Let's talk about the Everton u21s game and the Bradford City game

[Ian Nimmo]

I can’t see sterry playing Saturday, he looked well off his normal last night, which is only to be expected given the knock he took. It’s not worth risking, after all we are not desperate given how Nixon is playing at present.

[idler]

Can't see Cook getting any change out of Pearson.

Cook got his first minutes since the new year last night. Something like 20 odd minutes so I would think at best he will be on the bench. They will probably bring him on if they are losing in the last quarter but think Pearson and O’Riorden should have enough between them to keep him quiet. A lad at my gym in Bradford today was a bit unhappy that Alexander is changing four or five players every game but says obviously it seems to be working.

[drfchound]

It was his left knee which is the one he had the ACL injury on.

I'm wondering if his issues this yr are mental more than physical. I've read of players struggling with battles in their heads after significant injuries. I never played at a high enough level to experience it personally.

I broke my tibia badly 4 years ago and have a metal rod in it,had to learn how to walk again ,I'm ok now but I cannot jump of the bottom step and land on my left foot it would do me no harm but in my head I just cannot do it , something stops me every time from doing it ,it's just crazy

Same with my ankle broke it 5 years ago, and have no confidence in doing what you describe, it is a mental thing

I had an accident in 2010 which resulted in a broken ankle and lower leg plus breaking my heel into eight pieces.
It took about two years to get back to just about normal but I eventually got back to playing football and am still doing so.
The first tackle on it (and coming through unscathed) was a massive confidence booster.
Just go for it, be confident.

[selby]

  We will need more than Pearson on it on Saturday, we have had two good results this week, competed well and done enough to win both games without reaching the heights we are capable of, we will do well to get away with that again against a far better team who have ambition to do well this season themselves.
  Pointon is just as bigger threat if not a bigger one than Cook if he plays with other players like Holliday, Walker, and Wright with the rest of their squad forming a formidable challenge to other teams in this division.
  It will not be easy, although at our best we are just as big a challenge to teams in this division as them when we play well.
  This could well be one of the games of the season if both sides are at it, and in recent games results show that there is not a lot in it  and the games have  been hotly contested and a spectacle for us the spectators, with quite a bit of controversy, players blatantly shoved into walls, central defenders losing their heads and even managers being sent off, bring it on.

[IDM]

Other than being one point ahead, why do you think Bradford are a far better team.?

[Alan Southstand]

It would help if they get a player sent off again!

They’re having a good start, much like ourselves, so it’s going to be a marker this Saturday. I’m absolutely gutted that I can’t make this one, but I will have everything crossed for a positive outcome (for us).

Due to other match postponements, we could find ourselves right up there. But, I’d take a draw now, if I’m honest. There’s lots of games to go whatever happens!

[selby]

IDM, sorry i didn't point out they are a better team than Rotherham and Everton's u21s  like i thought you might realise what teams i was referring to.
  Don't you think they just might be better than those two?

[scawsby steve]

Other than being one point ahead, why do you think Bradford are a far better team.?

I think Selby meant that Bradford are a far better team than the 2 teams we've just played.

[selby]

Thanks Steve.

[IDM]

Ah OK - I read it that you meant they are far better than us.

I would hope our players are never so complacent as to think we are far better than the opponents.  For sure, believe they can be better. 

[Metalmicky]

Can't see Cook getting any change out of Pearson.

Cook got his first minutes since the new year last night. Something like 20 odd minutes so I would think at best he will be on the bench. They will probably bring him on if they are losing in the last quarter but think Pearson and O’Riorden should have enough between them to keep him quiet. A lad at my gym in Bradford today was a bit unhappy that Alexander is changing four or five players every game but says obviously it seems to be working.

 He scored two beauties last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTf5tEXh4I

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Can't see Cook getting any change out of Pearson.

Cook got his first minutes since the new year last night. Something like 20 odd minutes so I would think at best he will be on the bench. They will probably bring him on if they are losing in the last quarter but think Pearson and O’Riorden should have enough between them to keep him quiet. A lad at my gym in Bradford today was a bit unhappy that Alexander is changing four or five players every game but says obviously it seems to be working.

 He scored two beauties last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTf5tEXh4I

He's an exceptional header of the ball aided by his positioning and desire to attack the ball.

Seen an article today suggesting Bradford won't risk starting him on Saturday, which seems sensible.

[GazLaz]

Can't see Cook getting any change out of Pearson.

Cook got his first minutes since the new year last night. Something like 20 odd minutes so I would think at best he will be on the bench. They will probably bring him on if they are losing in the last quarter but think Pearson and O’Riorden should have enough between them to keep him quiet. A lad at my gym in Bradford today was a bit unhappy that Alexander is changing four or five players every game but says obviously it seems to be working.

 He scored two beauties last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTf5tEXh4I

Stop the cross!

[RugbyRover]

Can't see Cook getting any change out of Pearson.

Cook got his first minutes since the new year last night. Something like 20 odd minutes so I would think at best he will be on the bench. They will probably bring him on if they are losing in the last quarter but think Pearson and O’Riorden should have enough between them to keep him quiet. A lad at my gym in Bradford today was a bit unhappy that Alexander is changing four or five players every game but says obviously it seems to be working.

 He scored two beauties last night...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXTf5tEXh4I

He's an exceptional header of the ball aided by his positioning and desire to attack the ball.

Seen an article today suggesting Bradford won't risk starting him on Saturday, which seems sensible.

That description could well be applied to Pearson too don't you think?

[selby]

  Cook is a good player, but they are in the position they are this season and where they ended last season without him.
  If. and I don't know if it does not watching them, it changes their approach and tactics to a game you would think they will at least start the game with the side that has got them in the position they are in and bring him on if needed.

[Nudga]

Good headers yes but he went unchallenged on both occasions. I'd be fuming if I was codheads manager.

[selby]

  Pointon is the one I am worried about, he is their equivalent to Molly for us, I am very surprised he is still there and has not gone higher to be honest.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

And Will Swann, a good opportunist around the box.

[drfchound]

  Pointon is the one I am worried about, he is their equivalent to Molly for us, I am very surprised he is still there and has not gone higher to be honest.

Speaking of Mols, does anyone know how long he is likely to be missing from the team.
Apologies if that info has already been announced on here.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

  Pointon is the one I am worried about, he is their equivalent to Molly for us, I am very surprised he is still there and has not gone higher to be honest.

Speaking of Mols, does anyone know how long he is likely to be missing from the team.
Apologies if that info has already been announced on here.

GM said he was OK and had a chance for the weekend, but wasn't risked.

[scawsby steve]

  Pointon is the one I am worried about, he is their equivalent to Molly for us, I am very surprised he is still there and has not gone higher to be honest.

You're right, Brian, he is brilliant, but he did nothing in the 2 games against us last season.

I hope I haven't bloody jinxed it now.

[drfchound]

  Pointon is the one I am worried about, he is their equivalent to Molly for us, I am very surprised he is still there and has not gone higher to be honest.

Speaking of Mols, does anyone know how long he is likely to be missing from the team.
Apologies if that info has already been announced on here.

GM said he was OK and had a chance for the weekend, but wasn't risked.

I saw that announcement but thought it might have been a ruse to keep Rotherham guessing about our line up.
I was wondering whether anything had been said since.
Thanks anyway for that input.

[Prez]

Even at this stage of the season, its a huge game. I suspect City might just be up for up for this one. A win for us would take us 2nd. City would go top with a win.

Hope Molz is fit.

[Chris Black come back]

Ref tomorrow is the yank guy who was in charge for that horror show of a game last Christmas against Tranmere. Only been in UK for two years.

[Nudga]

I've got a bad feeling about tomorrow and I'm normally an optimist.

[ncRover]

They’re a good side all of a sudden.

That ring wing back Neufville is rapid. Direct classic wide player will whip it in. Caught my eye when he played for Sutton then Wimbledon.

Humphrys is like two players in one. Would have been a great signing for us. Similar to Wilks in a way. I wonder if we looked at him in the summer.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

The result tomorrow isn't a season definer, so I'm hoping to take the stress out of it, and just enjoy what will hopefully be a cracking game of footie. It's better to play these now and early 2026 and get them out of the way for what could be a favourable run in.

A win would be a great bonus but just hoping for a promising performance.

[steve@dcfd]

According GM everybody's fit and available  only the two players on international duty are out. So GM will pick the starting eleven he believes we need and the squad who do their best to get us a result.

[ForsolongaRover]

It’s time we saw more threat from the forwards and with Bailey such a danger and therefore likely to be heavily marked, they ought to have a bit more space in this game.

Its going to be really testing, but we might benefit from the pressure of expectation that their fans will create, so an aggressive approach, especially early on, would seem to be called for.

[selby]

  I really think that as well as we played yesterday and got the result we required that a lot of credit must go to the management who got every call correct.
   The line up, the way we played really upset their game plan and must have been a big surprise to Bradford who basically we surrended ground to in their own half and hit them hard on the break. We played a lot of the game in our own half making the field of play smaller and congested and used the wings to counter attack at pace exposing their weakness at the back.
  We again asked players to run themselves out and made important substitutes at exactly the right times that gave us renewed energy and also stopped the rhythm of the game.
  Great tactics, great man management, and very well carried out by the players on the field of play, excellent, and out thought the Bradford management completely.