rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 18, 2012 18:17:48 GMT
It has been a great run and it had to end sometime but we were below par today against a physical Bradford team that seemed to get away with a lot! I thought they started stronger with Fagan and Reid causing some problems and the goal came somewhat against the run of play with Eunan popping up on the right wing to cross for Danny who finished with a superb strike right into the far corner of the goal. However, with Bradford looking to get back into it, they stepped up a gear and maybe the lads thought the hard work was done as we looked decidedly ropey for the next period which saw the two goals. The first saw the ball ping around the box after a good cross in was mis-hit but rebounded to their players before crossed to Fagan to tap in. A few minutes later the ball was well worked through to Reid in the area who made no mistake from 12 yards. I haven't seen our defence look so shakey for some time. I thought we would get a head of steam going in the second but it never really happened. The best chance came from a cleverly worked free kick which Ellis headed against the post from close range. We huffed and puffed but despite Howe coming on and then going 4-4-2 with Yeoman and then Ellis supporting, the final delivery wasn't quite there. Bradford had the best chance with a one on one late on but with just Bobby to beat, the shot just went over. The referee seemed to wave on a few blatant fouls which nettled the crowd and despite some of the Bradford players falling over to get treatment and general time wasting, plus a lot of substitutions, only three minutes of injury time was given to cap a poor game for the officials but then when it rains, it pours!
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Post by loyalgull on Feb 18, 2012 18:50:57 GMT
i think bradford outclassed us in every way,perseverance,determination,application,teamwork,passing,ball winning and a desire to attack at every opportunity,we have been on a tremendous run,and had started to grip the nations attention and played our way into the promotion race,so to come up with this clueless 90 minutes is god damned disappointing.Lingy now needs to get the heads right and find the reasons for this cock up of performances or march could be a very long month.Well done bradford you thoroughly deserved the win and 3 points that came with it,their second away win and first double over a team
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Feb 18, 2012 19:11:34 GMT
Not a good way for our outstanding run to end. Certainly with a whimper more than a bang!! Bradford to be fair looked a determined, solid team and playing like that makes you wonder how they are so far down the table. We looked distinctly lightweight in midfield and attack. Poor old Tai was up against 2 pretty substantial defenders and barely has a look in, not that Rene was any better when he came on. About the only highlight of note was Danny with a well taken goal and his causing the Bradford defence a bit of trouble, more than can be said for the rest of the team to be honest. Eunan looked woefully off his game with what must be the lowest pass completion of his career here. How much of that was to do with the downpour just before kick off making the pitch heavy going remains to be seen. Danny was justifiably sponsors MoM but didnt really have much competition today. Roll on the next game...
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 18, 2012 19:21:25 GMT
It's time to replace Kee.
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Post by bristolgull on Feb 18, 2012 19:28:03 GMT
It's time to replace Kee. With Bodin clearly not returning, we do need another forward thinking player, we need more strength on the bench to potentially change games like today...
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Post by lucy6lucy on Feb 18, 2012 19:48:29 GMT
Poor performance or not, we didnt expect a 6pt return form our matches against shrews and chelts, so things do even out. A top 3 place was always a big ask and the fact we are 11 pts clear in the playoff spots is bloody brilliant. As stated Bradford had nothing to lose so played without fear. Its hard to be negative as we are in a great position.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 18, 2012 19:54:15 GMT
Not a good way for our outstanding run to end. Certainly with a whimper more than a bang!! Bradford to be fair looked a determined, solid team and playing like that makes you wonder how they are so far down the table. We looked distinctly lightweight in midfield and attack. Poor old Tai was up against 2 pretty substantial defenders and barely has a look in, not that Rene was any better when he came on. About the only highlight of note was Danny with a well taken goal and his causing the Bradford defence a bit of trouble, more than can be said for the rest of the team to be honest. Eunan looked woefully off his game with what must be the lowest pass completion of his career here. How much of that was to do with the downpour just before kick off making the pitch heavy going remains to be seen. Danny was justifiably sponsors MoM but didnt really have much competition today. Roll on the next game... Very fair assessment of today's game.
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Post by jmgull on Feb 18, 2012 20:00:52 GMT
As others have said, the run had to end sometime.....Bradford were good value for the 3 points alright. Its been great while it lasted, can we bounce back quickly? - with a reinforcement or two.....of course we can!
Very few positives today though sadly......Saah had another good game and saved us from a hammering i reckon, Ellis had a bit of a mare i felt, rarely have I seen him lose so many headers.....positionally he was often in trouble. Still he's been so good of late, I guess he was due a bad one.
A bit like last season when he was taken out of the side for a week or two Eunan looks like he's running on an empty tank at the moment - he's been a bit peripheral to proceedings for the last few weeks in my opinion........shame we haven't got the luxury of resting him to get his sharpness back this term.
Morris had a poor game and desperately needing replacing with someone with some pace, his usually excellent passing and shooting were woeful today, even Manse couldn't get into the game at all.
Up front......is the main concern for me, Howe looks unsurprisingly very short of match fitness but at least he held the ball up and gave there defenders something to think about, they noticeably backed off when the ball was played up to him - he at least is a threat..........Atieno was a waste of space, the defenders just came through him every time - I know the guy works hard and at times this season he's linked up the play well but do you ever feel that he is going to score.........?
You can't be a league striker without having something about you......pace, power, aerial ability.....finishing ability - he doesn't have enough of any of these in my opinion. To me he's a squad player at best - I certainly wouldn't give him a deal at the end of the season. Yeoman looks to have matured, he did his prospects no harm at all today in his little cameo.
Crucial week now............we need to add a forward and a winger to this squad to have a hope of keeping up with the top 5 - fingers crossed Lingy can find a couple of nuggets for us.
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Post by Budleigh on Feb 18, 2012 20:03:47 GMT
The moment I caught sight of a couple of dodgy misfits from the Pop side trying to look like they belonged in the posh parts I knew the day was doomed...!!
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 18, 2012 20:05:51 GMT
Yeoman looks to have matured, he did his prospects no harm at all today in his little cameo. One of the few plus points from todays game. Crucial week now............we need to add a forward and a winger to this squad to have a hope of keeping up with the top 5 - fingers crossed Lingy can find a couple of nuggets for us. Could be argued why spend money when we wont get relegated.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 18, 2012 20:07:31 GMT
The moment I caught sight of a couple of dodgy misfits from the Pop side trying to look like they belonged in the posh parts I knew the day was doomed...!! Guilty as charged. When did you say your new sign was going up?
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Post by Budleigh on Feb 18, 2012 20:09:05 GMT
Unfortunately that experienced tinker Fagan had 'im in his pocket (or two...)
As for Oliver, I reckon someone told him to forget they were playing away and to 'consider yourself at home'.
I suppose that with being on the verge of equalling the record this match was always going to have a twist.
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petef
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Post by petef on Feb 18, 2012 20:15:03 GMT
It's time to replace Kee. With Bodin clearly not returning, we do need another forward thinking player, we need more strength on the bench to potentially change games like today... For me this has been the big question since transfer deadline day, with the exception of McDonald there has been no movement in that direction. Do we try and push the boat out and capitalise on our good fortune at being where we are in the table. Or is everyone happy to let things tick along as they are? As much as Lingy says "we are building something special here" there are no guarantees we will be in a better position next year or longer. A Billy Kee or a Bodin may just have made the difference today and we just dont seem to have enough goals in us from the front men to really threaten the top teams. It may be a gamble to bring in some experienced options but I thought some of the players looked knackered today and mot an ideal scenario for Yeoman to impress though I thought he did OK. Could be a great season for balancing the books at least. which is the no 1 priority no doubt. Up until now we have been pretty lucky with injuries /suspensions and have ridden our luck somewhat with this great run of results all with a weaker squad than the one we started the campaign with.
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Post by loyalgull on Feb 18, 2012 20:34:57 GMT
lingy may well delve into the market now,got say agree about yeoman interesting young player who looks like he could well make the grade,lots of pace in him
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Post by Ditmar van Nostrilboy on Feb 18, 2012 20:58:48 GMT
As much as Lingy says "we are building something special here" there are no guarantees we will be in a better position next year or longer. And that's the $64000 question Pete. Do we accept that this is a season of rebuilding (ground and team) or do we aim higher and look to progress. If we do see this as a rebuilding season, who's to say we will match this form next season? I hope not, but Bobby could move to a club up the ladder during the summer if the right offer is made. So could other players and then we would be back in the rebuilding stage again. Surely we must grasp any chance of a serious showing while we can, as you can never tell whats round the corner?
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