Match thread…
- Walsall Win
- Draw
- Bradford Win
0
voters
I think this is a really telling fixture. So far we have dispatched the teams that have had the poorer starts, and lost to the teams that look half decent away. This looks like a decent team, at home, in the sort of fixture we really struggled in last season. I think this is the best measure of this side so far this season.
I’d feel a lot better about our chances with a win, or even a draw where we looked like winning in this game.
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They usually play 352 like us. Their RWB Halliday is quality. Liam Gordon just about got the better of him last season in the home defeat. We have to stop the crosses in to Cook. Hopefully Liam is back. Will be key to this game. I think Barrett can handle Tyreik Wright on the other side. Smallwood ran the show in midfield last season. A good test for our midfield. I think we could win but agree with EN and wouldn’t be upset by a well earned point.
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Good post
I have forecast a win. I agree however a point would be ok especially if the Gordon’s are not back. A close exciting encounter for us to watch methinks.
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I think they are stronger and more gifted than us man to man so we are gonna have to work Harder and be more organised as a team to win this
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The obligatory ’ helping Cook to a handful of goals’ game.
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A rally stiff test of both our mettle and top 7 credentials, and a great opportunity to bounce back from the MK Dons disappointment against another of the divisions big boys. Expect the Bescot to be absolutely rocking on Saturday afternoon. The Bantams generally travel in good number so should make for a rollicking good game and one we will have to be at or very close to our best to emerge with three priceless points.
Doesn’t need us for that tbf. 3 in 6 so far this season. 19 goals last season. 31 (!) the season before. Double figures in both the two seasons before.
Big challenge to keep him under wraps. I seem to remember Harry Williams having some success against him in the away game last season, could be the choice for selection in this one.
massive defeat with boos sounding around sandcastle bescot with people climbing onto the pitch to get to Sadler and demand his departure…
or a massive win and we all sing to all to hear that we are HMS P the league. Nothing in between
I don’t think there are any alternatives to a back 3 of Williams, Okagbue and Allen available.
DD, Farq, McEntee and Comley all injured from what I have read, with none of them due back anytime soon.
I can’t think of any other players on the staff who have played at centre back.
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Weir. Not that I am recommending that, but he has played there.
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The issue with the back 3 at the moment is that we don’t have one of them comfortable on the right hand side. Williams is an out and out central defender. Okagbue has done ok on the right side in some games but he also is far better in the middle.
Having said that they have played the last 2 away games against good opposition and only conceded 2 goals.
We look less balanced without McCentee and our outside CBs play an important part in our play with the ball. Okagbue struggles with this.
Well yeah, true (bar Weir who will probably be needed at wing back anyway if Gordon isn’t fit). I just meant more that we might have an option there to naturally counteract Cook, whether forced into it or not.
Weir has looked better as a Left CB than at wing back
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Would be surprised if Cook physically bullies Williams and Okagbue all game as they are both strong but it’s the experience Cook has of finding the right areas to get his head on a cross. He just pulls off the back of defenders perfectly.
So important to limit the service in to him
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Agree 100% about stopping the crosses to Cook. Unfortunately that is something we didn’t bother doing last season in any game as a rule - hopefully it will be different this season. I keep reading about how our manager is young and still learning. He needs to have learned about this.
UP THE SADDLERS
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You so right this is what makes him such a very dangerous player I think if it’s just straight forward one on one challenges against a static Cook, Williams and Okagbue can cope .but he’s so good at loosing his marker like you say dropping off …and being a decoy.there going to be severely tested if Cookie is on form Saturday.
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If Gordon isn’t back I would play weir centre back and Allen wing back. I know that’s a tough 1 with the way Allen been playing but after weir performance on Saturday it would be madness to play him there again against decent wing backs.
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