Graham Alexander's puzzling team selection leads to back to back defeats for the Bantams

11/09/2024 02:03 PM

By Adam Raj

Lets just start with the elephant in the room shall we? Graham Alexander's team selection this afternoon certainly raised a few eyebrows. Jack Shepherd was suspended but Cheik Diabate was notably dropped to the bench and Vadaine Oliver was handed a rare start. But the internal shuffle that those changes caused created an unbalanced team that was well out of sync. 

Brad Halliday – out of position. Lewis Richards – out of position. Bobby Pointon – out of position. Callum Kavanagh – out of position. And that's without mentioning Jamie Walker in a two man midfield and a big man big man strike partnership that hasn't worked and never will work.

City's back three consisted of both Halliday and Richards, two full backs/wing backs, when there were two natural centre halves sat on the bench. If Paul Huntingdon can't get a start in the first round of the FA Cup, and is behind two full backs in the pecking order, then it begs the question as to why he was signed in the first place.

Pointon was shoved out to wing back in what was arguably the oddest move I've seen for some time. I'm not sure any of Pointon's attributes are aligned to that of a wing back. He struggled and predictably so.

I'm not sure what Alexander was thinking.

As a result, and rather unexpectedly City started the game in atrocious fashion. They couldn't get a kick. Fair play to the hosts who pressed relentlessly in the opening stages and pounced on any hesitation that their visitors showed in possession.

Ten minutes in and they had the lead. City were slow to react to a quick throw on their defensive right hand side and Fleetwood skipper Matty Virtue broke into the box, sold Andy Cook with a fake shot and drew a foul from City's number nine to win his side a penalty. Ronan Coughlan stepped up and slotted home to put his side ahead.

Fleetwood maintained their pressure for the next ten minutes and continued to make it an uncomfortable afternoon for the Bantams. City's press was a mess and the hosts played through their visitors far too easily, especially through the centre of the park. Walker was struggling to maintain his defensive duties and looked increasingly at sea in a two man midfield, with Kavanagh playing a clear number ten position.

Oliver and Cook just isn't it. Alexander isn't the first manager to try it but hopefully this is the last time he does because there is no chance it will ever work. Oliver struggles to contribute and Cook needs legs and pace around him. 

It was hardly surprising to see Oliver replaced at half time with Clarke Oduor coming on. It meant Pointon moved from wing back to midfield and Oduor slotted in out wide. Kavanagh partnered Cook up top. 

It was certainly a better second period, with Pointon and Richards excellent and Oduor looking lively too. Fleetwood's early energy had evaporated and they seemed content with holding what they had. Their shape and work off the ball was particularly notable. City would often find themselves camped in the attacking third, but were faced with a red and white wall which they had no idea how to penetrate. The result was lots of horizontal passes from one flank to the other with Richie Smallwood in the middle of it all. 

City were trying to find a way into the box but far too often they failed to find an answer. Pointon's late angled drive which drew a decent save from David Harrington being the only real test the Irish man had all afternoon. There was nothing to get excited about.

It's back to back defeats for the Bantams who slump to tenth in League Two with only one less defeat than victory so far this campaign. After a promising run of form, this is now a concerning couple of games, not only due to results but also performances. It backs up what many people saw coming in the summer – a team who play in moments, and who can quite easily win five on the bounce as they can lose five on the bounce. You never know what you're going to get.

Of course, injuries continue to be a big issue, with Tyreik Wright the latest player to be out long term. However, fans are tired of hearing excuses, particularly ones they've heard year after year. And definitely ones that the club seem incapable of rectifying. Our injury record over the last few seasons is laughable but the penny doesn't seem to be dropping.

Alexander has a weakened hand to play. But his job is always to make the best of what he has. I don’t think anyone could argue that he did that today.