I wholly apreciate Lees' frustration, at the slow recovery from injury. I am suprised that injured players are not involved with the match build up on Thursday/Friday of each week. I think more involvement by the 'wounded soldiers' in match preperation, is a sign of a well managed club. I am not too pleased at these remarks: although they serve to bring to the managements attention,that these are matters to be addressed,for the future.
Always involve ALL players in match preperations. Even if they have to stand on the touchline and watch. They may notice aspects of players training,and make useful comments/observation
s etc.

Are you back yet W? I want to read the postmortum. Was always gonna be though today. Whats even more disturbing is next week is gonna be just as hard which will leave us where? This is why it grips my sh*t that we throw away points at home to the likes of Barnet who got slopped out by Notts County at home today!

Certainly no disgrace losing to the likes of Wycombe, but that makes it 5 defeats already this term.

With the squad we've got, anything less than top 3 will be a disappointment come May.

First of all, big credit to the travelling fans. They never stopped singing and beating the drums all afternoon. City made much more noise than their hosts, even when they had gone 1-0 up. Old favourites such 'Hark now hear the City sing...' were even brought back. What an atmosphere.

The game kicked off with the formation I had predicted mid-week. T.Clarke brought into the middle of the park to add some height and muscle, with Law reverting back to the right. Thorne replaced Boulding up front, alongside Conlon.

Daley showed their right-back (Hunt) a clean pair of heels several times and it looked like we were going to create an opening every time he got the ball. Sadly though, we lacked anything on the opposite flank. Law just never got into the game for me and showed once more that he isn't a winger. His best football comes from the middle of the park. Why can't McCall see that Moncur would be a better bet for us in that role?

On one of Daley's trademark runs, he cut inside before squaring the ball to McLaren. However, by the time he had brought it under control, a defender was there to charge down his shot. It was like that for most of the first half. City had a lot of possession and with Wycombe seemingly playing 4-5-1 against us, we were the team more likely to score. Thorne should have scored as early as the eighth minute, when he headed over a corner.

Zebroski was giving O'Brien a torrid time and Daley wasn't giving him enough support in my view. They looked dangerous on their right side and had obviously targeted O'Brien. However, all the crosses that came into the box were dealt with effectively.

Wycombe started to take more charge of the game after the opening 20 minutes, but Evans didn't really have anything to do. With about 10 minutes to go to half time, TJ went down and several Wycombe players went across to speak to Peter Taylor. Once again, McCall never did a thing other than stand there in his trackie. Does he think football management only occurs before the start of the game and at half-time?

At the start of the second half and the Wycombe contingent seem excited. Why?? What has whetted their appetite? Apparently, they had replaced a midfielder for a loanee, from QPR, called Angelo Balanta. Straight from the kick-off, he showed just why QPR rate him highly.

Wycombe had changed their formation and gone 4-4-2; it worked. They had more of the ball and looked very dangerous, especially Balanta and Harrold up front.

Daley was seeing less of the ball as we seemed to do a Barnet. They just coming at us and we just seemed content to get it up the pitch. Regrettably for us, Conlon (& Thorne in particular) just couldn't get into the game. Likewise, Law just wasn't at the races and we needed a change. I wasn't surprised to see Thorne make way for Boulding, but was surprised it took McCall so long to see that the Thorne & Conlon partnership wasn't working against the league's meanest defence. Likewise, I expected him to replace Law with Osborne, (who apparently has pace in abundance and played well last week).

The change involving Boulding came with about a quarter of a hour to go. By this time, we were trailing 1-0.

A straight forward clearance by Lee hit one of their players in the face and rebounded straight to their right-back. He lashed it home. The City chanting intensified, but our own play sadly did not.

To be fair, it was no more than they had deserved. They had more of the ball in the second half and had looked the most likely to score. O'Brien did get forward a few times and got some good crosses in. Unfortunately, our strikers just couldn't break down their defence. It was easy to see why they have conceded just 6 league goals all season.

I thought Wycombe had scored earlier. Ten minutes into the second half and Phillips managed beat TJ and get a cross in. Zebroski had come inside from his flank and volleyed the ball at the back stick. It hit the inside of the post and bounced out. For a horrible moment, I thought it had bounced over the line before arriving in Evans' arms. The home support (and players) were convinced it was 1-0.

Moncur made a couple of dashes from the back, but other than one tame shot, we didn't really get anywhere.

After their goal, it was all City, probing and desperately trying to get the equaliser. However, for all our possession, we didn't look like breaking them down and they looked more likely to get a second on the break. Even Boulding's introduction didn't change things for us.

It was to prove to be a fruitless trip to Buckinghamshire. One I had predicted mid-week when I was scorned upon for daring to suggest we wouldn't get anything from Wycombe. Any of you care to comment??

Good report,did you go?

lookout wrote:
Good report,did you go?

With spelling like that, you must be Dean?? (LOL)

In answer to your question, of course...!

Good report W. My only complaint is could we have it a bit earlier next time. Kept on checking up till about midnight last night. Your getting as bad as the t&a!!
I agree that Law goes MIA on that right wing. Still think that McCall should have gone for a dedicated winger on loan to give us a more balanced attacking threat instead of relying on Daley all the time to get behind opposing defencers. Thier goal sounds a bit lucky. Shame we couldn't have given the best fans in the division something to smile about.
Not looking forward to Rotherham next week!

Good report (slightly supercilious).

As always a good report waynus,
couple of things i picked up on from the game, another poor defensive clearance leads to another goal!! and the fact that we dont have the right personnel to hurt defences, if Thorne doesnt have a good game who else is there to get the goals? as much as he tries Conlon isnt good enough to play in a team where anything but promotion is unacceptable and Boulding is over rated and physically weak, falls over at the slightest touch.
This is an ugly division and trying to play Championship football wont work,until we put some strong pacey six footers in the spine of the team who can mix it we will not go up.
I also agree with you about Mccall, their players were taking direction from Taylor all afternoon, Mccall just stood with his arms folded!!

first of all can anyone tell me when we last beat wycombe dont think we have good record against them one of our bogey teams for sure
as for the game waynus good report i listened on radio and we seemed to be 2nd best for most of game regards to law have said many times he plays better in centre than on wing
on another note glad bully is nearly back we have missed him badly and with furman also expected back in next week or so only colbeck and brandon will be missing so lets hope we can get a run together as the league is very tight and everyone is beating each other

Waynus wrote:
First of all, big credit to the travelling fans. They never stopped singing and beating the drums all afternoon. City made much more noise than their hosts, even when they had gone 1-0 up. Old favourites such 'Hark now hear the City sing...' were even brought back. What an atmosphere. The game kicked off with the formation I had predicted mid-week. T.Clarke brought into the middle of the park to add some height and muscle, with Law reverting back to the right. Thorne replaced Boulding up front, alongside Conlon. Daley showed their right-back (Hunt) a clean pair of heels several times and it looked like we were going to create an opening every time he got the ball. Sadly though, we lacked anything on the opposite flank. Law just never got into the game for me and showed once more that he isn't a winger. His best football comes from the middle of the park. Why can't McCall see that Moncur would be a better bet for us in that role? On one of Daley's trademark runs, he cut inside before squaring the ball to McLaren. However, by the time he had brought it under control, a defender was there to charge down his shot. It was like that for most of the first half. City had a lot of possession and with Wycombe seemingly playing 4-5-1 against us, we were the team more likely to score. Thorne should have scored as early as the eighth minute, when he headed over a corner. Zebroski was giving O'Brien a torrid time and Daley wasn't giving him enough support in my view. They looked dangerous on their right side and had obviously targeted O'Brien. However, all the crosses that came into the box were dealt with effectively. Wycombe started to take more charge of the game after the opening 20 minutes, but Evans didn't really have anything to do. With about 10 minutes to go to half time, TJ went down and several Wycombe players went across to speak to Peter Taylor. Once again, McCall never did a thing other than stand there in his trackie. Does he think football management only occurs before the start of the game and at half-time? At the start of the second half and the Wycombe contingent seem excited. Why?? What has whetted their appetite? Apparently, they had replaced a midfielder for a loanee, from QPR, called Angelo Balanta. Straight from the kick-off, he showed just why QPR rate him highly. Wycombe had changed their formation and gone 4-4-2; it worked. They had more of the ball and looked very dangerous, especially Balanta and Harrold up front. Daley was seeing less of the ball as we seemed to do a Barnet. They just coming at us and we just seemed content to get it up the pitch. Regrettably for us, Conlon (& Thorne in particular) just couldn't get into the game. Likewise, Law just wasn't at the races and we needed a change. I wasn't surprised to see Thorne make way for Boulding, but was surprised it took McCall so long to see that the Thorne & Conlon partnership wasn't working against the league's meanest defence. Likewise, I expected him to replace Law with Osborne, (who apparently has pace in abundance and played well last week). The change involving Boulding came with about a quarter of a hour to go. By this time, we were trailing 1-0. A straight forward clearance by Lee hit one of their players in the face and rebounded straight to their right-back. He lashed it home. The City chanting intensified, but our own play sadly did not. To be fair, it was no more than they had deserved. They had more of the ball in the second half and had looked the most likely to score. O'Brien did get forward a few times and got some good crosses in. Unfortunately, our strikers just couldn't break down their defence. It was easy to see why they have conceded just 6 league goals all season. I thought Wycombe had scored earlier. Ten minutes into the second half and Phillips managed beat TJ and get a cross in. Zebroski had come inside from his flank and volleyed the ball at the back stick. It hit the inside of the post and bounced out. For a horrible moment, I thought it had bounced over the line before arriving in Evans' arms. The home support (and players) were convinced it was 1-0. Moncur made a couple of dashes from the back, but other than one tame shot, we didn't really get anywhere. After their goal, it was all City, probing and desperately trying to get the equaliser. However, for all our possession, we didn't look like breaking them down and they looked more likely to get a second on the break. Even Boulding's introduction didn't change things for us. It was to prove to be a fruitless trip to Buckinghamshire. One I had predicted mid-week when I was scorned upon for daring to suggest we wouldn't get anything from Wycombe. Any of you care to comment??

Nice to read a condensed report.

Yes we have a shocking record against small club wonderers! If I remember in the mid 90's we got slopped out 4-0 at home by Wycombe. A striker named De Souza did most of the damage! Still I was watching the Hull City game today on sky and couldn't help thinking what a fantastic blue print Hull are for a club like us. Same size city, stadium and fan base! Judging by recent results even promotion out this division seems a bridge too far unless a couple of high impact signings in January are obtained. I think if we are in this division next season Stuart has certainly outstayed his welcome! Really can't see us getting anything in sheffield next saturday!

Spenvalleyspartan wrote:
Yes we have a shocking record against small club wonderers! If I remember in the mid 90's we got slopped out 4-0 at home by Wycombe. A striker named De Souza did most of the damage! Still I was watching the Hull City game today on sky and couldn't help thinking what a fantastic blue print Hull are for a club like us. Same size city, stadium and fan base! Judging by recent results even promotion out this division seems a bridge too far unless a couple of high impact signings in January are obtained. I think if we are in this division next season Stuart has certainly outstayed his welcome! Really can't see us getting anything in sheffield next saturday!

Sheffield?

Ya mean South Yorkshire yeh? ;-)

Thought I'd been asleep two seasons and we were up int Championship :-)


'much-step'

Reckless wrote:

Spenvalleyspartan wrote: Yes we have a shocking record against small club wonderers! If I remember in the mid 90's we got slopped out 4-0 at home by Wycombe. A striker named De Souza did most of the damage! Still I was watching the Hull City game today on sky and couldn't help thinking what a fantastic blue print Hull are for a club like us. Same size city, stadium and fan base! Judging by recent results even promotion out this division seems a bridge too far unless a couple of high impact signings in January are obtained. I think if we are in this division next season Stuart has certainly outstayed his welcome! Really can't see us getting anything in sheffield next saturday!

Sheffield? Ya mean South Yorkshire yeh? ;-) Thought I'd been asleep two seasons and we were up int Championship :-) 'much-step'

Spenvalley...I think you may be suffering from memory loss. You describe Hull City as a blueprint for our club. You may recall it was ourselves who hit the Premier League first & at that time Hull City would have looked at the Bantams as the blueprint for their club!...& a certain Mr McCall played his part in getting us there. No doubt fickle fans(?)like you will hound Stuart out of the club in the same way Windass was & no doubt Jewell would have been if Richmond hadn't done it first. We are in a very tight division,where if we had won last Saturday we would have been in the top three. I realise everyone is itching for success after our drought of recent years but we have no automatic right to it. We will have a lot more chance of achieving it if fans get behind the team & management instead of hounding the players & calling for the Managers head.

keeponclucking wrote:

Reckless wrote:

Spenvalleyspartan wrote: Yes we have a shocking record against small club wonderers! If I remember in the mid 90's we got slopped out 4-0 at home by Wycombe. A striker named De Souza did most of the damage! Still I was watching the Hull City game today on sky and couldn't help thinking what a fantastic blue print Hull are for a club like us. Same size city, stadium and fan base! Judging by recent results even promotion out this division seems a bridge too far unless a couple of high impact signings in January are obtained. I think if we are in this division next season Stuart has certainly outstayed his welcome! Really can't see us getting anything in sheffield next saturday!

Sheffield? Ya mean South Yorkshire yeh? ;-) Thought I'd been asleep two seasons and we were up int Championship :-) 'much-step'

Spenvalley...I think you may be suffering from memory loss. You describe Hull City as a blueprint for our club. You may recall it was ourselves who hit the Premier League first & at that time Hull City would have looked at the Bantams as the blueprint for their club!...& a certain Mr McCall played his part in getting us there. No doubt fickle fans(?)like you will hound Stuart out of the club in the same way Windass was & no doubt Jewell would have been if Richmond hadn't done it first. We are in a very tight division,where if we had won last Saturday we would have been in the top three. I realise everyone is itching for success after our drought of recent years but we have no automatic right to it. We will have a lot more chance of achieving it if fans get behind the team & management instead of hounding the players & calling for the Managers head.

Whilst I agree with you that it is a tight league and that anything can happen between now and May, I think you may have mis-read spenvalleyspartan's comments.

He wasn't having a go at McCall or his team. He wasn't even saying we were poor on Saturday. However, he did say he doesn't expect us to get anything at the Don Valley. Personally, I think we will have done well if we come away with anything from Sheffield. That doesn't make me a fickle fan, it makes me a realist. Rotherham would be right up there with us had they not had 17 points deducted and have proved to be a good side.

What spenvalley did say was that if we are still in this division NEXT SEASON, he will have outstayed his welcome. That also isn't a comment from a fickle fan. I think you will find most City supporters saying the same, not to mention our joint chairmen.

Was Sandra there ??

Keeponclucking. I think W just about covers all angles there. Of all the managers we have had McCall is the one I wish obtains the most success. I love the man.(Not like that though!) However our wage bill in this division probably outweighs most if not all other clubs hence making us one of the favourites for promotion THIS year.
When I talk about a blueprint as far as the tigers are concerned. I'm asking the question why can't we go from the fourth to the prem in 5 years? Under the right management I think we can. I would love that manager to be McCall. But if he can't get us out of this division when we're favourites then there is no room for sentiment I'm afraid.

Spenvalleyspartan wrote:
Sorry Reckless. No time warp to pastures better I'm afraid! Rotherham play at Don Valley stadium as their ground is crap and they can't afford to run it! Just the kind of club we will lose to at the moment!

****! Haha, I'm a bit disadvantaged down here, but now fully enlightened CHEERS :-)

It's all actually quite interesting being more than just a follower of Bradford City. The majority of us who nosey about these pages are true loyal fans, who LOVE their club. We love City regardless of what league the club finds its self in, and I'm glad to say regardless of where we, the fans live. I am though a little fed up, fed up of the dream that isn't (yet) reality. It's a huge disappointment that the City of Bradford has become something of a place to laugh at by all those who do not live there or haven't been born and bred there. It's a shame that the only true pride left in the City is placed in it's football club and it appears there only.... (sorry Odsal but RL isn't big enough to carry this city forward). This 'looking down' on Bradford as a place started decades ago.... and it gets worse every year.

Now, the place aint great, but the people generally are, the people, a lot of whom follow their local football club through success, failure and sadly tragedy, them that lined the route when the club secured a place in the top flight, then kept it against all odds 12 months later.... I was personally in a dream world stood at Saltaire roundabout. Great times.

I actually don't want to see City back in the top flight... not as it is now, 'cos it's a joke league, all but four teams struggling to survive as those who fail suffer terribly. The mentality is survival not progress. The Championship, in my opinion is where it's at, the place where our Club SHOULD be. It's not a right, it's got to be earned.... and the club should be striving to bring this forward. Bring it on for the deserving fans .....

The owners, the management, the players, I believe OWE it to the fans to re affirm the pride we have in BCAFC because sadly Bradford, the football is the only thing that gives the City it's pride..... it's time to stop the talk, stop the pathetic results against the likes of Wycombe (who?) Barnet (come on!) Accrington Stanley (go on say it....) Bradford City is a club that needs to repay its fans for their commitment. Come on CITY, Bradford is a huge place with a huge club and yes a worldwide fan base. It's time now to start taking these teams on and taking them out, one by one - it's not acceptable to think that we will be happy with promotion, I for one want the title, comfortably.... and we deserve it, I would argue MORE than anyone. Why? Because of the history behind the club, the one FA CUP, the fire (R.I.P. all those) the premiership wins against Chelsea, Liverpool and others... the pride, the fans.

Stuart McCall, loves this club, he has put his whole reputation with all us fans on the line.... he needs our backing and he needs to start kicking some ar5e along with his players. This league title belongs to City, give the fans what they deserve. NOTHING LESS. The title charge starts now, go for the top and own that position. Second place is first loser.

A sad Reckless who is fed up of waking up down under to poor results on Sunday mornings :-(

Reckless wrote:
It's all actually quite interesting being more than just a follower of Bradford City. The majority of us who nosey about these pages are true loyal fans, who LOVE their club. We love City regardless of what league the club finds its self in, and I'm glad to say regardless of where we, the fans live. I am though a little fed up, fed up of the dream that isn't (yet) reality. It's a huge disappointment that the City of Bradford has become something of a place to laugh at by all those who do not live there or haven't been born and bred there. It's a shame that the only true pride left in the City is placed in it's football club and it appears there only.... (sorry Odsal but RL isn't big enough to carry this city forward). This 'looking down' on Bradford as a place started decades ago.... and it gets worse every year. Now, the place aint great, but the people generally are, the people, a lot of whom follow their local football club through success, failure and sadly tragedy, them that lined the route when the club secured a place in the top flight, then kept it against all odds 12 months later.... I was personally in a dream world stood at Saltaire roundabout. Great times. I actually don't want to see City back in the top flight... not as it is now, 'cos it's a joke league, all but four teams struggling to survive as those who fail suffer terribly. The mentality is survival not progress. The Championship, in my opinion is where it's at, the place where our Club SHOULD be. It's not a right, it's got to be earned.... and the club should be striving to bring this forward. Bring it on for the deserving fans ..... The owners, the management, the players, I believe OWE it to the fans to re affirm the pride we have in BCAFC because sadly Bradford, the football is the only thing that gives the City it's pride..... it's time to stop the talk, stop the pathetic results against the likes of Wycombe (who?) Barnet (come on!) Accrington Stanley (go on say it....) Bradford City is a club that needs to repay its fans for their commitment. Come on CITY, Bradford is a huge place with a huge club and yes a worldwide fan base. It's time now to start taking these teams on and taking them out, one by one - it's not acceptable to think that we will be happy with promotion, I for one want the title, comfortably.... and we deserve it, I would argue MORE than anyone. Why? Because of the history behind the club, the one FA CUP, the fire (R.I.P. all those) the premiership wins against Chelsea, Liverpool and others... the pride, the fans. Stuart McCall, loves this club, he has put his whole reputation with all us fans on the line.... he needs our backing and he needs to start kicking some ar5e along with his players. This league title belongs to City, give the fans what they deserve. NOTHING LESS. The title charge starts now, go for the top and own that position. Second place is first loser. A sad Reckless who is fed up of waking up down under to poor results on Sunday mornings :-(

Accrington Stanley?? Who are they?

I can't agree with the 'we deserve it' mentality though. Yes, we are desperate for some success after all the years of playing lower league football. However, we have spent most of our history in the bottom couple of divisions and as such don't have a god given right to be in the Championship or higher. Yes, we all hope to be back there again, but it took us years to get there before and will probably do so again. That said, if we don't go up this season, I can see the board making changes at the top. Personally, I would be hasppy to go up via the play-offs as long as we go up. The title would be nice but isn't a necessity.

I agree with you about the City though. We are only ever in the news when it is something unpleasant; the fire, the riots, involvement in terrorism and last week we made the news when Jo O'Meara (s-club 7 singer) was hit by a bottle/glass when signing in Bradford. The 'dump' known as Westfield, is taking longer to build than Wembley did and that is saying a lot. The Olympic Village will be finished before Westfield opens. Bradford are a laughing stock.

Spenvalleyspartan wrote:
Keeponclucking. I think W just about covers all angles there. Of all the managers we have had McCall is the one I wish obtains the most success. I love the man.(Not like that though!) However our wage bill in this division probably outweighs most if not all other clubs hence making us one of the favourites for promotion THIS year. When I talk about a blueprint as far as the tigers are concerned. I'm asking the question why can't we go from the fourth to the prem in 5 years? Under the right management I think we can. I would love that manager to be McCall. But if he can't get us out of this division when we're favourites then there is no room for sentiment I'm afraid.

For every team that goes from the basement division to the Premier League in 5 years there are countless others that don't - & never will. We have had a recent spell in the top flight & fans of other clubs in this division would give their right arm to see their club there. The 1st rule about being a football supporter is to learn to accept failure because unless you are the likes of Man U & Chelsea that's what 90% of the game is all about!

Yes & yes, I was just having a moan, it doesn't happen very often :-) going up any way is good ;-) however I want that TITLE. GREED is good.