Saturday 6th August

[Cas]

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Barrow away for us. They had a great result last week and we could only draw against ten man Doncaster. Expecting this to be a much greater test than many people may realise; I think Barrow have done some great business and have a decent manager in Pete Wild. Matty Platt faces his former club, as does Nial Canavan. Really not sure how we'll line up. We have 80% possession against Doncaster but we didn't test their goalkeeper enough. I'm hoping Harry Chapman starts to provide some much needed width. I also hope Jake Young makes an appearance. He wasn't in the squad at all on Saturday and I'm not sure if that was just a selection choice by Hughes or if he has picked up an injury. Speaking of Injuries, we're without Hendrie, Osadebe, Odusina and Harrat.

My starting XI would probably look like this:

GK: Harry Lewis

RB: Halliday
CB: Crichlow
CB: Platt
LB: Ridehalgh

MF: East
MF: Smallwood

RM: Chapman
CAM: Walker
LM: Young

ST: Oliver

Think I'd give Jake Young a start over Angol. I'm going for 1-1. Platt to score a bullet header against his former club!

 

[chipmunx]

We've got some team called Bradford City... it's either going to go really well or really badly. lose and 3 points from the 1st 2 games is still more than we expected. Draw and it's a very solid start. Win and you might as well give us promotion now....

GK Farman

RB Warren
CB Canovan
CB Ray
LB Brough

DM Foley
B2BM Neal
AM Gotts

LW Whitfield
F Gordon
F Waters

I'll go with Cas's score and say 1-1 Niall Canavan bullet Header....

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Home against Sutton, we are still without Molyneux, Griffiths, Seaman and Barlow. Tomlin obviously suspended and Close and Taylor might never play again so that’s 7 first teamers missing, some things from last season haven’t changed. I’m hoping against hope we can get one if not two in before Saturday but I doubt that will be the case.
Likely lineup given what we have:

Mitchell
Knoyle Williams Olowu Maxwell
Clayton Biggins Ravenhill
Hirst Miller Rowe (if fit)
Jones Anderson Long Agard Andrews Kuleya Degruchy.

 

[AR27]

View attachment 17499
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Barrow away for us. They had a great result last week and we could only draw against ten man Doncaster. Expecting this to be a much greater test than many people may realise; I think Barrow have done some great business and have a decent manager in Pete Wild. Matty Platt faces his former club, as does Nial Canavan. Really not sure how we'll line up. We have 80% possession against Doncaster but we didn't test their goalkeeper enough. I'm hoping Harry Chapman starts to provide some much needed width. I also hope Jake Young makes an appearance. He wasn't in the squad at all on Saturday and I'm not sure if that was just a selection choice by Hughes or if he has picked up an injury. Speaking of Injuries, we're without Hendrie, Osadebe, Odusina and Harrat.

My starting XI would probably look like this:

GK: Harry Lewis

RB: Halliday
CB: Crichlow
CB: Platt
LB: Ridehalgh

MF: East
MF: Smallwood

RM: Chapman
CAM: Walker
LM: Young

ST: Oliver

Think I'd give Jake Young a start over Angol. I'm going for 1-1. Platt to score a bullet header against his former club!

Shame Harratt is out as I would've fancied him to cause Canavan nightmares.

 

[Cas]

Shame Harratt is out as I would've fancied him to cause Canavan nightmares.

Agreed. If we play a lot of long balls into the box to either Oliver or Cook then I can see it being a bit of a repeat of Saturday.

 

[chipmunx]

Agreed. If we play a lot of long balls into the box to either Oliver or Cook then I can see it being a bit of a repeat of Saturday.

yep our back 4 were 6'4". 6'4". 6'4" (N Ireland International) and 6'0" so you might be right.

 

[Soup Ladle]

We've all had a right hissy fit on here about the Walsall game so less said soon is mended.

Season starts for us on Saturday, a really tough home game I think this one will be. At the very least I'm expecting more discipline and organisation, Hartley promised the team would never play like that again and he'd better be right. If not l think it might get toxic for him pretty quick.

He wants 6000 in, no chance of that. A more positive display last week might've pushed towards that but I'll be positive, I don't think we will be as bad as we were, and go 1-1 in front of 4,800 (subject to parts of the ground actually being ready)

 

[Casey]

Well, Betsy got on the fans coach on Saturday and was given some polite but honest opinions about that performance.

It will be interesting to see if he changes anything around. I think playing three out and out forwards and three centre halfs leaves us light in midfield. You can't really play possesfootball when you're outnumbered!

We tend to do well v Orient (even when we lose we play ok...normally) so I'm hoping for a better performance. Still have Orient as one of the sides for automatic promotion so I don't see an easy game.

Hoping for a draw but could accept a narrow defeat with a much improved performance.

Casey

 

[F!RTHY]

As mentioned, Barrow away.

We have our injuries, but I think it’ll be as you were, barring the obvious absentee.

Unclear as to whether Jake Young is injured, but I guess we’ll find out on Thursday. Knowing Canavan wouldn’t even keep up with mi nan, I would fancy Young to start (if fit).

GK: Harry Lewis

RB: Brad Halliday
CB: Matty Platt
CB: Romoney Critchlow
LB: Liam Ridehalgh

DM: Ritchie Smallwood
DM: Ryan East/Yann Songo’o

RM: Harry Chapman
CAM: Jamie Walker
LW: Jake Young/Lee Angol

CF: Vadaine Oliver

Lads will be chomping at the bit to avenge those points dropped against Donny, but Barrow will be brimming with confidence following an impressive result away at fancied Stockport.

Although the starting XI (above) is far from what I would consider to be our strongest, I think we’ll have enough to come away with 3 points.

1-0 City (Walker)

 

[The Terminator]

Wellens will have a few decisions to make at the weekend as we have players back from bans and injuries.

Paul Smyth might play up front again as a bit of a false 9, but I think Charlie Kelman may start to help balance the team and he is the only fit natural striker we have avaliable, Harry Smith may start but can't see him lasting more than 60mins.

The centre of midfield will be interesting, Tom James played there on Saturday but it wasn't his natural position - so will be intersting to see who is picked to play alongside Darren Pratley with Jordan Brown expected to be back and Craig Clay still finding his fitness back.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

We've all had a right hissy fit on here about the Walsall game so less said soon is mended.

Season starts for us on Saturday, a really tough home game I think this one will be. At the very least I'm expecting more discipline and organisation, Hartley promised the team would never play like that again and he'd better be right. If not l think it might get toxic for him pretty quick.

He wants 6000 in, no chance of that. A more positive display last week might've pushed towards that but I'll be positive, I don't think we will be as bad as we were, and go 1-1 in front of 4,800 (subject to parts of the ground actually being ready)

On Saturday we will find an awful lot about PH.
Will he be pig headed and stick with 4 3 3( impossible with those 3 in the middle)
Or will he see sense and play the players he should have on saturday(Lge 2 hardened players)
And eased the new boys in.
After all he was not forced to play all the debutants at once.

With 3 CBs.
We have possibly the best 2 wingbacks in the League and should play to the players strengths.
Which would also strengthen the midfield.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Our start on Saturday was as much down to Stockport believing they just had to turn up to get the win - can't see Bradford underestimating us in the same manner.

I was happy when the fixtures came out that we got two of the favourites in the first two games as it's the best time to play them while they're finding their feet. I think it'll be a close game, but not the end of the world if we don't pick up any points.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Our start on Saturday was as much down to Stockport believing they just had to turn up to get the win - can't see Bradford underestimating us in the same manner.

I was happy when the fixtures came out that we got two of the favourites in the first two games as it's the best time to play them while they're finding their feet. I think it'll be a close game, but not the end of the world if we don't pick up any points.

Think you are underesimating yourselves.

 

[Soup Ladle]

On Saturday we will find an awful lot about PH.
Will he be pig headed and stick with 4 3 3( impossible with those 3 in the middle)
Or will he see sense and play the players he should have on saturday(Lge 2 hardened players)
And eased the new boys in.
After all he was not forced to play all the debutants at once.

With 3 CBs.
We have possibly the best 2 wingbacks in the League and should play to the players strengths.
Which would also strengthen the midfield.

Personally I think he'll stick to the 433 and bring in Mayonaise for Murray, Sterry hopefully fit to replace Tumilty who must surely have PTSD. Cooke might get dropped for Crawford. He'll be wanting to fit Hastie in somehow and he's a winger. But aye 532 is what I think is better for us overall, a lot more solid.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Personally I think he'll stick to the 433 and bring in Mayonaise for Murray, Sterry hopefully fit to replace Tumilty who must surely have PTSD. Cooke might get dropped for Crawford. He'll be wanting to fit Hastie in somehow and he's a winger. But aye 532 is what I think is better for us overall, a lot more solid.

As much as I’d like to see us line up 532, like you said there’s no way with the players he’s brought in, Hastie/Ndjoli are both wide men and will want to play them both when available.

I’d stick with the same setup but drop Murray for Rollin, Tumilty for Sterry, maybe switch Niang and Cooke around?

We’ll be very lucky to break 5,000 never mind 6,000 with the farcical ticketing system in place.

 

[Cas]

As much as I’d like to see us line up 532, like you said there’s no way with the players he’s brought in, Hastie/Ndjoli are both wide men and will want to play them both when available.

I’d stick with the same setup but drop Murray for Rollin, Tumilty for Sterry, maybe switch Niang and Cooke around?

We’ll be very lucky to break 5,000 never mind 6,000 with the farcical ticketing system in place.

Where did you play Cooke and what was he like?

 

[Chief Rocka]

Where did you play Cooke and what was he like?

In Footy Manager terms I think he was AMC and the game seemingly passed him by.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

As much as I’d like to see us line up 532, like you said there’s no way with the players he’s brought in, Hastie/Ndjoli are both wide men and will want to play them both when available.

I’d stick with the same setup but drop Murray for Rollin, Tumilty for Sterry, maybe switch Niang and Cooke around?

We’ll be very lucky to break 5,000 never mind 6,000 with the farcical ticketing system in place.

Can understand yourself and soup, Even though Hastie is regarded as a winger he could
Still play either side of a lone striker swapping as seen fit.

Can,t see Murray being left out, He,s Hartleys main man i think.
I know some don,t like Shelton but his workrate is second to none.
And crawford can pick a pass, Cooke looked really slow on saturday
Don,t know if thats his normal pace.

Although its only the 2nd game on Saturday, I think with the nature of the defeat v Walsall
Makes it really important to stop the rot before it gathers speed.

PS: Brilliant work by the club going all out to make the stadium cashless, Genius NOT.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

Where did you play Cooke and what was he like?

Thats anybodys guess, But he was so slowwwww.

 

[BarraMatt]

2-1 win for the Bluebirds and Hughes Out all over twitter.

 

[Kauto Star]

I'm going for a 1-1 draw at Barrow. Andy Cook to score against his old club. Billy Waters for the Bluebirds

 

[Agombar stool]

I have to hold my hands up and admit (although I could still be correct) that I reckon a lot of people are going to be shown up by Barrow this season. Pete Wild seems to be a good manager and their recruitment appears to be sound. They could very much be this season's Sutton United and be there or thereabouts in the play-off chase.

 

[Agombar stool]

We are at home to Salford. Some of our fans are already getting on the new manager's back (cheap appointment blah blah) after a poor set of pre-season results (!) as well as a dreadful performance at Harrogate. Given the new manager and the recruitment of 13 players it was always going to be difficult to hit the ground running this season and I think August might require a bit of patience from fans.

Salford look a solid outfit. I suspect they might be heading north with 3 points on Saturday, sadly.

 

[Conker]

We are at home to Salford. Some of our fans are already getting on the new manager's back (cheap appointment blah blah) after a poor set of pre-season results (!) as well as a dreadful performance at Harrogate. Given the new manager and the recruitment of 13 players it was always going to be difficult to hit the ground running this season and I think August might require a bit of patience from fans.

Salford look a solid outfit. I suspect they might be heading north with 3 points on Saturday, sadly.

They didn’t look up to much on the opening game but were clinical, hard to take much out of the opener mind.

 

[shoddycollins]

Would have had this down as a winnable game based on Colchester's general southward trajectory the last few seasons and they aren't fancied again this season.

However seems they gave a good account of themselves against one of the fancied sides at the weekend.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Where did you play Cooke and what was he like?

I think if he had a mobile player next to him,he probably would have looked better,unfortunately he had Featherstone & Niang which must have made it the slowest midfield in football history.
You Bradford fans said he’s a good player,the midfield was just all wrong.
For years our midfield has been Featherstone & other random players,for once I’d like to see us without him & see what happens.

 

[Carver]

Would have had this down as a winnable game based on Colchester's general southward trajectory the last few seasons and they aren't fancied again this season.

However seems they gave a good account of themselves against one of the fancied sides at the weekend.

Colchester are shit and favourites to go down and it's time they did.

We'll beat them.

 

[EricSabin]

Grimsby away. Tough one in their first game back, think it’ll end up as draw. Be nice to see us against a team not sitting in and playing for a draw so we can see a better reflection of where we are as a team.

 

[Salvador]

Gills away. I'd hope that O'Donnell is dropped at GK and the new loanee keeper is given a go.
I'd also like to see Brierley and Charman start in place of Kelly and Ball who were crap on Sat. We have an awful record at Gillingham so I'd snap your hand off if you offered a point right now.

 

[RiftHouseLad]

I think if he had a mobile player next to him,he probably would have looked better,unfortunately he had Featherstone & Niang which must have made it the slowest midfield in football history.
You Bradford fans said he’s a good player,the midfield was just all wrong.
For years our midfield has been Featherstone & other random players,for once I’d like to see us without him & see what happens.

There,s no doubt Cooke can play , but not in that situation.

Doubt PH will ditch his captain, But understand where you coming from.