The Coaching System

August 14, 2024 – Valley Parade

Bradford City vs. Crawley Town

The floodlights glowed over Valley Parade as the players stepped onto the pitch.

A cup match under the lights—the start of another journey.

Jake Wilson stood on the touchline, arms crossed, watching his squad warm up.

This wasn't just another game.

This was the EFL Cup.

A competition where lower-league clubs had the chance to test themselves against the elite.

And for Jake?

It was a chance to build momentum.

The message to his team was clear.

"We don't ease into this. We don't give them hope. We set the tone from the first whistle."

The players understood.

Bradford wasn't here to just participate.

They were here to win.

Pre-Match & Tactical Setup

Jake Wilson knew how to approach cup competitions.

Rotation was necessary, but momentum mattered more.

The squad was strong enough to handle Crawley Town, but complacency?

That was the real danger.

So, six changes. Fresh legs, but the same intensity.

Starting XI – Bradford City (4-4-2 Formation)

Goalkeeper: Jack Simmons

The young shot-stopper was given a chance to prove himself.

Right-Back: Julian Rojas

Quick, composed on the ball, and looking to stake his claim as the first-choice right-back.

Center-Back: Marco Bianchi

Young, fearless, and improving with every game.

Center-Back: Nathan Barnes (C)

The leader. The voice at the back. His job? Keep the defense locked in.

Left-Back: Lewis Hart

A natural center-back, but Jake trusted him to handle defensive duties on the left.

Central Midfield: Santiago Vélez

The maestro. Everything ran through him.

Central Midfield: Elliot Harper

The engine. Covered every blade of grass, kept the press alive.

Right Midfield: Renan Silva

Explosive, unpredictable, and the most dangerous man on the pitch.

Left Midfield: Raphael Mensah

Direct, fast, and constantly looking to cut inside and create.

Striker: Tobias Richter

A finisher. Lethal in front of goal, waiting for his moment.

Striker: Guilherme Costa

Poacher mentality. If there was a loose ball in the box, it was his.

Tactical Approach –

Jake stepped up to the tactics board, his coaching staff gathered around.

He kept it simple. Direct. Clear.

"Control the tempo."

Vélez and Harper were the heart of this team.

If they dictated the game, Crawley wouldn't get a touch.

"Stretch the play."

Silva and Mensah were two of the fastest players on the pitch.

Their job? Stay wide, pull defenders out of position, and create space.

"Early aggression."

No easing into the game.

Press high, force mistakes, and score before Crawley could settle.

Jake turned to the squad, his expression serious.

"We are the better team. But we prove it on the pitch, not in the lineup."

The system prediction had Bradford as heavy favorites.

But football wasn't won on statistics.

It was won by executing the plan.

And they were about to execute it perfectly.

First Half – Fast Start, Instant Control

From the moment the referee blew his whistle, Bradford City imposed themselves.

They didn't just control the ball.

They dominated the rhythm of the game.

Vélez and Harper dictated the tempo, moving Crawley's midfield around like pieces on a chessboard.

Bradford knocked the ball around with confidence, forcing Crawley to retreat deeper and deeper.

Within the first five minutes, Silva had already embarrassed his marker twice—a quick step-over, a burst of acceleration, and a cross whipped dangerously into the box.

Crawley scrambled to clear, but it was only a matter of time.

The pressure kept building.

A half-chance for Mensah, a curling shot from Vélez that forced the goalkeeper into action.

Then—the breakthrough.

12' –

Vélez.

The Colombian playmaker picked up the ball just inside Crawley's half, lifting his head, scanning the pitch.

He spotted the opening.

A small gap between Crawley's center-backs. A moment of hesitation.

And in that moment—Richter moved.

The young striker darted between the defenders, perfectly timing his run.

Vélez didn't hesitate.

A perfectly weighted pass, curled into the space behind the backline.

It cut Crawley's defense apart.

Richter ghosted in behind, his first touch immaculate, setting himself up in stride.

The keeper rushed out, arms spread wide.

But it was too late.

Richter stayed ice-cold, picked his spot, and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Bradford 1-0 up.

No wild celebrations. No over-the-top reactions.

Just pure execution.

Jake clapped from the touchline, turning to Paul Robert, his assistant.

"That's how you take control of a game."

And Bradford was just getting started.

Bradford Relentless –

Bradford refused to slow down.

Every attack was sharper, every pass more precise.

Crawley were already pinned back, but now, they were barely holding on.

The warning signs were everywhere.

In the 20th minute, Costa came within inches of making it two.

Harper, dictating play in midfield, clipped a delicate pass over the defense.

Costa took it in stride, shrugged off his marker, and fired toward goal.

The Crawley keeper reacted just in time, diving at full stretch to tip it wide.

Bradford kept coming.

Mensah was tormenting the left-back, cutting inside, weaving past defenders, testing the keeper with a low drive.

Crawley's defense was cracking.

And in the 30th minute, it finally broke.

30' –

Harper felt the game slowing for just a second—a moment of hesitation from Crawley.

That was all he needed.

He shifted his weight, let the ball roll across his body, then whipped a lofted pass over the top.

It wasn't just a hopeful ball.

It was calculated. Precise. Perfectly arced.

The Crawley defense turned in panic, scrambling.

But Mensah?

He was already gone.

The winger timed his movement perfectly, ghosting in behind as if he had seen the pass before it even left Harper's boot.

The ball dropped just inside the penalty area, bouncing once.

The keeper hesitated, unsure whether to come or stay.

The defender closest to Mensah lunged, but it was too late.

He didn't let it bounce twice.

One step.

One crisp, first-time volley.

Pure connection.

The ball rocketed past the keeper, smashing into the back of the net before anyone could react.

2-0.

Valley Parade exploded.

Mensah wheeled away in celebration, arms outstretched, grinning.

His teammates rushed to him, slapping his back, ruffling his hair.

On the touchline, Jake turned to Paul Robert. No emotion, just purpose.

"We end this before halftime."

Robert nodded.

Bradford were in control.

Halftime Score: Bradford 2-0 Crawley Town

As the players jogged off, Crawley looked defeated.

Bradford had been ruthless.

And Jake?

He wanted more.

Second Half –

Bradford stepped back onto the pitch with complete control.

There was no need to force the issue. No need for reckless aggression.

This was about maturity—closing the game on their terms.

Jake made his adjustments early:

Andrés Ibáñez replaced Vélez – A composed presence in midfield to control the game.

Lukas Novak replaced Costa – A more physical striker to hold up play and bully defenders.

Crawley, knowing this was their last chance to salvage something, threw bodies forward.

It was a gamble.

One that backfired instantly.

63' –

Crawley's midfield had been under siege all game.

They were exhausted, their legs heavy, their passes sluggish.

Harper sensed it.

As soon as Crawley's number six hesitated on the ball, Harper lunged in.

A crunching tackle—clean, but ruthless.

The ball spilled loose.

Novak was already moving.

Harper reacted instantly, toe-poking a short pass into space.

Novak took over.

One touch to control.

A flick past the scrambling defender.

Now it was just him and the keeper.

No hesitation.

A thunderous shot, struck low and hard, drilled past the outstretched gloves before the keeper could even react.

The net bulged.

3-0.

Crawley's resistance was over.

Novak turned, jogging back toward midfield without celebration—just purpose.

Bradford's bench didn't explode in cheers.

They expected this.

On the touchline, Jake's arms remained crossed.

He called out one last instruction.

"Don't stop playing."

Because this wasn't just about winning.

It was about setting the standard for the entire season.

Final Whistle –

The referee raised the whistle to his lips.

A sharp blast.

Bradford 3-0 winners.

No late drama. No unnecessary stress. Just control from start to finish.

Crawley's players walked off shaking their heads, defeated.

Bradford's?

They barely looked tired.

Novak jogged over to Jake, wiping sweat from his brow. "Felt too easy," he muttered.

Jake didn't respond immediately.

He just glanced up at the scoreboard—3-0.

Exactly how it should have been.

The Walk to the Tunnel

As the players clapped toward the home fans, Jake took his time heading toward the tunnel.

The atmosphere inside Valley Parade wasn't just celebratory.

It was expectant.

They had seen great football.

They had seen a team in control.

And they were starting to believe this wasn't just another cup run.

This could be something more.

Jake didn't bask in it. There were bigger games ahead.

But still—this team was starting to make people take notice.

Post-Match Press Conference –

The media room was buzzing by the time Jake sat down.

The first question was predictable.

"Jake, is this the start of a deep EFL Cup run?"

He smirked, adjusting the microphone. "One game at a time. But we don't play in these competitions to lose."

No arrogance. No big promises. Just the truth.

Bradford were here to compete.

Another journalist leaned forward. "You rotated the squad today but still dominated. Does this show your team's depth?"

Jake nodded. "That's the point of having a squad. It's not just about eleven players—it's about twenty. Everyone is ready to step up."

Another hand went up.

"You've been vocal about challenging in multiple competitions. Does a win like this reinforce that belief?"

Jake didn't hesitate.

"We have high standards. Whether it's the league, the cup, or a training session, the expectation doesn't change. We show up, we perform, and we win."

No excuses. No lowered expectations.

This team was built to compete.

And anyone who didn't believe that?

They would soon.

Jake stood up, nodded to the room, and walked out.

There was nothing else to say.