4%, Other 11.3%

• Life expectancy rates for both males and females living in Manningham ward are lower than the District averages

• Manningham ward is ranked as the most deprived ward in the District and is also the most income and employment deprived ward in the District.

[gonzo]

Take em up Manningham Lane was shouted from a Balcony on Rita Sue and Bob Too

[Lostock Whites]

Really good away day, despite one of their fans lobbing a glass that shattered and slightly cut my leg, just a scratch.

Such a positive performance, definitely the better side, they play for fouls, set pieces etc.

Just on a negative note, really bored to keep slagging him off, but I've never really changed my opinion on Johnston and after 5 years I don't think I ever will. Great personality, wears his heart of his sleeve and gives his all. But his quality as a footballer for what we are trying to achieve is not good enough.

The other defenders and goalkeeper have been at fault too in recent games, but his countless errors and lack of composure, giving away fouls and set pieces. We've conceded in back to back from them errors alone (Huddersfield's first). 

He's 27 now and is still showing the same lack of composure when we first got him.

Anyway, great performance though in general, which is what makes it so frustrating as its been this seasin and its easier to go in on the players who are making mistakes, because unfortunately, we've spoilt many good performances this season from doing that.

Today was a good point though. Like others have said, I know Stockport have our number recently, but our biggest opponent is ourselves really. It's ours for the taking.

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Lostock Whites

[Ani]

Just another game where the best team ended up with a draw

[bolton va va]

Just back....& outclassed Bratford in the 1st half & even more so in the 2nd. Just a pity we couldn't hang on  or get the 2nd goal for the win we deserved.

Nobody played badly, Christie did fine at full back not having to face pace, the defence played well ( surprising considering they're all shit ) Rodrigues & Sheehan matched their midfield, RR has some lovely touches

& MOTM is shared between Kenny who looks better every game, I struggle to liken him to any past striker we've had, & Cissoko who had his best game for us, was practically unplayable & delivered some excellent final balls.

[bolton va va]

Pre match.....Bradford centre was buzzing with several pubs packed out & overflowing with mostly their fans (the Old Bank ?? was mostly Bolton ), the market area had a busy fanzone & one street on the way to the ground was closed off & packed out in some seemingly organised do.

It all built up a great atmosphere so it was surprising how quiet their fans were at the game until they scored.....maybe because we were so good !!

& the remembrance stuff, i'm glad to say Bolton respected it perfectly & it was tastefully done, ( I could live without YNWA but it's up to them )

[Marc505]

What a proper number 9 type finish that was from Kenny today. Top class, and some major scenes in that stand. Ace.

Top day, decent town, shit trains.

[Farnywhite]

17 minutes ago, bolton va va said:

Pre match.....Bradford centre was buzzing with several pubs packed out & overflowing with mostly their fans (the Old Bank ?? was mostly Bolton ), the market area had a busy fanzone & one street on the way to the ground was closed off & packed out in some seemingly organised do.

It all built up a great atmosphere so it was surprising how quiet their fans were at the game until they scored.....maybe because we were so good !!

& the remembrance stuff, i'm glad to say Bolton respected it perfectly & it was tastefully done, ( I could live without YNWA but it's up to them )

You must of missed the bottle throwing when they paraded past the away pub before the game .  
Before snd After the game Bradford city centre is ok good pubs and atmosphere but noticed most Bradford city fans had gone by about 8 left myself after 10 the city centre is a totally different place . Not safe fur woman put it that way 

[desperado]

Very good read on here. Nothing I really disagree with.

Brilliant away day. (Apart from the trains & argy bargy outside the Bradford Arms) 

Great to be at another class L1 ground and atmosphere.

Very respectful remembrance - well done BCFC and BWFC 👏

Tough choice between Cissoko, Kenny and Rodrigues for MOM - just Rodrigues for me, purely for his defensive work. You can’t break him and Sheehan up.

Bradford do not want to meet us again in the play-offs. One guy I spoke to said he’d be happy getting to Wembley and losing! They aren’t ready for the championship, they’ve overachieved and it would be a great experience for them! 

Im really hoping it’s us, Bradford, Stockport and Stevenage.  

… fuck that it doesn’t matter 🎵 “We’re on our way, we’re on our way, to the championship, we’re on our way 🎵

 

 

[TM Trotter]

I was in the home end, corner to the far left as away fans look. 

Fantastic goal celebrations, wish I was part of it properly. Loud all game, top effort. 

Cissoko unplayable, where has that come from? Sloppy goal to concede, but Bradford said the same about ours... where were their defence?!

City centre afterwards was pretty smart, I thought. Even if the road up to the ground looked like an Istanbul derby pre-match!

Few post-game beers with a Bradford pal, they really don't want to play us again. We have nothing to worry about if we play them in the semis. Apart from the dogshit trains...

[RoadRunnerFan]

1 hour ago, bolton va va said:

 

& MOTM is shared between Kenny who looks better every game, I struggle to liken him to any past striker we've had, & Cissoko who had his best game for us, was practically unplayable & delivered some excellent final balls.

Clearly levels between them but  Anelka is the nearest match for me. Pace, power, movement in behind and thundercunt finishes into corners of the goal. 

[Leyther_Matt]

Just got home. Thought we played really well and just got let down by the one poor defensive play all day.

Nobody to pick out positively or negatively tbh, just a solid display.

Great atmosphere. Our fans did us proud during the tributes and, fair play, that was acknowledged by the Bradford fans.

Only 10 hours until our train to the Edinburgh derby 😴