The Coaching System

Its Matchday at Craven Cottage as Bradford City stepped onto the pitch, facing their biggest test of the preseason so far—a match against Fulham, a well-established Premier League side.

Jake Wilson stood on the touchline, arms crossed, scanning the field. This match wasn't just about winning—it was about seeing how his squad performed under real pressure.

A blue screen flickered before his eyes.

[Ding! Opponent Analysis – Fulham]

[Strengths: Possession-Based Play, Strong Full-Back Overlaps, Midfield Control]

[Weaknesses: Struggles Against Organized Defenses, Slow Transition to Defend Counters]

Jake had expected this. He knew they couldn't go toe-to-toe with a team of Fulham's quality. Instead, he set up a defensive 5-3-2 system, prioritizing compactness and counter-attacks.

Saidi, Barnes, and Hale made up the defensive wall in the center.

Richards and Taylor were placed as wing-backs, responsible for both defending and launching quick counters.

Carter and Lowe controlled the midfield, trying to disrupt Fulham's rhythm.

Novak and Thompson started up front, tasked with making fast runs whenever Bradford won possession.

Jake turned to his assistant, Paul Roberts.

"They're going to control possession," Jake said. "Let them have the ball, but we hit them hard on the break."

Paul nodded. "We'll need Okafor at his best today."

Jake smirked. "He'll get plenty of practice."

The referee blew the whistle.

Kickoff.

Fulham's Early Domination

From the start, Fulham dictated the tempo.

Their midfielders moved the ball quickly, looking to break through Bradford's low defensive block.

Their full-backs bombed forward, putting immediate pressure on Bradford's wing-backs.

Their striker, a tall and physical target man, bullied Barnes and Saidi, trying to create space for his teammates.

By the 10th minute, Fulham already had their first big chance.

A cross from the right found their striker inside the box. He rose above Barnes and powered a header toward the goal.

But Okafor was ready.

The Nigerian goalkeeper reacted instantly, diving to his left and getting a strong hand to the ball, pushing it away.

Jake clapped on the sidelines.

"That's it, Okafor!"

Despite Fulham's dominance, Bradford weren't just sitting back.

In the 17th minute, they found their first real counter-attacking opportunity.

Lowe intercepted a pass in midfield and immediately fed the ball to Carter, who turned and played a quick through-ball to Novak.

The Czech winger sprinted down the left, cutting inside to create space.

He had options—he could pass to Thompson in the box or take the shot himself.

He chose the latter.

Novak fired a curling shot toward the bottom corner…

But the Fulham keeper reacted quickly, diving to make the save.

Jake sighed. "Should've squared it to Thompson."

Paul nodded. "Novak's rushing his decisions again."

It was still 0-0, but at least Bradford had shown they could threaten on the counter.

For the next 20 minutes, it was all Fulham.

Their midfield controlled possession, forcing Bradford deeper.

Their wingers kept delivering dangerous crosses, putting the defense under pressure.

Bradford's players were forced to chase and defend, struggling to maintain structure.

In the 25th minute, Fulham created their best chance yet.

A perfectly placed through-ball split Bradford's defense, putting Fulham's striker one-on-one with Okafor.

Jake tensed.

Okafor rushed off his line, closing the angle.

The striker took the shot—but Okafor made himself big, blocking the attempt with his chest!

The ball deflected away, and Saidi quickly cleared it out of danger.

Jake exhaled in relief.

Paul shook his head. "We're getting lucky."

"We're also defending well," Jake countered. "They haven't broken through yet."

By the 35th minute, Jake started noticing a clear weakness.

Bradford's midfield was struggling to keep up with Fulham's pace.

Carter was getting physically dominated, losing duels too easily.

Lowe was giving the ball away under pressure.

Richards was getting overrun on the right side.

Jake gritted his teeth. This was exposing a major flaw in his squad.

[Ding! Tactical Weakness Identified]

[Issue: Lack of Physicality in Midfield]

[Solution: Consider Signing a Strong Central Midfielder]

Jake made a mental note.

Before the season started, he needed a tough, ball-winning midfielder.

As halftime approached, Fulham kept pushing forward.

42nd minute – Their left winger cut inside and fired a shot, but Okafor made another strong save.

44th minute – Saidi made a crucial block inside the box, denying a close-range effort.

Bradford held on.

The referee blew the whistle for halftime.

Score at halftime: 0-0.

Jake walked into the dressing room, his mind already analyzing adjustments.

The players sat down, exhausted from defending for 45 minutes.

"We're doing well," Jake said, pacing in front of them. "They haven't broken through. Okafor's been excellent. Saidi and Barnes are keeping the defense tight."

He paused. "But we need to be smarter. Our counters aren't dangerous enough. We're giving the ball away too cheaply."

He turned to Carter.

"You're getting bullied in midfield. When you get the ball, move it faster. Don't wait for them to close you down."

Carter nodded, still catching his breath.

Jake then looked at his bench. He needed fresh legs in attack.

After a brief thought, he made his first change.

"Walsh, you're in. Carter, you're off."

The 17-year-old winger looked up in shock. "Me, boss?"

Jake nodded. "I need more pace on the right. Get forward whenever we counter."

Walsh took a deep breath and nodded determinedly.

Jake clapped his hands. "Alright. Keep it tight at the back, and when we attack, commit to it. One goal could win this."

The players stood up, ready for the second half.