rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 15, 2012 22:54:31 GMT
After losing to 10 men Bradford back in the Autumn, I feel we have got some unfinished business against this club that won't be looking forward to their visit with our form and them being on the fringe of the relegation dogfight. Matches against these teams have proved to be a bit of a battle and could be another match to tough out although an early goal could change all that! Bradford are the club that have Branston on their books but with a change of manager he is not even getting on the bench and considering both his form last year, experience in this sort of position coupled with the money he is on, seems to be a big waste although no skin off my nose! ;D Hannah is another player that Bradford signed in front of us and although he has been on the bench a lot, a return of three goals appears to be well below expectations so maybe a lucky escape for us or a wrong career choice for him?  With a change of manager mid way through the season, it is only reasonable that the new gaffer brings in his own people and during January signed defenders Fry (West Ham) and Kozluk (Port Vale), midfielders Atkinson (Hull but played against us in the Plymouth matches) and Ravenhill (Notts County) and finally Smalley from Oxford. After hitting some good form including a win over Shrewsbury, Bradford have slipped back with no league wins in the last five games, not helped by a couple of match postponements on the last two Saturdays. They snatched a last minute equaliser against Port Vale on Tuesday where six changes were made from the team that lost to Bristol Rovers. Top scorer is James Hanson with 10 goals although he limped off with a groin injury 14 minutes into this match and could be a doubt for Saturday. Flynn (6) and Wells (5) are the next two highest scorers although only could command a place on the subs bench previously. With this great run of form, I'm hopeful that a decent home crowd will turn up to give the lads some well deserved support and roar them on to another win to equal the exploits of 1998! If Lathrope has not recovered in time for this one then I suppose the choices are McPhee as a straight swap or maybe Morris in the middle with Tai on the right with Howe up front. A left field option could be LRT on the left and switching Danny to the right but very unlikely to happen and the McPhee option is the least disruptive. It does highlight our lack of strength in depth and although Ling has been proved right in delaying any signing, a forward like Bodin is required. |
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Post by stefano on Feb 16, 2012 11:54:26 GMT
A tough game this against a club who surely have a squad better than their position in the league indicates, and they will be looking to put some breathing space between themselves and the relegation places.
I shall be surprised (pleasantly) if we win this one.
7 wins in a row and only one to go to equal our club record, but that record breaking run of 8 in 1997/98 was brought to an unexpected end in a 3-0 home defeat to lowly Cambridge United who finished the season in 16th place.
After the recent run expectations can be too high so a point would not be a disaster, and I just have a feeling that is how this one will finish up.
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rjdgull
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Post by rjdgull on Feb 16, 2012 14:38:16 GMT
Looks like Lathrope will be out for this one. Morris slotted in there last time but no Bodin to go on the wing and Halpin / Macklin haven't featured much lately. We could go 4-4-2 or maybe bring Craig into midfield in addition to the options outlined above.
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petef
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Post by petef on Feb 16, 2012 15:03:11 GMT
I reckon if Mcphee has recovered in time he will fill the role as he did quite successfully on Tuesday night - until the wack that is. Midfield was where he had his best games for Kiddereminster.
I think he deserves a chance there. Dont know the extent of his injury mind you.
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Post by loyalgull on Feb 16, 2012 18:15:58 GMT
the game at their place earlier in the season was a low point for us,nows the time to put the record straight,but it wont be easy,2-0 to us after lots of bradford resistance
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Post by ohtobeatplainmoor on Feb 16, 2012 22:37:33 GMT
Craig who?!?! Have you got some inside info on the great man at Bristol Rovers?!
It is a difficult one though, isn't it. Lathrope has been absolutely brilliant for us and will be a massive loss at the weekend - but the formation and approach has been a real factor.
I wouldn't be surprised if we used McPhee in the same role as Lathrope, that is probably one of the things Ling and the team will try in training - and McPhee did play more of a midfield role for Kiddy last season, didn't he? I think the likelihood of us bringing anyone in on a Friday on-loan to play in such a pivotal position is highly unrealistic so maybe having McPhee there will be seen as the best option.
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Post by milber on Feb 17, 2012 20:22:23 GMT
Another tough game ala Daggers & Cobblers.
The run has to come to an end at some point but hopefully not on Saturday.
Sorry if your going folks, but yet another ugly 1-0 will do just fine.
you never know we could acquire the reputation of Revies Leeds. winning 1-0 that is, not dodgy deals.
milber
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davethegull
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Post by davethegull on Feb 18, 2012 4:26:11 GMT
I think we owe Bradford some payback for that dismal performance at theirs. Normally I would be bricking it waiting for us to come crashing down to earth ala Cambridge after our last record winning steak. However I think this squad of players are made of sterner stuff. Of course it will end eventually but I don't think it will be today................2-0 to the good guys, a brace from Chris McPhee.
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Post by longeatongull on Feb 18, 2012 13:08:39 GMT
I think we owe Bradford some payback for that dismal performance at theirs. Normally I would be bricking it waiting for us to come crashing down to earth ala Cambridge after our last record winning steak. However I think this squad of players are made of sterner stuff. Of course it will end eventually but I don't think it will be today................2-0 to the good guys, a brace from Chris McPhee. Welcome back Pinky!!---its so much better being positive and supportive aint it? ;D |
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Post by hullgull on Feb 18, 2012 14:29:20 GMT
hi guys,come on you gulls give this lot a good leathering,been on there messageboard,and alot of them feel we as a club are beneath them,and a bunch of inbreds,which i did titter bout.
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JamesB
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Post by JamesB on Feb 18, 2012 17:10:58 GMT
Sounds like we missed Lathrope
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Feb 18, 2012 17:32:46 GMT
Sounds like we missed Lathrope Three minutes of defending Max Sennett would have been proud of.  Difficult to know how to post without being called negative. Will have a couple of beers, think and then post.  This coupled with the cheats both winning make drink my friend!.  |
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petef
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Post by petef on Feb 18, 2012 18:01:21 GMT
Full credit to Bradford who belied their league position to punish this very poor Torquay performance.
We were due one , lets face it but I just thought maybe just maybe would could delay he inevitable for one more week. It wasn't to be and despite all our huff and puff we never looked like recovering to win this one.
Today I thought we looked jaded and lacking in ideas with a weight of expectation to add the pressure of rising into a lofty league position. Bradford came out with that nothing to lose attitude that catches even the best teams out, closed us down, won all the free kicks and played the better football in the first half. Other than Danny's sweet strike we did little else and even by the time we scored they could and should have already been ahead. We looked bereft of ideas, rarely winning the all important second ball in midfield and Bradford pushed us back winning quite a few corners to our none. Their goals were well worked but we slipped back into some old habits of our early season failures at the back with poor clearances and hurried passes that never reached a player. Although we did hit the post through an Ellis header midway through the second half our toothless midfield and attack looked unlikely to bring us any reward and the game petered out into a time wasting last quarter. Chasing a game playing the system we play and were exposed for what are with little on the bench to change things in any great way though Yeoman to his credit did a couple of useful things and posed them some different problems. Rene just looked short of matches and it just wasn't enough in the end. It was in My opinion one of the worst performances of th season , a bridge to far perhaps just as the realist in me says auto promotion is totally out of the question with such a small and limited squad. CM did OK but only just OK and was probably no better and mo worse than many of his team mates when we needed character to lift us above the dross that was on display. We did miss Damon without doubt but I also think we missed Robbo in th the back line, cant quite put my finger on why though.
As a footnote the referee was a total arse, the worse ref I have seen for a long long while and reminded me so much of all of those awful officials in non league.
Two very tough away matches to follow and I cant say I'm looking forward to them after todays performance - surely ther's no way we can play like that for more than one game is there?
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Post by bristolgull on Feb 18, 2012 18:04:15 GMT
Shame, the run had to end sometime but didn't expect it today. The important thing is how we react to the setback. Still feel we need an extra attacking option brought in...hopefully this result won't draw out too many negative feelings and we can all get back behind the lads next week.
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Post by Swanny on Feb 18, 2012 18:07:44 GMT
A bit of a reality check today I feel. After such an amazing run with such a small, tight squad Torquay did not have enough in the tank today to rescue a deficit. It's been such a long time since Torquay have found themselves behind in a game and after relying on the same players week in and week out, you wonder whether the number of games are taking their toll. Torquay looked rather jaded today and Bradford, particularly in the first half, were quicker to the ball. When you analyse the number of clear chances for both teams today, Bradford deservedly won today. It could have been worse in fact. Crowd 2,566, only 140 from Bradgord. Sposors MOTM Danny Stevens.
Torquay had a great start with a well taken shot from Danny Stevens. On 12 minutes, the ball was fed in from the right and Danny hit the ball sweetly from just outside the penalty area first time low into the goal. The trouble was 5 minutes later after a lot of ping-ponging around our goal where we seemed to have survived, the ball came back in and finished off. 3 minutes later Bradford scored a beauty which turned out to be the matchwinner. A one-two just outside the penalty box put dangerman Reid through and he finished with a rocket of a shot past Olejnik.
So 2-1 down and how would Troquay react? Well the truth is that were rocked and struggled for the rest of the half. Reid on the left wing was giving Oastler a right roasting and Torquay were hanging on at times. We were a little fortunate to be just 2-1 down at half-time. Our only goal attempts tended to be from long distance and Nicholson after a delightful one-two blasted over when he had a clear sight on goal. McPhee did his best as Lathrope's replacement as the holding midfielder. But McPhee was just McPhee. He did some good headers and won some tackles very well, but he was also very sloppy in giving the ball away. So yes we did miss Lathrope but there were several below-par performances. Oastler, O'Kane were poor in possession, and Atieno did not get into the game at all.
The second half was more even. Torquay's best chance was from a Nicholson free-kick about 30 yards out. I was expecting a shot but the ball was floated over to the back post where Ellis headed against the post. Torquay did have a decent 5 minutes of pressure but that was about as good as it got. Bradford really should have finished the game off when Fagan with Olejnik to beat clean through lifted the ball over the bar. Howe came on for Atieno and Yeomen for McPhee. Yeoman playing in attack was a bright spark. His first touch produced a run into the box and he produced a lovely piece of skill and cross later on. I was disappointed Rowe-Turner did not come on, we really needed more fresh legs today. Torquay did try to bombard Bradford for the last few minutes pushing more players up but Bradford held out. Torquay's final ball was not always the best, Morris being our main culprit (he does not / cannot seem to use his right foot at all?).
So a disappointing result today but in truth we deserved to lose and have been riding our luck somewhat of late. We have such a wafer thin squad that have relied on the same players and have been been blessed with a lack of injuries. Losing key players has always been a worry and losing Lathrope did not help today due to injury. But there were several below-par performances and maybe the long season is starting to catch up on a few players. It's certainly not doom and gloom as we still have a great chance of reaching the play-offs. I just hope today's defeat does not start another dodgy run and we can pick ourselves up. There's clearly a great spirit in the club, there's simply a lack of decent options.
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