Bradford v Fleetwood

[T.A]

5th v 4th. I would say Bradford are the favourites for this one although they do have a habit of drawing when they should have won.

Fleetwood are the underdogs and will have the least pressure of all 4 teams.

 

[LS Bantam]

I think we're the bookies favourites for the tie but league wise Fleetwood achieved more points and I've no doubt it'll be a very close, add on to that our poor record this season Vs the better sides. I also can't escape our equally poor first leg PO record (3 defeats out of four, all at home) nor the fact we've had two shockers on Sky this season, not that should have any relevance.
I expect Fleetwood to play for the draw, for us to go at them and hit us on the counter. We soon run out of ideas when we're pressed on the ball and it's there where we need to be better, something we had early season which we haven't since recaptured imo, clever runs off the ball, positive forward passing...
Prediction? Score draw, 2-2.

......................Doyle......................
McMahon McArdle NKP Meredith
Marshall Cullen Vincelot Law
.....................Clarke.....................
......................Wyke.....................

 

[S74Blade]

Good luck Bradford. Your manager needs to learn how to win games, draws no good now.

Again, good luck

 

[Sheffsteel]

Always liked Kamara and McCall so will be wanting Bradford to win and hope you win the final too gaining promotion.

I expect Fleetwood to play the classic away performance.
Defend in numbers, let Bradford have loads of the ball, loads of corners and more attacks but Fleetwood are excellent at keeping things tight at the back. However on the rare occasion Fleetwood do attack I expect them to be very dangerous on the break.

Bradford need an early goal to bring Fleetwood out but I fear it could be a frustrating night for Bradford.

I'll go for either 1-0 Bradford or a 1-1 draw.

Still think Bradford City will win the tie though and may do better away at Highbury where they'll find more space.

 

[Parchpea]

Our player of season Bolger missing but no excuses tonight, it will be difficult test but just hoping we put on a good show and its a decent game being on TV and that.

Think Bradford will try and utilise the crowd and home advantage by getting the job done early and ensuring the away legs a formality, naturally we just want to avoid that very scenario.

 

[kieran_vale]

Can definitely see what brought Fleetwood into the playoffs so far. Such a difficult team to break down as Vale found out last Sunday.

Bradford playing alright though.

 

[RobboPOSH]

Fleetwood look pretty solid but are riding their luck a bit.

Come on Cods!!

 

[kieran_vale]

Beautifully executed corner there. Deserved lead for Bradford.

That said if Fleetwood can get away with a 1-0 loss here I'd imagine given how the game has gone they'll take that.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Our player of season Bolger missing but no excuses tonight, it will be difficult test but just hoping we put on a good show and its a decent game being on TV and that.

Think Bradford will try and utilise the crowd and home advantage by getting the job done early and ensuring the away legs a formality, naturally we just want to avoid that very scenario.

Far too humble there. Where does Bolger play and what sort of player is he. Trying to work out what youre missing tonight.

 

[Parchpea]

Bolgers a towering centre back who also scores goals, dangerous on set plays.

Anyway Bradford dominated tonight and it really should be over but its not and thats our only consolation.

Like to say it was a bad performance but we tend to play like that away and just nick wins.

 

[1976Bantam]

Given how tight the game generally was, bit disappointed not to be at least 2 up as - whilst our chances were limited - those we did have were good ones.

Vincelot's blast over with the free shot from 12 yards, Hiwula/Wyke contriving to cock up a great chance (after a great piece of control from Hiwula) plus Clarke hitting the post. Honourable mention for Cullen's free kick too.

Can remember Doyle doing his best to give Ball a goal and Cole's chance on a tight angle 2nd half but not much else for Fleetwood.

A deserved win but a narrow one and I hope it doesn't come back to bite us on the arse on Sunday.

 

[LS Bantam]

Predictably dominant, predictably toothless. The dream would've been a two goal lead but I think both teams will be happy with 1-0

 

[bantamigo]

I'm not too fussed about a 2 goal lead, it'd encourage us to sit back and we looked better taking the game to Fleetwood. It would still be tough either way as surely Fleetwood will have to make more of a go of it on Sun.

 

[darren gregory]

Don't take this the wrong way as it puts our crowds to shame but where were the missing 4000 ?
I presume as they had to pay they didn't attend, was shocked when i saw the gate, granted Fleetwood maybe took small support.

 

[bantamigo]

We sold 18k season tickets last season and therefore announce 18k+ crowds every home game but there's no way that many show up every week. That was probably a true crowd last night. I don't think the time helped either as there are usually loads of kids around us and hardly any there last night.

 

[Dolph Ziggler]

For a Playoff game i've never felt like I was sat at a more unimportant game in my life.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Don't take this the wrong way as it puts our crowds to shame but where were the missing 4000 ?
I presume as they had to pay they didn't attend, was shocked when i saw the gate, granted Fleetwood maybe took small support.

Not many kids sat on their phones there, atmosphere was far better than a normal league match for it as well. People even stood up for corners, free kicks etc. Usually half our "fans" don't even notice when we've scored.

 

[bantamigo]

For a Playoff game i've never felt like I was sat at a more unimportant game in my life.

Think part of that was that Fleetwood didn't really offer much so there wasn't much peril involved. The only worry for me was that we would dominate and not score. I don't like having a go at teams and I'm guessing Rosler's got a plan but for a team to show up having finished above us with more points and timewaste after 30 minutes just killed the game and made it into a grind.

 

[Reaper]

3000 tight bastards decided to stay at home i see even though they're getting treated really well from the club with the cheap season ticket prices but aren't willing to pay the normal rate for 1 important game, what a joke them 3000 are.

 

[bantamigo]

Why's it a joke? We were getting 8000 average about 9 years ago.

It's well known that a large number of the 18k who bought season tickets last year were brand new 'fans' and some of them even support other clubs. For us to get 15,500 for a full price game is a decent retention rate.

Forgot Rotherham had the most loyal fans in the world!

 

[Reaper]

Why's it a joke? We were getting 8000 average about 9 years ago.

It's well known that a large number of the 18k who bought season tickets last year were brand new 'fans' and some of them even support other clubs. For us to get 15,500 for a full price game is a decent retention rate.

Forgot Rotherham had the most loyal fans in the world!

It wasn't a pop at the overall attendance because 15,000 is very good at this level for anybody, it's the other 3000 who have only been coming all season because it costs next to nothing and when they have to folk up 25 notes they run a mile what joke fans they are and i would say the same thing if it was my club.

 

[F!RTHY]

Poor WUM!

3/10

 

[bantamigo]

It wasn't a pop at the overall attendance because 15,000 is very good at this level for anybody, it's the other 3000 who have only been coming all season because it costs next to nothing and when they have to folk up 25 notes they run a mile what joke fans they are and i would say the same thing if it was my club.

It's the nature of the beast if they're trying to grow the support. A lot of people who have no connection to City have ended up getting dragged along by their kids and with it being a shit Thursday night kick off maybe a few gave it a miss. Still good that a load of kids are watching City regularly and possibly turning into life long fans. More clubs should give it a go.

 

[Reaper]

It's the nature of the beast if they're trying to grow the support. A lot of people who have no connection to City have ended up getting dragged along by their kids and with it being a shit Thursday night kick off maybe a few gave it a miss. Still good that a load of kids are watching City regularly and possibly turning into life long fans. More clubs should give it a go.

Yeah it's a cracking idea for clubs with big stadiums and catchment area like yourselfs and Huddersfield because you're now almost filling your stadiums which will give the players on the field a bigger boost, receive more revenue from merchandise, food ect and also attract younger fans for the future while your at it, so many pros and not many cons at all.

Wouldn't work with a club like us because the stadium is too small and we wouldn't attract many floating fans to be beneficial but i reckon it could work with the likes of Coventry, MK Dons and maybe even Notts County.

 

[Lancs@(Bantam)]

Yeah it's a cracking idea for clubs with big stadiums and catchment area like yourselfs and Huddersfield because you're now almost filling your stadiums which will give the players on the field a bigger boost, receive more revenue from merchandise, food ect and also attract younger fans for the future while your at it, so many pros and not many cons at all.

Wouldn't work with a club like us because the stadium is too small and we wouldn't attract many floating fans to be beneficial but i reckon it could work with the likes of Coventry, MK Dons and maybe even Notts County.

I never understood why your club built such a shitty little stadium.

 

[Reaper]

I never understood why your club built such a shitty little stadium.

Our stadium is probably about the right size for us atm because we only sell out big games so to have a bigger stadium and only have it half full will be pointless and just affect the overall atmosphere.

Our stadium is made so we can expand to 16,000 or even 20,000 if we ever make in the premiership which probably won't happen in my life time.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Poor game, but very comfortable throughout both ties they never had a shot in anger.

Well done to Fleetwood getting this far though fantastic achievement considering club size and the fact that pre season survival would have been the goal.

Looking forward to Wembley, nice big pitch I fancy a bit of revenge for last season.

 

[Mighty_Bantam]

Spot on tactics from Stuart. Both legs seen out comfortably and did what we had to.

Though having said that, there are unconfirmed reports that Rosler is still playing 5 in defence and preaching patience as we speak.

His tactics were bizzare. Fleetwood put us under no pressure at any point, bar the last ten mins of long ball.

 

[Parchpea]

Best team clearly won so congratulations to Bradford it will be a close game at Wembley.

We never laid on glove them and I just think we gave so much getting into the playoffs we ran out of legs required against better quality, also lacked that belief required in big games.

Be hard for us to repeat that next season where it will be a much changed team with our better players probably moving on now.

 

[codaplenty]

Well done to Bradford, you were the better team over 2 legs and I wish you well in the final. Fine manager in McColl, excellent stadium with brilliant support and the right set up to do well. As for Fleetwood, a fantastic season and a good young team which is still developing. Hope we can keep Rosler and most of the current squad, plenty to look forward to next season with even more local derbies and maybe even that lot down the road !