Further reflections based on yesterday but also Salford and Macclesfield games.
I stick to my view that we started with the wrong team yesterday. The state of the pitch was obvious. It was worse than the surface at Macclesfield where we also played poorly first half and left us chasing a result. With Richards-Everton who is 6ft 4 and Antony O'Connor at CB we were never going to win many aerial battles. The surface meant playing passing football would be difficult so we were trying to play into channels as our only attacking option.
This didn't work and losing a goal to a far post header to Richards-Everton left us chasing a game. As others said the Taylor Hardie combination was far more effective but we were 2 down and had 10 men by then.. Taylor was clever enough to win us some free kicks which got us up the field whereas first half attacks often saw Bradford clear easily or we overplayed passing wise and literally got bogged down. A fault this season, I think, is we have not been decisive enough with passes around opposition penalty area.
RWB - we are still trying to find the best option. I like Edwards but he is presumably following instructions by playing a long way forward leaving Wootton vulnerable to being exposed by pace defensively. Edwards was one of a few who played poorly yesterday. Moore is probably a better option there, although yesterday he played three positions in one game .
Still not convinced by Bakinson as he should be breaking up opposition attacks but game passes him by too much in my opinion so he has little influence. Edwards perhaps could drop in there.
Elsewhere yesterday Mayor and Macfadzean seemed on different wavelengths unusually. Bradford got balls in behind us there 2nd half and we struggled. Mayor moved right side and Moore moved left to improve it. Mayor was, not surprisingly, ineffective yesterday as pitch was never going to suit his style.
Apart from Palmer, the better performances at Valley Parade came from Moore, Sarcevic and Canavan although he blasted over from close range during early second half pressure but he defended resolutely when exposed by Bradford counters after interval. Taylor and Hardie did well. Didn't understand the choice of Telford to replace Bakinson given the conditions.
The second half we did well with 10 to attack Bradford and threaten their goal. Just shame we hadn't a plan to create same threat earlier in game.
The ref - well dreadful. Delayed the game twice when Bradford players were treated off the pitch. Didn't let game flow at all and after half time did nothing as home side happily used normal black arts of delayed corners and set pieces.
Selection for Grimsby will be interesting. We have some holes to fill hoping Josh Grant can start. More importantly we need to start games quicker and impose our style on sides. Yesterday and at Macclesfield the home sides imposed their games on us and then we had to adapt. So after three games without a win and Exeter playing Crewe we need to get back to winning ways.
