Bradford City boss needs time to assess squad and tactics

But he insists it is not necessarily an advantage that he only has a pair of Saturday games, at home to Barrow and away to Notts County, to initially worry about, as he feels matches are the best way to learn about his players.

And given he has already suggested he will be looking to move some of the squad on in January, that means less fixtures to help him make a decision on that.

He told the T&A: “You learn from every part of the experience, whether that be meetings, gym sessions or being out on the grass in training.

“But probably the biggest learning experience is what happens in games, because that’s where you’re stripped naked as a professional.

“You’re in those pressure moments and it’s in games where you have to really perform.

“We won’t get a clearer picture of what we (Alexander and his assistant Chris Lucketti) have within the squad until we get two, three or four games in.

The Bantams have had plenty of midweek fixtures already this season, but their first meaningful one under Graham Alexander does not come until November 28, against Forest Green. (Image: Thomas Gadd.)

“We’ve watched a few games already, so we’ve got a general idea of the quality we have, but we’re going to ask the lads different things and put different challenges on, so we’ll see how they respond to that.”

The next two months could act as something of an audition period for several Bantams players, with Alexander confessing: “You’ve got to assess the players you have in front of you when you arrive in mid-season.

“You can look at upcoming transfer windows, but you might end up overlooking someone you’ve already got in the building.

“There’s good quality in this squad, but it’s about getting the balance right.

“You want strong competition, but not too much, because everyone needs to be motivated and feeling like they’ve got a chance to play.

“Sometimes you have too many numbers and that can impact that feeling.

“In January, it could be a case of moving people out, rather than bringing people in, to make it a tighter, more competitive, squad.

“I’ve spoken to (City CEO) Ryan (Sparks) about what we might need in January, but there’s no way I can put my finger on that yet without giving an opportunity to the boys that are already here.”

City star Jamie Walker said ahead of the new appointment that he was excited for the incoming boss to bring new direction and ideas to the squad.

But given the Bantams had been learning a style of play under Mark Hughes for nearly two years, would it be wise for Alexander to completely rip things up and start again?

Bradford City are 16th and have underwhelmed this season, but it hasn't been all bad, and they only sit six points off the play-offs as it stands. (Image: Tom Pearson.)

He told the T&A: “That’s the only situation where the past probably does impact what you do as a new manager.

“If you watch the team under the previous manager and see they’ve got the potential to do certain things, you’re going to want to protect that.

“Throwing everything out of the window and starting again is a long process, so if there’s a lot of good stuff already there, you’re trimming the amount of work you have to do as a new manager.

“You can remind the players that ‘this is really good, so is this, but we just need to improve this’.

“You have to assess what’s there, it’s not just a case of saying, ‘this is my way’.

“We need to get a big group of people to work in the same way, but assess where the pre-existing strengths and qualities lie first.”