By Jake Verity
Since I first began watching Bradford City in the 2006/07 season, we’ve had 20 different managers.
Though there is never a dull moment with Bradford City, it’s fair to say the club has spent far too long on the managerial rollercoaster since the turn of the millenia. Beyond the era of Bantam progressivism between 2012-2017, and play-off run under Mark Hughes a couple of years ago, there’s not been a lot to shout about, either. You could say, the rest of the time has been characterised in the most part by either mediocrity or madness.
If you look at the managerial churn between our two play-off stints (McCall in 2017; Hughes in 2023) we saw eleven different managers in the dugout. Shameful, really.
The Wimbledon game last weekend represented Alexander’s 45th game in charge of the club. He’ll soon surpass the 48 games where Gary Bowyer was our manager. This will put him as our fifth longest-serving manager since we first returned to League Two in 2007 behind Phil Parkinson, Stuart McCall, Peter Taylor and Hughes.
After a worthwhile effort in a fairly turgid encounter against a good Wimbledon side, we now go into three crucial games. Harrogate away – a fixture we’ve often done terribly in. Morecambe away – against Derek Adams and several former players. Then Newport at home – a Monday night match that will be tough. All three games will be televised too.
Before we go into these games, I wanted to do a long-read on Alexander. I feel the results we get across these three games may well set a precedent for the rest of our season. Perform well in matches where we historically struggle – there’s a cause for optimism. Struggle against three teams having poor seasons and it’s likely Alexander will come in for some criticism.
That’s because this season carries a weight of expectation we haven’t held for some time. The budget is high and the league is weaker than last year – failure is not an option. The manager is ultimately responsible for giving us the best chance possible of going up. It’s whether he can make it happen.
Let’s dig into the stats
Across all competitions, he has a 49% win ratio (P45: W22; D11; L12). Which is closely followed by a 46% win ratio in the league (P37: W17; D9; L12).
This is pretty good and few managers, if any, have a better record in League Two since he took over. But it’s also not unusual for him.
Over 113 games at then-League One Scunthorpe, Alexander’s win percentage was 47%.
During 112 games at Salford City, his win percentage was 48%, taking them from the National League through to League Two.
The other club he had a long stint at was Fleetwood Town over 145 games, his first full time managerial role. His win ratio was admittedly lower here at 39%, but there is a bit of context. He took over midway through the 2012/13 campaign, stabilised a struggling squad, and got them promoted the following season. I should add he had Antoni Sarcevic at the heart of his team there too. Sound familiar?
It is fair to say Alexander is experienced at this level, and in all honesty was actually one of the best appointments we could have made after sacking Hughes. Yes, the Cowleys might have been good for us, but I certainly felt less than convinced about many available at the time.
The other option was Mike Williamson, who obviously took over from Alexander at MK Dons and lost in the play-offs to Crawley last season. Last week he moved to Carlisle, we will see how that goes.
The results
I wrote some time ago about the cyclicality of results under Alexander last season. This does need to be addressed this season.
We either went on good runs of consecutive wins, or very bad results of consecutive losses. It’s fair to say that a period of four back-to-back losses during March cost us the play-offs.
But there are some positives to take. Not least the fact we’ve had some high scoring games since he took over. I wrote about this in a blog ahead of our first home game – but I’d argue Alexander has actually been one of our most attacking managers. We’ve scored roughly 1.5 goals per game under his tenure which isn’t bad going at all. If he can keep Andy Cook scoring and in-form, then that number will only continue to rise.
The other thing Alexander can be complemented for is defensive solidity. Not least as we improved at the back after he arrived. 12 clean sheets in 36 league games is not bad going – of course a big portion of this is down to Sam Walker too.
Alexander’s record does have some limits though. While in the most part we have become a lot more solid at the back as a whole, we do only have a handful of clean sheets over our last the fourteen league games – when the unbeaten end to last season began.
Systems and Style
The defeat away at Notts County on Sky was one of the first moments where Alexander not only showed ruthlessness, but a willingness to change things as necessary.
His favoured style is a 5-3-2, though there have been some small tactical shifts. Last season we were more progressive through our right-hand side with Brad Halliday operating much further up the pitch. Towards the end of last season and over the start of this season, that has changed and now we are progressing the ball higher up the left with Wright.
The other key tweak Alexander made was the operation of three in midfield. Under Hughes, we tried employing a 3-5-2 with Richie Smallwood and Alex Gilliead sitting, with Jamie Walker in a more advanced role.
Alexander employs a more fluid system with Smallwood as a combative CDM who breaks up play; Sarcevic/Walker as a box-to-box style midfielder and Alex Pattison as a more progressive and creative force. Walker’s recent inclusion in the team has really added to this, with us scoring against both Carlisle and Walsall by him catching players by pressing.
It’s fair to say that Alexander’s brand of football is much more exciting to watch this season than previous City sides (Bowyer and Adams spring to mind), and it adopts a degree of pragmatism that Hughes’ team never quite managed. We’re not quite at the blockbuster football of McCall’s second tenure in charge, but we are also a solid League Two side, rather than a strong League One team.
Tricks of the Transfer trade
When it comes to our signings under Alexander, there is actually a lot to be positive about. Although David Sharpe is supporting recruitment, the manager ultimately has to be the person working with the players. So far, it feels like Alexander is identifying players that work well for him.
Antoni Sarcevic is our big marquee signing and has started well. He is a big loss through injury at present.
Callum Kavanagh has started this season slowly, but we all know the quality he has and adds to the team.
Olly Sanderson seems to be an astute addition to our squad. He knows where the net is and compliments Cook well.
Aden Baldwin started the season very brightly before his injury and seems to be a good bit of business.
Neil Byrne feels like a calm presence in the middle of a back three and adds promotion experience to the squad.
Cheick Diabate looks like an excellent signing so far, though he is still settling into the squad as is Shepherd.
Though Sam Walker was supposedly a Colin Doyle suggestion, and Tyriek Wright had already been with the club, it feels Alexander has actually focused on bringing players in who will work well under him, rather than just taking players in and trying to make it work.
It feels too early to form full judgement on Joe Adams and Jay Benn, but both have shown promise.
It feels like Alexander is focused on quality over quantity. That will hopefully pay off over a season, as every player should have a part to play.
Though, I think most fans probably want us to bring in additional cover at centre-back based on current injuries. We will see if Alexander is agile enough to do so soon.
Managing the media
One of Alexander’s underrated qualities is his relationship in managing both the fans and media.
He is quite straight talking and no-nonsense, and has a similar demeanour to Phil Parkinson which is quite endearing. For too long we have had managers who try to over explain themselves, or are too defensive.
Alexander embodies neither of those qualities and that is a good thing. It feels like he gets the weight of expectation on this club, his job and the team but carries it well.
I think it is also very important to reflect on a tricky end to last season off the field which he managed very well. A lot of managers wouldn’t have kept so calm and composed and while he let results on the pitch do most of the talking after a tough spell, he was also open with supporters and communicated well.
Graham has got it
Overall, I have no doubt we have a very good manager. He has a plethora of football league experience, a strong record of promotions and has done a good job with us so far.
It is a long season ahead and there will be challenges for him to respond to. But he deserves time, support and backing from the club.
There will be times where we fail to perform. But also games where we exceed expectations. That is football. Certainly in the lower leagues.
A big part of being a good manager is not getting too excited when you’re playing well, and not getting too disappointed or frustrated when your luck is against you.
We have a strong squad at this level, one of our best in recent years. It’s now up to him to make it work. I have no doubt it’s possible. But only he can make it reality.
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Yes, there are compelling reasons to have faith in Alexander. He has some very obvious qualities and the writer has identified most of them. Thanks for the illuminating research and analysis. I would also add Alexander’s capacity for hard work. He does undoubtedly put the hours in. Sometimes he does seem slightly slow to make substitutions but there are many factors that the spectator is not aware of that have a bearing. I shall continue to believe he is a good manager for us – unless and until he proves otherwise.
Yes. I’ve always thought from the moment we appointed him he was the right man.
Put another way, if he can’t do it – then we really are cursed.
It’s not just blind loyalty – he’s done a very good job at clubs he’s been at. I know Scunthorpe, Fleetwood and Salford fans who speak very highly of him, with Gary Neville admitting it was a bad mistake on his part to sack him.
Of the available candidates, once we just missed out on Darrell Clarke (who’d gone to Cheltenham two days before Hughes was sacked) none of the others seemed better than GA, for league 2. For instance we’ve seen that Williamson has the same approach to L2 as McCall – which simply results in defences been constantly opened up due to the naive set up (i.e. our 4-0 win against MK Dons last season) and the pasting both Stockport and Crawley gave them towards the end of last season.
Given the injuries and then near constant need to change players positions due to them, I’m OK with us been in contention, i.e. within 8 points of the Top 3 come Christmas.
Well this has aged well. :).
you has a supporter of hoof ball pragmatic football must have loved today’s performance against Harrogate.
Your use of mk dons to defend your myth that teams don’t go oo playing football is extremely selective. Go look at last seasons promoted teams. All played decent football mostly and scored 30 goals more than us in 9th.
Swindon, Plymouth and crewe all went up in the same season whilst also playing decent stuff and without big budgets.
McCall played the best football since the premier league and acheived our highest position since. When he had an actual squad.
and mot only that I actually enjoyed watching us play. And left Valley Parade unbeaten all season.
so be as selective as you want because I believe that your opinion is wrong and 6 years, possibly 7, in this division with vastly more pragmatic safety first managers than attack support this.
Dan I love the way you’ve used selective examples of teams who play the way you like in order to make your point.
I note you missed off a host of teams, who put emphasis on physicality first and then the footie takes care of itself, i.e. Bolton, Port Vale, Stevanage, Northampton, Carlisle.
In addition those teams that went up playing good footie in 2019/20 did so without playing a full season. Who knows if their expansive styles, would have lasted 46 matches. Plymouth perhaps. Not convinced that Crewe or Swindon wouldn’t have faded like, Mansfield did in 2022/23 and the high scoring Swindon did the season before that.
Plus both Stockport and Wrexham have managers who preach sense at the back first before attack – but it helps if you’ve been at that club for three seasons or so, as opposed to less than one, as then you have time to build such a philosophy.
Hoofball excess wasn’t the issue to day. When Odour came on, there were a few nice footie passages – problem is when using that style the final ball has to be as good as the approach play and unfortunately it wasn’t, i.e. as you’d expect for most L2 sides.
McCall had us, admittedly, playing our best footie – but that was in L1. Unless you think his car crash end of season first spell season of 08/09 or near the bottom of the table when he was finally put out of his misery in November 2020 was succesful L2 footie.
I’m confident Alexander will ensure we make the play-offs, but to me that is the minimum expectation with the squad at his disposal (as it was for Hughes).
Can he take us up automatically? I don’t think he’s ever managed an automatic promotion before.
As every manager has experienced in this league opposition teams come to spoil the game, silence and frustrate the crowd. WOAP has spoken regularly about our failures to win games where we dominate possession. Alexander more than any other manager seems to have been given the tools to rectify that. Walker/Pattison/Sarcevic/Pointon/Oduor/Adams/Wright all offer something slightly different behind Cook and Kav/Sanderson but we don’t appear to have found the solution yet. I can’t remember many games where we’ve won by more than a goal
I’m hopeful that we will find that solution and confident that Alexander has the skills to keep us in contention regardless until then and hopefully we finish strong without the need for a 3 game lottery.
If asked to sum up Graham Alexander’s time as City manager so far it probably would be…… Meh!!
I’m not overly impressed with recruitment and the style of football and it’s not always pretty but as seen this season it has delivered results when we haven’t played well for a full 90mins. Alexander kind of reminds me of the league 2 version of Neil warnock or Sam Allardyce, The footballs not pretty but it delivers results and Alexander has said that’s all that matters.
Long term i don’t think Alexander’s the man to take the club forward but at this stage more than anything it’s about getting out of League 2 and Alexander has history of doing that and he deserves the full season to allow that opportunity.
My biggest concern with Alexander at the moment is player development. At the start of the season i looked to the likes of Pointon, Kavanagh, Tyreik Wright and even Jake Young as the future of the club, Young lads with real potential but so far none have really excelled this season.
Tyreik body language isn’t great which is sad to see, It seems he’s been played out of position and we’ve seen how good Wright was on his initial loan playing as a front 3 and that ultimately is Alexanders responsibility as to why he’s been played in a position that clearly doesn’t suit his game.
But with Pointon and Kavanagh, This season i’m yet to see their individual games improve, and across the squad the players who have excelled are on loan and likely to be recalled in January (Diabate / Shepherd)
It seems Alexander puts a block on youth which is really dissapointing. Last season Pointon was chomping at the bit and Alexander was very reluctant to play him and even this season the likes of Harry Ibbitson and George Goodman, Young players highly rated within the club but not even making the bench in the Bristol Streets Motor games.
That’s why overall my assessment of Alexander is underwhelming but he is better than Bowyer and Adams who we’ve had previously and only time will tell
There’s a lot of sense behind your reservations with the exception of Tyreik Wright’s body language. Is he running differently, holding his head lower or something I can’t see from up in top tier of the main stand? He’s always struck me as being a quiet player, not a shouter like Gary Jones or an arm waver like Andy Cook. I agree he’s not consistent this season but as you’re not the first to repeat this, how is his body language different?
sorry the majority of the signings over this most recent window and all of the others since Charlie Wyler signed have been very poor in deed. This year’s signing are all injury prone we didn’t need Sarcevic and all of the centre halves signed are not a patch on Platt.
Andy Cook a poor signing? Diabete is head and shoulders above Platt, we need to try get him permanently
I forgot about Cook but remember I said the majority and you have just mentioned 2 out of how many signings. You into am right in the main. Remember the centre half isn’t even our player and you don’t respond on the players brought in from Stockport Notts County and Mansfield this summer. Very poor.
spot on Jake and thanks for the interesting and pertinent stats
Glad to see other people rate GA like i do. I’ve never warmed to any of our managers since Parky, obviously Stuart was already loved. He seems likeable and honest, not afraid to change his tactics like the other stubborn mules we’ve had. Not sure what people mean about his subs, they always seem early for me. Are we forgetting the likes of Hughes and especially Stuart giving players 5 minutes tom change the game?
Short answer —- No !!