The Voice - Match preview #29: Luton Town vs Bradford City Saturday 7th February 2026 12:31pm

He's right, we do hardly keep a 343 going..... within minutes it drops to a 541 and we isolate whoever the poor sod is chasing down the hoofs.

 

Obviously disappointed with the result but today had nothing in common with the Lincoln collapse for me, we were competitive throughout but just lacking the killer instinct. Think we are now seeing where we are as a team but it has been a very tough run of matches

 

In my opinion, away from home we set up first half to try and not concede, however, most teams are going to go for it at home. True the formation doesn’t seem to help that we play but with 2 in midfield doing the work it seems obvious to me that we can’t cope with the pressure.
It seems that if we can stay level at half time it is only then we go for it in the 2nd half. People throwing pelters at the players seem to be taking the easy option when I think it’s GA’s stubbornness and wanting to play in a certain way that is holding us back.

 

Was anyone else surprised with the Nahki reaction?

I know he went to town, but I was expecting a neutral / muted applause.
Was the booing / Judas chant just to wind him up or did people mean it?

 

The same people would have been creaming if he’d signed for us last summer. It’s the nature of football fans.

 

I thought Luton were a decent side and we broadly matched them for first part of the game.

I'm getting a little obsessed about this, but the 2 in midfield isn't doing us any favours. Once Luton started to play around Power and Metcalfe we didn't have an answer. They used the ball better than we did and then exploited the space to score the first goal. I thought Kasey Palmer and Jordan Clark were excellent.

Gutted that Ethan Wheatley didn't take that chance. However, I think he looks to have a bit about him - but not sure leading the line on his own will be the best way of using him.

 

The reality is that, whilst it should be altered for away matches, this is the best system to maximise the most out of a squad that frankly is mid-table League 1.

That's why Doncaster are where they are, as they haven't worked out how to maximise their talents.

It's not 'luck' that takes a team, to punching well above their weight. To put it simply no right to be where we are, when you consider the strengths of our rivals squads. Too many fans thought we were genuinely a top 2 contender.

The reality is that bad management from our rivals is what had us where we are and those teams were always going to improve and we had nowhere to improve to.

 

Thought that front three that finished looked good. All of them can hold a ball, vital in this system. Jackson's OK as well, i.e. if Sarc isn't fit.

 

Well at least we now know that we aint finishing in the top 2 but at least the play offs are there to be had and at least there is still a lot to play for

 

He wasn't at Blackpool away or Doncaster at home.

This is like the Smallwood conversations. Everyone moaning how rubbish he was. Until he wasn't in the team.

And know I don't think Power is effective in L1 as Smallwood was in L2. But do I think he is badly let down with the set up away from home - yes.

 

I know they looked decent but we go a long way to helping that happen how many other teams have we made look better than they really are over the season ?????

He has to start having a go and actually play the right formations now or believe me it could start turning nasty down there

 

I think this is why some lower league managers are always lower league managers, you can’t be stubborn and want to play in a certain way all season long. The difference between a good manager and an ordinary manager is that you can change the way you play during the game to suit the situation. I think we a stereotypical of the way we are set up to play.
I suppose the argument that players are lower league players for a reason can be used here but it can also be argued that a good manager can coach the players to the next level.

 

In those five defeats in seven games he has. I think part of it as you say down to set up and it's generally the better sides that pass through the middle where Metcalfe is left ploughing a lone furrow. If we want to progress we need find a way to combat that, I've mentioned before about going with an extra body in midfield, maybe drop Sarce in and go 2 up top. Because again we've had another first half of football where the central two have been over run while front three are chasing aimless punts upfield. Kasey Palmer completely ran the show. For us to step to the next level where Cardiff and Lincoln are we have to be able to match that pass and move quick tempo football through the middle of the park.

 

Lost count on the number of times our defenders got caught on the ball. Its as if they're stuck in L2! Our first touch, thought process and move needs to be a lot sharper. The plus is that we have more competition for Humphreys and Swan which should up their game. Just need a way to get the ball to them!

 

Must win for them if they want the playoffs and the last thing we need is yet another go to sleep first half and before you know it the game has gone ......

 

We've got to play Peterborough who won 6 - 1 today...


Scary

 

Its the first half yet again that has damaged us and how many time has it happened.

Are we simply not capable of putting two halves together ?????
Ok if we can see it through but a lot of the losses coming in now are due to our piss poor first halves.
I mean can anyone tell me the last time we actually had a decent first half ?????
I know we led at HT against Blackpool and Exeter at home but i would say the last time we deserved t o be winning at HT would be the Barnsley game back in October ...........

May have worked at the start of the season but its failing big time now.

 

It didn't come as a surprise to me after seeing the way some of our so called fans hounded Nahki and his mate from their seats just behind us at the Preston away game several seasons ago, put up with the abuse until half time then never returned.

 

Some football fans.

 

Scary if we dont start till 5 past 4 next weekend ...... . ..got to start on the front foot next week get the crowd up for it because there deffo gonna be up for it