The Voice - Match preview #32: AFC Wimbledon vs Bradford City Saturday 21st February 2026 3:00pm

They've got far better squads. I think Alexander is maxing out in terms of points total and this is the method he's employed. I'd love us to be top 2 but I don't think it's realistic. I'm trusting Alexander to manage the capacity of the squad to reach the most points we can get. If we squeeze more out of this squad away from home our home form will tank.

 

I'm sure they could maintain fitness but not at the level we currently have. It's not like they'd all get injured, they just wouldn't perform as well as they do at home.

 

The thing is the way he rotated the squad last season was a big reason we were promoted. But you don’t leave out all your best players in the same game. Now they have sacked their manager Rotherham will be up for it strongest team possible please

 

Has he been sacked ? Can’t see it anywhere he has.

 

I'm really struggling with what I'm reading here. It has already been quoted several times that the other top teams in L1 don't use as many different players as us and don't make as many changes, and have significantly better away records. I can accept that maybe they have a bit more quality than us, but there should be no excuse for them being fitter and therefore able to start their preferred eleven more often than we can. So we are not competing away so we can play better at home. FFS we are talking about alleged professional athletes.

 

Would you be happier with greater parity between our home and away form even if it meant we accumulate less points overall? Seems an odd take. We are comfortably in the play offs, most people considered mid table to be a realistic target. GA has decided that being in peak condition at home is the best way to maximise our points total and it's working. I can't understand why people have an issue with this. It's a strategy that is paying off.

 

Maybe because many people pay a lot of money to watch away matches and expect to see a competitive game for their money.
Just a wild guess there.

 

I'm sure a Wembley promotion might provide some comfort.

 

Even if they did most of those teams would have better quality players to come in I would think.

 

Now if we could be guaranteed your above I'd not give two hoots what teams Alexander picked .

 

Can’t see anything saying Hamshaw sacked.

hope he’s not sacked. This has 4-0 written all over it

 

I’m sure it would. But that doesn’t alter the fact that people who travel hundreds of miles to a game, with attendant travel costs, overnight stays, meal and drink costs etc, are often paying out hundreds of pounds and must surely expect to watch a team that is competitive.
I’m not against some rotation, but the side GA put out at Wimbledon was on a hiding to nothing.

 

The problem is that while this strategy may get us into the playoffs, we’ll go out in the semis given we have to play away. We should be competitive in all away games even if we don’t win, but we aren’t. We’ll have to win home leg 3-0 or maybe 2-0 at home and try scum it on pens if we get into playoffs and tie on aggregate. Final isnt at VP either!

 

Spot on - “competitive” the key word.

 

Nothing in todays Rotherham Advisor Sport Latest News | Rotherham Advertiser, apart from Hamshaw knowing he maybe on borrowed time.

 

Who says we would accumulate less points? GA got it wrong on Saturday. We know it and I think reading between the lines of his interview he knows it too.

 

It's alright. We can play a 2nd XI away at Exeter and the players can have a nice rest before 3 VP style performances in the play offs.

 

GA and his staff clearly don't feel we can maintain our home record without making these sacrifices away from home. I'm happy to trust his judgement.

Hypothetically of course, would you take 8 more away performances like Wimbledon if it guaranteed 7 home wins and a play off spot. Would you take that now? I know I would.

 

If that is the case is extremely disrespectful to travelling fans. Wouldn't it be a bugger if we miss the play offs by a point. We'd be thinking "if only we hadn't conceded Wimbledon away before we even kicked off". Look I'm not saying we shouldn't make some attempt to manage our resources, but ripping the guts out of the team and basically hanging players out to dry isn't the way to do it.

 

I don’t want him to run round VP in a hair shirt whipping himself as he goes, but I want him to make sure he puts out his very best team both home and away. If we have injuries then obviously we will need to change it. I would stop messing about with back three. Baldwin, Tilt, Wright. Josh, Jenson, Power Wright. Sarc Jacko Pointon.