v Bradford City (a) 23/08/2022 League Cup

[Upside Down]

Well it's been a disappointing week for us. Hopefully we can get one over on Sparky and continue our cup run to inject some positivity.

My optimistic prediction is Bradford 0 - 5 Rovers.

Edited August 21, 2022 by Upside Down

[Sparks Rover]

He needs to rest everyone up, bollocks to this.

[LDRover]

Bradford will be a decent price to win this and for me are well worth a punt.

[Aqualung]

Be interested to see the starting line up as I can't see us risking the likes of Ayala, Kaminski, Brereton and Travis. 

[AllRoverAsia]

Don't risk any players of value against Smallwood, if that clogger is playing.

Away to a L2 opponent who are coming into form and peopled by ex Rovers so an accident waiting to happen.

I would like a cup run though for a change.

[davulsukur]

We only have 2 fit centre backs (as far as I am aware) who both need to be rested but it seems We've got no choice but to play them. 

 

 

[arbitro]

The real dilemma is whether to risk Ayala and Phillips. Personally I wouldn't risk either. I would be looking to play Louis Annesely alongside Pickering. Whenever I've seen him he has been steady but it really is a case of needs must. Sink or swim time.

[Wheelton Blue]

I decided to get tickets for this as I've not been to Valley Parade for about 30 years.

A win is vital - however we do it - to avoid a confidence drain.

We can't be risking Ayala; without him we'd be totally goosed in defence.

[Sweaty Gussets]

Agree on not risking Ayala.  I'd play Pickering and an U23 CB at the back, along with Batty at LB and JRC at RB (if he's fit).

 

[rigger]

3 hours ago, arbitro said:

The real dilemma is whether to risk Ayala and Phillips. Personally I wouldn't risk either. I would be looking to play Louis Annesely alongside Pickering. Whenever I've seen him he has been steady but it really is a case of needs must. Sink or swim time.

In my opinion Pratt is better than Annesley. At center-half, you don't want steady. You need someone who can head and tackle and is strong. Annesley is none of those things, 

Edited August 21, 2022 by rigger

[harryhealless1928]

Given our excessively threadbare squad (and avoiding relegation could become a priority)Ayala,Kaminski,Travis,Brittain,Diaz,Phillips & Gallagher cant be risked. Add on our high list of injured players. So SS first name on the teamsheet for me- makes the number up and saves the other players.

So  Im going with Pears- JRC ,Pratt, Pickering, Batty- Edun,Morton,Wharton(A)- Markanday,Vale,Szmodics.

Not sure I even want to risk Dolan or Buckley if Smallwood is playing - not confident of a result with that set-up but how many more players can we afford to lose to injury? 

[Gav]

Bradford beat Hull City live on Sky in the last round and I wouldn't put it past them to knock us out on Tuesday, been invited on corporate by a City fan, be rude not to.

Last time I went to Valley Parade it was standing on away end and lively walking back to the station.

Bradford 1 Rovers 2 

[tomphil]

Going to this for nostalgia purposes remember some good evening trips there back in the day, always a good turnout in the old away end.   Always aggro outside some nasty gits followed them then, in fact not even sure they followed them they just spilled out of pubs at full time looking for visiting stragglers.

Same team as Hartlepool if possible just replace Wharton with Pickering NOT Ayala.

I'd rather get dumped out than loose players to injury.

[BlackburnEnd75]

                   Kaminski 

JRC       Phillips    Pickering   Batty

              Morton    Wharton

Markanday      Dack        Dolan

                     Vale

Subs: Pears, Ayala, Edun, Brittain, Buckley , Szmodics,  Gallagher

[1864roverite]

Going to the game 0-0 out on penalties

[Ossydave]

I can see Dack sending out a massive play me next game message here and banging a few in.

Really do need a win here to get that winning feeling back.

1-3 win 

[Waggy76]

My gut feeling is the Bradford manager will be far to savvy for us....A very physical game awaits , can we cope ??

[Andy]

We can't afford to lose this one, however disposable the tie seems at face value.

It would mean 3 straight defeats, including being knocked out of the cup by a lower league team.

I think he'll pick a strong a team as possible to get some positive momentum back.

[Athlete]

13 minutes ago, Waggy76 said:

My gut feeling is the Bradford manager will be far to savvy for us....A very physical game awaits , can we cope ??

Can see Hughesy saying in their dressing room get into these early doors they don't fancy it..get em running scared and we will be in the hat for the next round

[Sparks Rover]

1 hour ago, Athlete said:

Can see Hughesy saying in their dressing room get into these early doors they don't fancy it..get em running scared and we will be in the hat for the next round

They have a big strong centre forward who's knocking em in at the moment. ..we need to stop crosses so that's us fucked.  I'm lumping on the mighty bantams.

[Mercer]

This is a home win banker.  A physical Bradford and Hughes will be up for it like a house on fire. 

We haven't a prayer.

JDT will take no risks with any key player.

Earn yourself some early Christmas spending money.  I put a bundle on Bradford last night at 3/1.  This really is an opportunity to fill yer boots.

[Darrenbot]

36 minutes ago, Mercer said:

This is a home win banker.  A physical Bradford and Hughes will be up for it like a house on fire. 

We haven't a prayer.

JDT will take no risks with any key player.

Earn yourself some early Christmas spending money.  I put a bundle on Bradford last night at 3/1.  This really is an opportunity to fill yer boots.

Maybe it's just me but i'd never have a bet to say Rovers will lose a game.Yes you could win some money but i'd rather not win anything than profit from a Rovers defeat.

[Athlete]

1 hour ago, Darrenbot said:

Maybe it's just me but i'd never have a bet to say Rovers will lose a game.Yes you could win some money but i'd rather not win anything than profit from a Rovers defeat.

Bet with your head not your heart

[riverholmes]

Return of Hughes, Chapman, Smallwood (and Matt Platt and Yann Songo'o) will give them added motivation but if the team can re-find their self-belief and structure, we should surely win. Chapman has, I note, kept his place in the starting eleven, so may be finding some consistency, as, apparently a No.10.

Hopefully, it'll be a chance to find the foundations of the team again - i.e get the central midfield and defence working again. I'm not sure how this can be done, whether a formation change is needed or introduction of new players but this needs to be a springboard.

We really need Morton to do something because the midfield is looking very weak at the moment. Perhaps, testing out 4--5-1, with Dack as the experimental forward. I'd also look to throw in Batty or Cirino at LB. It's just not working with the others. Although, it's a risk, as our team is inexperienced as it is.

 

Edited August 21, 2022 by riverholmes

[WacoRover]

Dacky & Sammy, 

2-0, good guys!