Tag Archives: Swindon Town

The Midweek Player Focus #22: Alan Connell

11 Oct

By Joe Cockburn

Alan Connell signed for Bradford City this summer as table-toppers Swindon’s top scorer. He only played half the games. Swindon paid “an undisclosed six figure sum” for his services, believed to be around £115,000, just 12 months prior. Something must be good about this guy.

So far, so good. Connell looks just the player City have craved for so long. A player fantastic at holding the ball up, and creating something that most other players can not. And just this week, Phil Parkinson seems to have found a formation perfect for undoubtedly one of his most technically gifted players.

The 4-3-1-2 is ably suited to the striker, allowing him to drop off and be on the ball as much as he likes. When Gary Jones is back fit and with Ritchie Jones racing up ahead of him, it could be the perfect formula. It just fits.

Connell’s greatest ability is holding the ball up, there is no doubt about that. It is questionable, though, whether he is sensible enough to play that role. For me, he seems to try and be too fancy, too cute, and that doesn’t work. Often a simple couple of touches and lay off to the full-back is all that is required. But, again, that is also a strength, which brings something new to the team.

Connell’s first thought is always to go forward. This is almost a new revelation for our team. Will Atkinson is one whose first thought is always backwards, along with Ricky Ravenhill and even Nahki Wells is so often wasting a promising attack with a backwards pass. It is great to see someone who has the bravery and endeavour to attempt a clever little pass forwards.

Then comes the next negative – if it is considered a negative. Alan Connell is often too clever for the other players in the team. He will see something that some team mates aren’t clever enough to spot. He will play a little ball over the top which catches James Hanson on his heels, or knock one through someone’s legs to a player who hasn’t made the run he should yet. Which brings me to my next point:

Alan Connell should play with Nahki Wells.

If we have a clever player like Connell up top, why do we need a big man like James Hanson? Connell isn’t afraid to put his head where it hurts either. And if you need a target, stick Garry Thompson on one of the wings. We hardly have any wingers at the moment. It could be his route to the team.

Also, with the midfield quality of Jones and Nathan Doyle, as well as full-backs who are more than comfortable on the ball, we do not need someone who is simply on the pitch to win headers from goal kicks and long throws. With Connell, we can become a clever team.

A team who doesn’t need to worry about winning all the aerial battles, because we have League One quality across the whole pitch. And some are even better than that.

That is the baseline fact. Alan Connell can be the turning factor in this team becoming what it can. A good, solid, footballing team. A team who doesn’t have to rely on the striker winning a flick on for a quick striker to finish it off. Yes Hanson works hard, but so does Connell. He chases absolutely everything down, never letting the defenders have any time on the ball whatsoever.

This begs the question as to whether the manager has the guts to drop Hanson. Can we last a game without a big man up front? Wells and Connell would be a formidable partnership in League One, never mind League Two.

Of course, we have the 4-3-1-2, which Parkinson trialled against Hartlepool. I didn’t go to the game but reports suggest it went well. However the lack of width means there is no out ball. No-one to exploit the space that there is out wide, and the game could very easily become bogged down in midfield. And without Gary Jones, it immediately becomes much harder. Ravenhill and Doyle aren’t going to race forward at every opportunity. With the burden all falling to Ritchie Jones as a result, the player will undoubtedly tire and leaves the side short in numbers in attack.

Central to this working, is that man. Alan Connell. There aren’t many players around like him, with his ability and footballing brain, and we could have a real player on our hands. Someone we cannot afford to waste on the bench every weekend.

He has his flaws, as does every player playing at this level. His finishing seems to be lacking, having managed to not score two one on ones. Then his cracker against Accrington puts this to bed. But there are other players who can score. There is no-one else who can play with his know-how and ability.

As I said, something must be good about this guy.

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Connell arrives at Valley Parade – but where does he fit in?

20 Jul

By Jason McKeown

After giving up on the chase to sign Andy Gray, Bradford City manager Phil Parkinson has today signed Swindon striker Alan Connell to bolster the club’s attacking options.

Connell, 29, was signed by Town for around £115k last summer after an impressive season at Grimsby Town in the Conference. Although Swindon’s top scorer with 11 goals last season, curiously he only started 13 games with a further 19 appearances from the bench. Before Grimsby he had two spells at Bournemouth were similarly he came off the bench more often than he was in the starting XI.

Connell has left Swindon despite having a year to run on his contract, with the club agreeing a mutual termination. It suggests that – as good as Connell’s career record is (86 goals from 210 starts and 122 sub appearances) – he may not be the rounded player we might assume.

That is not to be overly negative of what looks to be a useful piece of business by Parkinson, but to suggest we should reserve judgement before rushing out to laud Connell. It is a signing that, in my opinion at least, is highly preferable to bringing in Gray; but suggestions he will take Hanson’s place in the team might be a little premature.

In fact, this signing may be the back up to Hanson and Nahki Wells, with Connell’s career suggesting he would make a good impact sub. Width of a Post disapproves of any hasty attempts to break up the highly effective Hanson/Wells partnership, and so we are quite encouraged by the potential route Parkinson has gone down in signing a super sub.

Connell will wear the number 17 shirt and is expected to join his new team mates on the trip to Ireland next week.

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Ending 11/12 well as Bradford City-less summer begins

5 May

Bradford City 0

Swindon Town 0

Saturday 5 May, 2012

By Jason McKeown

Everyone enjoys a happy ending. So after Bradford City matched the division’s Champions this afternoon to conclude the season with a credible draw, we could at least take home from it a warm feeling which can sustain us for part of the long summer break.

And a fitting level of happiness to end it too, for a campaign which cannot be described as anything more positive than “disappointing”. As much as it would have been nice to have steamrollered Swindon Town this afternoon – and on the balance of second half play in particular, such an outcome may not have been unjust – it would have only triggered a degree of frustration over why such high standards weren’t realised more often.

City have spent the season looking forwards in the hope of happier moments than the grimness at the time allowed. Phil Parkinson rocked up at Valley Parade talking of being in the top half of the division by Christmas. Then, when the festive season came and went with the Bantams well below that target but showing signs of improvement, a strong second half to the season was anticipated. That too didn’t exactly occur; but with relegation worries eventually eased, the expectations have firmly raised again – this time for next season.

So a good ending like this means we can approach the summer still believing in that brighter future. And for City to have given the league leaders’ such a tough afternoon was certainly more heart-warming than the capitulation to mid-table Crewe on the final day of last season. The performance today also provided a final reminder that there are plenty of good players in the building when Parkinson comes to plot what is required for 2012/13. While the result means City have lost just one in 15 matches at home; an-all-too-rare occurrence.

You can argue that Swindon were not exactly playing in top gear this afternoon. The title sealed a week ago, the Robins came onto the pitch through a classy guard of honour from the home side and were joyfully greeted by the biggest away following at Valley Parade in four-and-a-half years. The visiting players performed well but without intensity, as though they couldn’t wait to get back to the party that was in full swing over in the Midland Road stand. And for the most part City dominated.

James Hanson and Nahki Wells both linked up superbly, to remind us that they belong in the positive section when assessing this season as a whole. It’s not that City haven’t had good strikers in recent years, but we’ve certainly not had good striking partnerships. Hanson and Wells are on the same wavelength and habitually seem to know where on the field the other will be. Wells was again on the receiving end of some physical treatment by the opposition players, and this is something that he will have to cope with more often next season as his fame grows. A League Two way of showing you that you are now respected and feared.

Everything good about City during the game seemed to stem from these two and Kyel Reid, and there was also a notable added edge to the home side’s attacking threat, provided by David Syers – making a first home start since New Year’s Eve. Under the spotlight following his contract dispute, the 24-year-old did not have the greatest of matches and failed to boss midfield in the manner he has shown he is capable of; but his runs in the final third were a threat all afternoon and he formed a useful triangle with Hanson and Wells.

Syers had the first two chances of the afternoon, and in the second half squandered the best opening of the entire match when he was impressively played through one-on-one by Will Atkinson, but shot tamely at Wes Fotheringham. Wells too was regularly firing efforts on goal and should have scored from one opening at the end of the first half. With 17 attempts on goal from City, it was fairly one-way traffic at times.

Indeed the back four – which featured Andrew Davies for the first time since the Crawley affair, though dropping Guy Branston was incredibly harsh on Parkinson’s part – were comfortable for much of the game. Davies’ return did at least remind us what a quality player he has been for us this season, while Luke Oliver was his usual confident self. Jon McLaughlin – also recalled for the first time since he used his hands for something very different to goalkeeping – was mainly a spectator, apart from pulling off a smart save late on from a free kick.

The Bantams largely controlled the game, and on another day the numerous chances created would have lead a goal or two. But today it didn’t really matter, because all that really did was ending on a high note.

It has been a season we had wanted to be over for weeks now, but there is equally little pleasure at the prospect of not watching City until the pre-season friendlies start in two months. The idea of a clean slate, a chance to start over from scratch with everyone equal all over again, has huge appeal now. But as the players completed their lap of appreciation and headed away from us towards the dressing room, and as we turned around and made our way out of the stadium and into the Bradford evening, an empty eeriness suddenly took over.

We’ve spent ten months largely feeling stressed, miserable and disillusioned by our football club. We had already set the bar fairly low this time around, but the level of achievement was still way below it. Yet as nice as it will be to not have weekends ruined by the many lows of supporting Bradford City for a few months, we will soon be pining for waking up on Saturdays hoping to experience the highs.

The problem with the break from football is that you start to miss it long before it’s due to return. A happy ending is therefore important; because we will soon be desperate for the next beginning.

City: McLaughlin, Ramsden, Davies,  Oliver, Kozluk, Reid, Ravenhill, Syers, Atkinson, Hanson, Wells (Baker

Unused Subs: Annerson, Smalley, Bullock, Bass

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I feel fine

4 May

Bradford City vs Swindon Town match preview

@Valley Parade on Saturday 5 May, 2012

By Ron Beaumont

Now I’ll be honest. This season, I really thought we weren’t going to make it!

It’s not a question of faith, but on the performances I had seen (all home games) I had seen little sign that we were going to raise our game with enough consistency to allow us to survive the drop, and the subsequent oblivion it would bring…

The unexpected win at Northampton and the turgid victory over a desperately poor Macclesfield confirmed that my pessimism was unfounded, and as we were, once again, “safe” I renewed my season ticket. Now there may be those who would criticise the lack of belief shown in my delay in renewing but, in a somewhat tenuous comparison with David Syers (allegedly) – I was not prepared to renew my “contract” whilst there was such a dismal prospect for the future and the distinct possibility of me losing everything.

The prospect of a new season always revives the spirits, but the reality to me is that we have a future in this league not through the quality of what we have done but because of the woeful level of performance from those around us. We were bad but, fortunately, those around us were worse – and this should never happen again.

I say this not in the mistaken belief that we are “too big a club” or any other such platitudes, but in the belief that the approach has to change. Not since the days of Stuart McCall has the club offered any hope of an upward exit from League Two, and not since then have we had (or perhaps more accurately maintained) a set up that was positive.

Dour performances have outnumbered the inspired ones. There have been far too many 1-0 defeats, especially away from home; because of what appears to me, and maybe to many others, to be a negative approach. Now I am not advocating a gung-ho attitude, but if we had taken on teams in the belief that we could beat them, rather than contain them in the hope of beating them, then we may well have achieved more of what we wanted. As it transpired this rather misguided hope failed us on too many occasions – usually 1-0.

This is in no way doubting players’ commitment, more the manager’s approach. We never set out to lose, but equally we never seemed set up with a commitment to win – especially away from home. Whether we got lucky to win some or were even more unlucky to lose some is hard for me to say, as it is many years since I chose to travel to away games. Even so, “following” City on the radio, whilst much cheaper, is almost as frustrating as travelling. I have nothing but admiration for those who continue to travel to away matches, but from what I hear and read they often deserve much better.

However it is the home games that provide much valuable finance and the club has been positive in respect of ticket arrangements for the last few years, but it is always important that they can get supporters to commit to renewal. Mark Lawn’s recent radio interview held out the tantalising prospect of a more positive Phil Parkinson next season – perhaps if he had been more positive this season we would not have been so close to oblivion, but that is old ground now – and season ticket sales should rise over the next weeks. Which brings me to the prospect of Saturday’s game.

Swindon come here as champions and offer us the most distinct contrast possible to the level of achievement we need to aim for, compared to the level shown by Macclesfield last game.

True they may ease off – although somehow I doubt it – but it is our performance I am most concerned with. We were “safe” last week but still played it safer in our substitutions, rather than chase a game that sounded to be still in our reach. We are “safe” this week and have the opportunity to glimpse a preview of Parkinson’s promised positivism. The personnel may change by next season, but the approach should be a guide to the type of performance we can look forward to – and, if it is, it will do a lot to sell tickets. There is no such thing as a meaningless game!

As it is I am torn as to whether to even go to our last match. I never deliberately miss a game, I have never left early, I have always stay to applaud effort even when results have been disappointing – this last point being something I notice most players, especially a certain Mr. Flynn, have always reciprocated. No, the reason for my possible “no show” has nothing to do with the club, manager or players – they all deserve credit for keeping us from Blue Square or worse, and I would like the opportunity to show my appreciation to them all – especially a certain Mr. Flynn for all his efforts.

No, the reason concerns not the result but, much more importantly, how the game ends. Every year many morons and many more who should know better can’t wait to invade the pitch, often goading the away support and causing all sorts of potential problems for the players, stewards, proper fans and the club. The treatment of Northampton fans two years ago was particularly shameful for real supporters, and a disgrace to those involved.

Now I could leave early or even not go at all, but I am grateful to have a club to support next season and would like all involved to have the benefit (such as it is) of one more pair of hands applauding. This season has hardly been one to celebrate, but it is one to be thankful for – and we do have a new one to look forward to and I for one would like to go into it without any bad feeling.

So, even though I should feel good about my team and its future, if asked how I felt I would probably answer the way I would when I want to hide some of my deeper concerns…I feel fine. Hope to see you Saturday.

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The League Two relegation run in, and what City need to do

2 Apr

All week long I was dreading the prospect of Bradford City losing to Plymouth Argyle – as it seemed as though a loss in Devon would see the sky fall in on Valley Parade and our chances of staying up in huge doubt. But while there is no denying the defeat which did occur is a huge set back, results elsewhere were generally kind.

City (40 points) stay four points clear of second bottom Macclesfield (36) and five ahead of bottom club Hereford (35). And, as much as Phil Parkinson is criticised and there are some serious, serious questions that are going to have to be aired about the way the club has operated this season, we will all take ending the campaign four points clear of the bottom two. We need to maintain that gap, or at least not allow it to be fully eroded, and that is a better position to be in than needing to bridge a deficit.

In fact the four point advantage is effectively five, given City’s superior goal difference – by far the best of the bottom six clubs. In the final six games, it means Macclesfield and Hereford have to pick up five and six more points respectively than the Bantams, in order to finish above us. Macclesfield have not won a game since New Years Eve – 19 matches; Hereford only one in 14. And just above those two, Barnet (on 39 points) have not tasted victory for 13 games.

For how bad City’s form has been – and it has been bad – these three teams at least offer hope that any Bantams’ improvement over the next few games will prove good enough to ensure we are not overtaken.

That said, we are set for a very fraught final few weeks…

Tuesday night

Barnet face Swindon.

Leaders Swindon have endured up and down form of late, but know a win at Underhill will place them five points clear having played a game fewer. Whatever the result, after this game only Northampton of the seven relegation rivals will have a game in hand on the rest.

Good Friday

City entertain Southend, while Barnet travel to Cheltenham, Dagenham entertain free-falling Burton, Macclesfield play Shrewsbury and Northampton face Oxford. Hereford and Plymouth square up in a six-pointer.

Southend’s away record of 12 wins, 1 draw and 7 defeats suggests a home game against the play off chasers is more winnable for City than it might appear. A sentiment that Barnet might share, given their hosts Cheltenham have been in very poor form of late and are in danger of missing the play offs. For City, it is better Plymouth beat Hereford or draw than the Bulls win.

Whatever City’s result, that Macclesfield and Northampton’s fixtures are evening kick offs means it could be a nervy day following events, long after the final whistle at Valley Parade.

Easter Monday

Not an afternoon to expect too many wins from the bottom seven clubs. Shrewsbury play host to the Bantams, while Barnet face an equally tough game at home to Crawley, Dagenham are at Gillingham and Northampton travel to Swindon. Macclesfield might fancy their chances at Port Vale, while Plymouth welcome an Aldershot side which have an outside play off chance.

Shrewsbury are unbeaten at home for over a year, while City have lost five successive away games without scoring a goal. Logic dictates this is going to be a damage limitation afternoon, though the Bantams have taken points from the backyards of four of the current top seven – having visited only five of them so far.

Macclesfield will be the team to take most note of on this Bank Holiday, as any points they gain against Vale – while others, including City, face such difficult games – could prove significant to their hopes.

Friday 13 April

Barnet play Hereford at Underhill.

This could be huge. Yikes.

Saturday 14 April

City travel to Northampton on a pivotal afternoon, given Friday’s fixture and the fact Dagenham (Aldershot away), Macclesfield (Crewe home) and Plymouth (Swindon away) face tricky games.

Northampton and Dagenham have been the two form teams of the bottom seven during the past few weeks. After the Plymouth result and in view of how difficult Easter will prove, it could be vital City take a point if not all three from this game – which means the return of Jon McLaughlin and Luke Oliver from suspension might prove huge. The bottom two may look a little too close behind us for comfort prior to kick off, but hopefully there will be more of a gap at full time.

Tuesday 17 April

Northampton’s game in hand…at Crawley.

In truth it seems as though Northampton – currently six points clear of danger, after drawing with in-form Crewe on Saturday – have enough about them to avoid going down. So in a similar way to how City’s recent game with Crawley was built up, it might be a night the Cobblers can afford to lose.

Friday 20 April

Barnet travel to Southend.

City’s win at Roots Hall last December was one of five home defeats Southend have endured, so it’s not impossible to envisage a Bees victory.

Saturday 21 April

City entertain Macclesfield in a vital game, while Dagenham (Crawley) and Plymouth (Oxford) entertain promotion challengers. Hereford welcome Northampton too, but Valley Parade will probably be host to the day’s true six-pointer.

There is increasing talk that the Macclesfield game will determine City’s season and – with two difficult final fixtures after – it’s easy to see why. Yet if City come into this game still carrying a four point advantage over the Silkmen and Hereford, a draw might be acceptable if it maintains the gap. That said, a win and City could be virtually safe – depending on what return they took from Sixfields.

Saturday 28 April

Cheltenham welcome City on an afternoon you’d expect relegation rivals to pick up points. Barnet are home to mid-table AFC Wimbledon, Macclesfield host Burton Albion, while Plymouth face a trip to Morecambe. More encouragingly, Hereford travel to Crawley, Northampton are home to Gillingham and Dagenham are at Shrewsbury.

If City (who would welcome back Andrew Davies, at last, from suspension) go into this game only one or two points above either Barnet or Macclesfield we will need to be very afraid, as defeat at Waddon Road could see the Bantams slip into the bottom two on the penultimate weekend of the season. Expect this to be an afternoon of mixed results, which may not be pretty.

Saturday 5 May – final day

Swindon are at Valley Parade for what could easily be their Championship party, while Hereford (Torquay home), Macclesfield (Southend away) and Plymouth (Cheltenham home) face fixtures which could prove just as tough if their opponents still have promotion hopes to play for. In contrast Barnet (away to Burton), Dagenham (home to Bristol Rovers) and Northampton (away to Rotherham) face fixtures you’d prefer if you need a result on the final day of the season…

…but Swindon home is the last game you’d pick. If Swindon need points on the final day to confirm promotion or the title…well let’s just hope City don’t need to win. That said, if Hereford and Macclesfield are still below us, they face just as tough a task. Barnet would fancy their chances of getting out of it by facing Burton, while the other teams will probably already be safe by this point.

So, squeaky bum time then…

City’s prospects – and that of their relegation rivals faltering – over the final few weeks look either good or bad depending on how full you consider your glass to be. But there is no doubt that the situation remains in our hands and there are winnable fixtures to be played out.

Easter looks important for City in at least picking up one point from two tough fixtures, in view of the back-to-back games against relegation rivals which then follow. The sooner City next get a win (assuming they win again), the better the picture is going to start to look.

The three home games are also vital. City may have lost at Valley Parade to Crawley recently, but were unbeaten in 11 before that – which shows we are a tough nut to crack on our own turf. So if the players could win one and draw the other two, that would be five more points – taking City onto 45 – before we consider the away matches.

  • That 45 total would be 10 points more than Hereford have right now – meaning that the Bulls (don’t forget one win in 14) would need to win three and draw two of their last six games to overtake us.
  • It’s nine points more than Macclesfield currently have and – assuming City beat the Silkmen to get that one win from the three home games – they would need to win three and draw one of their other five remaining games to climb above us. And not only are Macclesfield winless in 19, they have only won once since they defeated us last October.

So clearly, if City can go on a three match unbeaten run at home (see our home record, it’s possible), winning at least one of them, that should be enough. No matter what happens in the three away games.

Perhaps most of all though – with three of Swindon’s final eight games against our relegation rivals and the fear they might rock up to Valley Parade on the final day needing to get a result – we should all become Swindon fans over the next few weeks and hope they get the title sewn up as quicky as possible.

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