The Voice - Match preview #33: Bradford City vs Rotherham United Tuesday 24th February 2026 7:45pm

I agree although he needs to be more aware with regards his positioning behind the last defender he did everything Alexander would have wanted as you posted.
I think the reason Alexander brought Humphrys on was because he knows on the day/night Humphrys could conjure a goal out of nothing.

 

I agree.

I thought Wheatley did pretty well last night. He battled for the ball when we were hoofing it, when it's clear he benefits from being able to run onto the ball.

With the offsides, one of them looked onside and I thought Bobby delayed his pass a bit too long when he went on that run. One of the difficulties I guess is that we play so many direct passes that we aren't great at the cuter stuff in the final third. Wheatley needs to build up an understanding with Pointon and Sarce especially.

 

Think I watched a different game HB. I thought he very rarely even challenged for the ball and didn't look like he wanted to get involved in anything above waist height.

 

I might even say he looked a bit lazy. We noticed at one point Sarce was absolutely busting a gut to close his man down and Wheatley was sauntering forward through the centre circle.

 

Wheatley is a poor signing offering no goal threat, and a pass the buck style of passing instead of having a good go himself.



Alexander by continuing to bring him on when we need to be scoring more goals to finish games off needs to get a grip.

Last night was a poor game again against really poor opposition who never looked like scoring.

We should of had this game wrapped up by halftime.


Goals win games, good players get goals through having a go. we should not have accept a mediocre player who so far has shown national league standard (or below)

Pennington for Motm for his goal and stopping a shot on goal.

 

Sorry can’t agree , he looked a lost sheep , , even I could see the potential for offside if he didn’t hold his runs. He just seemed to lose the sense of his surroundings?

 

And we technically don’t need to win any of them

 

If only we’d tried harder in the Vertu trophy.

 

Do you hold Wheatley soley responcable for our lack of goals, not Jackson, Sarcevic, Pointon, Humphrys, Wright, I find that strange when the others I've mentioned are seasoned pros, with far more experience than Ethan.

Just who are the "good players who get goals through having a go" because last night not one of the above posed a real threat.
Here's Alexander take on the three number 9s he played in last night's game.

“I thought it was the right thing to bring him on (Wheatley) for Kayden with our press. They're quite an aggressive line-up, so there's space in behind for us to keep working.

“I did actually say to Chris (Lucketti) after five minutes, because it was quite early when he came on, I think we might have to use another nine at a certain point.

Once again Alexander seems happy to quote Humphrys as being a number 9, baffling when he actually had a number 9 sat on thd bench in Mullin.

“I thought it could be good for Humphs to come on with how they play for the last 20, 25 minutes. All three of them proved a handful for Rotherham to deal with.”
Alexander was pleased with the on-loan Manchester United striker’s contribution but anticipated that City would have to use more of their attacking resources.

“I saw him a few minutes before we brought him back off and put Humphs on, he was absolutely breathing out of his backside.
Funny old game we see things differently ?.

 

The pass from Bobby was excellent but as you say he just held it too long when Wheatley had made the run.

 

So who do you sacrifice so that Mullin can partner him?

 

Over the years this has always been a problem when we get players who have been coached at a higher level. The rest of the team don't play on quite the same wavelength, although I think Pointon and Sarcevic might be capable. The pass from Sarce to put Wheatley through one on one within minutes of his City debut being a prime example

 

Fair enough, we all see different things.

I appreciate that stats can be used selectively, but the Opta stats for his 50 minutes on the pitch show:

- 34 touches, 18 passes with a 72.4% completion rate - only Aden Baldwin bettered that on the night. In comparison with Nombe (32 touches, 21 passes, 42.9%). Bobby had 39 touches and 21 passes in his 95 minutes.
- 2 key passes, only bettered by T.Wright with 3.

I'm not arguing he was great, but considering that we were just belting the ball upfield at points, which is never going to be his strength - I don't think he did too bad.

With the offsides, it's fine margins - his first when he got the shot off which the keeper saved, I think he was onside. The second I maintain Bobby could have passed the ball just the bit earlier, with Wheatley being so close but moving ahead and at pace, it needed Bobby to look up and time the ball for him.

He's shown the ability to get behind defences, hopefully he'll adjust a bit to the way we play and we also give him the right service to do it. Having said all that, I think he's an impact sub at the moment ideally.

 

Apart from the back three Tyriek was motm. A cracking player. Gives his all every game and we’ve all seen him grow with the club. A confidence player certainly, but has been showing some lovely touches down that left side when we’ve been attacking, cracking interplay with Bobby and Toure Power/Metcalfe. His final product is improving massively also.
What a ball in for Penny that was.
My man of t’match that lad an I can’t understand the stick he gets from some.
Play yer best team Saturday GA - for Gods sake!!

 

that whole thing was surreal. He was dressed in purple, you couldn’t miss him!

 

I singled Wheatley out only based on watching him play. He has had no impact as a sub and as a starter also had no impact. He can run and he has got past defenders (As others have mentioned) I dont see any threat from him at all as a stricker Jackson has scored, sarceivic has scored, metcalfe has scored, pointon has scored, humphries has scored, but as we signed him towards the top of league one, waited for him to recover from injury based on his actual contribution thus far he is a poor signing and choice for leading attacking option.

Maybe he will develop and prove me wrong (which would be great) but we need goals from our front men and we need them ASAP.

I do also feel a little bit that our so defensive play then hoof won't help him and that's on Alexander.

 

What I didn't understand was i was close to 50/50 whether to start Humphrys or Jackson - but narrowly agreed with starting Jackson

When Kayden went off, I honestly thought it was a no brainer who to bring on.

 

We certainly looked worse when Jackson went off, whether that was due to his replacement or not is up for debate. Jackson nearly scored and stretched the defence, giving Bobby and Sarce more room, we lost that. Thankfully by then we were already one up and didn’t need to score again.