The Voice - Match preview #26: Huddersfield Town vs Bradford City Saturday 24th January 2026 12:30pm

I think we're stronger.

Sibley is an upgrade on Pattinson, because he can control a ball and is technically better. Cook, on what we saw, wouldn't make us better. And whilst Halliday's know how would have been great, we needed an attacking WB and Ashby looks better at that then he did.

We seem to forget, that we've just played two teams who would struggle to find a place for one of our players.

However, that doesn't excuse that pitiful first 30 minutes - which is a constant theme under GA at home since we played 3/4/3, i.e. one of the few but significant negatives.

 

Is it time for GA to try something different? It's not like we've just started to play badly, its been quiet a while now. Probably somewhere between Cardiff away and Barnsley at home was probably the last time this tactic looked dominant. The Barnsley game was 17 fixtures ago, 6 wins, 3 draws and 8 defeats ago. And the wins, we didnt exactly look threatening in most.

But we are so lost in midfield and we defend so wide in the system, but we dont have A) the legs in midfield to play this deep or B) the pace in the backline to cover the space and C) the pace to break out on the counter.

Why don't we try a 433 or 4231? If we want to play long down the channels, have Neufville and Wright as attacking wingers, Ashby and Touray as full backs in a 4, feels like their more natural play. You can still have Baldwin spraying, but we defend narrower and have people in midfield to mark and track runners. Power sitting infront of the 2 CBs, Metcalfe and Sibley or Sarce as the other 2 CMs. Feels like we are on the verge of needing to try something fresh

 

Except he doesn't attack!

 

Always gonna happen when your play is based around your wing backs. Shut them down and there is simply no outball to get the team forward other than aimless long balls that lose you possession.. if this is now the default go to tactics Alexander is gonna have be bring in a proper striker who can hold up the ball, run the channels, lay the ball off to team mates and weigh in with his share of goals, something Humphrys contributes nothing to in the 9 role. Is Alexander rely gonna die on this hill of persevering with Humps as a 9 cos he's obsessed with it?

 

He is always the one criticised when others are far worse. Our midfield were useless today

 

All fans that attended should be given a refund.

That was shocking from start to finish.

Power for months now has been poor and I like him.

 

9th will still be an amazing season.

We need to have a bit of perspective. None of our players on show, with the possible except of Metcalf would get in either the Cardiff or Huddersfield teams.

 

Alexander seems to be blaming the ref more than the performance of his players, please stop.

 

Very good points. Could easily go to 4 at the back as Power spends virtually the whole match defending anyway. I wouldn't be against taking some pressure of Metcalfe by adding another CM to help him in the go forward as Power offers nothing in that department.

 

If that’s the case. We are well and truly fooked

 

Can we recall Ibbotson...lol....

 

I know. Wow

 

Sorry but if you have no focal point, no cutting edge up front it negates any approach play


We have a relegated league one forward in swann and a attacking midfielder masquerading as a forward.

That relegation quality in that position.

 

GA will die on the Humps is a striker hill it seems. Criminally stubborn.

 

We've arguably been a victim of our own success, this squad is never a top three league one outfit. I think we have ridden the crest of a wave somewhat and been lucky the division is so poor but ultimately Its gonna take another summer transfer window before we are a proper top three outfit.

 

Banro I could only
Judge what I see.. dire.

 

It’s our home form that’s going to decide our fate. We had performances away last year like this but ended up successful. Town were totally up for it today and it would have been a travesty had they not one. It’s going to be the same if not harder on Tuesday.

 

We need to forget Mr Cook good as he was over the years. We need the new King but its unlikely they'll invest.

 

Judging on this season. Humphreys simply did / does more per minute on average than Cook did.

It's wonderful rose tinted glasses stuff, to imply we've given away a player who would have made the difference.

Let's remember we were pants against Burton, Cooky came on and if anything we were worse.

And it's chance creation that we are piss poor at. In other words thinking Cooky been up top and us hoofing the ball up to him, against two very good central defences (Cardiff / Huddersfield - note the latter's conceding problems have been to a piss poor midfield) is the answer, is simply not correct.

 

We were only better, and even then only slightly, after they had a man sent off.

Unacceptable levels of fight and desire today.