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

[yankfan]

3 hours ago, Tomphil2 said:

The pressure on keepers these days to play like sure footed centre halves out and inside their own box is both ridiculous and needless. No wonder the kid ballsed up he should be under instruction on his debut, keep it simple and clear your lines at all times.

However as much as i said on Sat and stand by it that WBA would have been out of sight first half if Pears played the opposite is true tonight. If he'd been in goal as he should have been he probably doesn't concede that and it's a different game.

Again though don't blame the players it's just piss poor management at team and director level.

Who was the genius who first looked at their squad and said, “we should play our attack through you.” And pointed at his fucking keeper? 

[LeftWinger]

5 hours ago, DaveyB said:

I don’t understand why we’re so intent on getting rid of Pears & Buckley in favour of Michalski and Montgomery.

More cost cutting of course. 

[RoverCanada]

- I suspect Gestede got overexcited by Montgomery shining at Chorley and saw him as a pet prospect he can tout (and fill the squad with someone who can't be on more than £2k/week!). Kinda feel for Montgomery, who deserves praise for showing some promise on a couple (non-league) loans, but is now getting needlessly exposed when a L2ish loan would do him well. (Having said that, he's 21 and will be 22 by the end of the year, so he's not that young).

- Tyjon needs to bulk up a bit, like any 17 year old, and needs to develop some 'guile' (was regularly caught out by Bradford players earning 'clever' fouls), but definitely has something in finding space, slippery movements, ball control/passing. Doubt he'll turn into a speed demon, but looks to me like he'll turn into a player who will find a way to succeed in spite of lacking size/speed. Of course, the question is whether he'll stick around with PL clubs allegedly circling...

- Shame about the gaffe, as I thought Michalski otherwise looked fine. In fact, thought his distribution was quite good the rest of the game (or at least I was relieved after being nervous every time he touched the ball thereafter!). Although I note Parsonblue's observation he's also made such errors for the u21s... If/when Pears is shipped out, we obviously need to find an experienced ~35ish keeper to sit on the bench (which should be affordable...) and find a L2/NL loan for Michalski, but whether that'll actually happen...

- I'd be curious to see how Buckley would do at L1/L2 as he's absolutely walked some of our past cup games against lower league opponents. Just gets caught out too much by the added intensity of the Championship. Didn't get much of a chance to do much last night... Would've thought he'd have been started to showcase him if they are keen to ship him out, but perhaps need to get Tronstad back into shape.

- I've been worried about Kargbo's seeming inability to cross with his left foot. His cutbacks and crossing didn't work at all against West Brom... but he actually managed a couple clever ones last night, including the one Ohashi should've buried..

Edited 4 minutes ago by RoverCanada