The Voice - Match preview #22: Bradford City vs Port Vale Monday 29th December 2025 7.45pm

Add Colchester to that list aswell. They were bottom in horrendous form.

 

For those interested and not able to get there

 

With 4 games in 10 days I expect GA will make some changes tonight but I wouldn’t want to shuffle the pack too much.

I’d go for:

Walker

Neufville
Baldwin
Wright
Tilt
Touray

Power
Metcalfe

Lapslie
Wright

Humprhys

 

This isn't a Vertu Trophy game.
He won't tinker with a winning formula unless forced through injury.

 

Think Lapslie is done. Sarcevic will start IMO - more so Bobby is probably out. Leigh more likely to get a shirt/place on bench.

Id definately bring Josh back in at RWB and Tilt at LCB though. Rest picks itself.

 

Why would Sarce be out?

 

I can see 2-3 changes tonight. Played on Saturday, another game on Thursday and again Sunday. If you need to rest 1 or 2 or have a look at where 1 or 2 are then home vs bottom of the league is the game to do so.

 

Put out the best team, then if you can go 2/3 goals up rest all who need it

 

He’s played the full 90 in 3 of the last 4 games and across them games averaged 94.5 mins per game, I think we should rest him, especially as we will be playing 4 games in 10 days and with us playing the team bottom of the division tonight. Of course, that’s just my opinion though.

 

Agree. Watched a scratch Vale team play Barrow at home and were lucky to reach half time only 1 down. They strengthened 2nd half but still only managed a draw.

 

It's a fair opinion, as we know we're not the same team when he's absent through injury, but for that very reason I'm pretty sure he plays.

 

I have a feeling Cook will be on the bench. It might be the last time we see him at Valley Parade. He won't start, GA isn't the sentimental type, but he might get a few minutes late on.

 

Like Town did.
Best way to go.

 

That in itself suggests you think playing bottom of the league is going to be a pushover …. Do some fans ever ever learn ?

 

And folk say X is useless... no idea...

 

They certainly won’t be a pushover but if you were to rest a key player, based on recent form you’d rest against the teams in poor form.

 

Has Sarc been at his best the last few games? I'm not so sure, but we don't have anyone else to replace him with. We don't want to burn him out, so either start him and take him off later, or bench him and bring him on.

 

If we can't pick Lapslie he might as well leave. We could use Neufville in that position. His pace would be useful.

 

I can see 2 changes for tonight with Neufville in for Halliday and T. Wright in for Pointon. With a cut on the foot there is no point risking Pointon as it will only take 1 challenge for the cut to open up again then it's back to square 1. I can see Neufville coming in partly to start with fresh legs on the wing but also as this is a game that will suit him more as we should be doing most of the attacking.
The only other change might be if Tilt comes in for Kelly to give him some minutes as it's as good a chance as any to get 60-70 minutes into him.
Assuming Pointon drops out of the 18 personally I would put Leigh on the bench so that it gives an option for CM on the bench especially if we can kill the game off early.