Let's talk about the Bradford City game

[selby]

  Our biggest league game at Home of the season, a game that both teams need a win to keep in touch with the play off positions, two underperforming managers who need a win and sceptical fans supporting the two teams with ideas of grandeur the teams on the field of play are both struggling to show the necessary class to put a consistent run of results together to warrant their supporters hopes and demands.
  So a lot on the game for both clubs and if there is a loser I think pressure could really be put on the manager of that team, especially the big name Bradford manager.
  How good are we? that is the biggest question, Teams of a certain ilk, and not the ones that play flowing football have rolled us all season, our latest effort at Sutton on Saturday, where like Tranmere, like Hartlepool and others they literally stood off us and let us make the mistakes, while we played pretty football in areas that mean nothing as far as getting the ball in the onion bag to score a goal, but give the stato's a thrill when they look at the number of from me to you passes and the meaningless possession stat's.  Teams like Sutton love it and feed off it.
  Bradford are no better, constantly being put in their place by teams with half the resources  and no big name manager, how frustrating can that be? division two's answer to Chelsea.
  Not the normal game in prospect then, in front of a big crowd with two set's of frustrated fans, but for once Bradford I think shade that more than us, and the atmosphere in the stadium could reflect the situation if one team dominates the game.
  What our latest tweak to our line up will be this coming weekend I will leave to Schofield and Gribble while they try to find just where Tommy Rowe would be of best use to the team, and what formation will allow us to play as far away from our own penalty area as possible where it's  normally a bit safer to have the ball
  We desperately need another little run of wins something we have not done  for a while, usually just having a run of poor results in between, which now is not an option to the end of the season if we are to do anything to get near the playoffs.
  So as ever, What do you think? Please have your say.

[Chris Black come back]

They have very good away form, one of best in League Two. Only Stevenage and Northampton have lost fewer games away from home. They haven’t lost away since Boxing Day and have scored as many goals away from home (17) as we have conceded at home. Will be very tough.

[Bailey Vickerage]

It will be a completely different game to the first game of the season, both teams will want to play football and can see it being a high scoring game.

Hopefully we get straight onto Clayton in midfield and don’t give him time on the ball, when he’s given time on the ball he can cause problems for any time in this league but we’ve seen how slow he can be on the ball, Barrow pressed him on Saturday and that’s how they got their goal (winning the ball off him on the halfway line and broke). I would be happy with a draw but I think whoever wins the midfield battle will win the game.

[roversdude]

Big following coming from West Yorkshire (4k?)
Agree we need to target Clayton hopefully get him a booking and in effect take him out of the game
They have some big lumps up front so need to prevent crosses

[ncRover]

Is Anderson expected to be out?

Hurst v Halliday could be quite fun with his positioning

[drfchound]

Will Clayton and Halliday get the boo treatment.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Will Clayton and Halliday get the boo treatment.

can’t see why they would, hopefully they won’t anyway.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Is Anderson expected to be out?

Hurst v Halliday could be quite fun with his positioning

yes, I believe Anderson will be missing and back for the Stockport game which will be a big loss when we’re gonna be up against Andy Cook, gonna be a massive test for Nelson up against him.

[DearneValleyRover]

Big following coming from West Yorkshire (4k?)
Agree we need to target Clayton hopefully get him a booking and in effect take him out of the game
They have some big lumps up front so need to prevent crosses

Yeah they’ve sold out

[Sammy Chung was King]

Is Anderson expected to be out?

Hurst v Halliday could be quite fun with his positioning

yes, I believe Anderson will be missing and back for the Stockport game which will be a big loss when we’re gonna be up against Andy Cook, gonna be a massive test for Nelson up against him.

Cook won’t bother Nelson, he will target Rowe as a weak point aerially.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Is Anderson expected to be out?

Hurst v Halliday could be quite fun with his positioning

yes, I believe Anderson will be missing and back for the Stockport game which will be a big loss when we’re gonna be up against Andy Cook, gonna be a massive test for Nelson up against him.

Cook won’t bother Nelson, he will target Rowe as a weak point aerially.

I think I’d back Rowe to be a good enough match for him tbh, he’s certainly no weak link in the air, yes he’s not the tallest but his timing his very good. He also won a lot of headers and duels against Sutton (only one I remember him not winning was for the goal when he slipped).

[ncRover]

Is Anderson expected to be out?

Hurst v Halliday could be quite fun with his positioning

yes, I believe Anderson will be missing and back for the Stockport game which will be a big loss when we’re gonna be up against Andy Cook, gonna be a massive test for Nelson up against him.

Cook won’t bother Nelson, he will target Rowe as a weak point aerially.

I think I’d back Rowe to be a good enough match for him tbh, he’s certainly no weak link in the air, yes he’s not the tallest but his timing his very good. He also won a lot of headers and duels against Sutton (only one I remember him not winning was for the goal when he slipped).

The Bradford side look to be lacking in pace and creativity. Even if Rowe loses some duels, you’d back out more dynamic team to pick up second balls.

Bradford played a midfield diamond by the looks of it last week. We can really exploit that with our width.

[steve@dcfd]

Bradford play 3/4 midfield players in a diamond possibly. We have two central midfield players who will have to work their socks off to compete. Yes we should be better in wide areas but will they get the ball. They play 2 upfront so that will keep our three defenders occupied.

[Bailey Vickerage]

Think Miller will be asked to drop a bit deeper out of possession and man mark Clayton who will be playing as the deepest midfielder in the diamond, then one of Molyneux or hurst (assuming it’s them 2 who start) come into the middle when the balls on the opposite side, they will overrun our midfield 2 all game if not imo. Miller would also be able to press Clayton for the full 90 mins.

[Lesonthewest]

I don't think we have to worry about Clayton, without tempting fate, he's far too slow now & Lakin will easily negate him.

[Bailey Vickerage]

I don't think we have to worry about Clayton, without tempting fate, he's far too slow now & Lakin will easily negate him.

it’s not necessarily worrying about Clayton, it’s their whole midfield. They play a diamond so have 4 in the middle against our 2 so we will need 2 players to drop in and help close and Lakin out, hence I’m saying miller will probs need to drop and do a job on Clayton and press him all game. We can’t afford to give him time on the ball.

[glosterred]

If you’re going to the game on Saturday and come through town, be aware that South Parade and Bennetthorpe are closed for resurfacing work Saturday and Sunday 25/26 February. There will be diversions in place.


COYR

[steve@dcfd]

Biggins if fit I would play him with Close and Lakin leaving either Hurst or Molyneux on the bench.
Playing a slightly modified version of DS favoured formation
3 4 2 1
The two wing backs can still over lap with Biggins and another working closer in getting forward aswell.

[selby]

  Both our vteam and our supporters will need to be as one tomorrow, This game is looking more and pore pivotal for the rest of the season for both sides, in fact another Mansfield moment as far as our own club is concerned.
 If the players are not up for this game, then they will never be up for much again in their careers, its a chance to make their mark and be remembered, failure basically is not an option for any of the sides, and Mark Hughes is on record as wanting revenge for our performance in the first league game of the season, when he objected to our approach to the game saying only Bradford were trying to win the game at the time.
  So a lot on it, I hope we show some fight and ambition, and show we are now making progress and can compete when we have to, after the disappointments of the last few seasons the club and the supporters deserves better than has been seved up the last few seasons both in cup competitions and league performances, it's time the team stood up to be counted.
  If we give our all, show some pride, and keep the improved performances of late going, if we are beaten by a better side on the day I can accept that and we can still look to move on and be better.

[ncRover]

Biggins if fit I would play him with Close and Lakin leaving either Hurst or Molyneux on the bench.
Playing a slightly modified version of DS favoured formation
3 4 2 1
The two wing backs can still over lap with Biggins and another working closer in getting forward aswell.

I think this is a good shout. Biggins Lakin and Close can nullify their slow ponderous midfield. Drop Molyneux and play the other 2 on the counter, which is more their strength anyway.

[andy didcott]

keep the ball away from Andy cook and I think we will get three points.

[Chris Black come back]

None of these lads are world beaters but will be a handful at this level - they’ve got Vadaine Oliver and Matt Derbyshire as well, if both fit. There is some wily experience there alongside Cook.

[selby]

  We need Miller, Hurst and Molineux to have the confidence to run at their back line and turn them, and the midfielders to show up, that helps the back line with the play in front of them as we are  not great when turned as most of us have witnessed for a couple of seasons without a lot of  improvement.

[DearneValleyRover]

Let’s hope the first team mirrors the Academy lads who beat Bradford 2-1 with a last minute winner this morning

[ScillyRover]

We deserved nothing from that game. I can recall only one decent effort on goal and that was from Brown. We desperately need a goal scorer.

[Redroy]

Even first half. We were garbage in the second. Cook had more chances in the second half than we had the entire game. Really poor in the final third.

[bpoolrover]

Really poor, negative boring play again, played like we were the away team, Bradford were poor but attacking wise are light years ahead of us l

[steve@dcfd]

I wonder if our supporters brought friends to this game. They won’t be coming again but our owners don’t understand how poor we are

[i_ateallthepies]

Inept.

The number of times we conceded possession from playing out from the back or throw-ins was simply pathetic and the goal was conceded from one example.  Bradford were a very ordinary side but Rovers are far worse.  Says it all when supporters are leaving in droves with five minutes to play and we're only one goal down.

[i_ateallthepies]

I wonder if our supporters brought friends to this game. They won’t be coming again but our owners don’t understand how poor we are

The club were getting pelters over the lack of marketing for this game, now looks like a very shrewd move.