Bradford City Vs Cambridge United

[F!RTHY]

So, the season opener is almost here - let’s get the match threads started.

The following players are still missing through knocks/injuries/court case;

Paudie O’connor
Shay McCartan
Jake Reeves
Tyrel Robinson

Gary Bowyer went with a diamond formation against Rochdale yesterday, but i can’t see him using that too often - especially at home.

433 for me.....

GK: Richard O’Donnell

RB: Kelvin Mellor
CB: Anthony O’connor
CB: Ben Richards-Everton
LB: Jackson Longridge

RCM: Jermaine Anderson/Hope Akpan
CM: Matty Palmer
LCM: Jordan Gibson

RW: Sean Scannell
CF: Clayton Donaldson
ST: James Vaughan

Palmer and Gibson, in particular, have been fantastic in every pre-season fixture. I know it doesn’t count for anything, but they have faired very well indeed.

Although I would love for us to find a place for Eoin Doyle in the starting XI, it would mean dropping Scannell; and/or CD/JV - which isn’t an option. Having Doyle to come off the bench in this league isn’t a bad option at all, really.

I know nothing about Cambridge, apart from I understand that they’re looking to add numerous new faces this week and that they have lost a player called Amoo?

It won’t be easy, but we should have enough to secure 3 points.

2-1 City win. Scannell and Vaughan with the goals (pen latterly)

I’m sure United will bring a few fans up, which would be great to see.

Att: 16,218

It’s good to have football back.

 

[SVH]

We’ve sold 400 so far but expect that to be closer to 600 by Saturday, especially if we sign the five players expected this week.

I was very impressed with us yesterday in the 0-0 against Ipswich. The same Ipswich that put 6 past Colchester in pre-season.

I’d take a point now. 1-1 is my prediction.

 

[Vanni]

Fully expecting a defeat for three reasons.

1. The first one is pretty much obvious to everybody - The Bantams' squad is much more stronger than ours, and on paper it is a top 5 one.

2. We're traditionally slow starters; the last time we got off to a great start was back in 2013 in the Connie.

3. Signing players with less than 7 days to go 'til the season gets underway is not the way to go about it IMO, more so when it comes to forwards/strikers.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Should be an easy home win, regardless of which trialists we sign up this week. Looking forward to coming back for a damn good away day though.

 

[AmberRich]

Haven't got a clue what our first eleven will be on Saturday so it's impossible to predict how many goals we'll lose by.

 

[LS Bantam]

I put a confident 3-0 in the predictions thread and I’ll stick with that based roughly on squad comparison, throw in the turning over a new leaf optimism that follows last season’s horror show.
Would I be surprised if we drew or faltered? Not at all, things will surely take time to settle and adjust to the league plus there’s a fair few who haven’t even played a preseason game yet to come in. An early goal would be perfect.

 

[LeonTheGreen]

2-0 Bradford. Will be a tight game but the quality up front will get them over the line.

 

[redjed]

Bratford 4 cannedbridge 0

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Still unsure about our middle.

Palmer looks class, but the other two positions concern me. We are lacking an enforcer and I'm not sure Gibson has the mentality to be a starting, 90 mins a game player.

Still, the defence looks a huge step up on last year and the attack should be strong enough to pull us through many a game this season. Cagey 2-1 win.

 

[Laker]

Similar to Vanni, I can only see us losing comfortably. We’ve got a weak squad at the moment and strengthening in the final week leaves the squad poorly prepared. If we somehow sneak a draw, I’ll be over the moon.

 

[Cas]

83% possession, 39 attempts on target, 17 corners and 1-0 to Cambridge please.

 

[AmberRich]

We've done some late business over the last week, one have must be able to score. If so a 1-1 draw.

 

[Vanni]

Well done you fucking tosser in black. He's given every single 50-50 decision to Bradford, and the only way they're going to beat us is only cos they have 12 men on the pitch to our 10. Fuck off

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Well done you fucking tosser in black. He's given every single 50-50 decision to Bradford, and the only way they're going to beat us is only cos they have 12 men on the pitch to our 10. Fuck off

Ridiculous challenge by your number 8, no way you can have any complaints about that. Completely and utterly unnecessary.

 

[SVH]

He gave the ref a decision to make there but the ref missed the blatant foul by Donaldson on Jones 5 seconds before that. Ref had a shocker all game.

As for the game, a point was a fair result. Bradford had a lot of the ball but didn't do enough to break us down and we looked dangerous on the break.

 

[F!RTHY]

He gave the ref a decision to make there but the ref missed the blatant foul by Donaldson on Jones 5 seconds before that. Ref had a shocker all game.

As for the game, a point was a fair result. Bradford had a lot of the ball but didn't do enough to break us down and we looked dangerous on the break.

Must’ve been watching a different game.

You were exactly what I thought you’d be - shite.

No link-up play and poor decision making in the final third resulted in us being toothless throughout. When the understanding between DVD comes, it’ll be a different story.

Decent following from Cambridge - they sure did celebrate once the man in the middle blew his whistle.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

He gave the ref a decision to make there but the ref missed the blatant foul by Donaldson on Jones 5 seconds before that. Ref had a shocker all game.

As for the game, a point was a fair result. Bradford had a lot of the ball but didn't do enough to break us down and we looked dangerous on the break.

He did miss a foul, but players can't take retribution themselves. He only has himself to blame.

We have to be better. We controlled the game comfortably, but didn't threaten. It was a stark reminder of how teams in this league are happy to sit back and offer little in the game. We need to learn to break that down and quickly.

 

[SVH]

Must’ve been watching a different game.

You were exactly what I thought you’d be - shite.

No link-up play and poor decision making in the final third resulted in us being toothless throughout. When the understanding between DVD comes, it’ll be a different story.

Decent following from Cambridge - they sure did celebrate once the man in the middle blew his whistle.

Take those bantam tinted glasses off and then we would have been watching the same game. It was a typical league two away performance from us and you better get used to that or you'll sleepwalk to mid table.

We were shite were we, but you couldn't break us down. You looked bang average for a team who have spent a lot of money. No width, no creativity, shooting practice into your top tier and generally didn't look like a team that will win this league. Donaldson looks a clogger.

I've seen enough league two football in my time to know we will be absolutely fine based on today's performance.

 

[OhGodGlovePuppet]

Well, referee was having a nightmare long before he did the inevitable red that wasn't a red. Shame as we had been playing some good stuff up until that point second half, but excellent to dig in afterwards and get a well earned point.

Honestly, with the players Bradford had they should have beaten us four or five nil, but there was always the chance they hadn't yet gelled and that seemed to be the case to an extent.

Well earned point, and the hardest away game of the season out of the way unbeaten is something we can be more than happy with.

O'Neil was excellent today, but I don't suppose you can give man of the match to someone sent off with half hour to go, no matter how justified it wasn't.

Good away day, fantastic ground, excellent support from both sets of fans and a good bunch on the whole. Bradford is nowhere near as shit of a place as its reputation, its even quite pretty in places!

 

[AnotherStagsFan]

If Bradford can’t break down Cambridge then they might be in for a long season of graft! Most surprising result of the day for me.

 

[OhGodGlovePuppet]

Yeah they should have battered us four or five nil on paper, but, Clive as we know, the game isn't......

 

[valefan16]

We were shite last season and got a point against all the top three away, thats League Two I guess. Decent point for Cambridge, how was Hanno?

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Controlled the game, didn’t create enough goal scoring opportunities some terrible decision making. Cambridge offered nothing going forward don’t remember O’Donnell having a save to make, but they were very we organised. Ref was fine, but I’d expect the bias comments from Cambridge fans as we and every other fan in the league would be the same. Definitely a foul before the red, but still doesn’t excuse the foul. They actually played far better with 10 men upped their intensity, and we seemed to become very complacent.

0-0 was fair due to the lack of goal mouth chances.

Still a couple short in midfield, people blagging on about our budget. With season ticket money, a lot of new sponsors and Oli McBurnies sell on we’ll make a profit. Should we not be able to spend within our means?

A game that remind me of the game against Port Vale opening game of the season 16/17 except Vale had a few decent chances. They went down we went to Wembley, opening day games mean little in reality, no concern here but we do need to improve in the final third.

 

[OhGodGlovePuppet]

Mad how some people see things, but it's a partizan game.

We were shite last season and got a point against all the top three away, thats League Two I guess. Decent point for Cambridge, how was Hanno?

Did alright. 6/10, can't complain about the shift he put in while he was on but didn't do anything much in the final third. He does look handy indeed, even if he had little to aim at. Pacy. We didn't do much there at all so can't single him out.

 

[SVH]

We were shite last season and got a point against all the top three away, thats League Two I guess. Decent point for Cambridge, how was Hanno?

He was excellent. Worked his socks off like he always does and looks to have pace in behind. An upgrade on Amoo for me because he does his defensive job right. How was Amoo?

 

[valefan16]

He was excellent. Worked his socks off like he always does and looks to have pace in behind. An upgrade on Amoo for me because he doesn't his defensive job right. How was Amoo?

Excellent in pre season, was alright today in fairness dug in but didn’t get forward enough second half when we were defending. We need an Amoo and you need a Hannant by the sounds of it so a good trade!

 

[SVH]

He's better at home when you're on the front foot and has an excellent delivery. Will be a good signing for you lot.

 

[jbet]

Worrying for Bradford if they can't even score at home against one of the worst sides in the league.

 

[AmberRich]

In Bradford's and our defence I don't think anyone can say we're "one of the worst sides" yet. Last season we deserved that tag but this season that is still to be determined.

Calderwood wants us to be harder to breakdown and score against, and that was evident today. I think we might be in for a season of draws and tight scorelines. We've started with a better manager than last season and are much better organised and feeling amongst the players is apparently much better.

 

[LS Bantam]

Well that was a massive anticlimax, really thought we’d start with a bang but instead huffed and puffed with 22 shots none of which troubled the Cambridge keeper, I’m sure had we still be playing it would be 0-0.
It would be unfair to say that was attack v defence but despite being comfortable throughout we never got close to second gear with a 433 that offered next to no service to any of the strikers had meant they had to create everything themselves.
Certainly a lot to work on but first game with still a fair few injured and players hopefully still to come in so a few positive straws to clutch at after a very disappointing day.