Dagenham 4 City 3 (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Just when the T&A come up with a stupid story about the fox and nothing much gets past Davis we let in 4 goals.
This loss would not of been so bad if we had won our last 2 previous games but we could not find the back of the net. Yet again Our poor away record continues. Must improve that. I not being negative but our home game now cannot come soon enough. Did not travel today or listen on the radio. How did Hanson do? He has been poor in last few games. Maybe Connell and Wells anyone? We need captain Marvel Jones back in the side as well.

Also think Hines has been really poor to date. I think he needs to improve or be dropped to the bench.

I feel in my heart that Bradford will turn this around and be the 3 rd team to go thru in the playoffs. I say not to panic and it'll be all good come seasons end. I find it so hard to believe that with this team they will not get promoted. They 'll beat Fleetwood 3 to 2 at Wembley and get promoted........... Early odds at ladbrokes now is probably 5000/1. Any takers!!!!!!!!!!

"HAPPY VALLEY-EXCESS ALL AREAS"

So there you have it Simon (Parker)

Take your choice between these two 'headlines':

"AFTER FIRST HALF HARI KIRI, CITY LOSE OUT TO LATE DAGGERS' COUP DE GRAS!"

OR

" AFTER CITY SHOOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT, DAGGERS DELIVER FATAL STAB IN THE BACK!"


Listening on local radio, this game sounded like City circa 2010/11. 2nd half was 'more like it' but a lot of the City troubles in this game sounded 'self-inflicted.' The 'Daggers' will NOT be one of the teams up for promotion, and have played fairly averagely so far. This is, despite the late wake up/fightback one of the most disappointing performances so far!

Let's hope we are 'wide awake' for thevisit of York!

I only listened to the match but 2fours and 1three gone in our net now Am i looking at City through Rose tinted glasses. I hope not but teams like D and R should be beaten Three bad results now but lets keep the faith and hope Mr Parkinson can get it right

Listenened on Radio Leeds. It would appear City couldnt be bothered in the first half??.....Then all guns blazing in the second half??.
ANOTHER....Very poor result....They are starting to come thick and fast now!!.

my only vision wrote:
I feel in my heart that Bradford will turn this around and be the 3 rd team to go thru in the playoffs. I say not to panic and it'll be all good come seasons end. I find it so hard to believe that with this team they will not get promoted. They 'll beat Fleetwood 3 to 2 at Wembley and get promoted........... Early odds at ladbrokes now is probably 5000/1. Any takers!!!!!!!!!!

OH City Man 3 teams go up Then next 4 play off so i hope you are right one way or the other Keep Faith

It's no coincidence that the 1 point from 3 matches has coincided with Gary Jones' injury.
As he will be out for a few weeks and Ritchie Jones has not played a League match for ages it sounds as if a loanee may join the squad before the York game.

Booooooooooo.

Parkinson needs to sort him self out. we'll get know where fast if he doesn't sort our away form.

As tuesday, I don't care about paint cup run.

I want CITY in league 1.

Am cheesed off!

Very, very poor.

Just when we think there is a sign of a turn in fortune we become useless again.

To score 3 away from home and get nothing is criminal.

"Slip sliding away........"

CTID

Here we go again, great start to the season, then back to mediocrity....

Edinburgh -bantam wrote:
It's no coincidence that the 1 point from 3 matches has coincided with Gary Jones' injury.
As he will be out for a few weeks and Ritchie Jones has not played a League match for ages it sounds as if a loanee may join the squad before the York game.

He played last Saturday and we lost!!!

Birky Neil wrote:

Edinburgh -bantam wrote: It's no coincidence that the 1 point from 3 matches has coincided with Gary Jones' injury. As he will be out for a few weeks and Ritchie Jones has not played a League match for ages it sounds as if a loanee may join the squad before the York game.

He played last Saturday and we lost!!!

Yes, but he played with an injury and on painkillers which is why he wasn't as effective as in previous matches

We've taken 5 points from 18 away from home, and in 3 of those games have conceded 3, 4 and 4.

That MUST improve if we want to be around the autos or play offs. We cannot ship poor goals to the extent we do away from home. Teams who go up or are around there do not have away records like ours.

It appears the introduction of Connell transformed City. PP has a real dilemma with the Wells/Connell option and Connell must feel aggrieved at his limited starts, given his obvious class and that's no reflection on Wells, who continues to be our main goal threat. Somehow, PP needs to accomodate Connell as brief glimpses of him suggest he adds something different to the team.

I don't like centre halves playing at full back and, similarly, Stephen Darby has done nothing wrong when given his limited opportunities and perhaps now is the time to give him an extended run in the side.

PP's obsession with Atkinson has to stop. He was signed as a winger, which he clearly isn't. Hines has failed to impress and Thompson, signed as a winger, considers himself to be a striker. That means we have three right wingers on the books, none of which appear capable of solving the problem position. With Reid missing for the next six weeks, that means precious little service will come from the flanks, unless PP can unearth a good loan signing.

I know onebrian won't agree with me, but Jack Compton would have come in handy Sorry for mentioning it brian!

I agree, from what I have seen to date Connell is a starter and maybe even 1 of first names on team sheet. He is our most intelligent forward and also he brings out the best in Hanson. They work very well together and Connell reads Hansons flicks far better then Wells.

With regards to Wells, for me a great impact player. Said it before, if his first or second touch isn't a shot then I ain't convinced by him as this wondekid.

Listened to the game and we were absolutley woeful 1st half! So dissapointed. I get that it's going to be hard without Reid and Jones and we aren't perhaps going to be the same dominant attacking force as we have been for the majority of the season but I was so confident that we would still be absolutley solid defensivley and hard to beat. That confidence was blown out of the water today and I was quite shellshocked to be honest. 3 conceded at Gillingham I could accept - it was first day, they are an excellent team, 2 of the goals were quite fortunate, the other a counter attack but we played quite well. 4 conceded at Rotherham - again I could accept - just an off day, a blip. But today has just made me for the first start to feel a little worried. We were penned in, pressed and harrassed by Daggers and we didnt cope. That's not a good sign for a squad with aspirations of promotion. Fortunatley I'm still hugely confident that we will win the large majority of our home games and that will just about keep us in the hunt for the play offs minimum. But this away form is so worrying! 1 win from 6 away games is simply not good enough and we need to find a way of rectifying it or it may just cost us at the end of the season. Hanson I'm sure puts in excellent performances in most away games so I'm not knocking him but the fact is he doesn't score goals away from home in the league. October 2011 - a whole year ago! is the last time he managed to score away from home. If we are going to win games away from home then we MUST have a striker in the side who will put the ball in the net. I think Connell may be the man for that job. I know people will say that Hanson also does a good job defensivley with his height in the box and I agree with that but we will just have to take the risk that his absence may cost us in that respect and trust our defenders to do that job - it is after all their job!

fatbloke wrote:
I agree, from what I have seen to date Connell is a starter and maybe even 1 of first names on team sheet. He is our most intelligent forward and also he brings out the best in Hanson. They work very well together and Connell reads Hansons flicks far better then Wells.

With regards to Wells, for me a great impact player. Said it before, if his first or second touch isn't a shot then I ain't convinced by him as this wondekid.

You are advocating Connell starting and I have no problem with that yet you want him starting with Hanson instead of Wells? I assume this is the same Hanson who has failed to score in an away league game for OVER A YEAR and the same Wells who happened to score 2 away league goals AS RECENTLY AS TODAY. Unbelievable.

How anybody can "read" Hanson's flicks when even Hanson hasn't a clue where the ball is going after it bounces off his head must make Connell a helluva player!

Connell and wells for me!

From I have seen Mick the best partnership is Hanson & Connell. If I saw Connell & Wells play together my opinion may differ.

However I haven't and not sure we will.

Forget the cups and concentrate on the league. Play the reserves for me in the cups. It's a difficult one in terms of the combination up front as the strikers all bring something different to the table. Wells has pace, Hanson physical, height and heading ability and Connell intelligence in his play. I would try and accommodate all three if possible but that would mean a diamond with Connell behind W and H.

Talking of dropping Wells who has been out with an injury but has racked up 7 goals.
To me our away form problem as mentioned by Rambo is at the other end of the pitch.
We should not be losing games like today if we want to build a promotion challenge. Thankfull with 2 home games on the horizion we have a change to bounce back where our home form has been impressive, even in defeat.

Only City, could go two games and produce 40 attemtps at goal and win both comfortably, yet fail to score! Go away from home nd score three!! yet lose.
I agree with other posters, still think we will have a good season, its a tough league with a long way to go.

Thee Voice of Reason wrote:
Talking of dropping Wells who has been out with an injury but has racked up 7 goals.
To me our away form problem as mentioned by Rambo is at the other end of the pitch.
We should not be losing games like today if we want to build a promotion challenge. Thankfull with 2 home games on the horizion we have a change to bounce back where our home form has been impressive, even in defeat.

Totally agree. Its one thing to lose and draw to Port Vale and Rochdale the way we did but todays effort disregards those performances;.

Our defence can normally be solid - but when it goes AWOL it can be shambolic - e.g today and Rotherham.

With all due respect to D&R, we should not be conceding 4 goals like we did against them. Scoring goals isn't a problem - yeah we drew blanks aginst PV and RFC but you aren't going to score in every game. If it was 6 games without a goal I'd be concerned.

But my concern is now it puts pressure on the 2 successive home games.

Mick, Cleckheaton wrote:

fatbloke wrote:
I agree, from what I have seen to date Connell is a starter and maybe even 1 of first names on team sheet. He is our most intelligent forward and also he brings out the best in Hanson. They work very well together and Connell reads Hansons flicks far better then Wells.

With regards to Wells, for me a great impact player. Said it before, if his first or second touch isn't a shot then I ain't convinced by him as this wondekid.

You are advocating Connell starting and I have no problem with that yet you want him starting with Hanson instead of Wells? I assume this is the same Hanson who has failed to score in an away league game for OVER A YEAR and the same Wells who happened to score 2 away league goals AS RECENTLY AS TODAY. Unbelievable.

How anybody can "read" Hanson's flicks when even Hanson hasn't a clue where the ball is going after it bounces off his head must make Connell a helluva player!

Fatbloke its obvious you do not like Wells, why will you bench a guy that comes on AWAY from home 2-0 down and SCORES 2 AWAY GOALS to force overtime. And Bradford wins.
Then today scores 2 AWAY GOALS again, why will you bench him for HEIGHT ONLY HANSON, HE IS 6 FT TALL AND THATS ALL ( YOU DUMB A$$).... I told you all before you dont appreciate him LEEDS WILL, **** WELLS WHY THE HELL DID YOU SIGN LONG TERM, These fans don't appreciate you BERMUDA BRO....... DANDY TOWN!!!!!!!!!!!1 LOL

Poor result, we should really be beating teams like this.

You get the impression that we just thought we had to turn up to get the 3 points, as we've got a far superior team to theirs on paper.

League 2 doesn't particularly respect reputations though, and if you are not prepared to work as hard as your opponents, or you are not on your game, then you are going to get turned over, simple as that.

There are pivotal games in any season, and I think York is a massive game; if we don't win, then the early season optimism is in danger of fading, and turning into yet another one of underachievement.

Still early days yet though, but with the squad we've got, we should at least be top 7, and not losing to the likes of Dagenham.

Looked at the goals again, the defending was abysmal but you'd expect the keeper to do far better with a couple of them. For me that position needs improving, now and again the keeper needs to keep the team in the game, today Dagenham seemed to have four shots on goal all game and all ended in the net. If Oscar Jannson had been in goals today for us.... BCFC get at least a point.

Where did the defence go? What about midfield all heading forward and were by passed too easily today. We have the attacking power so do we need 4 forward thinking midfield players. Surely in away games one defending midfield should be deployed a la BUllock.

Where did the defence go? What about midfield all heading forward and were by passed too easily today. We have the attacking power so do we need 4 forward thinking midfield players. Surely in away games one defending midfield should be deployed a la BUllock.

Why not try this up front ???

Hanson Wells

Connell

I think that would get the goals we need away from home

Why not try this set up, away from home,to get some goals up front

Hanson Wells
Connell

I forgot to mention that connell could sit in the pocket behind Hanson and Wells

A lot of comments on here state... "I listened to the match on radio"...well I was there and I can assure everyone that the 1st half performance was as poor as anything under any manager since we were relegated to league 2.
We look like a Sunday morning pub team in that god **** awful away kit and in that 1st half we played like one.

spleen ventor wrote:
A lot of comments on here state... "I listened to the match on radio"...well I was there and I can assure everyone that the 1st half performance was as poor as anything under any manager since we were relegated to league 2.
We look like a Sunday morning pub team in that god **** awful away kit and in that 1st half we played like one.

I agree. I was there but as John Still admitted Daggers BEST EVER PERFORMANCE!

RR very poor 1st half as was Doyle - tbh second half goals from City had a bit of fortune. Cornell is class and Thompson should start ahead of a poor Atkinson.

atkinson poor yet again why does pp persist on playing him.

bigang02 wrote:
atkinson poor yet again why does pp persist on playing him.

I fear Atkinson will feature in every game unless his chuffing leg is hanging off.My feeling is this is Parky being stubborn in light of the negative reaction to Atkinson being signed personally cant think of any other reason.
Watched the goals again and defence was woeful McCardle espescially to blame for first IMO out of position which pulled Davies out of position to try and cover him and same scenario with Meredith for i think it was the second.
Jonny Mac is best we have in goal but we could really do with a top drawer keeper and said this all summer

While there is much emphasis on the possible striking combinations, the balance of the mid-field is a more pressing concern and as two or three posters have observed, the issue of a more consistent keeper is one that keeps recurring.
The squad is much improved from last year, but there are areas of the park where there is room for much improvement in the wide areas and in the links between mid-field and defence and mid-field and attack. Whatever the injury situation, it's difficult to justify letting in four goals to the likes of the Daggers. The away form is still begging questions. It seems strange to put all those miles on the clock to play for only 45 minutes. It is good to see so many points on the board compared with the past few seasons, but this is still a work in progress. The keeper position is the most vital if we're not to sacrifice a promising start.

Pablo wrote:
It appears the introduction of Connell transformed City. PP has a real dilemma with the Wells/Connell option and Connell must feel aggrieved at his limited starts, given his obvious class and that's no reflection on Wells, who continues to be our main goal threat. Somehow, PP needs to accomodate Connell as brief glimpses of him suggest he adds something different to the team.

I don't like centre halves playing at full back and, similarly, Stephen Darby has done nothing wrong when given his limited opportunities and perhaps now is the time to give him an extended run in the side.

PP's obsession with Atkinson has to stop. He was signed as a winger, which he clearly isn't. Hines has failed to impress and Thompson, signed as a winger, considers himself to be a striker. That means we have three right wingers on the books, none of which appear capable of solving the problem position. With Reid missing for the next six weeks, that means precious little service will come from the flanks, unless PP can unearth a good loan signing.

I know onebrian won't agree with me, but Jack Compton would have come in handy Sorry for mentioning it brian!

You're entitled to your opinion Pablo.

Worrying away form is continuing. Many posters focusing on The away form this year but PP away record for his entire tenure is (after a quick calculation)

W 5 D 6 L 18

A very poor return. He just cannot get it right away from home. This is baffling when his home record is so impressive. How can that not be translated into a better away record?

May not be popular for saying this but Davies does seem to get dragged out of position quite often. Time he used his gob to get his teammates to do their own jobs instead of killing himself trying to cover for them.


Need to ensure we pick up maximum points in the next two home games.

I believe there are four players that are not in Parkinsons plans, R Jones, Overson, Williams and Hannah, of these i think a deal could be done with cash involved for Hannah. For me you could add one of the keepers to the list, BCFC are lacking a quality goal keeper, get that position sorted and the club can build on the sound foundations laid this start of season, delay and a top three finnishing position could be squandered. This glaring weakness needs sorting NOW. Oscar Jannson would be a promotion winning signing IMO.

It's only a quarter way through the season win the next home game that will see us with 20 points best tally for a number of years at this stage. If we replicate that for each quarter we will be in the automatic promotion places come the end of the season. I don't agree that it is all Hanson's fault why we get beat but more to do with the way we deliver the ball to the forwards. Poor crosses and wasted play.

How can you blame a striker for loosing away 4-3??????
If we picked the correct side in the 1st place and attack from the off the other side would be under the cosh and not us!!!!!!!
We should also play with recognized full backs when fit (like Darby).

With the experienced Davis at the back he should be our voice telling players what to do etc.

In Parkie we trust though!!!!!!!!!

Fact is teams will know we are pants away from home and they do not fear playing us. That's why the home team takes us by the scruff on the neck and cause us problems no matter how poor they normally are. They see us as an opportunity to get some points and teams must be rubbing their hands when they know they are playing us. Come on parky sort this out. Drop Hanson away from home as someone said he has not scored for a year away.

bcfc1903 wrote:
I believe there are four players that are not in Parkinsons plans, R Jones, Overson, Williams and Hannah, of these i think a deal could be done with cash involved for Hannah. For me you could add one of the keepers to the list, BCFC are lacking a quality goal keeper, get that position sorted and the club can build on the sound foundations laid this start of season, delay and a top three finnishing position could be squandered. This glaring weakness needs sorting NOW. Oscar Jannson would be a promotion winning signing IMO.

Ross Hannah wasn't able to get in to a struggling league 2 team last season, this season he is totally out of the running and been loaned back to non league (presumably no league 2 club came in for him), he has only ever scored goals in low level semi professional football and has half a season left on his contract.... how do you come to the conclusion he is worth money?

I agree we are lacking a quality keeper but fear Parkys hands may be tied on that one with already having 2 on the books, I believe Duke will be on decent money. Can a league 2 team really afford 3 keepers? Not sure where PP stands re his keepers but it seems a position of slight weakness to me, don't get any confidence out of Duke, and not sure Mac quite has the quality or consistency to get us through a season, but I'd stick with him for now.

That won't happen. A forward is not always measured by his goals to game ratio but also what he brings to the team. Hanson still takes the brunt of the opposing defences challenges, he makes it hard for the ops to win clean headers, it is up to the midfield to pick these pieces up.


Having said that I think James is struggling at the minute and I'm struggling to figure out why. I've counted 8 headers in the box in the pv and rochdale games and all were weak. There was also the chance on his left foot in the PV game, just outsider the 6 yard box. Is it confidnece? Is he carrying an injury and not saying? Whatever the reason, we need to get more players near him ready to pick up the second ball. Even when he is having an off day he still wins 70+% of his headers, one of his main jobs.

Ok I never post on this site but as I went yesterday I'll have a little say!

The first half was one of the most disorganised shambles I've ever seen since getting relegated to league 2 and the reason was simple, we just thought we had to turn up to beat little old Dagenham!

The work ethic was poor and thats half the reason for the poor away form, you have to work hard for results in this league and the whole team didn't in the first half and the worst culprit who seems to have escaped any attention on here was Hines, he never tracked back once to help his full back and neither did Atkinson for that matter hence Davies getting dragged across, he lost possession, he didnt get one cross in and he never got past his man.

We have no outlet without Reid and rely on dead balls and set pieces which we do seem to have improved on. Ravenhill was inaffective and was chasing shadows and offered little all game.

People on here are maoning about Jonny Mac, he did nothing wrong all game, he had no chance with any of the goals and had nothing else to do all game! Maybe we should look at Hansons defending/position for the 3rd goal!!

I would drop hanson away from home, he's used for flick on's and nothing more, he offered no goal threat yesterday and when he got a sniff he fluffed his lines.

We must work harder away from home if we want to get out of this league and stop going to these grounds with the big I am attitude.

By the way £22 in there yesterday and £15 for Kids, daylight robery!

Saturday, I would pair Connell and Wells and start Thompson for Hines!

northyorksbantam wrote:

bcfc1903 wrote:
I believe there are four players that are not in Parkinsons plans, R Jones, Overson, Williams and Hannah, of these i think a deal could be done with cash involved for Hannah. For me you could add one of the keepers to the list, BCFC are lacking a quality goal keeper, get that position sorted and the club can build on the sound foundations laid this start of season, delay and a top three finnishing position could be squandered. This glaring weakness needs sorting NOW. Oscar Jannson would be a promotion winning signing IMO.

Ross Hannah wasn't able to get in to a struggling league 2 team last season, this season he is totally out of the running and been loaned back to non league (presumably no league 2 club came in for him), he has only ever scored goals in low level semi professional football and has half a season left on his contract.... how do you come to the conclusion he is worth money?

I agree we are lacking a quality keeper but fear Parkys hands may be tied on that one with already having 2 on the books, I believe Duke will be on decent money. Can a league 2 team really afford 3 keepers? Not sure where PP stands re his keepers but it seems a position of slight weakness to me, don't get any confidence out of Duke, and not sure Mac quite has the quality or consistency to get us through a season, but I'd stick with him for now.

Regarding Hannah, i guess it depends how well he does for Grimsby, if he carries on scoring for them i believe a deal could be done involving some cash even with him having only half a season of contract left at BCFC. this of course depends whether Grimsby can afford to sign him. I'm sure other clubs in that league will be monitering the situation. I fancy Duke will play at Hartlepool and if he comes through that game well he'll be playing against York next Saturday, i fancy Parkinson will not have been impressed and has made it pretty clear that if either keeper fails to keep consistantly, then a change will be made. Having looked at the goals which were poor from all aspects of defending including a couple which JM could have done better with. I've no real preference, i think both keeper are of similar ability. Just looking for more consistency.

Period Drama wrote:
That won't happen. A forward is not always measured by his goals to game ratio but also what he brings to the team. Hanson still takes the brunt of the opposing defences challenges, he makes it hard for the ops to win clean headers, it is up to the midfield to pick these pieces up. Having said that I think James is struggling at the minute and I'm struggling to figure out why. I've counted 8 headers in the box in the pv and rochdale games and all were weak. There was also the chance on his left foot in the PV game, just outsider the 6 yard box. Is it confidnece? Is he carrying an injury and not saying? Whatever the reason, we need to get more players near him ready to pick up the second ball. Even when he is having an off day he still wins 70+% of his headers, one of his main jobs.

no doubt JH started the season good. he was directing his headers well and scoring goal. however, even in the games he played well, he still missed a lot of good chances to score.

Scoular's left boot wrote:
Here we go again, great start to the season, then back to mediocrity....

I bet you'd love your team to be mediocre in league 2 instead of mediocre in non-league? Never mind, you're one step closer to the f.a. cup final, lol.

all strikers miss chances at least Jimmy is getting on the end of them!!!!!
By the way its the oppositions job to stop us from scoring!!!!!!!!!!!

BTW Parkinson selects the team not us!!

yorkbantam73 wrote:
Ok I never post on this site but as I went yesterday I'll have a little say!

The first half was one of the most disorganised shambles I've ever seen since getting relegated to league 2 and the reason was simple, we just thought we had to turn up to beat little old Dagenham!

The work ethic was poor and thats half the reason for the poor away form, you have to work hard for results in this league and the whole team didn't in the first half and the worst culprit who seems to have escaped any attention on here was Hines, he never tracked back once to help his full back and neither did Atkinson for that matter hence Davies getting dragged across, he lost possession, he didnt get one cross in and he never got past his man.

We have no outlet without Reid and rely on dead balls and set pieces which we do seem to have improved on. Ravenhill was inaffective and was chasing shadows and offered little all game.

People on here are maoning about Jonny Mac, he did nothing wrong all game, he had no chance with any of the goals and had nothing else to do all game! Maybe we should look at Hansons defending/position for the 3rd goal!!

I would drop hanson away from home, he's used for flick on's and nothing more, he offered no goal threat yesterday and when he got a sniff he fluffed his lines.

We must work harder away from home if we want to get out of this league and stop going to these grounds with the big I am attitude.

By the way £22 in there yesterday and £15 for Kids, daylight robery!

Saturday, I would pair Connell and Wells and start Thompson for Hines!

Spot on there fella. Think Hines can be poor and does not track back much. Don't think much on Atkinson either. Maybe try wells and Connell as hansons weak headers towards goal need looking at!

Funny how footy can change in a week.

According to 51 posts above the following is true.

Keepers. Rubbish.

McArdle. Poor.

Davies. Being pulled out of position. Poor game.

Atkinson. Rubbish.

Hines. Poor.

Ravenhill. Poor mans G Jones.

Hanson. Weak neck. Rubbish.

So, our good players are Oli, Meridith, Doyle and Wells.

Still, 4 out of 11 ain't too bad!!

Home form will determine our fate this season.
So far it has been superb and even in defeat again Vale we were comfortably the better team.
Back to back home games could put us back up there after all the season is 46 games long not 10 so no need to panic.
Its sad to see the boo boys coming out in force, we win as a team and lose as a team, why some think that certain players deserve unjustified abuse is out of order.

Period Drama wrote:
That won't happen. A forward is not always measured by his goals to game ratio but also what he brings to the team. Hanson still takes the brunt of the opposing defences challenges, he makes it hard for the ops to win clean headers, it is up to the midfield to pick these pieces up. Having said that I think James is struggling at the minute and I'm struggling to figure out why. I've counted 8 headers in the box in the pv and rochdale games and all were weak. There was also the chance on his left foot in the PV game, just outsider the 6 yard box. Is it confidnece? Is he carrying an injury and not saying? Whatever the reason, we need to get more players near him ready to pick up the second ball. Even when he is having an off day he still wins 70+% of his headers, one of his main jobs.

Its because the crosses are inconsistent and basically can be high and low. The headers you refer to were from lofty crosses and he did his best to generate his own power and actuall y at least forced saves. Hanson is a good player and needs beteer more consistent service and also we would fare better from his headers with an oncoming central midfield which we don't operate with.

For all those praising Atkinson all of a sudden how many crosses as he actually provided? Same with HInes?

This is not a witch hunt but both are merely okay squad players imo. Atkinso as fared better this year but is to slow to play out wide and rarely crosses the ball prefering to cut inside most of the time. Hines is to weak and easily knocked about.....

I suggest you look elsewhere cos as you initially say he does a lot of work aside from goals. Goals are needed from elsewhere other than the forwards and Davies aside this isn't happening and indeed the threat is barely there.

Those above clamouring for Hannah are basing this on what exactly? Scoring goals at a lower league level? He seems a likeable lad but didn't show much on albeit very limited opportunities. He maybe good given the chance but you can't say put him in the side with little evidence.

Its the service you need to look at. Hanson and Wells are doing fine thus far imo and would do even better with someone who wants to cross the ball, can beat his player or create space for the cross and THEN actually be able to cross it. Our set-up is totally relaint on service from out wide. When this is stopped our isn't coming then we will struggle to create anything other than from set-pieces........

dannbradfc wrote:
Those above clamouring for Hannah are basing this on what exactly? Scoring goals at a lower league level? He seems a likeable lad but didn't show much on albeit very limited opportunities. He maybe good given the chance but you can't say put him in the side with little evidence.

Its the service you need to look at. Hanson and Wells are doing fine thus far imo and would do even better with someone who wants to cross the ball, can beat his player or create space for the cross and THEN actually be able to cross it. Our set-up is totally relaint on service from out wide. When this is stopped our isn't coming then we will struggle to create anything other than from set-pieces........

Dann I respect your views but how can you say we don't create chances if we have over forty chances in two games. We then score three away from home. Some of the chances Hanson has missed are criminal especially the one on his supposed stronger foot against port vale. He has also missed headers from six yards in other matches where we have won so it has gone un noticed. As for his defensive work he just stood still for the third goal on Saturday, that was really poor. I'm not saying he is rubbish but he has lost form and may benefit by being dropped. No player at any club is above it especially at out level. I'm sure James will still have a pivotal part to play for city this season but a kick up the arse won't hurt

Dann, I think it is well publicised I am a Hanson fan but the last few games he has been struggling. It isn't just due to the delivery as I originally thought, there is something wrong in his whole body shape, positional play and aggressive intent. I do though agree the delivery into the box needs to improve, maybe he is just fed up of getting into position and nothing arriving for him to attack. I also agree we need to get more bodies around him to capitalise on his knock downs and lay offs.

You cannot expect any consistency with third rate players playing in what is the fourth division what you can do is enjoy the game.

Period Drama wrote:
May not be popular for saying this but Davies does seem to get dragged out of position quite often. Time he used his gob to get his teammates to do their own jobs instead of killing himself trying to cover for them.


Need to ensure we pick up maximum points in the next two home games.

I disagree PD, Davies' commitment and willingness to take responsibilty, especially when you consider what he's got playing behind him is a massive plus point. The only trouble with Davies is that he's doing the work of two men on account of Luke Oliver being a complete and utter waste of space. We've got a 6' 7" inch giant with no pace or skill that can't head a football coasting through games playing behind a much smaller all action super hero that's trying his damnedest to save Luke from being exposed. Given their respective physical attributes and footballing skills surely it should be the other way round?

Davies is here there and everywhere and wins 40/60, 30/70 challenges in the air, he's also a talented player you trust on the ball in tight situations when it's on the deck. Oliver on the other hand struggles to win 50/50's against much smaller opposition, he's slow off the mark and can't deal with runners and he needs a day and half to deal with an awkward bouncing ball. Which isn't ideal for a player that's looked upon as your last line of defence.

Nice bloke and all that but herein lies the problem, he's simply not got the right mentality to be an out and out ball winning centre-half and he lacks the pace and talent to drop off and play sweeper on the very rare occasions Davies isn't there to save him.

Being 6' 7" I can see why Parkinson or any other manager would consider him a threat at set pieces at both ends of the pitch but the truth is he rarely if ever threatens so as far as I'm concerned his value to the team is practically zero.

Check out Oliver turning his back on the halfway line in the lead upto Daggers fourth goal. It's par for the course and highlights Luke's reluctance to 'get stuck in'.

Get McArdle in at centre-half and bring Darby in at fullback before it's too late. I'm sure Davo would appreciate the rest if nothing else.

macca1969 wrote:

dannbradfc wrote: Those above clamouring for Hannah are basing this on what exactly? Scoring goals at a lower league level? He seems a likeable lad but didn't show much on albeit very limited opportunities. He maybe good given the chance but you can't say put him in the side with little evidence. Its the service you need to look at. Hanson and Wells are doing fine thus far imo and would do even better with someone who wants to cross the ball, can beat his player or create space for the cross and THEN actually be able to cross it. Our set-up is totally relaint on service from out wide. When this is stopped our isn't coming then we will struggle to create anything other than from set-pieces........

Dann I respect your views but how can you say we don't create chances if we have over forty chances in two games. We then score three away from home. Some of the chances Hanson has missed are criminal especially the one on his supposed stronger foot against port vale. He has also missed headers from six yards in other matches where we have won so it has gone un noticed. As for his defensive work he just stood still for the third goal on Saturday, that was really poor. I'm not saying he is rubbish but he has lost form and may benefit by being dropped. No player at any club is above it especially at out level. I'm sure James will still have a pivotal part to play for city this season but a kick up the arse won't hurt

I knew the stats and yet still posted my view. This is because some of those stats are misleading and don't represent the quality of chances.

Yes James could and should have had more goals, how many though is difficult to say. The port vale chance he should have done better but it was at him quick and thus many stirkers would have had the same result.

Connell has done well as a sub but when he's started hasn't offered as much as some may think. Indeed he has missed two glaring one on one with the keeper which were as good a chance as you can expect and is the sign of any decent striker. I would have backed Nakhi on both occasions......

James has a role to play and like all players sometimes falls short but in the main despite having more scrutiny than his partners he is a pivotal player in what we do. The seervice i've tallked about already and its often simply not been good enough. If they counted as chances then fair enough.....