Beagrie’s set-piece recipe for Bradford City to win cup (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Peter Beagrie’s set-piece recipe for Bradford City to win cup
8:30am Thursday 21st February 2013 in Bantams
By Simon Parker, Bradford City Reporter
City reporter Simon Parker and Peter Beagrie get their hands on the Capital One Cup
Peter Beagrie believes City can exploit Swansea’s set-piece weakness to pull off the ultimate Wembley shock.
The Welsh side have conceded more goals from dead-ball situations than any club in the Premier League.
With the aerial power at Phil Parkinson’s disposal, Beagrie reckons underdogs City can play on that in Sunday’s Capital One Cup final.
He has also been impressed with their fitness – which will be crucial on the biggest stage of them all.
The former Valley Parade crowd-pleaser said: “Set-pieces are Swansea’s Achilles heel and Phil’s certainly got the people to exploit that.
“He’s got the two big Macs at centre half, who got the goals in the previous rounds, big James Hanson – and Andrew Davies is no shrinking violet to attacking the ball in the air, especially with the great delivery from Gary Jones.
“But it’s not just the set-pieces. Phil has also got Bradford very organised and playing at a great tempo.
“He’s got them fitter than I’ve seen any Bradford City side. Now it’s all about maintaining that level of performance throughout and stopping quality players getting time on the ball.”
With Parkinson’s contract up in the summer, Beagrie reckons City’s amazing cup success has earned him a new deal – and cash to splash.
He said: “It’s not about what happens in the final. Phil’s a disciplinarian and a good organiser and we’ve seen his changes in the games.
“It was a plum job to take because of the size of the crowds and the budget and I think he’s been great. He deserves a new contract.
“With the money that’s now secured Bradford’s financial existence long term, he should be given a few pennies to build and finish off the job.
“Bradford’s fall from grace has stopped now, stability and a steady climb back up is what we want.”
Beagrie cited Parkinson’s half-time team talk in the second semi-final as the pivotal moment of the run. City were trailing Aston Villa 1-0 and firmly under the cosh.
“They went for safety in numbers and sacrificed possession, allowed Villa nearer the goal and it was only a matter of time before they scored more than one,” he said.
“Phil told them ‘we’ve got to be braver’. They came out and the front two pushed on.
“The first time Bradford turned the Villa defence, they got a corner from it and the rest is history.
“The final is a pressurised situation and I don’t know whether they’ll be able to replicate that energy level.
“It’s been a great run but now they are actually there and it’s a very different scenario.
“I’m obviously massively biased but if you look at it from a neutral point of view, everyone will say Bradford have already won it because of getting to the final. That’s right as well.
“But from a professional point of view, if I’m in that dressing room now you’d want to get a victory – and if you can’t, then at least put on a good show.”
Beagrie was talking on behalf of the Capital One Convoy, the free coaches laid on by the sponsors to take supporters from both clubs to Wembley.
“It’s a great reward for the fans and the atmosphere is going to be a special one, like nobody’s had before,” he said.
“Both sides have a hardcore that have stuck with them through thin and thinner, as it has been of late. This is their day out.
“Capital One couldn’t have asked for a better final. I’ve never seen one create such fervour.”
Comments(20)
RAF_Bantam
says...
9:49am Thu 21 Feb 13
Plastic Bantam
says...
10:05am Thu 21 Feb 13
Old Peculiar wrote:People like you infuriate me... You seem like you'd be happy with just 10,000 season ticket holders going to Wembley!!! What a pleb!! Beagrie was a major part of our success & a fans favourite!! why shouldn't he want a team he's played for to do well and to be excited for them!! word one to describe you.... CLOWN!
As much as I like Beagrie, when did he become the official Mr Bradford City ? All I've seen is Beagrie on tv, Beagrie in the town signing autographs, Beagrie carrying the cup around with the kids. As if we haven't got enough people jumping on the bandwagon...... Where's Big Sticks when you need him ??
Bingban
says...
10:07am Thu 21 Feb 13
Old Peculiar
says...
11:07am Thu 21 Feb 13
Bingban wrote:Bingban - no, I haven't seen the matches live on sky tv - by shear co-incidence, I've been out of the house on the evenings of all the cup matches.........
Old Peca you clearly dont have Sky football because Peter has championed our cause in the televised matches - a speaker who talks largely sense and another national pundit with City roots - For goodness sake dont knock!!
allannicho
says...
11:18am Thu 21 Feb 13
Scunthorpe and gave them a lift up!
Bingban
says...
11:44am Thu 21 Feb 13
Plastic Bantam
says...
12:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Bingban wrote:Ha ha ha ha... get back in your box Old Pec... you have just been put down!!
Old Pec I have a record button on my remote so it lets me go to the match and then watch it all over again, including the comment before and after. Take it from me Peter Beagrie has said enough positive for City to make me listen - if I were you I'd not spout from ignorance
gentlemanbob
says...
12:41pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Some just moan for the sake of it,,,
Just ignor ,,,
Yours
Gentlemanbob
Old Peculiar
says...
1:03pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Plastic Bantam wrote:put down? aye that's right....yawn..... tedious..... boring
Bingban wrote: Old Pec I have a record button on my remote so it lets me go to the match and then watch it all over again, including the comment before and after. Take it from me Peter Beagrie has said enough positive for City to make me listen - if I were you I'd not spout from ignoranceHa ha ha ha... get back in your box Old Pec... you have just been put down!!
My point ; is that there are other contenders, ex players or whatever (such as Ormanroyd, or Yorath), who better represent what City "are". It's not a whinge, or a complaint. I'm sure if it were Scunthorpe or Everton in the final, Beagrie would be singing exactly the same tune, but wearing a different shirt.
Plastic Bantam
says...
1:06pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Old Peculiar wrote:Well where are they then?! I'm sure if they wanted to do it then they could have easily!!
Plastic Bantam wrote:put down? aye that's right....yawn..... tedious..... boring My point ; is that there are other contenders, ex players or whatever (such as Ormanroyd, or Yorath), who better represent what City "are". It's not a whinge, or a complaint. I'm sure if it were Scunthorpe or Everton in the final, Beagrie would be singing exactly the same tune, but wearing a different shirt.Bingban wrote: Old Pec I have a record button on my remote so it lets me go to the match and then watch it all over again, including the comment before and after. Take it from me Peter Beagrie has said enough positive for City to make me listen - if I were you I'd not spout from ignoranceHa ha ha ha... get back in your box Old Pec... you have just been put down!!
Bingban
says...
1:59pm Thu 21 Feb 13
nowt fresh
says...
4:39pm Thu 21 Feb 13
GABRIEL.NORDE
says...
5:15pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Dandy Rathtub
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6:58pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Plastic Bantam
says...
7:05pm Thu 21 Feb 13
Dandy Rathtub wrote:You 2 deserve each other. Can just imagine it not... City win the cup and you & OP are sat sulking as it'll probably mean a sell out at Dagenham!!! and city make £200,000 god for bid!!
I;m with OP on this one, Beagrie has joined the bandwaggon with the 23,000 plastics, all telling us what a great day it will be on Sunday. Guess what plastics, its been a good season - not just one match. will Beagrie and the 23,000 be at VP next Wednesday for Dagenham & redbridge ??? i think we all know the answer to that one, work commitments again eh ??
trevorwilkie
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8:33pm Thu 21 Feb 13
gspot01
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9:46am Fri 22 Feb 13
.
Squeaky bum time for 3 days is too much for any man.
wja1966
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1:05pm Fri 22 Feb 13
He speaks the most sense off any sky commentator and he loves Bradford with a passion.
Top top bloke
rattusrattus
says...
4:50pm Fri 22 Feb 13
trevorwilkie wrote:Well said,Trevor! Too many glass half empty merchants on here! Lets enjoy this as it may never happen again. Beagrie is a City legend in my eyes!
Who give's a t.... who jumps on the bandwagon, all I know is that myself and 30 odd thousend other Bradfordians's will be heading for Wembley,at what we all hope will be a wnning day out, and if not I hope you will all stay at the end of the game to cheer the lad's till they leave the pitch,that is the least they deserve, so stop fnding somethng moan about and get behind the team. Good luck lads.
Old Peculiar says...
9:11am Thu 21 Feb 13