Crewe Alex v Bradford

[JJ1532]

Final game of what has been a terrible season for the most part. Few highlights here and there, but on the whole I'll be glad to see the back of this season. Hopefully we can end of a high and stay up. League Two next season looks horrendous for a number of reasons, we DO NOT want to be heading their anytime soon.

As for the team, picks itself in 10 positions I think. H.Davis should be fit, meaning we can continue to play the 5-2-3 formation with the same outfield players that started against Coventry. Only selection query is the goalkeeper. Rachubka was far from convincing on a few occasions on Saturday and whilst its a risk to throw in Garratt after 2 months out, I think it would be the right choice. I don't think Davis will mind.

As for Bradford, they've had a good season, but not as good as they'd have hoped for I suspect. Given the amount of money they clearly spent, not finishing in the top 6 will be a disappointment I suspect. Bit nervous about facing them in this one. I don't subscribe to this "they have nothing to play for" theory, we've been burnt by teams in that situation far too often to think they will turn up with the beach towels and sandals.

Depending on what happens tomorrow with Colchester, we could well be in a position where a point is enough to keep us up. Obviously we need to be looking at all 3 to make sure, but it would be nice to have the insurance of knowing 1 would do.

I'm going for a nervous 1-1 draw, we go ahead and get pegged back, followed by a nervous late glance at phones to see if its enough or not.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Not bothered about this one.

We may experiment, or we may not.

GK: Ben Willams

RB: Stephen Darby
CB: Rory McArdle
CB: Andrew Davies
LB: James Meredith

RM: Christophe Routis
CM: Gary Liddle
LM: Billy Knott

CAM: Billy Clarke

ST: James Hanson
ST: Jon Stead.

1-0 Crewe.

1,100 city.

 

[BCFC]

Are Crewe expecting a big home crowd for this? I only think we'll bring about 600/700.

Crewe 1-2 City

 

[Robert Molenaar]

As long as one of the double barreled lads gets a run out, that's all I'm concerned about for this one.

Draw, decent season on the whole, looking forward to the next one.

 

[1976Bantam]

What amount of money have we 'clearly spent' out of interest JJ1532? Our budget for this season was bang average for the division.

Expectations at the start of the season from many of us were actually that we might struggle and we've not done that, although having been in the hunt for a PO place only to fall away badly post-FA Cup run was disappointing.

As far as this game goes, I'm hoping like the other City fans here that our young fringe players get a run out to show us what they can do - there's no reason not to play them in theory, although PP has stuck with a broadly first team line up in the games since we knew we weren't making the play offs.

I'm predicting a 1-1 draw for this.

 

[Crewelad87]

£10 a ticket in the GRE and kids for a quid in the main stand so hopefully a decent crowd and atmosphere. Just hope the Bradford fans don't take our moronic schooligans letting off smoke bombs seconds after we observe a minuted silence to remember the 56. They are a minority of clueless kids. Can see it being a nervy one especially if Notts and or Crawley score early.

Crewe 1-1 Bradford (LDV, Clarke) 6480 (942 Bantams)

 

[FiRTHYY]

Weren't a number of your fans banned for last seasons fire remark shenanigans? It's becoming a running theme.

 

[James [bcafc]]

As for Bradford, they've had a good season, but not as good as they'd have hoped for I suspect. Given the amount of money they clearly spent, not finishing in the top 6 will be a disappointment I suspect

Huh?

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Weren't a number of your fans banned for last seasons fire remark shenanigans? It's becoming a running theme.

It was a couple of fans last season, the previous post was merely hypothetical, running theme my arse we observed the minutes silence on Saturday impeccably so less of the accusations.

Regarding the game, 1-1 draw, hopefully we stick loads of goals past Ben Williams though, never liked him save for his initial loan spell. Think JJ is very harsh regarding Rachubka, his distribution is excellent and he produced a magnificent save at 2-0 which could've been catastrophic if we let that goal in.

Just need to get 2 early goals to settle any nerves.

 

[TimeyWimey]

For all Davis' failings and the criticism of him. When it comes down to one game, do or die, he has always pulled it out of the bag.

I'm not even that nervous but that might be because Bradford have Ben Williams in goal.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

For all Davis' failings and the criticism of him. When it comes down to one game, do or die, he has always pulled it out of the bag.

I'm not even that nervous but that might be because Bradford have Ben Williams in goal.

I just hope Davis doesn't play for the draw even if just a draw will keep us up because we'll find ourselves 1-0 down in no time.

Just need to put the game to bed early on and then turn the game into a training session.

 

[JJ1532]

What amount of money have we 'clearly spent' out of interest JJ1532? Our budget for this season was bang average for the division.

Your chairman was quoted as saying that the FA Cup run was going to make up for the £1m overspend in your season, see link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...asons-Manchester-United-good-draw-FA-Cup.html

So, bang average to start, then add £1m. Still bang average?

 

[JJ1532]

It was a couple of fans last season, the previous post was merely hypothetical, running theme my arse we observed the minutes silence on Saturday impeccably so less of the accusations.

Regarding the game, 1-1 draw, hopefully we stick loads of goals past Ben Williams though, never liked him save for his initial loan spell. Think JJ is very harsh regarding Rachubka, his distribution is excellent and he produced a magnificent save at 2-0 which could've been catastrophic if we let that goal in.

Just need to get 2 early goals to settle any nerves.

Very harsh? All I said was he wasn't convincing on Saturday, especially in the first half where he almost fell into the net taking a cross then almost conceded when again trying to punch a cross away. DOn't get me wrong, I like him and I hope he is our backup next season, but I would just rather start Ben. Thats all.

 

[joethegill]

Come on Bradford. That is all.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Very harsh? All I said was he wasn't convincing on Saturday, especially in the first half where he almost fell into the net taking a cross then almost conceded when again trying to punch a cross away. DOn't get me wrong, I like him and I hope he is our backup next season, but I would just rather start Ben. Thats all.

I think we should stay loyal to Paul because he's been very reliable when people (including myself) wrote him off. I'm just so grateful we don't have that prima donna Shearer in goal anymore and I think we shouldn't rush Ben back and just get him fit ready for pre-season. If we could get rid of Shearer for Rachubka then I'd be delighted.

 

[dannyc5]

Fuck loyalty in a game this big. Garratt is outstanding, and should start regardless.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Your chairman was quoted as saying that the FA Cup run was going to make up for the £1m overspend in your season, see link:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...asons-Manchester-United-good-draw-FA-Cup.html

So, bang average to start, then add £1m. Still bang average?

There's always an overspend - but that's just a smokescreen anyway.

Our playing budget was slashed by 20% this season. Last seasons playing budget was £2.7m. Our chairman has also been quoted saying that our budget is the 14th highest in the league.

Bang average.

 

[JJ1532]

Lets do the maths. 20% off £2.7m. Just under £2.2m. Add £1m in overspend and thats £3.2m. Compare that to the £1m or less playing budget that a number of clubs are operating on. Maybe that is only enough for 14th in the league, but its hardly a pittance is it?

And what about expectations? Was the top 6 not the aim, even with your supposedly average budget, especially when you consider how poor the league has been this season? Have some of you not been very critical of Parkinson over the course of this season? Why is he not being lauded given that you are on for a top 10 finish with a mid table budget?

 

[The Alex]

I'd stick with Rachubka, he has done fine. Don't like the idea of throwing a young keeper into a big last game of the season when he's been out for a while.

 

[1976Bantam]

Lets do the maths. 20% off £2.7m. Just under £2.2m. Add £1m in overspend and thats £3.2m. Compare that to the £1m or less playing budget that a number of clubs are operating on. Maybe that is only enough for 14th in the league, but its hardly a pittance is it?

And what about expectations? Was the top 6 not the aim, even with your supposedly average budget, especially when you consider how poor the league has been this season? Have some of you not been very critical of Parkinson over the course of this season? Why is he not being lauded given that you are on for a top 10 finish with a mid table budget?

No one's said it's a pittance, but it is exactly what I said in the first place before you tried to pick holes - bang average (or 14th biggest, to be exact).

I don't know one single City fan who was expecting top 6 this season. Most (including me) thought around mid-table. Some even thought we might end up in a relegation fight.

There is some disappointment that we've not stayed in the hunt for a PO place to the end given we've been in or around those positions for most of the season - however, we've actually been inconsistent for most of the season (barring a purple patch at the back end of 2014) and then our form eventually fell off a cliff after the surrender at Reading in the cup replay. Perhaps given we were around the PO places for that long indicates the quality, or lack of, in L1 this season as you suggest.

Either way, Parkinson has been rightly criticised at various points through the season and he has his flaws in some respects, but ultimately we're currently on for an improved league position finish for his 4th season in a row and also had a great cup run, which means that (if you read our main forum) he's broadly being praised for what can ultimately be seen as further progress and yes, a finish above our 'budget position' will be a (very small) positive.

Next season the expectation level will rightly be higher as we're more established here now, next season's division looks like being far more open and we also have potential significant investment.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Lets do the maths. 20% off £2.7m. Just under £2.2m. Add £1m in overspend and thats £3.2m. Compare that to the £1m or less playing budget that a number of clubs are operating on. Maybe that is only enough for 14th in the league, but its hardly a pittance is it?

And what about expectations? Was the top 6 not the aim, even with your supposedly average budget, especially when you consider how poor the league has been this season? Have some of you not been very critical of Parkinson over the course of this season? Why is he not being lauded given that you are on for a top 10 finish with a mid table budget?

Eh?

I just stated that our playing budget was £2.7m last season - you rightly deducted the 20% - of which equates to circa £2.2m. However, the latter figure IS our wage bill.

But all this is rubbish anyway, as they trip themselves up in the media by quoting numerous other figures throughout the season. Truth is, no one actually knows anything about our finances, other than we have operated in the black for a few years - announcing profits along the way.

We barely even had a squad at the start of the season, so I'm not quite sure why you think expectation amongst fans was high. It was very much the opposite.

Next season we are expecting to challenge - and this was always going to be the case - proposed takeover or not.

 

[SRNP]

300 tickets left in the GRE should be a good atmopshere,hopefully we dont bottle it.

 

[Robert Molenaar]

Looked at my ticket today and didn't even realise this was on Sunday, thought it was Saturday! I'll have to re-jig all other weekend plans now. Going to be very tired after watching the boxing on Saturday as well.

 

[RJM]

we should fill the GRE hopefully..

can't remember the last time we nearly sold it out.

don't think we got close to filling it against Preston last year.

 

[FiRTHYY]

Jesus. Anyone one think the GRE was this massive, 10728 seater stand that most clubs would struggle to fill. Doesn't it only hold a 1,000 - and isn't it mostly half full most games anyway?

Couldn't care less about this game. Focus purely on next season when we walk the league with our new found millions.

 

[RJM]

Jesus. Anyone one think the GRE was this massive, 10728 seater stand that most clubs would struggle to fill. Doesn't it only hold a 1,000 - and isn't it mostly half full most games anyway?

Couldn't care less about this game. Focus purely on next season when we walk the league with our new found millions.

we probably only get 100-200 people in it if that most games..that's what it looks like anyway from when I've been sitting in the main stand.

 

[bantamigo]

Has SERNWA has been loaning out his definitive list of League One budgets? Would be surprised if we are anywhere near the majority of teams in the top 6 apart from Chesterfield and Swindon. And the only other team above us is Dale who have taken the piss out of everyone below them, their budget is about 67 quid. We are about where we should be in terms of league position but it's been a disappointing end to the season, there's no getting round that.

Looking forward to getting Sunday over with and enduring the takeover bollocks all summer.

 

[bantamigo]

It was a couple of fans last season, the previous post was merely hypothetical, running theme my arse we observed the minutes silence on Saturday impeccably so less of the accusations.

There were about 20 of them, enough to chant loud enough about the fire so a big section of the away end could hear it. Would be a farce by Alex if they let them stand there again unhindered and they sing something for the reaction again.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I remember failing to hear anything that day despite sitting near the GRE but yeah I'm willing to be angry about the club maybe not doing something that they probably will do should a tiny group of fans sing something that they probably won't sing.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

There were about 20 of them, enough to chant loud enough about the fire so a big section of the away end could hear it. Would be a farce by Alex if they let them stand there again unhindered and they sing something for the reaction again.

With the end being full this time I would like to think our own fans would take action into their own hands if they started singing shite like that. Just insensitive council estate yobs looking for trouble with views not representative of 99.9% of our club. Half of them have been banned from the club since anyway for other misdemeanours.

Did laugh last year when a certain element of fans on Twatter wanted us to be docked points making out as if there were thousands singing about it though.