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Post by moonie on Jan 15, 2023 22:44:29 GMT
The trip to Valley Parade has rarely been a happy one for us Cumbrians. Setting aside a 1-0 victory in December 2020, the last time we were victorious in a league fixture at Bradford was all the way back in 1951. A sizeable Cumbrian contingent will be hoping we buck the trend with a valuable victory. Such a result would put 5 points between ourselves and the Bantams, but a City victory would see them leapfrog us. All to play for in West Yorkshire on Saturday.
The two clubs have faced each other 57 times in competitive football, with Bradford edging it historically by 22 wins to our 21, the other 14 finishing level. Our latest meeting came just a few weeks ago, with Carlisle victorious at Brunton park - winning 1-0 in front of 8,296. Blues youth product Andy Cook missed a couple of sitters for the visitors that day, though we had chances of our own and were well worth the 3 points. Highlights from that game:
Bradford City are perennial underachievers. Their average attendance is over 16,000, which is very impressive for a league 2 club - they struggle to convert that support into success, coming into Saturday's game on a run of form which has seen them win just twice in their last 8 games in all competitions. They've won 5 of the 13 league games played at Valley Parade this season, drawing another 5 and losing 3 times - including a 2-1 reversal against lowly Rochdale last Tuesday. They've scored 17 times in those 13 games, conceding 13 goals in the process.
That man Andy Cook is their top scorer, and the 3rd top scorer in the division with 13 - just 1 goal behind Kristian Dennis. Cook is not guaranteed to start though, with Vadaine Oliver given the nod ahead of him at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, and new loan signing Dara Costelloe (Burnley) also capable of playing up front. The loss of Tyreik Wright (recalled from a loan spell by Aston Villa, in order to be sold to Plymouth) came as a blow to the Bantams, but the arrival of Thierry Nevers from West Ham means they have a ready made replacement. Ex-blues loanee Alex Gillead is likely to start in midfield.
A big game feel to this one, and it's very difficult to call. 3 points here would be a real statement of intent, and would certainly make the rest of the division take notice.
COYB!
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Post by pigletphoenix on Jan 15, 2023 23:45:46 GMT
If they've scouted our last couple of games they'll look to exploit Senior's positioning and Huntington's chronic lack of pace.
If they approach the game like they did at Brunton Park, we'll beat them.
I'd be looking to bring in a bit of defensive quality at right-back as a priority this week.
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Post by Merseyside Blue on Jan 16, 2023 8:49:24 GMT
Think you're being harsh on Senior, piglet. Undoubtedly wasn't great against Donny but much improved at the weekend. His positioning was fine, the one issue I had was he gave the ball away high up the pitch a couple of times after good runs when a simple pass was on. I think that'll come with time and we've got to remember he's still building up his match fitness.
Will be a tougher task for him against Bradford but maybe it's one where we bring in McCalmont and ask Guy to keep a closer eye on helping Senior out.
Honestly don't see the point on us bringing in defensive cover on the right side - we've got Whelan and Barclay to cover right-sided CB, Ellis will be back in 2-3 weeks. Don't want another Duncan Idehen sitting the stand playing twiddly winks do we?
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Post by Merseyside Blue on Jan 16, 2023 8:51:11 GMT
On the subject of this game generally, I'd be more than happy with a point from this one. Suspect they'll be a different beast from the side we faced at BP.
Big question for me is on whether you start Gibson or not - feel like his desperation to impress in the reverse fixture was an issue. Maybe keep him on the bench and start Alfie, keep the midfield 3 compact and give Gordon some freedom to drift out wide and support the two wing-backs (giving them a licence to get forward even more).
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Post by pigletphoenix on Jan 16, 2023 14:20:37 GMT
I think the point of bringing a good quality right-back in is to give genuine cover and competition for Ellis, which at the minute, as Senior's displays have demonstrated, we lack. Idehen wasn't genuine competition and cover for Mellish and Armer - and notwithstanding that, we replaced Idehen with Robinson anyway.
Despite what you say, if Senior was good enough defensively, you wouldn't be suggesting he requires two other players "helping him out". That's an absolute admission he's not up to scratch.
Re: Gibson. Simpson told him he would be starting next week when he was subbed on Saturday. You could read his lips...
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Post by moonie on Jan 16, 2023 14:32:27 GMT
I'm really surprised to see a player being written off after one poor performance (in a game where the entire team played poorly), upon returning from a year out injured.
Not heard anybody else suggest Senior was poor on Saturday. But then I didn't hear anybody else campaigning for Kristian Dennis to be left out for the first half of the season. That's Kristian Dennis, second top scorer in the league.
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Post by pigletphoenix on Jan 16, 2023 15:31:59 GMT
I'd still use Dennis as a substitute, he doesn't do enough for the team overall to warrant starting.
Senior's had two poor games defensively and was poor (as a defender) before his injury also.
I'm not "writing him off", my view is he's a natural winger not a full-back. Get him further up the pitch where he doesn't have to think about defending as much and he's not a liability and he'd be a genuine asset.
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Post by bluebry on Jan 16, 2023 15:47:42 GMT
Calling out Senior at this moment in time is purely idiotic, he's just been out for a year, with Saturday being only his second full appearance.
I actually thought he's done bloody well considering the time he's been out, and the fact he was thrown straight into the team because of injuries to Back and Ellis.
Some people are just never happy.
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Post by frankclarkestash on Jan 16, 2023 15:49:19 GMT
Use Senior further up front  ?? This is a kid who has been out for a year more or less and has played two competitive games. Ever heard of match fitness Piglet ? Then he says play him further forward ? Based on what and in place of whom? About as tactically inept as Frank Lampard 🥱 |
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Post by pigletphoenix on Jan 16, 2023 18:21:56 GMT
I don't reckon fitness is an issue for Senior, he's been running around fairly well in the last two games.
He looks like a winger as he can go past a player, has a genuine turn of pace, has excellent mobility and intelligent attacking movement and his use of the ball is crisp and precise.
That's in sharp contrast to his defensive ability, however. So for me it's entirely obvious to play him further forward. Then his inability to defend will not be exposed as much.
I'd probably have him on the bench or competing with Gibson for a place in the squad.
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Post by frankclarkestash on Jan 16, 2023 18:49:01 GMT
In reply to Piglet
Anybody can run around after training but anybody who has played at any level knows that they would be blowing out of their proverbial in the first few games back not having played.
You’re suggesting that because he looks comfortable on the ball going forward after a couple of games that you think he could be in the side ahead of specialists in the team based on seeing him on TV?
On that basis I’d put Feeney in goal because he handles the ball brilliantly when receiving the ball from a ball boy.
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Post by pigletphoenix on Jan 16, 2023 18:57:40 GMT
My opinion is based on seven games, I think that's ample time to attain a fulsome view.
To repeat myself, he hasn't looked unfit in his previous two starts. And notwithstanding that, fitness questions don't excuse his defensive shortcomings.
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Post by bluebry on Jan 16, 2023 20:34:55 GMT
Anybody know what our ticket sales are like for Saturday?
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Post by frankclarkestash on Jan 16, 2023 20:38:29 GMT
Piglet
Read your drivel for years and had the sense to ignore it.
Clearly I’ve gone down with something.
Like listening to Prince Harry . “I’m right and the rest of the world is wrong “.
Stick to being a keyboard warrior and I’ll go back to filing your comments in trap one 👍
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Post by moonie on Jan 16, 2023 21:25:22 GMT
Anybody know what our ticket sales are like for Saturday? We'd sold 700 as of half past 3 on Friday. I'd imagine a good few hundred more will have been sold since then (Saturday will likely have seen a few sold) and we'll be heading towards the end of our second allocation. Hard to say what the turnout will be as tickets are also available on the day, but I'd expect anywhere between 1200 and 1500 - hopefully towards the higher end of that range. A big signing before Saturday would go a long way towards boosting that figure! The club will likely update us either tomorrow (last day tickets can be posted out) or Thursday (the day before advance tickets go off sale). |
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