Bradford A: Sponsored by Windass' incoherance

[Ian Royal]

Ooh Monday 16th

At least that may get over our Tuesday issues

Are you sure? I am trying to book flights

S'what it says on BBC

I'm going to have some fast talking to do at work on Monday then.

[PieEater]

it was a predictably shit game, low on quality with two teams up for it.

I think a draw was a pretty good result for us given the circumstances. Bradford's tactics seemed to be scam a free kick and win something from that, Some shameless gamesmanship in particular from Stead and Morais.

We pdid ok considering the hiding to nothing we were up against - the total media bias hoping for a Bradford win.

I just worry that our home form is exponentially worse than our away form and we'll lose timidly in the replay.

[From Despair To Where?]

Fair result, we shaded the first half, Bradford the second. Bjt too much hoof ball but understandable condidering the playing surface.

Defence looked pretty solid, Pog worked hard feeding on scraps and Mackie gave 100% but Chalobah was MOTM for me. Excellent in front of the back 4 and any football being played was through him. Didn't even know Robson-Kanu was on the pitch until he was substituted

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Didn't even know Robson-Kanu was on the pitch until he was substituted

Story of the season tbf

[PieEater]

Scary amount of blood from Pearce, dribbling down his leg.

[Scutterbucketz]

That was fukking awful to watch. The pitch has to take it's small share of the blame, but the negative tactics and our midfield barely getting a foot on anything positive going forwards has to take the most. They were completely bypassed and, if they did get the opportunity to hoof it because our defence missed the opportunity, it was up to the man who has spent the most isolated tenure in a Reading shirt I have ever seen.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

The blind hoofing was painful and would have happened on a decent pitch too I reckon

[arthurfondrelli]

Negatives: lots of hoofball (slightly justified by the pitch and the unwillingness to make a mistake in a big game), not a great deal going forward

Positives: still in the cup, resolute defending, gutsy performance, home leg to come

[Woodcote Royal]

Reading:
Fed, Kelly, Obita, Pearce, Hector, Norwood, Chalobah, Williams, Mackie, HRK, Pog.
Andersen, Gunter, Cooper, Akpan, McCleary, Cox, Yakubu.

Well, we're going to lose. The 4-3-3 with Norwood, Chalobah and Williams midfield has been pretty dire so far iirc.

Well we got through a very tough prospect and Chalobah seems to have put in the best shift of his time here so far. Defence pretty solid, but you know they're always vulnerable to a bit of quality of a stupid mistake.

Second half Mackie, HRK and Pog just not in it, neither was Yak or McCleary... but then hardly unexpected seeing as by the time we'd made our first sub our entire tactic was to just keep punting it straight back to Bradford and hope we'll get a lucky bounce / survive the game. Certainly not the fault of those five, although HRK didn't do a lot first half either.

Norwood shows so many glimpses of quality but just seems to play like a total fukwit half the time. He's the one player who can put his foot on it and play a decent ball, even on that pitch (when not under pressure) and he's the worst offender in midfield for long punts to no one. His set pieces are 85% dire as well.

The game didn't really suit Williams. He's at his best when he can win a ball in midfield and then drive forward. On that pitch it wasn't possible and Bradford just hunted every one of our players down in packs.

All in all, a very tough fixture got out of the way successfully and we should have a better chance of winning at home where more of our players can actually put in their natural game.

Is any further proof required that, after 38,000 tedious contributions to this forum, you still understand the square route of fcuk all about this game

Thank Christ Steve Clarke never listens to you and your fellow Hobnob Tools and set up his team brilliantly to get a result on the Bradford Cabbage Patch, where the likes of Sunderland have previously failed.

Out went show boating Gunter and in came our best right back by a country mile, along with the more workmanlike Mackie in front of him, so we could defend on a pitch that rendered football, as we prefer to see it played, nigh on impossible.

Kelly's cross went into the stand because the ball took a massive bobble just before he made contact but, sadly, that was always going to be lost on a good 20% (am I being generous here ) of our fan base.

All plaudits to the team for us finally having a home match to look forward to. Man of the Match for me would have to be between Chalobah, Kelly and Hector. One highly experienced senior pro and two very impressive youngsters, all 3 of which get far too much stick on these pages.

[genome]

Broken nose for Pearcey according to Mr. Watts, no surprise there. And he still got up and saw the last couple of minutes out.

I have to say, although the football was non-existent, I was impressed with our level of effort and spirit. I've doubted the character and togetherness of the squad recently and I was pleased with it today, and they need to keep that for the replay.

[Ark Royal]

I actually got some morbid pleasure out of watching that. I think we just did what was necessary to get a result and there was no danger of any football breaking out on that surface, where every player's first touch appeared to be their seventh and bobbles were the order of the day. A shocking pitch that made the 70s Baseball Ground look like a carpet.

Really good start and it was essential to match Bradford physically and not let them get up a head of steam. As a result, we shaded the first half and if Pog had got a bit of the outside of his right foot on the shot it would have gone in.

Second half we just went too long every time and only the free kick from Norwood that eventually hit the post was worthy of being called a chance. I think Pog was protecting himself from hitting the post instead of getting on the end of it. If that had been Pearce or Hector, we would have scored. Pearce and Hector were MoMs for me in a game perfectly made for play-the-way-you're-facing centre backs: Martin Hicks would have loved playing in that. I was glad that Clarke put the Yak on as I was afraid that we would just drop and drop and invite a Bradford aerial siege. We looked quite comfortable at the end, despite Pearce's nasty looking injury. Fair play to him for coming back for the final few minutes.

Now we just need to produce that extra bit of quality at home and the Madstad needs to make as much noise as the Bradford crowd did today.

Wembley still awaits.

[Upper West Ginger]

Great atmosphere, rubbish football. Nice to have a match in sunshine, and without needing to wear gloves.

A special message for the retarded individuals who thought it would be entertaining to let off some smoke bombs. I hope you get caught and prosecuted, you inconsiderate bastards. If ever I catch one of you, I'll dob you to the stewards immediately. Just f#ck off with your juvenile antics. What message do you think it sends bringing pyrotechnics into Valley Parade, the site of a tragic stadium fire? You really need to think about your actions.

[Royal Rother]

it was a predictably shit game, low on quality with two teams up for it.

I think a draw was a pretty good result for us given the circumstances. Bradford's tactics seemed to be scam a free kick and win something from that, Some shameless gamesmanship in particular from Stead and Morais.

And Pog.

[bobby1413]

Great atmosphere, rubbish football. Nice to have a match in sunshine, and without needing to wear gloves.

A special message for the retarded individuals who thought it would be entertaining to let off some smoke bombs. I hope you get caught and prosecuted, you inconsiderate bastards. If ever I catch one of you, I'll dob you to the stewards immediately. Just f#ck off with your juvenile antics. What message do you think it sends bringing pyrotechnics into Valley Parade, the site of a tragic stadium fire? You really need to think about your actions.

WTAF are you talking about. How is bringing a smoke bomb in at all relate to the fire there. You even mentioning it is doing the tragic incident a disservice.

[Avon Royal]

Great atmosphere, rubbish football. Nice to have a match in sunshine, and without needing to wear gloves.

A special message for the retarded individuals who thought it would be entertaining to let off some smoke bombs. I hope you get caught and prosecuted, you inconsiderate bastards. If ever I catch one of you, I'll dob you to the stewards immediately. Just f#ck off with your juvenile antics. What message do you think it sends bringing pyrotechnics into Valley Parade, the site of a tragic stadium fire? You really need to think about your actions.

WTAF are you talking about. How is bringing a smoke bomb in at all relate to the fire there. You even mentioning it is doing the tragic incident a disservice.

Exactly.

Given the cause of the tragedy, you could argue that anyone eating chips in view of the Bradford fans was being more insensitive.

[Hampshire Royal]

Great atmosphere, rubbish football. Nice to have a match in sunshine, and without needing to wear gloves.

A special message for the retarded individuals who thought it would be entertaining to let off some smoke bombs. I hope you get caught and prosecuted, you inconsiderate bastards. If ever I catch one of you, I'll dob you to the stewards immediately. Just f#ck off with your juvenile antics. What message do you think it sends bringing pyrotechnics into Valley Parade, the site of a tragic stadium fire? You really need to think about your actions.

WTAF are you talking about. How is bringing a smoke bomb in at all relate to the fire there. You even mentioning it is doing the tragic incident a disservice.

On of the symptoms of fire is (go on, have a guess), that's right - SMOKE. I wonder if the morons who set them off hoped to cause understandable panic amongst Bradford fans who, even if they weren't there at the time of the fire, would have memoris of it passed down to them by those who were there.

[Royal Rother]

If it was a deliberate act (with the intention of making fun of a tragedy) then the people who acted it out are scum of the lowest order.

Presumably bobby's vehement response suggests he believes / knows otherwise.

[royalp-we]

I'd agree; on the continent it is the norm, but UK football does not welcome it and on a day like today, you're quite a small-mind to think there's any point in letting a 'smoke flare' off.

I'm proud this evening. A gutsy performance and the team dug deep to withstand a renound Bradford outfit who have shown with Parky at the helm their home home cup form can push them through, you have to admit, the welcome on to the surface was impressive, right?! (Much like Parkys run out the tunnel

On the whole our support was superb by the look of it; I look forward to making the trip for the replay in 9/10 days time.

Wembley awaits...

[Royal Rother]

Impressive welcome but the Godawful rendition of some Godawful song was Godawful.

[Man Friday]

+1 to Woodcote Royal and Ark Royal.
Gutsy performance and got the result. Job done.