Written by Tim Penfold, Alex Scott and Jason McKeown (images by John Dewhirst)

In part one of Bradford City squad assessment, we looked at the backline of City’s expected 3-4-3 by spotlighting the goalkeepers and centre backs.

Part two saw us move up to the middle part of the 3-4-3, with a deep dive of the wing back and central midfield options.

Let’s finish the squad evaluation by looking at the players who will expect to line up in the front three.

Calum Kavanagh

By Tim

It was a somewhat mixed season for Calum Kavanagh last campaign. He’d come off an impressive end to 2023/24, and started as first choice in Graham Alexander’s 3-5-2 alongside Andy Cook. But while the effort was there the performances weren’t quite up to the same standard and the goals just didn’t come.

You could see the frustration building, and it started impacting the team – see the unnecessary disallowed goal against Gillingham, where he didn’t need to touch the ball, as the prime example.

The switch to 3-4-3 was a mixed blessing for him – it took away his role as Cook’s partner, but he was also capable of playing as a wide forward in the system, which he did impressively at Stockport in the EFL Trophy. The goals started to come too, but it was the injury to Andy Cook which transformed him. He wasn’t a like for like replacement, but his willingness to battle and chase lost causes into the channels made him an ideal option up top, and he started picking up key goals.

Winners against Carlisle and Morecambe, a brace at home to Colchester, the game-killing second against Crewe and a somewhat overshadowed but brilliant poacher’s hat-trick against Swindon. But for a fine bit of goalkeeping it would’ve been him who was the hero against Fleetwood as well.

This season looks like one with some potential. More forwards have been signed, but Stephen Humphrys and Will Swan could easily end up in wide roles, while there is a question mark over Andy Cook as he returns from injury. Kavanagh could end up in the same role again, tirelessly chasing things down and popping up with key goals. If he wants to go higher, he needs to score a bit more, but he’s still a capable forward.

What a good season looks like: He gets a good amount of games, works very hard and pops up with key goals even if he isn’t prolific. Jordy Hiwula in 2016/17.

What a great season looks like: He has a breakout campaign, establishing himself as first choice and becoming a consistent goal-getter. Nahki Wells in 2012/13.

Andy Cook

By Alex

How must the last eight months have felt for Andy Cook? Undeniably one of the club’s greatest ever strikers, three goals behind Frank O’Rourke for the Number Two spot on the club’s top scorer list, hobbled off on New Year’s Day against Barrow with a torn ACL and had to sit on the sidelines for the remainder, seeing his teammates deliver the results, and the promotion, they’d failed to find with him. What’s more, they did so in a completely new formation and style of play that very obviously don’t suit his skillset.

Now he is trying to return to fitness, without a pre-season, in a new division in which his record in to date is, let’s say, less complete than in League Two. He is simultaneously the most iconic and important player at the club over the past five years, one of the club’s all time greats, and also entering the final year of his deal without a guaranteed place (or even a role) in the first team, turning 35 coming off an ACL injury.

Personally, I am pretty bullish on Cook’s prospects this season. I think there is certainly something in the Ewing Theory suggestions – it’s pretty unarguable the team’s best performances came without him. But he’s as proven a goalscorer as there is in a team that will need all the help it can get.

There is definitely a key role for a committed goalscorer like Cook this year, even if it is coming off the bench for some of it. However committed they might be to the high press, Cook as a goalscorer is on a completely different level to everyone else in the squad. Even with a slow re-introduction into the team, you wouldn’t bet against him reaching double figures this year.

What a good season looks like: Whilst maybe not re-asserting himself as the player everyone else revolves around, he carves out a clear role for himself as a source of goals in a team that needs it. Jamie Proctor in 2015/16.

What a great season looks like: He arrives midway through the season and quickly establishes himself as the focal point of an already good team, showing his goalscoring prowess in League Two can translate to this level. Charlie Wyke in 2016/17

Antoni Sarcevic

By Jason

The man who always gets promoted from League Two did it again. Did he even touch the ball? Who cares. Sarcevic 90+6 has rightly gone down in folklore. He never needs to kick a ball again for City and his cult hero status is still assured.

But what does come next is interesting. Here is a player who has spent his career inspiring teams to rise from the depths, before regularly departing and finding another club to pull out of the mud. It’s a remarkable pattern that means he has a collection of medals and a string of supporter bases who love him. But maybe this time Sarc might want to avoid the rescue act and, you know, stay to enjoy the legacy he’s helped to build?

You have to go back to 2021/22 for the last time Sarcevic played at this level. In October of that season, he swapped League One Bolton for non-league Stockport to liberate another under-performing club.  The last time before that he played in League One, Sarcevic was relegated with Plymouth. A couple of years before that, he was at League One Shrewsbury and had his contract cancelled at Christmas time so he could move to then-League Two Argyle.

The point is Sarcevic’s more recent experiences of playing in League One haven’t gone great. And maybe that’s why he quickly jumps at opportunities to drop down a level to hoist another club upwards. Or maybe…well, complete the thought yourself. I don’t really want to say the unsayable about whether he has the ability to perform at this level.

Sarc looks so settled at City, and in Alexander he is playing for the same manager as the last time he truly thrived at this level (Fleetwood mid 2010s). So maybe this time Sarcevic will stick around and show his mettle at this higher level. And with it, further cement his Valley Parade legacy.

What a good season looks like: Plays well when fit, scoring goals and taking on a commendable level of responsibility that makes him popular with the crowd. Antoni Sarcevic in 2024/25.

What a great season looks like: He absolutely excels at this higher level and pushes himself towards all-time hero status with his bravery, leadership, skill, important goals and never-say-die attitude. Dean Windass in 1999/00.   

Stephen Humphrys

By Jason

If there’s a headline signing this summer, Stephen Humphrys is probably it. The 27-year-old forward turned down a seemingly attractive offer to stay at Barnsley, preferring instead to move up to West Yorkshire. It represents a genuine coup by the club. A statement of ambition and financial muscle.

And it could that in Humphrys we catch the wave at just the right time. Truth was a large part of his 12 months at Oakwell were underwhelming. He was asked to lead the line down the middle, and by the end of March has netted just four goals from 36 appearances for the Tykes. A late season change of Barnsley manager saw Humphrys moved to wide forward and he absolutely thrived. Five goals in his final five matches, with a string of new admirers.

It seems that Humphrys has unlocked something, and if City have been paying attention and go onto use him in the same way, this could be very exciting.

There is caution to be sounded though. Humphrys has spent much of his career showing promise but not always living up to his potential. Bradford City are already his 10th different club and Wigan is the only place he’s stayed at for longer than 12 months.

Perhaps Valley Parade is the big stage he’s needed to really settle and thrive (he did score two brilliant goals for Southend United on this ground back in 2019). Perhaps Alexander is the manager to bring out the best in him.

This is a very exciting player, but he definitely comes with a few question marks.

What a good season looks like: He produces several excellent displays but has a few bad days at the office, with doubts about his overall end product. Billy Clarke in 2015/16.

What a great season looks like: He thrives in the City forward line, impressing with his dribbling ability, skill and eye for a long range goal, winning adulation from the stands. Robbie Blake in 1998/99.

Tyler Smith

By Tim

It really does look like it’s over at Valley Parade for Tyler Smith. He arrived with much fanfare in the summer of 2023 as the quick man to partner Andy Cook, but apart from a promising month or so after Graham Alexander took over, the pairing never really worked.

Both wanted to be the main goalscorer, and sacrificing Cook for Smith was never a good idea.

Last season went badly. He was already behind Kavanagh in the pecking order, and soon fell behind Olly Sanderson too in the race to partner Cook. He had one league start, at home to Doncaster, and was anonymous.

The shift to 3-4-3 completely killed his chances, as he lacked the all-round game to be the lone striker and the creativity to play wide, and off he went to Barrow. He did OK there – five goals, and some interest from the club in a permanent move – but never well enough to get back into Graham Alexander’s thoughts.

It’s clear that his future lies away from City – maybe a revitalising loan spell at Swindon would be best for his career?

What a good season looks like: He gets a move away, regular football and some goals. Michael Symes 2006/07.

What a great season looks like: He leaves on loan but is so prolific that it makes Alexander look foolish. The big debate in December is “should we recall Smith?”. Eoin Doyle in 2019/20 or Jake Young in 2023/24.

Bobby Pointon

By Tim

What more can we say about Bradford City’s wonderkid? He’s one of our own, and last season established himself as a key part of a promotion winning team, through promising cameos off the bench early on, then making himself undroppable on the left of the front three from December onwards.

There were key moments and goals – the record-breaking early opener against Crewe at home and the late winner at Bromley stand out – but more impressive was his consistency. When Bradford City were very good, Pointon was one of a number of good players. When we weren’t, he stood out as the best and dragged us onwards.

Between Barrow at home in December 2024 and Salford away at the beginning of March 2025, his Fotmob rating dropped below 7 twice in sixteen games – and one of those was Newport, when he was sacrificed early because of the red card to Jack Shepherd. He struggled with fitness at the end of the season, but still picked up key goals.

This season he gets to try himself at a higher level. He looked like he belonged here against Birmingham in the Football League Trophy, and he’ll get the chance to prove it over a full season.

After that, who knows? The sky is the limit for Bobby, but hopefully he can keep growing with us for a bit longer.

What a good season looks like: He’s a regular in the team and a consistent threat to opponents, picking up key goals and assists over the season. Bobby Pointon in 2024/25.

What a great season looks like: He goes up a level and is the best part of a flourishing attack, being linked repeatedly with Championship clubs. Billy Clarke in 2014/15.

Will Swan

By Alex

The 24-year-old Swan joins City from recently relegated Crawley for whom he scored seven goals last year in League One. He moved to Crawley on deadline day last August from Mansfield, where he scored nineteen goals over two years at a rate of 1 in every 3 in League Two, helping them to promotion, including a goal and an assist in the shellacking at Valley Parade. 

All of which is to say that he looks likely to be a strong squad player for City, without necessarily demanding a first team place on day one. It’s clear that, at least in the initial absence of Cook, Graham Alexander and co are looking to build on their success from last season sourcing goals as a collective, and not through one player, and Swan looks like a safe bet to do that.

Crudely, if he scored seven for relegated Crawley, he’s a decent bet for something in that range this season, especially as he is entering the prime of his career.

To begin the season at least, he looks in competition principally with Kavanagh and Humphrys for the role through the middle, though has played some of preseason off the left in the role held last year by Bobby Pointon. And it will likely be in this quartet where he will share his minutes this season. He’s signed a two-year contract at City, with an option for one more, and came with a five-figure price tag, so it’s safe to say the club rate him. City will likely rely on him for approaching 10 goals over the season.

What a good season looks like: Solid contributor in the front line, chipping in with key goals from out wide and through the middle. Gareth Evans in 2009/10.

What a great season looks like: After starting in a rotation, finds form and makes a starting role his own, becoming a key part of the team’s forward line for this season and beyond. Nahki Wells in 2011/12.

Harry Ibbotson

By Jason

It was a kitchen sink moment, and like most kitchen sink moments it sadly didn’t deliver rewards, but in those final minutes of City’s EFL Trophy semi final loss to Birmingham City, Harry Ibbotson got to make his Bantams debut. More than 27,000 fans were present, so it was certainly no low-key introduction. A taste of what could be to come, that will have left the young forward thirsty for more.

At 19 and with a one-year contract signed this summer, it’s definitely a big season for Ibbotson. He will obviously hope for much more gametime, but it might take a step back to move forwards. Competition up front is fierce, and the fact City take the EFL Trophy as seriously as they do suggests we won’t see Ibbotson in first team action anytime soon. So a loan move to League Two or the National League would seem to be a reasonable target for all concerned.

Half a season elsewhere could bring a chance to shine so brightly it’s noticed back at BD8, and perhaps it will give Ibbotson the sort of opportunities Bobby Pointon was starting to get at the same age. It’s clearly not easy, but he’s got every chance of this being some sort of breakthrough year. We’re all rooting for you, Harry.

What a good season looks like: He impresses enough on the sidelines to get a chance and notches a few games under his belt that point to a brighter future. Oli McBurnie in 2014/15.

What a great season looks like: He gets a chance and makes an instant impression, scoring memorable goals, pushing to be a regular and becoming the new darling of the Kop. Danny Forrest in 2002/03.

George Lapslie

By Alex

What a moment that was. “Lapslie!… Deflected!… And in!!!” Treat yourself. It’s been a long summer. Whatever happens from here on out in Lapslie’s City career, he’s always going to have that moment just like Garry Thompson, James Hanson, Nigel Pepper, Nahki Wells, Rory McArdle, Carl McHugh, David Wetherall, James Hanson again, Rory McArdle again, Andy Halliday, Nahki Wells that other time, Garry Thompson again, Robbie Blake, James Hanson again have theirs.

Right, erm, what was I talking about again? Oh, Lapslie. Yes. At this stage, it’s looking like he is set to be rotating with Antoni Sarcevic, the phantom scorer/competitor/sharer of Lapslie’s golden moment last season on the right-hand side of the front three. He seems to have been recruited specifically for that rotation with Sarcevic, someone he shares lots of traits with, especially the eye for goal, coming up big in a couple of games down the stretch last season.

Combined with a pacier, trickier option on the left (Pointon, Wright or one of the forwards), Lapslie and Sarcevic both present a more efficient, powerful interpretation of the number 10. Given the absence of a (fit) 20-goal a year striker (something which as Ali Maxwell pointed out is becoming mythical; there were only two of those in the entire EFL last season), City are going to rely on goals from all over the pitch, and they will be looking for Lapslie to continue popping up in big moments to steal points like he did in his first six months at City.

He’s likely never going to be a focal point in this team, but as he’s already shown, he’s a valuable squad player they can rely on in points throughout the season. Just one more time.

What a good season looks like: Consistent squad player, stepping up in big moments regularly to help the team over the line. Alan Connell in 2012/13.

What a great season looks like: Able to make the step up to League One finding more consistency when he does get his opportunities, edging out his competition for a more prominent role as a key goalscoring contributor. Billy Clarke in 2016/17.

Adam Wilson

By Jason

You can only feel for the guy. Two years ago, City offered him an opportunity he couldn’t turn down, but by swapping the Welsh Premier League for Valley Parade he was also entering a difficult environment where a manager (Mark Hughes) was under pressure and the club had no real plan of what to do after soon sacking him. Wilson just about got a chance under Hughes, impressed under caretaker manager Kevin McDonald, but has barely figured under Alexander.

After spending almost the entirety of 2024/25 back at The New Saints, Wilson returns with 12 months on his contract but the realistic-if-disheartening words of his manager that he needs to find a new club. Cue a pre-season on the fringes, not even getting off the bench in friendlies. And really, it would be something of a surprise if we ever see Wilson in a City shirt again.

Stranger things have of course happened, but Wilson goes into this campaign looking for a satisfactory exit strategy. Hopefully, his gets a fairer crack of the whip somewhere else.

What a good season looks like: He does get some EFL Trophy time and catches the eye of another EFL club, leading to a move that gets his English football career up and running. Gareth Grant in 1998/99.

What a great season looks like: Something dramatic happens like an unexpected change of manager, giving him an opportunity that he grasps to prove his worth to the squad. Ben Muirhead in 2004/05.

Categories: Opinion, Previews, Uncategorized

Tags: 2025/26, BCAFC