Lets talk about the Bradford City game

[steve@dcfd]

The only thing that will spoil the optimism of the preseason is we have any other injuries. The best eleven nearly picks itself. But without key players from the preseason games we won’t be as effective. I appreciate GMC will not want to give Bradford the heads up so we might have to wait until the squad is announced on Saturday. Let’s hope it’s good news and then we hope we can give  Bradford a good game.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agree with that. Well, it's press day today and GMs going to be asked about the injury situation. How much he'll give away remains to be seen.

My hunch is he'll start with Miller and Andrews up front with Tomlin on the bench (fitness permitting)

Bradford Centre half's had a tough time with Chesterfields big man and we can get behind Halliday on the flanks.

As you say, fingers crossed we have sufficient numbers to give GM enough options, particularly with 5 subs being permitted.

[ForsolongaRover]

 Is there a possibility that we may be overestimating the opposition? A manager with a distinguished high level career who has no real experience of this league and no recent success, and a new set of players to replace last year’s unsuccessful batch who were no doubt greeted with equal acclaim? There is a pattern of expectation which is common to “big clubs” and like so many in a similar position they have  underachieved for several years now. They have had a series of experienced managers - 9 in 4 years - and generous funds have attracted useful players and an accompanying expectation (which itself can be a burden on the players) that the long-awaited success is imminent. In the past results have not matched the outlay. And one of the reasons why they get short promotion odds is the result of them having a big fan base putting their money on them. Bradford, and interestingly Salford too, were amongst the favourites last season.

So whilst it may not be easy to make comparisons between the players Rovers have recruited and those signed up at Bradford, we do know that whilst Bradford got most of theirs in very quickly because of their greater funds, how much homework did they do so as to choose wisely? Rovers did their research carefully it seems, trialled and generally worked hard to recruit theirs.

Bradford’s defeat of Sunderland was not against their best 11 by any means and, having seen the highlights of the latest game at Chesterfield they seemed second best in every way, so we really ought to be looking for better than a draw. Of course I may be wrong and they may defy past trends, but we see every year the likes of Wednesday, Ipswich, Pompey and in the past Sheffield United lining up as favourites, only to fail, not once, but repeatedly.

[jmt23]

We play the fancied teams in the first 6 games, and it is going to be a tough start at Bradford. I just hope the fans still believe after a loss or two during this time.
We are one of the bigger clubs at this level and we will be in the top 6 - hopefully top 3.

[Rovers91]

Just the 4 tickets showing available now.

[Nudga]

Just the 4 tickets showing available now.

So is that 1800 sold?

[steve@dcfd]

So looks Molyneux won’t be available and Tomlin race against time this is going to be a good start Griffiths out for at least two months

[Retdon1]

With what’s available we may have to play 4-4-2. If Tomlin is out we have no one available to play in the role behind Miller

[DearneValleyRover]

Just the 4 tickets showing available now.

So is that 1800 sold?

1900

[DearneValleyRover]

With what’s available we may have to play 4-4-2. If Tomlin is out we have no one available to play in the role behind Miller

I would expect Rowe to play behind Andrews with Miller one side and Hurst the other

[steve@dcfd]

Barlow the forgotten man never mentioned where is he

[Donnybax]

With what we have available I think I’d be looking to play
                Mitchell
     Younger Williams olowu
Knoyle                             Maxwell
        Biggins Clayton rowe
             Miller   Andrews

[ncRover]

With what we have available I think I’d be looking to play
                Mitchell
     Younger Williams olowu
Knoyle                             Maxwell
        Biggins Clayton rowe
             Miller   Andrews

I thought this, but we haven’t played this at all in pre-season. That being said, Molyneux is out for another 3 weeks I think DFP said.

[steve@dcfd]

If McSheffrey chose to start with a three then Long would be the Ideal on the left as he’s naturally left footed.

But Taylor and Close recovery is taking a very long time.
Where’s Barlow never mentioned how close he is.

[Lytham Rover]

After playing 4-2-3-1 all pre-season

Why would he then throw that out of the window?

[Donnybax]

After playing 4-2-3-1 all pre-season

Why would he then throw that out of the window?

I would say because we have very little options out wide

[ncRover]

Mitchell

Knoyle
Williams
Olowu
Maxwell

Clayton
Biggins

Rowe
Tomlin
Hurst

Miller

[sedwardsdrfc]

Barlow the forgotten man never mentioned where is he

Injured so not in contention.

[Arsenal Of The North]

Well now with what we have or what we expect…. My likely line up could go one of three ways, 3-5-2, 4-3-3 or a 4-4-2

Personally I’d line up like this

Mitchell

Knoyle
Williams (would like to see long in there)
Olowu
Maxwell

Clayton
Biggins

Tomlin (no 10 position)
Hurst
Rowe

Miller

If we were to go 4-4-2 id love to see andrews start too, think he could be a tricky player we could use for good relief. If tomlin fails to make it, id go 4-4-2.

Can’t wait for it now even with the disappointment of a few new injuries. 

[Sammy Chung was King]

He could play a narrow 4-2-1-3-1. Looking to use the full backs more for width, plus midfielders getting to the box from deep.

[Alan Southstand]

11 outfield players is worth a try with a Scottish ref!

[steve@dcfd]

He could play a narrow 4-2-1-3-1. Looking to use the full backs more for width, plus midfielders getting to the box from deep.

What no goal keeper

[sedwardsdrfc]

Ah reading it in reverse it’s the old 3 at the back 1 DM 2 Wingers and 4 centre forwards.

Not going to lie it plays to our strengths just shot or bust every week. I’d watch it!

[Sammy Chung was King]

He could play a narrow 4-2-1-3-1. Looking to use the full backs more for width, plus midfielders getting to the box from deep.

What no goal keeper

Didn’t think we needed one in league two. We could do with an extra man

[Chris Black come back]

I’m realistic about the coming season and particularly about a tough opening game away at probably the biggest club in our league.

The one thing I hope and would expect is a better defensive performance than the circus act we had last season. 4/5 of them are likely to be those who played last season so will know each other already and have had an entire summer to up their individual and unit performances, while Maxwell has played with them for pretty much the majority of pre-season.

I am not expecting Maldini and Moore, and a clean sheet is probably far too much to expect, but if we can see a basic level of coordination, cohesiveness and competitiveness at the back over 90 minutes, that will be enough for me.

No unforced errors, no piss weak attempts against wide balls, no goalkeeping calamities, no powder puff challenges. That’s not beyond them surely.

[selby]

  CBcb, what your asking there is beyond Liverpool at times buddy and most games beyond Manchester United.

[Chris Black come back]

Am not sure a basic level of coordination, cohesiveness and competitiveness, is unreasonable in any way.

[selby]

  I don't either CBcb, but you can't turn it on like a tap mate, I have seen most of the greatest players in the world play over the last Seventy years, and realise the main difference they have to lesser players is that they have less bad games and make less mistakes, but even they do have bad games and make mistakes just less of them.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I don't think a couple of injures are going to curb George Millers excitement.

https://youtu.be/pUmUfi2gunM

[selby]

  Play the game not the occasion, and do the simple thing quickly,  and we have every chance of upsetting the odds.