MATCHWATCH : Bradford City (a)

[Hound]

I just want to enjoy watching football again, it hasn`t been that way for a decade at least.

This. The only time we had an enjoyable team on the pitch, it was accompanied by existential dread off it.

Oh well, at least there is another Ashes Test to look forward to this week

Yep; loved watching us last year. Best for absolutely ages. Feels so much different this year

Ashes will probably only give a couple of miserable days of distraction and further disappointment sadly

[bcubed]

I just want to enjoy watching football again, it hasn`t been that way for a decade at least.

This. The only time we had an enjoyable team on the pitch, it was accompanied by existential dread off it.

Oh well, at least there is another Ashes Test to look forward to this week

Came on to say the same, with you in mind!

[andrew1957]

I just want to enjoy watching football again, it hasn`t been that way for a decade at least.

This. The only time we had an enjoyable team on the pitch, it was accompanied by existential dread off it.

Oh well, at least there is another Ashes Test to look forward to this week

Yep; loved watching us last year. Best for absolutely ages. Feels so much different this year

Ashes will probably only give a couple of miserable days of distraction and further disappointment sadly

Being a Reading fan is bad enough but a friend of mine has paid thousands of pounds to fly to Australia for the last 2 tests as he was expecting a competitive series. Think he’s regretting it now as we will be 3-0 before he even gets there

[Clyde1998]

Not long back from that trip, so will just put a few points which have come to mind down:

I think everyone's missed the tactical change we made today: we were often playing a 5-2-2-1/3-4-2-1 without the ball, shifting into a 4-2-3-1 with it:

Perreira
O'Connor - D Williams - Dorsett
Abrefa - Wing - Savage - R Williams
Doyle - Kyerewaa
Ehibhatiomhan

In the first half especially, it allowed us to match up to Bradford and control possession for decent chunks. Fundamentally though, we failed to create anything of note - aside from the early Doyle/Ehibhatiomhan shots which came from a defensive error. I do wonder how the game would've panned out had we scored from that opportunity.

Both of their goals were avoidable: we allowed the ball to come into the box far too easily for the first (no-one was closing down) and Randell Williams(?) didn't attempt to head the ball for the header which lead to the knock back. We ended up in a situation where O'Connor was competing for pace with their attacker for the second - which ended in the expected fashion.

I think Derrick Williams was the only player who had a decent game today. None of the subs had any impact on the game. Once again, Wing and Savage were sitting too deep to have any real impact on the game; thought it was odd Doyle ended up on the left wing in the second half. We didn't challenge Sam Walker; although I can't think of Bradford having too many chances outwith their goals.

Honestly feels like we're waiting for the transfer window now to make fundamental changes - and that's simply going to be a concession the business in the summer was poor. Not sure I trust the club to get the January window right either.

[Millsy]

No biggie really.

Away defeat against a likely autpro side.

Couldn't really expect more.

The real (and only, so far) calamity was the awful last game, which is still shocking and indefensible.

You've obviously accepted that we are a lower end/ relegation threatened league one club, to be honest, I expected more after the takeover in the summer.

At the moment yes because Leam's only been here 5mins. Maybe you're right though and we should have done better already.

But my point is even top teams will lose away to 2nd in the table. It's the home game against real relegation fodder that was not acceptable. Had we won that 4-0 I don't think there'd be too many concerns about today's result.

[72 bus]

Anyone who thinks we are going to bring in players up to standard who will improve the areas we need needs their head checking. We’re oxf*rd.

This ^

Cohig just likes frees and loans, with the ocasional cheap aquisition.
We are stuck in this league for the forseeable, and that's if we are lucky.

[Vision]

Anyone who thinks we are going to bring in players up to standard who will improve the areas we need needs their head checking. We’re oxf*rd.

This ^

Cohig just likes frees and loans, with the ocasional cheap aquisition.
We are stuck in this league for the forseeable, and that's if we are lucky.

Most League one operates like that though. Wrexham and Birmingham from last year who buy their way out are few and far between.

Besides considering the shit we've been through with the previous regime trying to buy their way to promotion, I'm not sure that's the approach we should be resorting to.

We've just got to get better at recruiting players the manager/head coach can fit into his playing style.

[skipper]

We're back to being a standard League 1 team. Which for a majority of our fanbase, is unheard of.

No sign of that ending any time soon.

Long haul, until we can re-develop the Reading Way. And build something proper. We should be utilising that Acedemy again.

[tmesis]

We're back to being a standard League 1 team. Which for a majority of our fanbase, is unheard of.

No sign of that ending any time soon.

Long haul, until we can re-develop the Reading Way. And build something proper. We should be utilising that Acedemy again.

The awkward truth is that the cost of the academy has meant we are forced to have a low wage budget. Unless we can bring players through who can get us up, it's not really helping too much.

[Snowflake Royal]

Anyone who thinks we are going to bring in players up to standard who will improve the areas we need needs their head checking. We’re oxf*rd.

This ^

Cohig just likes frees and loans, with the ocasional cheap aquisition.
We are stuck in this league for the forseeable, and that's if we are lucky.

Most League one operates like that though. Wrexham and Birmingham from last year who buy their way out are few and far between.

Besides considering the shit we've been through with the previous regime trying to buy their way to promotion, I'm not sure that's the approach we should be resorting to.

We've just got to get better at recruiting players the manager/head coach can fit into his playing style.

Brogue has been anti Couhig since day -100, and bus is incapable if learning the lessons of the past.

[MR. CYNICAL]

As if the result wasn't bad enough, Richardson's after match comments are outrageous.

"We have got a lot of youthfulness and players who have been to Valley Parade for the first time, you can't get away with that.
Maybe 60/70% of our players have never been here, never played against the likes of the Bradford players. "

Make of that what you will!

[Sutekh]

As if the result wasn't bad enough, Richardson's after match comments are outrageous.

"We have got a lot of youthfulness and players who have been to Valley Parade for the first time, you can't get away with that.
Maybe 60/70% of our players have never been here, never played against the likes of the Bradford players. "

Make of that what you will!

****! The next away game is Plymouth

[MR. CYNICAL]

You would of thought we were playing at Barcelona.
His comments and excuses are as bad or even worse than the football!

[Orion1871]

As if the result wasn't bad enough, Richardson's after match comments are outrageous.

"We have got a lot of youthfulness and players who have been to Valley Parade for the first time, you can't get away with that.
Maybe 60/70% of our players have never been here, never played against the likes of the Bradford players. "

Make of that what you will!

He's right!

Have you not seen Millsy's posts about Bradford being hell on Earth?

Valley Parade is probably in one of those "no go zones" or summat.

[Hound]

It’s a bit lame but hardly fits my idea of outrageous

[MR. CYNICAL]

It’s a bit lame but hardly fits my idea of outrageous

Well it fits mine

[Hound]

It’s a bit lame but hardly fits my idea of outrageous

Well it fits mine

Why? What’s outrageous about it?

[leon]

It’s a bit lame but hardly fits my idea of outrageous

Well it fits mine

Why? What’s outrageous about it?

I think it’s fairly insulting to everyone’s intelligence.

[Clyde1998]

We're back to being a standard League 1 team. Which for a majority of our fanbase, is unheard of.

No sign of that ending any time soon.

Long haul, until we can re-develop the Reading Way. And build something proper. We should be utilising that Acedemy again.

The awkward truth is that the cost of the academy has meant we are forced to have a low wage budget. Unless we can bring players through who can get us up, it's not really helping too much.

Two big problems with the academy at the moment is over the past couple of years, we've already brought through most of the best talent (selling a number of them) and we've had a period where we had financial restrictions limiting the number (and probably) standard of player entering the academy in the first place - at various age groups (probably reduced the standard of coaches available too).

It sounds like the academy is doing well compared to other Category One academies at U16 level and lower, but is struggling in the age groups older that. It could be another season or two before we see another decent batch of young players come through again. Although we'd actually need to give meaningful opportunities for our academy graduates in order for them to actually develop into first team regulars instead of purchasing a load of average (at best) older players.

[WestYorksRoyal]

We're back to being a standard League 1 team. Which for a majority of our fanbase, is unheard of.

No sign of that ending any time soon.

Long haul, until we can re-develop the Reading Way. And build something proper. We should be utilising that Acedemy again.

The awkward truth is that the cost of the academy has meant we are forced to have a low wage budget. Unless we can bring players through who can get us up, it's not really helping too much.

Two big problems with the academy at the moment is over the past couple of years, we've already brought through most of the best talent (selling a number of them) and we've had a period where we had financial restrictions limiting the number (and probably) standard of player entering the academy in the first place - at various age groups (probably reduced the standard of coaches available too).

It sounds like the academy is doing well compared to other Category One academies at U16 level and lower, but is struggling in the age groups older that. It could be another season or two before we see another decent batch of young players come through again. Although we'd actually need to give meaningful opportunities for our academy graduates in order for them to actually develop into first team regulars instead of purchasing a load of average (at best) older players.

Some top talents were also sold before making an impact, like Luca Fletcher, Taylan Harris and that lad I forget we sold to Southampton.

Think a gutted a couple of cohorts of its best talent.