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

You did what?

 

That’s because we didn’t. Anymore performances like that and the players will soon find out what it’s like to be on the wrong end of a 20k crowd.
The annoying thing is that Town weren’t even that good. A better team would have put 5 past us.

 

That raises the question does Alexander have a plan to counter these tweaks the opposition are making?

 

He certainly isn’t afraid of switching personnel at half time and so he would be tweaking formation then? He’s switched many times this season . Remember the first 20 mins against Hudds at home ? He switched it then and Hudds didn’t have a kick for the remaining 70 mins .

 

I think my Town supporting mates are feeling sorry for me. I was bracing myself for relentless p#ss taking when actually they can't believe how embarrassingly bad we were.

 

He's had to change the formation way too many times for my liking, he's never fully got on top of us as an attacking threat in my opinion because that's where the changes are usually made.

 

I don’t fully agree with this. I despise saying it but, sadly, I think they did (finally) start to look like the team they ought to be, given the players they have and the money they’ve spent.
For most of the game they were man for man better than us. They tackled better, passed better, moved better, dribbled better and moved the ball much quicker than us. The one area they were sub par was their finishing. They really ought to have been three or four nil up by half time.But I don’t think that alters the fact that they otherwise looked like a very competent side who I fear and expect will further improve now that Grant has gone.

The gulf in technical quality was shown up when we got on top after the red card. Despite their supposedly dodgy defence they were able to defend their slender lead with relative ease. We had lots of the ball but did next to nothing with it because, unlike them, we weren’t able to control and move the ball quickly or accurately enough to beat their low block. We looked like we could have played until Christmas and not create a decent chance, let alone actually score one.

We have got where we are through endeavour, team spirit, initial fitness and a certain amount of good fortune. But I think we’ve reached the limit of where those things can take us. We’ve been grubbing out narrow dirty wins for a couple of months at least. But our dearth of technically adept players is now being exposed by the better sides who are no longer being caught by surprise and have worked out how to nullify our previous strengths.

 

Fortunately most have worked on balance ?

 

Having to switch 3 personell at half time doesn't reflect well on his game plan or on the players involved. And switching personel doesn't necessarily mean a switch in formation. You mention Huddersfield earlier this season, but in the past 3 months I think we've been out-tweaked by the opposition far more than tactical masterclasses from GA which have turned a game.
Saturday has left me worried for a whole number of reasons, but nothing a more buoyant display v Lincoln cant fix

 

How is it explained away that the low number of defeats somehow supports that theory . It’s a results based game . Not too bad so far , yes agree a threadbare squad and a lack of quality I agree. Those who were performing arnt any longer . I could name at least 5 which may upset some ?

 

Tuesday game is shite or bust. if we loose auto pro is out the window, at best play offs.
so lets hope for not only a win but a performance better than the last to games.

 

Left the Doggy fans a little treat at work for when they get in tomorrow.

 

A manager who has suddenly gone tetchy and defensive, players who's form has dipped badly, a style of play that is nowhere near as effective as the first couple of months, a transfer window where we certainly don't look like coming out stronger (more a cull of players we no longer want), and now growing rumours GA may not have been backed by the Recruitment team and Sparks (who have all been deafening quiet on plans and objectives).
Add the surprisingly limp and spiritless effort from all involved in our major derby last weekend - I think the 20,000+ fans have a right to wonder if we are really going for it.
We have had a better than expected start to life in League 1, we all accept we have limitations compared to some of our opponents but we have a real chance to continue our progression, please don't blow it City

 

Dont disagree, but “ speculation” and conspiracy theories remain meaningless to me . ( Aka “ growing rumours” ) David suggested it, no one else has , so how is the “ rumour” growing . GA said pretty early on we are waiting for clubs to make up their minds on any incomings , Plan A, B & C will be towards the end of the window .
We have all got carried away, me included, despite 95% of us wanted before the Wycombe game ….consolidation in the new division. Yet here we are , getting rid of the “deadwood” that everyone craved for , with incomings waiting in the wings , and panic sets in because we haven’t signed an unproven defender at outrageous cost, from the division below that non of the “top” clubs couldn’t care less about?
See what I mean? I’ve been in and around the club for 60 odd years, to have seen it all before Simon .

 

Were Cook, Patto and Halliday really 'deadwood' and did everyone really 'crave their departure'? Alexander didn't fancy them anymore but that is yet to be seen if we've made the right call. Just words as you say.

I don't have the contacts (scouts) I had when I was coaching but I know GA loves his centre backs and it wouldnt surprise me if he was well invested in adding Ward - but I accept my post last night was reacting slightly on emotions and not facts. I just have a gut feel that we've hit a wall in a number of areas on and off the pitch and desperately hoping it does hinder the fantastic progress we've been making

 

But if we were to 'blow it', at least let us go down fighting. Show some spirit city because what we are seeing at the moment is capitulation.

 

Yes , if we want to progress although deadwood is the incorrect word , I totally accept . What should be said , those that wouldn’t get a first 11 game in truth . What is the point of Halliday being the third RWB on the books who took a great option for himself , contract wise with GA’s blessing . Patto probably wouldn’t get a game , and has Cookie played 90 mins yet in a L2 fixture ? We have to be pragmatic, realistic and frankly honest Simon otherwise we stagnate .

 

Right I've just had to endure 10 minutes of ear ache from a Town supporting supplier.
It was quite interesting the points he wanted to make that I didn't think other teams knew or cared about....that is after we'd got over the initial how bad Bradford were.
In no particular order....
We couldn't even sell our allocation of tickets - loads of empty seats in the away end.
We don't own our ground.
We don't own our training ground.
GA should spend more time instructing his players rather then moaning at the 4th official.
Huddersfield would have lost if Grant was still in charge.
New manager has already instilled more belief in his players
Only reason we get bigger crowds is because we sell POTD tickets for a tenner.
He expected Town to lose after going down to 10 men.

I do admit some of above might have been in response to my comments to the dog sh#gging f#ckwit

 

Let's correct the inaccuracies shall we....

We did sell out - people were stood on the steps towards the back as it was a bit of a crush getting in and you couldn't see where any free seats actually were.

We don't sell POTD tickets for a tenner - they cost more than if you buy them in advance. We get bigger crowds because we have sold more season tickets than them. As opposed to them NOT selling out when they were giving away 4 free tickets to staff members.....

 

I do know all this of course - I was giving a Town fan's perspective. Although I didn't know the reason for empty seats when I knew we had sold out.