Swindon v Bradford matchday thread

[Nemo]

I don't watch much D2 football bar our games, it seems that there have been several teams this season come to the CG with a simple gameplay of kicking us off the pitch. Do we have some sort of reputation of being easily provoked/riled or is it just a thing this season at this shitty level?

I think that's most L2 teams, I'm not sure it's special for us.

[Peter Venkman]

I think that's most L2 teams, I'm not sure it's special for us.

If you cant beat them with football kick them off the pitch.

[Ides of March]

I don't watch much D2 football bar our games, it seems that there have been several teams this season come to the CG with a simple gameplay of kicking us off the pitch. Do we have some sort of reputation of being easily provoked/riled or is it just a thing this season at this shitty level?

It doesn’t work for teams often. Seem a fair few have given away penalties and gone down to ten men at our place this season

[Ƭ̵̬̊: The Artist Formerly Known as CWIG]

https://x.com/acklamjoe/status/1911052998295384115?s=19

[Nomoreheroes]

https://x.com/acklamjoe/status/1911052998295384115?s=19

Shame its not an iPhone 'Live' one so you could see Smith pumping his fists!

[normy]

Great entertainment!  Rarely experienced these days.

[tans]

Shithousery

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

What an astonishing game, this team just doesn't know when it's beaten.

[OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR]

Yeah has to be a reason. You don't do that for nothing

I would say it was due to him trying to rip Harry's shirt off all game and kick lumps out of him...

[Freeloader]

Melt down on the Bradford forum: https://bantamtalk.com/index.php?threads/42-swindon-town-vs-bradford-city-saturday-12th-april-2025-12-30pm.8970/page-24

[Nomoreheroes]

Holloway:
- Topsy turvy is not a phrase he's used often
- Started alright
- Then strange situation and they score
- Then the weirdest goal I've seen
- In training that just wouldn't happen. I dont believe it
- Luckily we have enough skill to get back in it
- The ref made a big call. Holloway didnt see it. They didnt like it as they thought there was a foul before hand
- Then we conceed 2 goals against 10 players which is a no-no for any manager
- Wanted to take Kirkman off before he scored to have Ameen press
- No good for your ticker! Good when you are on the right end of it
- They were fuming!
- One of our team banged on their door on the way off, which t hey shouldnt have done
- That was massive today.
- They brought a big following
- We (the crowd) didnt get on their backs, because we believe in the team
- Deep down, thats terrible defending. We've got to sort that
- We cant conceed against 10 men
- They created chances and Ripley made a couple of great saves
- That ticket was value for money! Hopefully people will come back
- We need to keep our dignity
- Holloway wants to be proud of everything, not just bits
- Bringing on forward players. Is this based upon anything other than rolling the dice?: No, Holloway knows what skillset he has available. He knew where we needed our footballers. He knew who can score. He knew they would go denfensively. We would out number them if we moved it quickly
- Get it wide,. If you cant get it in then move it quickly
- In the goals for tally, we are very good. We have to improve in the goals against
- Team talk is, if we score 1 more than them we win. At half time he said they could win 6-3
- Ameen: The chat with the parents?: Wonderful young man. Brilliant to congratulate them on bringing up a wonderful young man. Club has already shown him love when QPR rejected him. Told 1st team to play like t he youth. They are encouraging him and helping him. At the end of the day there is a lot that has to happen
- Holloway is thoroughly enjoying it. Is determined to get promoted. Maybe not this year, but before he goes. He is reading the Lou Macari years. Would love to have a legacy like that when he leaves.
- Believes that the team want it more than Holloway does now. They weren't like that when he arrived. Be the best you that you can be!

[adje]

To be honest to suffer Will Wright's worst ever game in a Town shirt and still win is a monumental effort. All 4 unfortunately down to him. Still my favourite player though. That Cox delivery for Smith's goal was a thing of beauty. The confidence of Ameen, at 17 years old is something to behold. Ripley's save was absolutely vital to the win I thought.

[Wobbly Bob]

As it stands we've reached the heady heights of the bottom of the top half.
9th or 10th spot still in range.

Downside is that Vale are in pole position for some silverware.

[4D]

What a fucking game. Chatting to some Bradford fans after the game. They thought the ref was on our side.  I said I hope u go up, but the result was fair.

[Frigby Daser]

Where do you start with that?

The good: Ameen is going to be a star. I’d love to get a season out of him, but he’ll have some lucrative deals coming his way. Smith was quiet in the first half, but after the sending off, caused chaos. And despite certain players having their flaws (as you’d expect in L2), Holloway knows when to pull a tool out of the box. George Cox can cross a ball - the cross for the 4th was superb. I thought Holloway was bonkers with the formation for the second half, but yet again, he’s shown it was a stroke of genius. We were worth the win. It was a sending off (and not a single one of their players complained).

The bad: Where do you start with the defending. Forget their 4th (as poor as the defending was) - we were not set up to defend in the 2nd half. But the defending on the first half was poor. Wright needs an experienced centre back next to him. For all of his set piece prowess, he hasn’t been on it for a while. And despite recent plaudits from some, you’ll never convince me that Miguel Freckleton is a good enough. He gives the jitters to the whole back line.

It was great fun.

And the white kit should be next year’s away kit. We’ve done black and white but never done all white. It looked great.