Match Day Bradford Fleetwood, choosdi night

[LS Bantam]

Well we're still unbeaten but after five straight draws the thought of 'what could've been' grows more and more as our increasingly predictable failure in the final third holds us back. On the flip side we're looking really solid at the back, some stat on Twitter saying we've not conceded more than one in twenty odd games bar once and nearly half of those were clean sheets. Basically this season has followed last years script but with nicer football.
Fleetwood on Tuesday ranks as one of those we should be targeting to pick up the three points but our record against them is just alright at best (can think of mostly draws) and having read a lot of complimentary stuff on their style of play I don't expect an easy game. Rosler watched us a bit last season and although he denied it was to do with our new owners (who were in talks at the time), his name cropped up a few times last season as a potential DOF style role or even a direct replacement for PP when the Germans eventually took over, although afterwards he said they are just friends, despite having put them in touch with other clubs in England before they came here.
To the game itself, we're a long way from sussing our best strike force, for me Vuckic will eventually prove a key player but he's yet to start, Billy Clarke keeps out Hiwula despite never looking convincing and seemingly injury prone Hanson splits fans, I've not seen McNulty yet to comment.
Looking forward to this one as I've been away for the last few weeks, I'll predict a hopeful 1-0

 

[joethegill]

Draw.

Bradford are playing.

 

[F!RTHY]

I'd be tempted to tweak with the formation, but I can't see that happening.

It's very easy to be downbeat with our winless run, but when you're not losing - and more importantly, no conceding goals, things could be a lot worse.

I do believe Vuckic deserves a start, and I felt Hiwula has been a tad unfortunate being dropped in place of Hanson last week. He offers pace, something every squad needs.

I also think they'll be a switch in midfield and defense. I think with Cullen and law picking up knocks, at least one won't be fit enough to make the starting 11. This in turn, will pave the way for McArdle return, and Vincelot slotting into midfield.

Here's my guess;

Colin Doyle

Stephen Darby
Rory McArdle
Nat Knight-Percival
James Meredith

Mark Marshall
Romain Vincelot
Dieng/Cullen
Nicky Law/Felipe Morais

Harris Vuckic
Jordi Hiwula

2-0 City - back to winning ways.

 

[LS Bantam]

I think the squad this year offers a lot of options tactically (something we're not used to), and I'd argue that we've been slow to change things up so far. For example, Law has been excellent but on paper he's the left of the midfield yet plays most of the game centrally which leaves space and doubles the work Meredith has to do - surely there's a way to accommodate another left sided player to move Law inside, Vuckic perhaps.

...........Hiwula.........
Vuckic Law Morais
.....Cullen Dieng.....

A quick example of an alternative system, I prefer Morais' consistency to Marshall, but he's another option, likewise Vincelot in midfield

 

[Parchpea]

After recent displays theres little hope we will get anything from this match.

Fleetwood arent a team that can put men behind the ball, frustrate and kill games, so we have to go out and play and the chips fall as they may.

Injury doubts over Long and Dempsey make it more challenging, so a point would be a very good nights work for us.

 

[F!RTHY]

How's Devante Cole been for you?

 

[Parchpea]

Coles not been good at all really, started bad but has picked up a little under Rosler in terms of effort, but no goals in him. Endless near misses, head in hand moments.

Certainly looking as if Parkinson called it right, but at the time Proctor was struggling with us so it felt like it may be a good deal for both parties. I know Proctor moved on but seems you got the best of it short term and financially. I hear hes still on good money.

If Cole cant do it here, a club with limited expectation, then I dont know. Its strange but he has moments in games when you think here we go but ultimately its all failure with him unfortunately.

 

[codaplenty]

Fear not, this is the game when Andrew Cole's son comes good, all the heartache, countless misses will be forgotten. Providing he is selected he will prove the critics wrong, me included and we will be forced to eat humble pie.......................

 

[loz]

Draw.

Bradford are playing.

You're right, we couldn't even beat Gillingham. Having said that, we got our best result against them since 1900.

 

[LS Bantam]

Coles not been good at all really, started bad but has picked up a little under Rosler in terms of effort, but no goals in him. Endless near misses, head in hand moments.

Certainly looking as if Parkinson called it right, but at the time Proctor was struggling with us so it felt like it may be a good deal for both parties. I know Proctor moved on but seems you got the best of it short term and financially. I hear hes still on good money.

If Cole cant do it here, a club with limited expectation, then I dont know. Its strange but he has moments in games when you think here we go but ultimately its all failure with him unfortunately.

Living off his Dad's name, we were fortunate to get rid when we did

 

[F!RTHY]

We huffed and puffed out way to victory, and it was a little nervy in the end.

I like the look of Fleetwood, very good footballing team. We probably just deserved our win, but had Fleetwood equalised, I wouldn't have been too disheartened.

We didn't play well, Fleetwood did, and we still managed to grind out a victory.

Good 3 points.

 

[loz]

We huffed and puffed out way to victory, and it was a little nervy in the end.

I like the look of Fleetwood, very good footballing team. We probably just deserved our win, but had Fleetwood equalised, I wouldn't have been too disheartened.

We didn't play well, Fleetwood did, and we still managed to grind out a victory.

Good 3 points.

Still early days but Fleetwood were easily the best side to come to VP so far. Even tho' we huffed and puffed, it was pleasing to see how our small defence handled their giant when they went long over the last 10 mins. Tho' he had a good game, I'm not sure what ref Salisbury was seeing when he was giving all those free kicks at the end.

 

[bantamigo]

Fleetwood had a few decent players but they didn't create much at all. They looked like us but not as fluid. Cole should have done better with his chance in the first half but he didn't put any sort of power on it.

Not to say we created much and we would have had to settle for a draw if we didn't get a brainless penalty. Bit of a weird one really as Clarke made things tick when he came on so you can't really drop him, but he takes up a striker spot without looking like he's going to score. Thought the midfield weren't up to their usual high standards tonight either.

Still a wins a win.

 

[LS Bantam]

McCall said it himself on the radio after the game, we didn't play particularly well but we've played better and drawn three other home games where our performance did deserve more but we only got a point. Personally I thought we weren't all that tonight, tried to walk it in a few times, we don't have anywhere near enough shots at goal and not many were better than 6/10's if I'm being harsh, though I never felt like Fleetwood threatened enough to win, Doyle in goal picked the ball out and that was about it. Special mention to Fleetwood being the worlds tallest team and to Devante Cole for earning a living as a professional footballer purely because he has a famous Dad

 

[codaplenty]

We huffed and puffed out way to victory, and it was a little nervy in the end.

I like the look of Fleetwood, very good footballing team. We probably just deserved our win, but had Fleetwood equalised, I wouldn't have been too disheartened.

We didn't play well, Fleetwood did, and we still managed to grind out a victory.

Good 3 points.

Its all very well reading we are a very good footballing team but we've now lost 3 on the bounce. I actually dont think theres much wrong with us that another win will put right and sometimes you do need a bit of good fortune. Perhaps not playing Cole is a step in the right direction !

 

[bantamigo]

Judging purely from last night Fleetwood will be mid table I reckon. They'll take some of the shitter teams apart but I can't see them scoring enough or defending well enough to threaten the top end of the table. They really do need to replace Cole as he is awful. I am always worried about ex's scoring against us and he had a chance put on a plate for him and still fcked it.

 

[Chris]

I didn't go but looking at the highlights your player went down very easily for the penalty

 

[bantamigo]

He was being held back though so he had a right to go down. None of your players complained as he was very obviously being held.