The Voice - Match preview #36: Port Vale vs Bradford City (UPDATE) Wednesday 11th March 2026 7:45pm

Not long back and a few observations. Great team performance only let down by poor finishing. Nigel Cough in the stands taking notes. Mansfield will be a tough opponent when we play them. Great songs from the fans, especially the Tottenham one. Motorway closures do my head in..I think I'll give midweek away games a miss from now on.

 

TBF to Wheatley, he’s showed all the attributes you mention in every game his played so far. Last night he was just more aggressive when pressing their backline and basically didn’t give them a moment to ponder - exactly what Bower has said he would like to see more from him in recent games commentary and the BBC podcast.

I don’t know enough about him to judge whether his finishing is generally something he lacks or it’s just the run of the green for him now. What’s sure is that if he keeps getting himself in the positions he does, which we don’t have any CF who is doing that as much as him right now, law of averages say he’ll return a decent amount of goals.

I really like him also - but shared Bower’s frustration in recent weeks. Last night I think we saw what GA and his management team does.

 

Pretty sure someone on here knows a youth coach or scout at Man Utd and they said he has alot of decent attribrutes but his finishing and goal output is a problem.

He scored 3 in 25 for Northampton so its an ongoing issue.

 

They were quite shot shy and not creating much. He's getting more chances now so we'll see how he goes!

 

He is young and so has ample time to improve. I dont see him ever being prolific, but if he can become a 1 in 4 player, he can have a good career with the other attributes he has.

 

Was that his 4th one on one missed since arriving?

Credit to him for getting into positions and credit to him for creating his own chances but reverse the scoreline last night and the mood would be very very different. These chances missed could be the difference between winning promotion or an early exit from the play offs.

 

Have you noticed how he’s learned to sheild the ball from the defender when back to goal…Bet Mullin has been coaching him ?

 

Or This

 

He just needs that goal Olly. GA and Lucketti see the potential day in day out . His sheer presence terrified their ( ponderous) back line last night because it meant they had to stay back rather than compress play up to the half way line , allowing us all the possession on a huge Vale Park .

 

Down at the Mac, the gift that keeps on giving?

“To top the week off would be class for Port Vale to beat Bradford tonight but pick up a couple of injuries and a couple of last minute red cards!”

“Bradford are a poor side with very little quality”

Desperation stuff?

 

I don’t disagree re the 1:1’s which I have to be honest, none of which he looked convincing in his body shape or the way he’s chosen to hit and place the ball. Nor in any of them has keeper made a worldly of a save, though last night it’s a decent stop from their keeper.

Taking each game at a time, he deserves the staring shirt as CF right now.

 

I do like Tilt at centre half in the middle...

 

Yes, he is much better in my opinion

Baldwin - Tilt - Touray would be my preferred back 3 when available

 

Better than them this season with a far lower budget. Dismiss us a club but can't shut up about us in their forum.

 

Baldwin has to play central if available.

 

How sad is that, obviously suffer from an inferiority complex, there was plenty of quality on show last night.

 

After listening to Alexander's post match interview saying he did everything asked of him bar score he was excellent.
If you remember Alexander said the same about Kavanagh, I'm old school and not a lover of your front man not contributing with goals but if I were a betting man I'd say he starts at Wigan on Saturday.

 

I was thinking the same thing- what a bench when you can bring them three subs on. I bet the defenders were well pizzed off.

 

Good finds Rod.