The Voice - Match preview #19: Port Vale vs Bradford City Wednesday 11 March 2026 7.45pm OLD THREAD

We’re the 2nd best team in a league of 24 bang average teams. We won’t get a better chance of getting to the Championship.
Good recruitment in Jan and the autos are there for the taking

 

Yes. I don't disagree. But I still wouldn't be surprised to see us end up in, say, 9th - which, by the way would still be a great return.

I also think that now, promotion this season, will be by the clubs with managers experienced at getting promotions. Look how Orient are sneaking up the league. I think Wellens, Challinor and our chief are the best bosses by miles.

Cardiff could be the exception, simply because they've got so many outstanding youngsters and sensibly employed a coach who would develop them.

Contrast that with Huddersfield, who sacked a coach who would be able to manage the ego's of a bunch of talented additions and instead employed one that hasn't got a clue.

 

I think there's so little in it that whoever has the best window can win the league.

That simple.

Teams who have poor windows will sink.

I think we'll have a decent transfer window myself, I can see a few outgoings and a few incomings, but if we do mess it up then we might suffer the consequences.

 

He's been injured. Played against Walsall recently trying to build up fitness.

To clarify my point - they have people capable of scoring, it's the way they play that creates limited goal threat.

 

Spit my coffee out!

 

Long high balls into the box, long throw ins by Goode . That’s their “go to” threat. Not dissimilar to what Parky played at times . Can bring results but the right personnel are needed. Stevenage don’t have the same threat because they have limited strength in depth . Haven’t the lost Pergiani for some games who is one of the set piece threats offensively and defensively ?

 

Seems to be back in training after injury… sometimes makes the 18, sometimes doesn’t make the squad at all.

 

Somehow he or his agent have followed the wrong path? Weird tbh.

 

agent negotiating a 6 figure move!?

Echo the thoughts of others - it's mad that we're still second now with a game in hand on our closest rival after what's been a very average form for a couple of months but critically we've kept picking up points in spite of this. If we can just keep adding to the points tally and get reinforcements in Jan then we have a real chance of top 6.

I can see Cardiff running away with it so not altogether bothered by their win last night, glad it keeps Stevenage more at bay

 

Rotherham putting in an absolute stinker of a first half against Blackpool

 

Not really. He had a bad injury 3/4 months ago and is only just getting fit. Could happen to any player.

 

Talking well before that !

 

I am a bit worried about playing 2 games on our pitch in the coming few days to be honest. Its also going to look a right mess by Tuesday night I suspect

 

I was thinking the same myself

 

Good, it will stop Peterboro and Stockport playing their fancy football and we can just lump it to an -other up front
What's not to like.

 

The forecast won't help as well with snow forecast over the next 24 hours and temperatures on Friday night down to -2 so that will mean the covers back on the pitch again which will damage the grass even more. We've probably got a bit lucky this season as apart from the Rotherham game we've not really had a home matchday where the rain has been very heavy or the pitch is at risk of freezing.
This has to be the worst season for pitch conditions in a while and it's even starting to impact the Premier League with some of them pitches cutting up and mud patches in the 6 yard area which I can't recall for a while at that level.

 

They've also got the next 3 Saturday's at home so they've not got a lot of time between matches to do a lot of work on it either before the end of the month. The only thing for them is if they are to perform a miracle and stay up this gives them a chance as their home games will be a fight rather than football match.