Bradford Away - 2nd Leg Thursday 14th May

[masi 51]

Would not go to Bradford with two wingers but we will. The only change will be Dalby for Burstow and once again we will only play one up front and RR again in the 10 that does not suit this set-up

Erhahon give GJ that protection he needed.....See where we are Thursday evening

 

Edited May 10 by masi 51

[Traf]

It was telling that Schumacher instructed ACD to just stay out wide in the second half and with Ibby also staying out wide, the Bradford back line was more stretched, which led to us creating more chances. 

That for me, would be the ploy on Thursday. Bradford simply HAVE to come and try to score at least one. Time for us to do to them what others teams do to us and get that ball in behind the full back. Bradford can't score whilst defending.

[barrycowdrill]

They played 3 at the back last night with their wing backs pretty much playing as full backs to allow the doubling up on our wingers 

not sure whether that is their regular formation? But playing 5 at the back when you need to chase the tie is ok with me. Looking at it the other way, if they try and go more proactive and play 4 at the back that plays in to our wingers hands too. Also means their wingers get through a shit loads of work if they were having to try and double up again 

[waffer cup 07]

After last night, i'm sure their scared of our wingers, so may well double up again, or kick them out of the game. Dalby has to start for me, give them something different to contend with.

[masi 51]

8 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

They played 3 at the back last night with their wing backs pretty much playing as full backs to allow the doubling up on our wingers 

not sure whether that is their regular formation? But playing 5 at the back when you need to chase the tie is ok with me. Looking at it the other way, if they try and go more proactive and play 4 at the back that plays in to our wingers hands too. Also means their wingers get through a shit loads of work if they were having to try and double up again 

They came for a stalemate....I expect both Pointon and Tyerik Wright to start Thursday and their wingbacks to try and support them....As others have said it will leave gaps at the back

[Lostock Whites]

13 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

They played 3 at the back last night with their wing backs pretty much playing as full backs to allow the doubling up on our wingers 

not sure whether that is their regular formation? But playing 5 at the back when you need to chase the tie is ok with me. Looking at it the other way, if they try and go more proactive and play 4 at the back that plays in to our wingers hands too. Also means their wingers get through a shit loads of work if they were having to try and double up again 

They tend to play 3421 in most games and they're not really flexible with it either. They're built to play a certain way and to be fair it works hence them finishing 4th.

But it's obvious to us and to them that they are built to contain the dangerous players we have.

The goal was a great indicator of how to get around their deliberate plan to double and even triple up on our wingers. Got to switch it early.

 Cissoko had 3 players around him but meant Duberry was open on his own.

Even before the goal, particularly in the 1st half, I felt that Ethan and Cissoko combined very well.

Their wing back and right centre back would go to double up on Cissoko, but Ethan would then make a run in behind and he got through a numbers of times.

As this worked well and with us already going to their place recently packed out and even more so taking a lead to their place forcing them onto us even more. 

There's no reason to be cautiously confident.

Defence is the main thing, we need to defend like we did yesterday, no silly mistakes.

 

Edited May 10 by Lostock Whites

[Tombwfc]

43 minutes ago, barrycowdrill said:

They played 3 at the back last night with their wing backs pretty much playing as full backs to allow the doubling up on our wingers 

not sure whether that is their regular formation? But playing 5 at the back when you need to chase the tie is ok with me. Looking at it the other way, if they try and go more proactive and play 4 at the back that plays in to our wingers hands too. Also means their wingers get through a shit loads of work if they were having to try and double up again 

 

From memory in the game a couple of weeks ago they played a high line and backed Touray and Baldwin 1vs1 against ACD and Cissokho. Touray got lucky a couple of times but did a pretty good job overall while Baldwin got skinned more than any fullback I can remember seeing.

I'd expect them to do the same on Thursday, even moreso considering they won't be scared of Dalby running in behind. But it's one thing to try and defend ACD when Christie is ambling up behind him, and another when it's Tutu.

We will need to score I'm sure. So I don't think we should alter anything we'd normally do.

[jmjhb]

Dalby in for Burstow would be my only change.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

1 minute ago, jmjhb said:

Dalby in for Burstow would be my only change.

Is he fit enough?

On last night's showing, I'm not sure he is

[RUREADY2ROLL]

6 minutes ago, jmjhb said:

Dalby in for Burstow would be my only change.

Keep the same team and give Dalby more recovery time. Think Burstow will come good Thursday 

[jmjhb]

Just feel we need that outball a little more. Also, one minor criticism of yesterday was that our set pieces were, on the whole, shite.

Dalby would help with that.

Edited May 10 by jmjhb

[Traf]

1 hour ago, waffer cup 07 said:

After last night, i'm sure their scared of our wingers, so may well double up again, or kick them out of the game. Dalby has to start for me, give them something different to contend with.

Dalby would give them something to cross towards too.

[L/H White]

6 minutes ago, Traf said:

Dalby would give them something to cross towards too.

First cross after his introduction last night was across the floor, I was furious ha

[Ani]

4 hours ago, Stig said:

The doubling up on Cissoko was a new one. Seeing him picked out as the danger man is quite a turn around from 3 weeks ago!

It should really have meant there was space through the middle but Bradford sat back so much that it blocked everywhere. They won't be allowed to do that by their fans at home so there should either be space for the wingers or through the middle (can't double up everywhere) so we have to attack on Thursday 

Watched some of the game today, we did actually use the space created by them doubling up on Cisoko, GJ got the lad booked by running past him, there was into Burstow when he could not take it in and it trickled past the post. If they repeat that tactic on Thursday GJ, Ethan and RR need to be making those runs. 
 

All will come down to us having the bottle and ability to play our game. They have players likely to be back but doubt they are 100% , their manager has said they are accelerating Pointins recovery. They are a very solid hard working team. I think we have better individuals but need to match their work rate. No need to think we cann’t. 

[W.cramp]

A wigan away performance will be very nice. 

[desperado]

4 hours ago, masi 51 said:

Erhahon give GJ that protection he needed.

I hope those who were highlighting Erhahon’s weaknesses and downplaying him having a role to play in these play-offs, will give him a lot of credit for his contribution yesterday. And also acknowledge what he brings to our side; balance on the left, a good link and support to Johnston and Cissoko on that side and a calmness and protection in front of the back 4.

Like many others, the only change I would make is Dalby for Burstow.

[barrycowdrill]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

I hope those who were highlighting Erhahon’s weaknesses and downplaying him having a role to play in these play-offs, will give him a lot of credit for his contribution yesterday. And also acknowledge what he brings to our side; balance on the left, a good link and support to Johnston and Cissoko on that side and a calmness and protection in front of the back 4.

Like many others, the only change I would make is Dalby for Burstow.

Unsung hero is an understatement. 

[Winchester White]

1 hour ago, desperado said:

I hope those who were highlighting Erhahon’s weaknesses and downplaying him having a role to play in these play-offs, will give him a lot of credit for his contribution yesterday. And also acknowledge what he brings to our side; balance on the left, a good link and support to Johnston and Cissoko on that side and a calmness and protection in front of the back 4.

Like many others, the only change I would make is Dalby for Burstow.

I have to agree, I thought he had a decent game and considering he has been out for quite a while it was an excellent performance.

[desperado]

10 minutes ago, Winchester White said:

I have to agree, I thought he had a decent game and considering he has been out for quite a while it was an excellent performance.

I’m also noticing the Sheehan and Johnston haters are pretty quiet 😊

They had great games too.

[Winchester White]

13 minutes ago, desperado said:

I’m also noticing the Sheehan and Johnston haters are pretty quiet 😊

They had great games too.

Yes they did. To be honest I think Johnston is a decent player but sometimes he seems to lose his positioning which inevitably ends up with a rash challenge, poor clearance or a goal conceded.

But let's be honest, all our back line can be like that at times. Forino was excellent yesterday but he isn't immune from positional mistakes either.

 

[Dennis Peacock]

I thought it was a decent performance yesterday. The limitations were that because no Kenny and Dalby we didn’t hit the channels and there was (probably understandably) a bit too much sideways and backwards. Possibly the question for Schuey is if we’re not going to get 90mins out of Dalby, do we start with him and  mix it up from the start and then substitute him? Or save him for later in the game when we could be on the back foot and need an outlet to go long and relieve pressure?

[Lostock Whites]

3 hours ago, desperado said:

I hope those who were highlighting Erhahon’s weaknesses and downplaying him having a role to play in these play-offs, will give him a lot of credit for his contribution yesterday. And also acknowledge what he brings to our side; balance on the left, a good link and support to Johnston and Cissoko on that side and a calmness and protection in front of the back 4.

Like many others, the only change I would make is Dalby for Burstow.

I made reference to the importance of Ethan coming back after the panic that had ensued with the news on Kenny pre match.

He really does provide that stability and defensive security that we have lacked in the final strech of the season. Even Simons too, who put in a very good challenge when they were trying to break through.

Kenny has been immense and will be missed. But there has been games with him where the 2 up top has left us short in the middle and we have been conceding an unstable amount recently.

We were also asking Rodridgues to play a role that isn't his speciality, albeit he's done a very good job in the meantime.

Play Dalby as the focal point that he is, Rodrigues/Burstow to play off him.

Dalby is just immense at what he does. Came on and straight away and won 3/4 headers against Bradford's big centre backs and played Cissoko in.

Edited May 10 by Lostock Whites

[Ani]

7 minutes ago, Lostock Whites said:

I made reference to the importance of Ethan coming back after the panic that had ensued with the news on Kenny pre match.

He really does provide that stability and defensive security that we have lacked in the final strech of the season. Even Simons too, who put in a very good challenge when they were trying to break through.

Kenny has been immense and will be missed. But there has been games with him where the 2 up top has left us short in the middle and we have been conceding an unstable amount recently.

We were also asking Rodridgues to play a role that isn't his speciality, albeit he's done a very good job in the meantime.

Play Dalby as the focal point that he is, Rodrigues/Burstow to play off him.

Dalby is just immense at what he does. Came on and straight away and won 3/4 headers against Bradford's big centre backs and played Cissoko in.

There was a foul given against Dalby for basically not being knocked off the ball. 
 

For balance Sheehan was very lucky in the first half for a supposed non foul

[Johnnyrotten]

13 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

Yeah I'd guess across world football we are the team most likely to draw but the least likely to know how we've done it. It's been almost entirely late goals and madcap comebacks with the odd collapse thrown in.

Although incidentally the most sedate draws of the season were Stevenage (a) and Bradford (h).

To break down the draws to away games only, as clearly different tactics are used by the home team even if not by us - ie less defensive.

We've drawn TEN away, which is 2 more than at home.

8 were 1-1.  Plus 0-0 at Stevenage and 2-2 Rotherham.  Taken the lead in only 2: Luton and Bradford.

I don't think any of us want the blueprint from those seven score draws where we were losing very late in the game and managed to rescue a point: Barnsley, Blackpool, Orient, Doncaster, Lincoln, Reading, Rotherham.

I certainly don't want to be relying on our habit of late equalisers, we really have to be level at H-T.

Edited May 10 by Johnnyrotten

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, Ani said:

There was a foul given against Dalby for basically not being knocked off the ball. 
 

For balance Sheehan was very lucky in the first half for a supposed non foul

Massive relief that one, a few open mouthed fans around me, wondering how the ref didn't book him.  I'll have to watch it back and see what happened, but at the time I could understand Bradford fans annoyance.

Similar to mine when Jackson assaulted RR a bit later in a clear retaliation for their collision on the touch line a few minutes earlier.  Clearest booking you'll see for Jackson but ref was baffling.