The Coaching System-Chapter 104: League Form - Continuing the Domination

The October fixture list was supposed to be a test.

Five matches. A relentless schedule. Different tactical battles.

Some teams would try to outplay them. Others would sit deep, frustrate, waste time, and look for a lucky moment.

Bradford handled them all.

They didn't just win. They imposed themselves.

Controlled matches. Adapted to every scenario. Found different ways to break teams down.

Some games were dominant, free-flowing performances where Bradford overwhelmed their opponents.

Others? Hard-fought victories. Matches where they had to be patient, grind through resistance, and take their chances when they came.

No matter the challenge, the result was always the same.

Three points. Another win. Another step closer to promotion.

The message was clear—no one could stop them.

Match 1: Lincoln City vs Bradford (October 1, 2024 – Away)

Lincoln didn't come to play football. They came to disrupt.

They pressed hard, made every challenge a physical battle, and slowed the tempo at every opportunity. If they couldn't beat Bradford, they would make sure they suffered for every inch of space.

For 30 minutes, it worked.

Lincoln's midfield sat compact, forcing Vélez and Harper to recycle possession rather than dictate play. Every time Silva or Mensah tried to break forward, a Lincoln defender was there, cutting off the run, forcing a back pass.

But games like these weren't won by patience alone. They needed a moment of quality.

And in the 34th minute, Vélez delivered it.

34' –

A half-second of hesitation from a Lincoln defender. That was all Vélez needed.

A perfectly weighted through ball, threaded between two defenders, cutting Lincoln's backline wide open.

Novak was already in motion. His first touch was immaculate, taking the ball into his stride.

One-on-one with the keeper. No doubt in his mind.

Low. Ruthless. Back of the net.

Bradford had broken the deadlock. Lincoln's defensive shape collapsed with it.

The second half was a different game.

Bradford had control. Total control.

Lincoln no longer pressed with the same intensity. The spaces started appearing. Silva found more of the ball, drifting into central areas, linking up with Vélez and Harper.

Then, in the 67th minute, he finished the job.

67' –

A free-kick. 25 yards out.

Silva stood over the ball, eyes locked on the top corner.

The whistle blew.

One step. Then another. A perfectly struck shot. The ball curled over the wall, dipping viciously at the last moment.

The Lincoln keeper dived. Too late.

The net rippled.

Bradford fans erupted.

The game was over. Lincoln knew it.

The final 20 minutes passed with no resistance.

Another win. Another clean sheet.

Another reminder that this team was built for promotion.

Match 2: Bradford vs Stockport County (October 5, 2024 – Home)

A packed Valley Parade. A rotated squad. Same Bradford dominance.

With a long season ahead, Jake made wholesale changes—resting key players and giving others a chance to shine. Jack Simmons stepped into goal, Noah Fletcher replaced Barnes in defense, and in midfield, Andrés Ibáñez partnered Lewis Chapman. Out wide, Leo Rasmussen and Ethan Walsh were handed rare starts.

But there was no drop in quality.

From the opening whistle, Bradford suffocated Stockport.

Passes zipped through midfield. Runs were sharp. The tempo was relentless.

And in the 14th minute, they broke through.

14' –

It started with Mensah, who had been a nightmare for Stockport's right-back. A burst of acceleration, a drop of the shoulder, and he was gone, racing to the byline before cutting it back across goal.

Costa, instinctive as ever, ghosted between the center-backs and tapped in from six yards.

A simple finish. A ruthless start.

Stockport, to their credit, responded. They didn't crumble. They regrouped, tightened up, and fought back.

And in the 33rd minute, they found a way through.

A deep free-kick was sent into the box. Fletcher rose to clear it, but the ball bounced awkwardly. In the scramble, a Stockport forward reacted quickest, bundling it home from close range.

1-1.

For the first time, Valley Parade went quiet.

Jake didn't react. He simply watched.

How would his rotated side respond?

Second Half – Taking Back Control

Bradford emerged after the break with renewed purpose. The passing was sharper. The pressing was relentless. Ibáñez and Chapman started dominating midfield, shifting the ball quickly and dragging Stockport out of position.

Then came the moment of brilliance.

55' –

A loose ball rolled toward Vélez 30 yards out.

Most players would look to pass.

He had other ideas.

One step forward. A clean, rising strike.

The ball soared through the air, swerving past the outstretched keeper, crashing into the back of the net.

Valley Parade exploded.

Vélez didn't celebrate. Just a nod, a quiet smirk. Job not done.

Stockport had no response. They had spent everything keeping up in the first half. Now?

Now, they were chasing shadows.

Jake made his final changes—bringing on Tobias Richter for Costa and Daniel Lowe to tighten midfield.

Bradford controlled the final 20 minutes, dictating tempo, forcing Stockport to play at their pace.

Then, in stoppage time, they ended it.

90+2' –

A classic counterattack.

Ibáñez won the ball in midfield, played it forward to Richter, who drew in the last defender before sliding a pass across to Novak.

The Czech forward didn't hesitate.

One touch. One powerful finish.

Game over.

Full-Time: Bradford 3-1 Stockport County.

A rotated squad. Same dominance.

Another three points.

Match 3: Crawley Town vs Bradford (October 12, 2024 – Away)

The toughest game of the month.

Crawley defended deep, played physical, and wasted time at every opportunity. They made life miserable for Bradford's midfield, shutting down space and forcing sloppy passes.

Then, a disaster—Crawley took the lead in the 48th minute after a rare defensive lapse.

For the first time in weeks, Bradford trailed.

Jake didn't panic. He made instant changes, pushing Silva into a free role and bringing on Richter.

The response? Immediate.

Novak equalized in the 65th minute, bundling home a scrappy goal after a goalmouth scramble.

Then, in the 88th minute, Vélez delivered the moment of the match—a lofted pass over the top, finding Silva in space.

Silva controlled it on his chest, took a breath, then lashed it into the top corner.

Bradford escaped with a win.

And Jake's fist pump at full-time said everything.

Match 4: Bradford vs Leyton Orient (October 19, 2024 – Home)

This wasn't just a routine league game.

It was a chance to see the future.

Jake completely overhauled the squad, resting nearly every senior player and giving the academy boys their moment.

A gamble? Maybe.

But these were the kinds of games where young talent had to prove themselves.

Bradford's Major Rotations for This Match

Jack Simmons (Goalkeeper) – Given a rare start in place of Okafor.

Noah Fletcher & Marco Bianchi (Center-Backs) – The young duo paired together for the first time.

Lewis Hart & Julian Rojas (Full-Backs) – More academy blood in the defensive line.

Lewis Chapman & Santiago Vélez (Midfield) – Chapman was given the armband, Vélez told to dictate the tempo.

Leo Rasmussen & Ethan Walsh (Wingers) – A full academy wing partnership.

Tobias Richter & Diego Castellón (Strikers) – Both needed minutes, especially Castellón, who was still working his way back to form.

No Novak. No Silva. No Mensah. No Harper.

This was the next generation's time to shine.

First Half

Leyton Orient set up deep, expecting an easy night against an inexperienced Bradford side.

They were wrong.

Bradford came out flying, pressing aggressively, moving the ball quickly. Vélez, despite being just 18, looked like a seasoned veteran, dictating the tempo, spraying passes across the pitch.

Then, in the 8th minute, Bradford struck.

Harper wasn't even supposed to play in this match. Jake had planned to rest him completely.

But a minor injury to Ibáñez forced him into action at the last second—and he made the most of it.

A slick passing move saw Vélez and Chapman work the ball upfield before Harper drove forward and unleashed a thunderous strike from 20 yards.

The net rippled violently. The Valley Parade crowd erupted.

The kids weren't just here to take part.

They were here to dominate.

Leyton Orient barely had time to recover before they were punished again.

This time, it was pure striker's instinct from Richter.

A floated free-kick from Chapman into the box led to chaos—the ball bouncing awkwardly off a defender.

Richter, always alert, reacted first, smashing home from close range.

2-0.

Bradford were in complete control.

Leyton Orient had no answer.

Second Half – The Academy Takes Over

The second half was about game management and finishing the job.

Bradford slowed the tempo but still looked dangerous every time they broke forward.

Then came the goal everyone in the stadium wanted.

The 19-year-old Danish winger Leo Rasmussen had been waiting for this moment.

He had watched Silva and Mensah dominate all season, biding his time.

And in the 64th minute, he delivered.

Cutting inside from the left, he skipped past one defender, then another, then unleashed a curling effort that sailed into the far corner.

A dream goal.

His celebration? Falling to his knees, fists clenched, overwhelmed by the moment.

The Valley Parade crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Jake, watching from the touchline, just smiled.

The next generation was here.

Just when it seemed like the match would finish quietly, another academy graduate made his mark.

Walsh, playing on the right after Rasmussen was subbed off, picked up a loose ball just outside the box.

One touch to control.

One quick look up.

Then—a driven shot that squeezed past the keeper's near post.

4-0.

Another academy goal.

Another statement victory.

Full-Time: Bradford 4-0 Leyton Orient

The kids didn't just survive.

They thrived.

This wasn't just three points. This was a glimpse into the future.

Match 5: Shrewsbury Town vs Bradford (October 26, 2024 – Away)

A defensive grind.

Shrewsbury parked the bus, refusing to let Bradford play. They defended in numbers, wasted time, and waited for set-piece opportunities.

Jake remained patient.

The breakthrough came in the 74th minute—Costa peeling off his marker, receiving a sharp pass from Vélez, and smashing it into the net.

Bradford shut the game down. Another 1-0 masterclass.

Another clean sheet.

League Table – Bradford On Top

By the end of October, the table wasn't even close.

Bradford City – 14 Wins, 0 Draws, 0 Losses – 42 Points – GD +31Barnsley – 10 Wins, 2 Draws, 2 Losses – 32 PointsBirmingham – 9 Wins, 3 Draws, 2 Losses – 30 PointsBlackpool – 9 Wins, 2 Draws, 3 Losses – 29 PointsPeterborough – 8 Wins, 3 Draws, 3 Losses – 27 Points

Bradford had opened a 10-point gap.

Their goal difference was better than anyone's total goals conceded.

This wasn't just promotion form. This was historical dominance.

Press Conference – "Is Bradford Too Good For League One?"

The room was packed. Cameras rolled. Journalists didn't hold back.

"Jake, 14 wins in 14 games. 38 goals scored. Seven conceded. Is it fair to say Bradford is too good for this league?"

Jake smirked slightly, leaning into the mic.

"I don't deal in 'too good.' We play football. We win games. That's the job."

A follow-up came instantly.

"The Championship is already being discussed. Do you feel like your team belongs there already?"

Jake shook his head.

"We haven't won anything yet. The moment you start thinking about next season, you lose focus on this one."

Another reporter jumped in.

"With all due respect, you're on pace for 100+ points. If this isn't Championship quality, what is?"

Jake's expression remained unreadable.

"Let's talk again in May."

Media Reaction – The Debate Begins

Sky Sports Debate Panel:

"Is this the most dominant League One team ever?"

"Jake Wilson has built a machine. Nobody in this league is on their level."

"They're playing Championship-level football already."

BBC Football Report:

"If Bradford keeps this up, we could be witnessing history."

"Their attacking numbers are ridiculous."

"This isn't a promotion battle—it's a coronation."

Fan Café Explodes – "We're Going Up!"

Bradford's online fan community was on fire.

"14 WINS OUT OF 14!!! We're going to walk this league!"

"We might be the best League One team ever. Just give us the trophy now."

"Forget promotion—we need to prepare for the Championship NOW!"

"I trust Jake, but I hope we don't get complacent. Still a long way to go."

Some fans even joked about setting point records.

Others?

They were already thinking bigger.

"Premier League in two years?"

For Jake Wilson, it was just noise.

They hadn't won anything yet.

And next?

A bigger challenge awaited.

A Premier League opponent.

Arsenal.

Bradford had already taken down Fulham. They had beaten Leeds.

Now, they were about to face their toughest test yet.

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And Jake Wilson was ready.