By Jason McKeown

In some ways, nothing has changed. Andy Cook is still scoring all the goals for Bradford City. And the Bantams continue to concede late equalisers. But even though the 21 home players involved here were largely familiar faces, there was a real marked difference in tactics, approach and formation. All suggesting that plenty will actually be different this time around.

Let’s get to that as quickly as possible, by first rattling through the particulars of this entertaining pre-season encounter with Middlesborough. One where City twice came from behind to level against the Championship side, took the lead to go 3-2 ahead, only to be pegged back in the final minute. Cook netted a hat trick, taking his pre-season tally to five.

The home side played well and there were some very promising performances. Jamie Walker is looking much sharper. Cook is fit and firing. Clarke Oduor looks better higher up the pitch. Alex Pattison displayed plenty to like. Richie Smallwood’s set pieces were actually decent. Timi Odusina showed he has much to offer. Daniel Oyegoke looks a threat going forward. Bobby Pointon is so confident.

The asterisk that comes next to any pre-season game warns us not to get carried away by the fact City were the better side against opponents two divisions higher. This was not the strongest of Middlesbrough teams – one of their supporters on Twitter dubbed the Boro starting XI their “League Cup side”. The referee left his cards in his pocket, when in a league game every member of the Bantams’ backline would have quickly amassed a yellow card for some of their challenges.

But accepting these caveats, there was still a lot of really interesting elements to this match that tell us a lot about Mark Hughes’ intent this season.

Let’s start – as the team most certainly did – with the press. Right from kick off, City were pushing up on their opponents. They harried and pressured Middlesbrough defenders in possession, committing bodies higher up the park to compete for the ball, forcing mistakes and pouncing.

There was just so much energy from City, compared to the slow and patient (some would say lethargic) approach of last season. Players are proactively hunting for the ball, taking risks to steal possession, and attacking in numbers when they win the turnover. Witness Cook’s first goal as an example of the success this can deliver. Pattison closed down a Middlesbrough defender and won his tackle, playing Cook in to score easily. There were several other instances where City’s press led to good chances.

The challenge with deploying the press is having the fitness levels to perform it for a full 90 minutes. Because playing with such intensity can be draining. In those final 10 minutes, City did retreat a little and invited Middlesbrough pressure that resulted in a last minute equaliser. It doesn’t matter here, but it certainly would in a regular league game.

Executing the press successfully is also about having the positional intelligence throughout the team. And on that front, City aren’t there yet.

Whilst the press undoubtedly surprised Middlesbrough, it didn’t take long to get wise to getting around it. Four minutes in fact, where Boro scored from a move that began in their own half and saw City defenders caught out, as they committed up the pitch and left space behind. One insightful opposition pass, one dribble around a high pressing defender, and City are left exposed. It happened a lot here in the first half especially – not to mention with the Hull goal on Saturday – and it doesn’t look clever when they are caught out.

There were mistakes at the back. Platt was guilty of pressing too far forward and being outnumbered by Middlesbrough players passing around him. Ciaran Kelly arguably struggled even more. At times, the defenders were all over the place positional wise. They get caught pressing too high, or miss a challenge, and lack the pace to get back into position. With wing backs pushing on, the risks City are taking are vast and it gives the opposition a way to get through the Bantams. I think we should expect City to concede more goals this season from playing this way. Any League Two side that is good at counter attacking will enjoy coming to Valley Parade this season.

The question, going in at half time after an end to end first half, was whether Hughes is going to accept a level of untidiness to City’s press, or tighten it up defensively. And we did get some form of positive answer in the second half. The introduction of Odusina for Kelly improved City’s positional press, and it also appeared that wing backs Oyegoke and Alex Gilliead were asked to drop back and provide cover when City centre backs pushed up. In the second half, City’s press seemed more effective and joined up. At least until the flurry of subs.

Last season, City’s backline was cautious and held firm in defensive positions. The infamous play it out from the back, passing endlessly sideways. And the damning stat – until April at least – of not a single Bantams defender chipping in with a goal. Well, here we got to see several examples of Platt, Sam Stubbs and Kelly running into the opposition half and successfully winning the ball up the pitch. This is not what we’re used to. And it’s something to be excited about.

The other, more widely reported change is that of formation. Hughes did move away from the 3-5-2 that has been a feature of pre-season, going for a 3-4-3 here. This was arguably due to an injury to striker Tyler Smith, which does hint at a lack of fit forwards going into the season. But it also allowed Oduor to move from wing back to wide left forward, and Walker to play wide right in the front three.

The other fundamentals of the 3-5-2/3-4-3 were the same. Three at the back, with the left and right sided centre backs given licence to roam forwards. Only one holding midfielder – Smallwood here – with wing backs supporting attacks and providing cover. Pattison had been playing next to Walker when it was 3-5-2. In this 3-4-3 he was on his own, but still operated with the emphasis of getting forward rather than sitting next to Smallwood.

This formation change, coupled with the press, means that when City attack they now have more bodies in the final third. Walker’s improved form comes as he looks less isolated. There are more City players nearby to play off. Cook does what Cook does so brilliantly in the middle, but he is also getting more support that can really help him.

It looks good. It really does. It’s like someone pressed the x2 button on the remote control, as suddenly everything City are doing is at a faster pace. It’s a more sprightly, vibrant approach, and it could succeed in really getting us supporters off our seats this season.

There are questions still though. The first is the left wing back slot – where we look short. This was the first time I’ve personally seen Oduor, who has been attracting negative supporter reviews for his performances at wing back. Oduor definitely looks comfortable higher up the pitch – his cross for Cook’s was outstanding – and the decision to try him as a wide left forward here would perhaps suggest Hughes is not convinced the summer signing from Barnsley is the wing back starter he needs.

The trouble is, who else is there? Liam Ridehalgh came on in the second half and struggled in the left wing back role role, wasting the ball on several occasions. Ridehalgh is a competent League Two left back, but can he charge up and down the pitch, take people on and whip dangerous balls into the box? Recent evidence suggests not.

That leaves Gilliead, who can play left wing back just fine. But is that the job Hughes really wants Gilliead to perform in this team? Is he a true specialist in this position? An effective wing back in this set-up needs to be able to cross well and that is not Gillead’s strength. It all means there is a slight concern about this important role in the set-up. And it might be something that’s feeding into recruitment conversations.

The other question is do City have the centre back options to play high press, possession football as a back three? You’re absolutely putting Stubbs as your middle centre half to hold it together. Is Platt comfortable enough on the ball? Is Kelly ready to be a League Two regular?

Ash Taylor so far looks deeply unconvincing. After he came on, he kept diving into challenges. The attempts by Stuart McCall to play 3-5-2 in 2020/21 ultimately failed because of personnel. Reece Staunton could play the role really well, but when he got injured and Ben Richards-Everton had to fill in, the team was let down by a hapless defender diving into challenges and missing the ball. Hopefully, Taylor proves a much better player, but on early showings his qualities don’t seem to quite match what Hughes requires from his back three.

It potentially points to a resurgence for Odusina, who has had a good pre-season and has many of the characteristics this revamped team needs right now. It’s also very possible that Oyegoke can play as right sided centre half, with Brad Halliday right wing back.

All that is to be decided, but it’s very clear that for Hughes’ bolder approach to work he needs a really good backline. Last season, the 4-2-3-1 approach and regular deployment of Smallwood, Gilliead and Adam Clayton meant City’s back four was well protected, to the determent of their attack. Only four clubs conceded fewer goals than the Bantams in 2022/23, but only one side in the top 10 scored fewer times (and City’s 61-goal tally was of course heavily fuelled by Cook on his own).

There are clear signs Hughes is going to let the players off the leash. Of upping the level of risk taken, in pursuit of higher rewards. And if this friendly encounter is anything to go by, we’re set for a much more entertaining season.

Categories: Match Reviews

Tags: 2023/24, BCAFC, Middlesbrough