Bradford City 2-0 Crewe Alex 24/25 Review - 12 Seconds

What can you do in 12 seconds? Is it truly possible to do anything meaningful in such a short space of time. I suppose 100m sprinters can win a race in that time. But aside from that, what else? Well, Crewe Alex lost a game in 12 seconds today. Ok, maybe that isn't quite true, but it left them chasing a game they desperately didn't need to be chasing and it really set up what was a disappointing afternoon where their promotion bid was put on life support once again. here is my review of the 2-0 defeat at Valley Parade:

Not ready

Lee Bell said after the game that his players weren't ready for that fast start by the Bantams. Well sorry Lee, but that's on you. Questions need to be asked about the mental readiness of this team. This was the 7th goal they've conceded inside the first 10 minutes of games this season, only Carlisle and Grimsby(go figure) have conceded more in that period of time.

Why do they start games so poorly? I do think their early warm ups and early return to the dressing room pre-kick might be a factor, but either way, Bell needs to have a look at what he does with them before games, because they are coming out slowly and it's costing them points.

Balance

So many times this season, I've felt the team was totally out of whack balance wise and today was no different. They started 6 out and out defenders in Cooney, Knight-Lebel, O'Riordan, Demetriou, Williams, Conway. Then they named 1 midfielder in Lowery and 3 attackers in Long, Lankester and Bogle. They had a wing back in Conway in midfield whilst Sanders and Powell sat on the bench. Make it make sense.

Unsurprisingly, it was a broken, disjointed mess from the start. We'll talk about the penalty shortly, but Bell knew he'd erred by making 2 half time changes, something he almost never does regardless of scoreline. Off went Knight-Lebel and Cooney and on came Powell and Billington and whilst the team was more balanced at that point, the damage had already been done. He got the team selection badly wrong and not for the first time this season I might add.

Tactics

Part of why it was such a mess was their style of play. One minute they were launching it long, next minute they were trying to play through the lines. The players looked utterly confused. They didn't know whether to come or go, press or sit off. But asking them to play football on the deck whilst having no midfield was utterly baffling. I'd love to have seen the game plan they came up with for this one, because they seemed to prepare for a version of Bradford that doesn't exist anymore.

The confusion was summed up by Conway starting in CM, then moving to LWB, then to RW and then over to LB. If that doesn't show just what a mess they made of things today, I don't know what will.

Context

Let's talk about the penalty. I'm not going to hang Cooney out to dry and lambast him. He's probably feeling bad enough right now as it is. But the decision to even let him take the penalty in the first place was the wrong one. Him taking the ones in October and November, when he was in great form and full of confidence, made sense.

But he's 5 months removed from that high point. He's not in any sort of form and this game in particular, he struggled once again. He picked up yet another needless card and was a touch fortunate not to be hooked. Even if he was the designated taker before the game, read the situation and ask Lankester(1 for 1) or Lowery(1 for 1) to take it instead.

I won't blame Cooney for the miss, I'll blame the management for sanctioning him taking it. Read the damn game and realise him taking it was not the right call, even before hindsight comes into it.

Referee Assessment

Had he sent off Conway, I wouldn't have complained, but it did look like he got the decision right. As for his linesman flagging Bogle's goal as offside, I'd have to watch that back but my first instinct was he was offside, even if Long wasn't.

Management Assessment

Just a disaster from start to finish. Wrong team, wrong formation, didn't prep the team properly, didn't allocate the penalty taker correctly. The subs at half time did improve the shape, but they managed just 2 shots and none on target in the 2nd half. They need a big reset in the summer, because their management has become increasingly muddled as the season has gone on.

Player Assessment

Filip Marschall

Not a lot he could do for either goal, made a number of routine stops and catches, but his wild dash out of the box and foul on their lad could have been much worse. It was silly from him.

Jamie Knight-Lebel

Didn't do a lot wrong, hopefully he doesn't feel too bad about being hooked at half time.

Connor O'Riordan

Another fairly run of the mill display, which for a CB is fine. Again though, a question about whether he was needed with the options they had in January needs to be asked.

Mickey Demetriou

Fine for the most part, but he badly misjudged the header which led to him putting the ball on a plate for Kavanagh to score the game killing 2nd.

Ryan Cooney

Disaster. This should be his last start for the club this season. And for the club ever. He not very good I'm afraid, move on in the summer.

Tommy Lowery

Maybe he isn't the problem. But he is a problem. Why? Because for his all his busy-ness, I struggle to remember many moments in games where he creates chances for his team mates. And as for his set pieces, near post at chest height is his trademark. He's created 0.9 xA in 11 starts. Across a whole season, that would be 3.8. That wouldn't even put him in the top 40 for xA in L2.

I'm sorry, but I want and expect more from someone who is supposed to be the best CM in the division according to some. Although I will admit him being left without any proper CM support isn't helping either and probably why he's struggling a bit.

Max Conway

Struggled. His challenge in the first half didn't look so bad on replay, but had he been shown a red in the heat of the moment, I wouldn't have complained. Just a silly tackle to go in for in that position and point in the game. He must have gotten whiplash in the 2nd half given how much he was moved around.

Zac Williams

He was there I suppose. As I've said for weeks and others seem to be coming around to, him being elsewhere next season would be best for all concerned. And by the sounds of it, it would be good for their budget as well.

Jack Lankester

He's so far and away the most/only creative attacker they have. He was lively throughout, even if his decision making could still use some improvement. It was a worry that he hobbled off looking despondent in the 2nd half. The injuries are stacking up once again.

Omar Bogle

I can't warm to him. He was poor today, summed up by his needlessly tucking in what looked to be a goal bound touch by Long. He hasn't scored since new years day, a goal drought stretching 12 games now. Were he out of contract in the summer, I wouldn't be rushing to renew him.

Chris Long

I get his frustration at times, but his effort comes in fits and starts. He wasn't good today, although I'll admit he gets virtually no service and has to feed on scraps, which makes his 6 league goals pretty impressive I suppose.

Subs:

Lewis Billington

Was more solid at RWB than Cooney was, which I suppose you'll take. He'll start against Cheltenham. He has to.

Jack Powell

Amongst many confusing things, Bell's use of Powell and Sanders baffles me. Powell comes on today for his first appearance in 3, whilst Sanders, who's come on in the last 3, goes unused. I don't get it.

Kane Hemmings

Came on and ran about a bit, but he provided little.

Callum Agius

Another 'too little too late' sub. I wasn't screaming for him to come on, but bringing him on after you've just conceded doesn't help the perception that Bell is a reactive, rather than proactive, manager.

Overall Verdict

Again, losing to Bradford doesn't kill your season. But to so badly mess things up in what was a game that was there for them will never not be frustrating. In a way, this 90 minutes summed up their season. Competitive, but just not enough in key spots, on and off the pitch.