Bradford City v Aston Villa Match Thread

[ciggiesnbeer]

Oh we'll it can only get better.

I said that halftime at the Chelsea game mate. lets not think such things.

[boboonthecorner]

A very poor half of football from us. No panic, no histrionics, just a statement of fact. Now it's time for Lambert to earn his money, because it's the players that need to calm down, not the fans, whether in the ground or on the internet.

As critical as I have been you still have to accept it's been kids playing the majority of the season. The blame sits with the manager I'm afraid, nobody else.

[ozzjim]

We needed half-time after they scored. We're lucky we're still in it.

What an idiotic statement!!

15 in and they were lucky to still be in it. It is a cup tie, and we have had more chances and trail to a lucky goal.

[taylorsworkrate]

Id definitely consider bringing Stevens on for Bennett, who is being tortured by a league 2 winger.

Someone on for Bannan also, who has been his usual all fart and no poo self

[Boz]

When are we going to hit a shot outside the goalkeeper's reach? He never has to move his feet to save our shots.

We need too many chances before we score.

[Ross]

Right AW up top with CB please. Gabby and CNZ wide, Ireland on alongside Delphi. Bannan off, Bennett off please.

Sorry, I thought I just read you want to keep Delph on. Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Sadly we can't take every fecker off. Bannan has been worse. Delph at least tackles and closes down. He is also shit mind.

[NeilH]

If there was any more proof needed that out midfield are not up to it, then today should be it. Our midfield is once more being overran and owned by a team that lost 2-0 to Barnet at the weekend.

[neo_Villan]

Well that was shite. I said pre-match how I had no doubts (which is rare for me) about this game. I probably should've known we would fuck it up then. I still think we will come out better and get a draw at least. But this is poor and I wanted a confidence booster going into the Soton game.

[PaulWinch again]

Very poor after goal went in, Villa sort it out.

[Matt Collins]

The frustrating thing is that we started well and created loads of chances. But we're really starting to fall to pieces defensively. Bennett has been horrific. Bannan pretty ropey. Nzogbia the main threat. Benteke has been poor I think. I wonder if bent might come on?
 We've hit too many long balls to Benteke too.

But it still is 1-0 and my main concern is that we concede one or two more. Clark is being continuously beaten in the air and we look poor at set pieces.

[VillaAlways]

Sky Presenter says So Far So Good. Unbelievable

[Nii Lamptey]

Aaaarghh..... Bennett and Bannan off at HT please! 

[hawkeye]

Jesus
Our midfield offers no defence at all,
our so called playmaker has not completed a pass over 10 yards
The left back position remains a massive problem
Our international centre forward has been shown up by a shelf filler-pathetic

[andyh]

Yes, the calmer ones on here are right, we probably will come good, but bloody hell we have not been very good have we.
But, I said in the pre match thread that we should expect them to throw the kitchen sink at us.
What we don't want is to concede another, because if we have to attack a 2 goal deficit, and they park the bus at Villa Park, ten we could be in deep shit.

We REALLY need to score the next goal.

[hilts_coolerking]

Not the best 45 minutes but considering how awful we were around Christmas not the worst either.  Even if - and it's still a big if - they win the first leg I'd still back us to turn it around at Villa Park.

A longer-term concern is that state of our midfield and defence.  Such a lack of quality might not count against you when playing someone from League 2 but in the Premier League it's a big worry.