v Bradford City (h) - 12/8/25 - Carabao Cup

[LDRover]

As shit as Montgomery was at RB it hardly improved when Alebiosu came on down that flank. All arms and legs and little else.

[Inferi]

Very poor performance. Bradford looked the better side. This squad looks so weak even now with only one important player currently injured. Montgomery is an awful right back, looks like an accident waiting to happen.  

[G Somerset Rover]

Cue the ‘Trav is a snake’ comments from our ‘fans’ over the coming hours. 

I don’t think the start of this season could be going much worse. We’re looking certainties for a relegation battle.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

15 minutes ago, pick32 said:

Gestede looked annoyed in the stands 

Looked like a little boy lost without the other two Goons by his side.

[Rover down South]

6 minutes ago, Dolly blue said:

No leadership from the touch line….what, just what does VI bring ?
As for his assistant..no words. We look bereft of leaders, drive …not to mention skill, pace or touch..I gave up on those years ago .

i get the feeling there’s a very miserable, unhappy, unmotivated group of players who will jump at the first opportunity….trouble in the dressing room and the boardroom….

and look who’s leading us out of this…Gedtede and Ismael …

Been the case since Eustace left. VI just hasn't had that bond with the players Eustace had. Do feel sorry for Ismael as his hands are tied. Surely he regrets taking the job.

[pick32]

7 minutes ago, LDRover said:

As shit as Montgomery was at RB it hardly improved when Alebiosu came on down that flank. All arms and legs and little else.

It got worse because the cm of the field went to crap

[OsloRover]

Here’s my take for those who didn’t get to watch the game. An alternative to Jackson’s Donald Duck ratings if you will.

Michaelski - 4
Obviously not great when you gift the opposition a goal on your own, but made a few saves and was helpless for the first.

Montgomery - 4
Responsible for the area of the pitch where their first goal came from, and gave the ball away dangerously a few times. Seems to fit better into midfield, but not ready to play there in the championship yet

Miller - 6
Showed that he can play as a central defender although he seems better suited to right back where he can roam forward more. Assisted our goal with an absolutely massive long throw which will be a good weapon for us.

Wharton - 6
Didn’t notice him too much, which is a good thing. Does tend to end up in the occasional spot of bother, just like before his injury. Good to see him back though.

Pickering - 6
Solid, our problems didn’t start with him. I prefer him to Ribeiro personally.

Henriksson - 5
Perhaps playing a bit out of position, gave the ball away a few times but some promising through balls that deserved better. Improved from Saturday, thankfully.

Tronstad - 6
Not too involved, we’re used to better from him which maybe says more about the level of expectation. Midfield got worse when he went off though.

Tavares - 7
Our best player tonight. Quick, mobile and technically good. Can play a bigger part this season than any of us expected 

De Neve - 6
He’s a funny one. Reminds me of Dolan when it comes to running power but not much else. Not going to create a lot of chances but takes up intelligent positions in the box. Took his goal really well. Would be much more useful if he can consistently find a good set piece delivery, which he can sometimes.

Tyjon - 6
Showed Cantwell where, if not how, a nr 10 should play. Obvious talent, good vision and brave on the ball. Needs to bulk up a little, too easily dispossed for now

Gueye - 3
I’m sorry but that was awful. Didn’t win headers, didn’t help out defensively, didn’t make the right choices when through. 
 

Can’t be bothered with the subs. None of them were very good. Maybe Cantwell, but get the fudge up the pitch man
 

 

 

[Miller11]

23 minutes ago, Rover down South said:

 

I feel that team selection was a message from VI to Gestede. Here's your academy players against a side playing in League Two last year. Play that side against Birmingham on Saturday and it’s a cricket score.

I expect the fact that Ismael is bonused on giving young players their debut and minutes is a bigger reason for his team selection.

[OsloRover]

Oh yeah I forgot old Val. 
4 points. Underestimated Bradford who were clearly out to take us down. Subs ineffective. 

[Gamst]

3 minutes ago, G Somerset Rover said:

Cue the ‘Trav is a snake’ comments from our ‘fans’ over the coming hours. 

I don’t think the start of this season could be going much worse. We’re looking certainties for a relegation battle.

Trav, Brittain, Eustace are completely right to jump ship. They don’t support the club and are looking after their own careers and maximising their earnings. It’s a complete no brainer for them and the supporters who cannot see the obvious decline of our club are blind/stupid. 

[Tomphil2]

Absolute croc of crap but fully expected as they've taken a team that finished 7th, moulded by Eustace, smashed it up and replaced it with a squad of individuals.

The first 11 will take time to gel but tonights back up players showed what they are, a combination of weak, nowhere near ready and quality lacking...squad of individuals coached by someone who doesn't seem to concerned with the lack of balance his tactics serve up.

Out of that cup early is dire when all you exist for as a club is to develop kids and cheap talent as it's great for giving them mins but going out now might do us a favour.

It's going to be a real tough one this season and it's all been created by the lords and their masters in the corridors yet again.

[yankfan]

From the board room to the pitch the club seem full of people in positions beyond their abilities. Rudy doesn’t have this job anywhere else in the championship. Pasha doesn’t get hired to run any other club in the FA.  Half our players are either kids or foreigners who have not produced at this level. Anyone who can’t see the entire club is below this level needs their head examined. 

[Mike Graham]

I saw nothing tonight, and at WBA, to suggest any of our new signings add any value to our team. 
The only skill on show tonight came from some fabulous touches from Cantwell when he came on albeit he looked a frustrated player and it showed on occasions.

If anyone can point to Kargbo having any footballing skills I would love to see the evidence.

This could well be a long tough season.  I hope not but remain to be convinced.

 

[LDRover]

Nights like tonight make you realise what we had in JDT and Eustace, Ismael not fit to be in the same conversation.

 

[Mike Graham]

33 minutes ago, Polky said:

1/7 aerial duels won!

At WBA every single header of his was mistimed.

[roversfan99]

Another embarassing night and an indication that this "plan" to have a team packed full of athletic cheap nobodies from random leagues and loads of academy graduates is only going to send us into imminent serious shit. 

If we go into a season with Michalski as number 2 goalkeeper then we are taking a ridiculous risk. Nowhere near being ready, quite clearly. Montgomery is also nowhere near being up to the standard, why are we playing a player that was in the 9th tier last season? Tyjon is the best of the 3 but he isnt ready either.

De Neve's goal makes it a weird night because he was absolutely pitiful otherwise. Hendriksson looks totally lost too, can barely control the ball. Tavares was sloppy at times and is not a Travis replacement but showed up pretty well overall and certainly levels above those 2 mentioned.

Otherwise, Cantwell is miles above anything else in our attack, @RevidgeBlue clearly has it in for him. Kargbo is literally just a great athlete and a terrible footballer. Gueye is a woeful striker.

We are about 4 or 5 players short even before you consider sales. Including the depressing news that now our captain wants out of the shit show. The fact that hes desperate to go to Derby, that Eustace left for Derby, that Batth and Weimann left for Derby and Brittain desperately wanted to go to Boro sums us up. The club stinks. 

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

14 hours ago, Tyrone Shoelaces said:

Bradford won’t be a pushover. If we play like we have done in our last two games we could be in for a shock,

Ismael obviously wasn’t listening.

[simongarnerisgod]

despite my initial dismissal of him,sidnei looks a decent player

 

[rigger]

3 hours ago, ... said:

Concourse prices are up.

Cruzcampo £6.10

Hotdogs £6

 

A pint of bitter in the Brown Cow-£2.80, a pint of bitter on Ewood £5.50.

[LDRover]

1 minute ago, simongarnerisgod said:

despite my initial dismissal of him,sidnei looks a decent player

 

Pasha will be hoping he shows up against Birmingham. Plenty of time left in the window for another sale.

[booth]

47 minutes ago, Valconite said:

Downgraded team. No attacking threat. Players looking like they can't be bothered and want away asap. Loosing first two games of the season so morale is low. Saturday we will essentially be the away team in our own ground.  Yeah it is looking fantastic. 

Let's face it. We will never get rid of the rot that has settled in here. What is the point of it all. 

The bizarre lack of bringing in good strikers continues even though goalscorers have previously brought in a ton of cash, and could have brought in more if Pasha did his job effectively.

A bad start to the season but fully expected. 

I don't blame Ismael. Gestede, Pasha and the owners (especially) are the problem.

[den]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Another embarassing night and an indication that this "plan" to have a team packed full of athletic cheap nobodies from random leagues and loads of academy graduates is only going to send us into imminent serious shit. 

If we go into a season with Michalski as number 2 goalkeeper then we are taking a ridiculous risk. Nowhere near being ready, quite clearly. Montgomery is also nowhere near being up to the standard, why are we playing a player that was in the 9th tier last season? Tyjon is the best of the 3 but he isnt ready either.

De Neve's goal makes it a weird night because he was absolutely pitiful otherwise. Hendriksson looks totally lost too, can barely control the ball. Tavares was sloppy at times and is not a Travis replacement but showed up pretty well overall and certainly levels above those 2 mentioned.

Otherwise, Cantwell is miles above anything else in our attack, @RevidgeBlue clearly has it in for him. Kargbo is literally just a great athlete and a terrible footballer. Gueye is a woeful striker.

We are about 4 or 5 players short even before you consider sales. Including the depressing news that now our captain wants out of the shit show. The fact that hes desperate to go to Derby, that Eustace left for Derby, that Batth and Weimann left for Derby and Brittain desperately wanted to go to Boro sums us up. The club stinks. 

10/10. Spot on.

[RevidgeBlue]

4 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Otherwise, Cantwell is miles above anything else in our attack, @RevidgeBlue clearly has it in for him.

Why,?

Came with a massive reputation but done the square root of jack shit since he's been here.

Tonight included.

[roversfan99]

2 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Why,?

Came with a massive reputation but done the square root of jack shit since he's been here.

Tonight included.

He was our best player when he came on.

What he certainly doesnt warrant is so many comments calling him out of all players on that pitch tonight.

[Herbie6590]

41 minutes ago, LDRover said:

Getting a server error off that link??

It might be a cookie thing…try an incognito window