The Promotion Race

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City Neil

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Hello guys, Bradford fan here to share a few thoughts so hope you don't mind.

Just wanted to say was really impressed with your boys a couple off weeks ago. It was first team we've had at Valley Parade this season have a proper go at us and you were by a long chalk the best team to visit us this season.
The game could easily have gone either way (i thought a draw was fair) but i was particularly impressed with Sharpe & Fleck who look real quality at this level.

I watched the game on Sunday at Chesterfield and the second half was seriously impressive. You are not just totally reliant on Sharpe for the goals (albeit he makes a big difference) so if he were to get injured it's not going to be the end of the world.

Based on what I've seen so far this season i'd be really surprised if you don't win the league and to be honest i have a feeling Scunthorpe will be second. We were kind enough to give them Josh Morris in the summer (i thought that was a mistake at the time) when we were without a manager and that was certainly a bad miss-judgement from someone at our club.

I think we will be fighting out in the playoffs with the likes of Bolton, Millwall and a few others as i don't think we quite have enough goals in the team to get over the line in terms of automatic. If we can keep James Hanson fit i think we will have more of a chance as he creates so much space for others as he often attracts 2 defenders as he wins so much in the air.

We play Scunthorpe at VP on Boxing day so that will be a real good gauge at to what our ultimate ambitions are!

Here's to an exciting season for our Yorkshire rivals!
 



I think it's clear that there are four teams that are going to battle it out for the top spots. Who can go the distance will depend on any number of factors from JTW recruitment to sheer luck. Our main strength right now seems to be our depth in attacking options, but if we got unlucky with injuries to our defence we could struggle a little.

Every game feels huge when you're up there fighting for something, but if we get a couple of wins from our next two we catch up on our game in hand and put ourselves firmly in the automatics right up behind the leaders. We also have the easier run through to the New Year.

From what I've seen of your lot you have one hell of a solid side (only lost one so far, I think?). The problem seems to be that draws hurt, and you need to find that slight edge if you want to push ahead of the pack. We got our promotion to the Premiership without a stand out goalscorer, but it certainly helps.

Good luck as long as you finish below us.
 
City Neil said:
We were kind enough to give them Josh Morris in the summer
Click to expand...

What are your thoughts on this lad?
It's clear he's on fire at the minute but was he any good for you or more likely to be a one season wonder like Bradley Dack?
 
Without trying to sound big headed or arrogant, I'll stick my head on the line and state that i think that we are the best team i have seen in this division this season by some distance. At the minute we are playing fast, incisive pressing football, we look very fluid, and our movement is great and now it has all clicked in to gear we are too difficult for a lot of teams to deal with, although i still have a question mark about our defence.

I don't think Scunthorpe will last the pace, as their squad looks thin, the first XI looks solid at the minute but as the season draws on, i think that injuries and suspensions will catch up with them, and i can see them either losing their manager at some point, or losing a couple of players in the Janurary Transfer Window, although i think they will reach the play offs and be a tough proposition for whoever plays them.

I would imagine that second place will eventually come down to a straight battle between Bradford and Bolton. Bolton have bottomed out after a few years of crisis, and look a good bet to go straight back up, and Bradford seem to me have become progressively stronger with each passing year. Can't really seperate them at the minute, and i fancy Millwall who have been slowly improving and creeping up the table to begin to make a push on the higher echelons of the table.

I also think that Peterborough United and Bristol Rovers to be there or thereabouts when it comes to the play offs, and i don't really think anyone else has caught my eye this season, and this season the Division apart from the few teams I've mentioned looks particularly strong, and is very much a much of a muchness.

Good luck for the rest of the season, I'd probably prefer Bradford to come up with us. A decent set of fans who have stayed loyal and been through more than most over the last few years, and it is a cracking local away day
 
City Neil said:
You are not just totally reliant on Sharpe for the goals (albeit he makes a big difference) so if he were to get injured it's not going to be the end of the world.
Click to expand...

Agree with that. If Sharp gets injured then Clarke will replace him. Wilder will have had this in mind when signing him. Firstly he's someone who will ideally partner Sharp. Secondly he's someone who can play the same role and replace him. Additionally, the same strike partners can be paired with either of them. Wilder has everything covered.
With a bit of luck we'll also be adding another quality striker in January.
 
I think it's 2 from 3, I reckon Scunny will fall away but I think Bradford will be the ones to settle for the play-offs. Happy to see them go up that way, will always have a soft spot for Stuey if only for that foot in which led to Kabba's equaliser in the famous 3-1 derby :)
 
There's obviously still a long way to go. Barnsley made the top six after being bottom at this point.

Generally, I just don't see our performances slipping that much under Wilder. So while we may not be on top form all the time, I still think we'll be too good for most teams.

I don't buy into Scunny falling away, they've done it before (got promoted from this league) so there's no reason they can't again and they're flying at the moment. It looks like it will be between ourselves, Bradford, Bolton and Scunny at the moment.

I think it also may depend on what happens in the January transfer window. If we lose EEL for any reason, that could have an effect and then we'll see just how ambitious our board are. I also think Clarke could become very important as the season goes on.
 
coaxingstar71 said:
There's obviously still a long way to go. Barnsley made the top six after being bottom at this point.

Generally, I just don't see our performances slipping that much under Wilder. So while we may not be on top form all the time, I still think we'll be too good for most teams.

I don't buy into Scunny falling away, they've done it before (got promoted from this league) so there's no reason they can't again and they're flying at the moment. It looks like it will be between ourselves, Bradford, Bolton and Scunny at the moment.

I think it also may depend on what happens in the January transfer window. If we lose EEL for any reason, that could have an effect and then we'll see just how ambitious our board are. I also think Clarke could become very important as the season goes on.
Click to expand...

I just think that Scunny are very reliant on Morris at the moment and he's not likely to carry this form on over the season. Fleetwood fans were also very critical of Alexander and his tactics in his time there, they said he didn't have a plan B when things were going against them. Will be interesting to see if they do pick up injuries or have a dip in form.
 
Just a passing thought, a bit abstract really, but with the position of centre-half being under discussion, what with EEL's situation being unclear, has anyone considered the re-positioning of Clarke from forward to central defence? I mention this as it's not the first time this type of imaginative move has been made. Dion Dublin began his career at CH but was transformed into a forward. I believe it was at Man Utd that Alex Ferguson turned him into a CH for a short while, and his performances in defence were decent. Just a thought where Clarke is concerned, and knowing Wilder he'll have someone in mind if EEL has to return to Wolves.
 
Think your all selling Scunthorpe short, they have a biggish squad and a chairman ( swann) who's throwing
his money about. I don't think they will fall away, but we will pip them as we have the better squad.
 
itsinyerblood said:
Just a passing thought, a bit abstract really, but with the position of centre-half being under discussion, what with EEL's situation being unclear, has anyone considered the re-positioning of Clarke from forward to central defence? I mention this as it's not the first time this type of imaginative move has been made. Dion Dublin began his career at CH but was transformed into a forward. I believe it was at Man Utd that Alex Ferguson turned him into a CH for a short while, and his performances in defence were decent. Just a thought where Clarke is concerned, and knowing Wilder he'll have someone in mind if EEL has to return to Wolves.
Click to expand...

That's a wee bit mental... not sure Wilder's solution to EEL potentially leaving is going to be that out there.
 
Agree that we are comfortably the best team I've seen in league 1 this season.
We've consistently had a look of auto promotion about us in the last 10 matches.
Wilder has recent experience of going in long unbeaten runs and comfortably winning a league. He knows not to be complacent and keeps the players focussed.

My honest view.
1st: Sheff Utd. Hate to put the mockers on it but using logic and trying to be neutral all the evidence suggests it will be us.

2nd Toss up between Scunny and Bradford.
If I was forced to predict I'd say 2nd Scunthorpe 3rd Bradford City

Most Blades I know prefer Bradford. We still have a lot of affection for McCall.
Always better to have local derbies and Bradford fans have proven they are a loyal lot who have a sizeable hardcore support, better for the game to have clubs like Bradford in the Championship instead of Scunny.

I think Bradford will always prove difficult to beat but it's how they deal with teams that park the bus.
Its all about attacking options that turn 1-1 draws to 2-1 wins. If McCall sorts out the goal scoring then Bradford will finish 2nd.

Scunthorpe are the dark horse.
I keep saying surely they will fall away but they keep proving me wrong.
I think the key to Scunthorpe is how they handle injuries. Is their squad deep enough? Probably not
And how they deal with a few defeats (bad form). They have 3 really tough matches over Xmas which could easily see them struggle but will they bounce back when playing easier fixtures?
Also Josh Morris is in top form but surely it can't last or he might even be sold in the JTW.

Playoff teams
Millwall, Peterborough and Bristol Rovers

Bolton
On paper they probably have the best players but Parkinson is struggling to find the right formula.
Although they've won matches many of their performances haven't been convincing.
Looking at forums of other clubs after they've played Bolton there's been a common them of "Bolton looked very ordinary" "Can't believe they are near the top" and "they were lucky.. 1 shot on target 1 goal" "our goalie hardly had anything to do" etc etc


Based on their performances I don't think they'll make the playoffs and just miss out.
 
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I dont write scunny off , but as has been noted before weve played all the other protagonists in the race away
Scunny have yet to face any of them away
Bradford got 4 last week but had the help of a red card in other games they arent really scoring enough which might hold them back
its not coming quite as easy in front of goal for them
I doubt Bolton have the epth of quality to sustain a top 2 place , they looked decidedly second best at Peterborough who I think will overtake them and be more of a threat
Scunny have good goal scorers in madden and van veen so will be up there, complimented by Morris whos sale could come back to bite bradford in the arse
 



I am convinced that whatever Wilder wants from the board in January he will get, they want to get out of this division as much as us and, more importantly they,like us trust him.
 
Clarke centre half we would have to be really short to do that.
Centre backs need to be strong in the
air and that's not Clarke strong point anyway.
Dion Dublin was very strong in the air so it's not surprising he could play at centre back. Wilder will make sure we have cover so no need to worry about that
 
I really don't understand why people feel that Scunthorpe will fall away.

There is no evidence they will, invested well like us and will be able to build on that in January.
 
Wilder is old fashioned at heart
he plays a left back at left back
and a centre forward at centre forward
if we need a centre back
he WILL play a centre back
 
Let's see where we are after 23 matches.

No because it's the traditional half way point and you've played everyone but because the run of fixtures tobtake us there are against the bottom sides.

Either we will prove to be a team that plays well against the top teams but cannot put away the bottom team or we'll accumulate some significant points over the next 7 games to give us a big advantage going into the new year.
 
sheffielder said:
I really don't understand why people feel that Scunthorpe will fall away.

There is no evidence they will, invested well like us and will be able to build on that in January.
Click to expand...
People are just hoping they will, looking for reasons they might and then saying they definitely will. It gets too close to 'Scunny will fail because they're not a big club' for my liking.
 
Jim Chimmerney said:
I just think that Scunny are very reliant on Morris at the moment and he's not likely to carry this form on over the season. Fleetwood fans were also very critical of Alexander and his tactics in his time there, they said he didn't have a plan B when things were going against them. Will be interesting to see if they do pick up injuries or have a dip in form.
Click to expand...
Plenty of Blades fans said Clough was shit and wouldn't get Burton promoted.
 
blade too long said:
Wilder is old fashioned at heart
he plays a left back at left back
and a centre forward at centre forward
if we need a centre back
he WILL play a centre back
Click to expand...
But he played done at wingback later on on Sunday, also is playing basham at centre half keeping O'Connell out of the side, I am not complaing just highlighting that he, like any other manager does play players out of position
 
1 Sheff Utd
2 Bradford
3 Bolton
4 Peterborough
5 Millwall
6 Scunthorpe

That's my prediction. Would actually prefer to go up with Scunny & Pboro as they're more likely to take up 2 of the bottom 3 in the championship next season than say Bradford & Bolton. Just 1 spot to avoid then ;)
 
Jesus_was_a_Blade said:
What are your thoughts on this lad?
It's clear he's on fire at the minute but was he any good for you or more likely to be a one season wonder like Bradley Dack?
Click to expand...

What happened with Morris was he was signed on a 3 year deal from Blackburn at the start of last season. He scored on the opening day of the season and did fine for 3/4 games then got injured at Fleetwood for what turned out to be a couple of months. Came back too early and had a set back and finally got fit around February. By that time we were flying and Parkinson had a tried and tested system with Reid on the left and your old 'favourite' McMahon as an inverted wide man on the right.

He should have been involved more i thought and was let go to Scunny with 2 years still left on his contract in-between the time Parky moved to Bolton and the appointment of McCall. So someone at the club dropped a right bollock in truth!
We only saw him start 6/7 games but you could tell he had a good left foot but clearly no one expected him to rip the league up like he has.

No sell on as well so you live & learn!
 



City Neil said:
What happened with Morris was he was signed on a 3 year deal from Blackburn at the start of last season. He scored on the opening day of the season and did fine for 3/4 games then got injured at Fleetwood for what turned out to be a couple of months. Came back too early and had a set back and finally got fit around February. By that time we were flying and Parkinson had a tried and tested system with Reid on the left and your old 'favourite' McMahon as an inverted wide man on the right.

He should have been involved more i thought and was let go to Scunny with 2 years still left on his contract in-between the time Parky moved to Bolton and the appointment of McCall. So someone at the club dropped a right bollock in truth!
We only saw him start 6/7 games but you could tell he had a good left foot but clearly no one expected him to rip the league up like he has.

No sell on as well so you live & learn!
Click to expand...
Clubs shouldn't do deals when they're between managers, unless they've got an established DoF, which few do at our level, if any.
 
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