Matchday thread: Bradford City v Port Vale

[Regal Beagle]

Morning,

 

I thought I'd give me views on yesterday's game.

 

Firstly, a response to the posts I have quoted.

 

When I saw our line up yesterday for the first time, I was adamant I would see a defeat. It was incredibly weak. We had last years midfielder playing at right-back. We had a CM playing CB (Vincelot), and a youth prospect making his first senior debut in midfield, even though the games he's featured in-in pre-season, he played at LB. Our better striking option wasn't fit enough to start the game (Hiwula), and most of yesterday's starting XI hadn't seen much game time. It meant that we were missing 5 players, from what I would deem our strongest starting XI.

 

Irrespective of our make-shift team, I felt disappointed not to have come away with 3 points, given our first half performance alone. You couldn't get near the ball for most of the game, and naturally, as the game wore on, fatigue hit our injury-stricken side, and you started to make the most of the game in the latter stages.

 

I applaud Vale for attempting to play football, but given a more direct approach in the second half, you actually looked more threatening when doing so.

 

In addition, I know you have a number of foreign players on your books, and to be honest, I'm not sure how many of them started yesterday, but, a lot of your players went down incredibly easily - and thankfully, the ref didn't fall for it (who had a decent game himself, I might add).

 

As a whole, that team we fielded yesterday is and probably will be our weekest we'll field all season - and it doesn't take off any gloss from your perspective on me saying this, either - as I saw enough for from your team to believe you'll stay up this season - as I recall you're one of the clubs favoured for the drop.

 

Lastly, decent attendance again - okay atmosphere. Good numbers from Vale, but I must say, I didn't hear much from my seat in the KOP.

 

Vincelot started out as a defender.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I am a lot happier now than I was at 3pm yesterday. It was a good solid opening performance from the Vale against a team I fancy for promotion, especially when they have their full squad available.

My big concern is we don't look like scoring and hopefully Bruno will address that.

[barry]

 

Irrespective of our make-shift team

 

That old chestnut

[melv]

Think you need a striker and someone creative in midfield. Sure it's not your best side but id imagine you won't be in the playoffs this season again.

 

Thought the ref was pretty poor actually, considering the diving your players did in 2nd half.

 

 

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Well done lads a good result.Not much for their number 6 & 22 a lot of shirt pulling plus falling over for reason at all except to cheat.Grant was man of the match.He was the best player on the pitch.The whole defence it self was a LOT better than last season.

 

We must have had the longest police escort ever after the match.All the way to Saddleworth moor.Even police bikes blocking off the on / off slip roads as the coaches went past.Not sure why that was needed as I'm not aware that there was any trouble anywhere.

[Jinkin John Jeffers]

Morning,

 

I thought I'd give me views on yesterday's game.

 

Firstly, a response to the posts I have quoted.

 

When I saw our line up yesterday for the first time, I was adamant I would see a defeat. It was incredibly weak. We had last years midfielder playing at right-back. We had a CM playing CB (Vincelot), and a youth prospect making his first senior debut in midfield, even though the games he's featured in-in pre-season, he played at LB. Our better striking option wasn't fit enough to start the game (Hiwula), and most of yesterday's starting XI hadn't seen much game time. It meant that we were missing 5 players, from what I would deem our strongest starting XI.

 

Irrespective of our make-shift team, I felt disappointed not to have come away with 3 points, given our first half performance alone. You couldn't get near the ball for most of the game, and naturally, as the game wore on, fatigue hit our injury-stricken side, and you started to make the most of the game in the latter stages.

 

I applaud Vale for attempting to play football, but given a more direct approach in the second half, you actually looked more threatening when doing so.

 

In addition, I know you have a number of foreign players on your books, and to be honest, I'm not sure how many of them started yesterday, but, a lot of your players went down incredibly easily - and thankfully, the ref didn't fall for it (who had a decent game himself, I might add).

 

As a whole, that team we fielded yesterday is and probably will be our weekest we'll field all season - and it doesn't take off any gloss from your perspective on me saying this, either - as I saw enough for from your team to believe you'll stay up this season - as I recall you're one of the clubs favoured for the drop.

 

Lastly, decent attendance again - okay atmosphere. Good numbers from Vale, but I must say, I didn't hear much from my seat in the KOP.

 

We had 6 players making there debuts. A centre half making his league debut and a new squad with 13 new players from across the world. You were poor.

[queenybantam07]

I'm not saying we wasn't poor, but we should've been out of sight before half-time. That, for me, with all things being said, was a decent result - for both teams.

[queenybantam07]

That old chestnut

 

It's a fact, mate.

 

Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle, Matt Killgallon and Timothee Dieng all missing. Paul Anderson and Hiwula weren't fully fit, either. When you can't fill your subs bench, and in doing so, have to draft in two youngsters for the purpose of numbers, I think it tells its own story. We're 3 weeks behind most clubs, due to what's transformed during pre-season.

 

But listen, all the best for the season.

[SuperValiant1876]

Bradford are a massive team, huge, almost one of the big 4/5. No way they should be drawing at home with sunday league port vale so excuses a plenty needed.

[TylerB]

Bradford fans are absolutely deluded. Who was that weapon who used to post on here a few seasons back and every pre-season would make out that that had the best defense, midfield and forwards in the league?

 

They had a lot of the ball yesterday but ultimately didn't cause us many problems at all, especially in the 2nd half. In fact the longer the game went on the more we looked likely to pinch it. Bradford will finish top half of the table but I don't see them getting in the play-offs unless they sign better forwards than what they have - Yet there fans all seem to think they're going up via automatic promotion as usual! Not a chance as things currently stand.

[Howjy04]

We've had The Steele Curtain,have we now got Bruno's Blind(s)?Nathan Smith was interviewed after the game.Came over very well.Nervous and excited before the game,comfortable during it.Good lad.

[TylerB]

I'm not saying we wasn't poor, but we should've been out of sight before half-time. That, for me, with all things being said, was a decent result - for both teams.

 

Out of sight?

 

You hit the bar and had a couple of half-chances at best. For all of your possession you ultimately did **** all with it.

[Howjy04]

Bradford fans are absolutely deluded. Who was that weapon who used to post on here a few seasons back and every pre-season would make out that that had the best defense, midfield and forwards in the league?

 

They had a lot of the ball yesterday but ultimately didn't cause us many problems at all, especially in the 2nd half. In fact the longer the game went on the more we looked likely to pinch it. Bradford will finish top half of the table but I don't see them getting in the play-offs unless they sign better forwards than what they have - Yet there fans all seem to think they're going up via automatic promotion as usual! Not a chance as things currently stand.

 

Bradford fans = Liverpool fans.

[TylerB]

Bradford fans = Liverpool fans.

 

Liverpool tonked a Barcelona side that contained the likes of Suarez and Messi 4-0 yesterday at Wembley.

[Howjy04]

Liverpool tonked a Barcelona side that contained the likes of Suarez and Messi 4-0 yesterday at Wembley.

 

Without I.F Sturridge aswell.

[werstayinup]

It's a fact, mate.

 

Stephen Darby, Rory McArdle, Matt Killgallon and Timothee Dieng all missing. Paul Anderson and Hiwula weren't fully fit, either. When you can't fill your subs bench, and in doing so, have to draft in two youngsters for the purpose of numbers, I think it tells its own story. We're 3 weeks behind most clubs, due to what's transformed during pre-season.

 

But listen, all the best for the season.

 

13 new players the majority of those from lower leagues abroad(i doubt you will of heard of any of them,the same as us) and you think your pre-season has been hard mmmmmmm. You did well against a Port Vale team where the majority of players hadn't played a competitive game together