Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Bradford City

As  I sit here typing I am looking up at Sky Sports 2 wondering how on earth we managed to blow this yet again. We were 60 odd for 1 when I crashed out last night, surely the last couple of months of staying up all hours to watch some below average cricket should have taught me, but no, I’m still here, ready to watch 1 final embarrassment. It seems this week we have learned that Nile Ranger is a bit of a knob (or merely just confirmed what a lot of folk already knew), Mark Cooper has a bit of a sense of humour, Ryan Mason needs to be kept for as long as possible and the fans we took down to Brentford a couple of days back made some great noise and did us all proud. I have to admit when I saw this one scheduled for over the Christmas period I thought there would be a good chance I wouldn’t make it and so it has proven. The memories from Bradford remain fantastic for me, seeing our League 2 winning team celebrate in front of us was pretty special.

So the long journey to West Yorkshire will be beginning fairly early for some today with coaches expected to leave the CG around 8am. If anyone gets there early and is feeling a little peckish go to Greggs, don’t let anyone convince you all these award winning curry houses serve anything better than imported Albanian cat meat, and that’s the good stuff saved for the locals. Bradford is bigger than what I thought, being home to nearly 300’000 people, amazingly it has the youngest and fastest growing population outside of London, much of which is put down to the expanding ethnic population which began after World War 2, with vast numbers of immigrants arriving from Poland and Ukraine, and more so from the 1950’s from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. One of Bradford’s main commercial operations is financial vulture Provident, whose reasonable small unsecured loan APR can start from a generous 1478%. Also hailing from Bradford is northern supermarket giant Morrisons who slowly but surely have spread down south after their successful purchase of Safeway a few years back. Asda is still much better though.

Where the opposition gather –

http://www.claretandbanter.co.uk/threads/swindon.37539/

Some of their fans seem to think Rafa De Vita should be given a run out against us tomorrow, seems like his career hasn’t progressed too far since we parted ways.

Last 6 – WDDDLL (11th on 30 points) They must have got off to a decent enough start going by their current form and points total.

They have served us both –  For some reason I look forward to this bit more every week. Andy Petterson, Alan Connell, Stan Harland, Chris Kamara, Sandy Cochrane, Moses Ashikodi, Stephen Darby, Wilf Shergold, Colin Todd, Tom Helsby, Wayne Allison, Frazer McHugh, Paul Evans, Ted Braithwaite, Peter Downsborough, Billy Paynter, Lee Holmes, William Marshall.

The Odds -  Bradford 17/10  Draw 12/5   Swindon  7/4  Doesn’t sound like there is much chance of Rafa starting against us but even still, 0-0 with 10 minutes to go and Parkinson decides to throw him on...10/1 with Bet 365.

The Son Says – The iPad is still king in our household. The peace is unprecedented. He has gone for a 3-0 win to the Town.

The Prediction – Winnable, whatever way you look at it we should have enough, although our inconsistency away from home is likely to play its part. We will thrash them hard, 2-1 with a Nicky Ajose double securing the points in front of 10’222, 299 from Swindon.

And Finally – Interestingly, Bradford were elected to the football league without having ever played a single senior match. In 1911 Bradford City won the FA Cup, by coincidence the cup had been made in the city by Fattorini's the jewellers that same year. Thus, making them the first winners of the current trophy.

COYR COYR COYR

2 all with 374 town fans schlepping up to Bradistan

Asda better... The one nearest me, someone took a dump in the chilled meat aisle a couple of years ago. Probably more a social commentary on Croydon than Asda, but it stopped me ever visiting one again. 1-1, with 250 + a mini bus from reading in attendance.

Why the low away fan predictions? Is Bradford not a nice place to go? (never been, been to lids and ull though)

Have been to worse.
Just dont think many will travel due to xmas, brentford and crawley coming up NY day

Long trip tho

Lots of factors as wooly said+ it really is grim. Don't think I'll ever go there again.

I've got a good feeling about this!  2-1 Swindon COYR

COYMR's....good luck today.... :)

I see we dont do overnight stays anymore. The players left swindon this morning.

Just driven up cricklade road behind the team coach , wonder if Ranger was on it

Would be feeling confident had Ranger been playing - what a waste  of a talented footballer - if he was to make the team we would win 2-1 as it is it will be 2-1 without him....

I'm more worried cooper hasn't dropped 'defend at all costs, even if 1 0 down' away from home. Brentford sounded encouraging.

Lets go for it today. We can take at least a point with our without ranger.

I was there to seem team celebrate but also the minutes silence for the fire was also something I will remember that day.

Decided early doors not to go this time.

There is just one pub 'near' the ground which is rammed.....I went down town in the end to enjoy some proper beer in a proper pub...just a bitch walking back up the hill.

Lets hope the lads deliver a shocking Rotherham away style result....COYR..

2-1 defeat.

If we defend as well as we did on Thursday I can see a drubbing unfortunately,4-0

Hang on to yer hats for this one.

Bradford 3 Swindon 5

12,239 with 412 from pig hill

New Beehive? Cracking boozer that. City Vaults wasn't bad either.

Feeling positive about this one - 2-1 Town.

1-0 defeat

Just has a tenner on 3-5 at 250/1

TOWN v Bradford: Foderingham; N Thompson, Hall, Ward, McEveley; Luongo, L Thompson, Kasim; Byrne, Ajose, Pritchard

Subs: Belford, Barthram, Branco, Gladwin, Harley, Mason, Storey

dont like that line up at all.hope im wrong

Without Ranger (understandably) and DNG (injured) we are pretty weak up front.

2-1 Bradford

looks a bit 4-6-0 to me!

Ahhh, the 4-6-0 again. Joy.

Looks like that...you'd expect a big physical outfit like Bradford to be a bit much for this team.

Looks like the negative formation so a 1-0 defeat today. ^{Hoping to then be proved very wrong  :)}

4-6-0?

Kind of like.....



                                  X

        X                X              X              X
                               
                                  X                                                       
                                  X
                                  X
                                  X
                                  X
                                  X

Cooper "Troy will be like a new signing".

Ha "McCleverly"(Christian Roberts)

Scum losing to Scunny

Chris Martin scores again!

typical, fat and mostly useless I with us!

Sounds lively and pretty end to end with chances for both teams.

Today's game is "will Christian Roberts twig it's McEveley instead of McCleverly by the end of the match"

FFS

Game over? Shame, we were playing well.

Oh well....

You can't play a team full of midgets, even if they're the best midgets in the world they're still gonna be useless for set pieces, attacking and defending.

FFS, here we go again.

Oompa Loompas

Bollox
We were always gonna struggle with Bradfords aerial threat, sounds like the counter attack ploy might work occasionally tho.

Did Christian just say shit?  :D

Anything else on?

'Fotheringham'

Oh Christian, you silly goose...

He normally struggles with Luongo too.

We're creating a few chances. Just need a striker to put one in.

Sound like we are playing OK. Still losing though.

Wells off injured - might help us.

Wells off so something is looking up, pressure from town at mo. Need a goal from this

Christian referencing his own problems in response to a question about how the rest of the team would be reacting to Ranger.  Says he wouldn't be in football still if it wasn't for his manager at the time.

Was that King?

Momentum is with us. Roberts commentary is funny, is he auditioning for something? Could have swore he said shit.

I think Iffy played a big part in it.

This sounds like the Wolves game. We must put some of these chances away.

Player says "Live Commentary Playing" to the sound of silence!

Game sounds like its made for a Storey type player.
Ajose more a poacher than a striker.

At least we very much in the game still which is encouraging

Come on then Pritch...

Balls

Going to be one of those days isn't it.

Thought we'd scored, stupid commentator.

Yup

Jmac struggling :(

I'm going to work. Would like to come back to a 1-4 scoreline please.

C'mon you cunts...

I would put bryne back and storey on
Go for it

Good call

Storey time...

We only commited one foul all half, says all you need to know about our physicality.

Only 1 away goal in lge 1 so far for Oldham.
Shitty 2 nil up  :badmood:

Town sound very much in this still, plenty of half chances.
Just need to take one or two

Wise was very supportive of him too if I recall correctly.

So are we playing 4-6-0 or Ajose up front with Byrne and Pritchard supporting him? I thought the team looked a bit like the early season 4-5-1/4-3-3.

Incredibly. Made him vice captain and bet him a holiday on reaching some goal tally. Think he paid up too even though he'd stuffed off to Leeds.

Sounds like the 4.5.1 - 4.3.3

Hall injured. Sounds like Branco coming on. Eek

Hall off Branco on hmmmm

Oh god. It's buckin'. Let's hope he's not as much a liability as last time

Hope we see a different Branco than to the one in the JPT . ;/

Think we should use those well known tactics of shit or bust now.

ATTACK

Who did Storey come on for?

McCleverleverley

and it was due to injury.

Oh, assumed it was Ajose.  Haven't heard his name mentioned since I switched the radio on 20 mins ago.  Saying that, I haven't heard half our player's names mentioned!

Get in Pritchard!

Yesssssssssass nice one Pritch

Fucking get in!

Now let's have em

Yessssssss....commentators go berserk...marvellous

Finally.  :clap:

Get in.

Superb solo goal
One all now press on

Yes! Get the winner.

Listen to Roberts - He said Pritchard was up for it

Certainly heard Pritchard's name  :) :)

GTFI....

And Stevenage must be shite, 3-0 down against Shitty.

Get the fuck in.

Dont sit back now, attack attack!!

Pritchard like "a rash that won't go away" according to our Christian.

Roberts: 'Handball!'
Co-commentator: 'Shouts for handball there!'

Pox 0-2 Scunny

We gonna lose him!

"I'd like to see a bit more fight than that".  Wouldn't we all Christian.....

I think it's likely, and contrary to what some people think we will miss him too.
Although I guess that depends on who the replacement is.

The usual slump carries on!

 :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick:

4.1 now
Shame they in the cup on the 4th, good chance of an away win there

Gladwin on now, not sure about him yet

Gladwin for Kassim...

Why bring Gladwin on when Harley and Mason are on the bench?  Seems odd.

Height I should think

Hes looked so slow and shit the times ive seen him, early stages though

Blinding tackle from Branco!!

Just as well they were 'promoted by Christmas'.

(The old ones are the best.)

Height, I imagine Bradford will pump more aerial stuff in going for the winner

Cooper must see something in Gladwin.He looked way out of his depth on Thursday.Harley surely a more suitable replacement.But I only manage Ashford and District Sunday league!

Hadn't Harley been injured/ill. Probably bring rested for new years day?

Mason then.Gladwin looked anything but good in the air at Brentford

Come on town. Come on

Pissing about at the back again putting us under pressure.

Isn't Mason carrying a knock too :) I agree with you btw

Here we go again playing around in the back line.
WE CANNOT DEFEND so fucking quit it ffs
Nothing like inviting pressure

13,461

Byrne goes close, Ajose can't redirect it. Come on Town!

Makes sense if they're both carrying injuries and his height as mentioned by others.

Ha Gillingscum are good at letting in last minute goals! 3rd in succession.

They're good at scoring them too...

but Gladwin isnt good in the air!

Roberts sounds like hes on helium.

ha,yeah!

5 minutes stoppage time.

Hanging on a bit here
5 mins injury time to survive or score

Branco COULD be the answer

Wasn't it cooper that said he did not think that Branco was good enough for this level of football

He said he wasn't ready yet. They said he's played well today.

A point isn't a bad result away from home, we sounded like we played quite well overall but a bit under the cosh for the last 10 mins or so.

It sounds like a draw was a fair result overall.

Storey with 2 late chances but neither comes to anything. FT. Sounds like a decent performance.

Not a bad point.

Storey with 2 chances in the last minute - Roberts sounded exasperated with him.

Yeah. 3 points against Creepies and 7 from 12 wouldn't be too bad.

January will be a big month with the comings and goings

Roberts didn't seem overly impressed with him.

Decent point.

Good point. From the radio commentary I'm a bit disappointed not to take all 3!

Well a point is better than nothing.
Sounds like we had a decent amount of chances.
Hanging on a bit at the death.

Branco sounded ok so thats a massive bonus.
Lets start 2014 by thumping Crawley

Yep, we really need to start capitalizing on possession and chances away from home.  Goals are all that matter.

By the sounds of it, today is a perfect example of why it's worthwhile "carrying" Pritchard.

Well pleased with that....now lets smash the fuck out of Crawley..

Sounds like he was great today doesn't it.

Good upbeat interview from Coops.

Cooper thought we should have won that, he was very happy with Branco so that may bode well if Ward or Hall injured or need a rest.
Ranger dropped as didnt train but we knew that and Cooper really didnt want to talk about him.

Some decent tweets from a couple of Bradford fans

Sophie Cunliffe ‏@shcunliffe 33m
Swindon's Pritchard (@pritch_93) has got to be one of the best players we have come up against all season... #bcafc #stfc

Josh Townend ‏@JTownend7 25m
Since when have Swindon played like Barcelona? Pritchard is an unreal talent.

Josh Townend ‏@JTownend7 15m
@FL_debate best passing side I've seen at Valley Parade (and we played Arsenal this year). Really impressive

Graham Taylor ‏@GrahamTaylor69 4m
@dphunt88 class player motm. Best player I've seen at VP this season. Draw probably fair result, but still disappointed not to beat you.

Thought we should have won today and Prichards goal was outstanding. Branco impressed me and Storey gave them some different problems with his pace and movement. Some  knob behind us asking what does Cooper see in Gladwin as soon as he came on.Presumably as he sees him in training, a lot,and I thought he did okay considering the size of the crowd and the big jump in standard he's just made. A very enjoyable day out 

Good point up at Bradford; need to win Wednesday v Crawley before a 'mini-break' in action! 7/12 points wouldn't be a bad Xmas haul, so need that win on Wednesday! C.O.Y.R

Anyone know how many away fans ??
Decent overall attendance of 13461

EDIT


 :doh:

Highlights up on the youtube site

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYwvw4xXovk

It's like an 83 second stereotype of our season.

Pretty football, flashes of brilliance, head scratching defence.  As much as Ranger deserves his spot in the cupboard, his presence does at least allow a chance of clearing some set pieces.

Still, much prefer this to a bog standard no sense of style/shape that most teams have despite all claiming to try and play football.  It is also more fun watching some younger players trying to improve - probably helps that we've been above average overall, might have been tugher to stick with it had we lost a lot more at home.