The Voice - Match preview #42: Bradford City vs Stevenage Saturday 11th April 2026 3:00pm

Oh and yes the ref was abysmal.

 

Thats what so frustrating to me when he had near on 4 days training ????? Knowing what these lot arevlike and yet still play right into there hands if we cannot break them down then simply have shots at goal sounds easy but there is a chance that one will maybe come off .........

 

Neufville got behind them early on and his cross caused absolute chaos, where Bobby unfortunately picked up an injury. We didn't do that enough.

Similarly, playing the little triangles can work and lead to breaking through. But, too often it ends up needing the RCB, yesterday Joe Wright, being the one with the responsibility to put in a decent cross. Especially with Stevenage's intention to slow the game down from the kick off the counter attack threat was reduced.

Yesterday we needed to be quicker with moving the ball and make better decisions. Baldwin was livid for one free kick where we faffed around and failed to get the ball in the box -:despite having everyone lined up for a cross.

 

The reason why and in my opinion is why we lost is they were all over our midfield we weren’t allowed to get in down and play. Not helped by the lack of Pointon and Wright. Judging by the game they play it was a perfect performance for them

 

It lead to at least two absolutely nailed on goals were it not for two unusually superb saves. Much higher chance of scoring finding a decent crossing opportunity than taking a pop from 25 yards.

 

Losing Bobby early, and the absence of Tyreik, were massive blows to us. We were crying out for their mobility and creativity to unlock their defence.
If only Bobby hadn’t taken that golden chance off Sarce’s foot! We’d have been 1-0 up, Bobby wouldn’t have got injured and their entire strategy of negative shithousery would have gone out the window. We’d probably have won at a canter because they’d have been forced to play an open game that they’re no good at and we’d have picked them off as we often do against teams that have to take risks against us.

 

Have to watch it again but surely Sarc needs to be giving Pointon a deafening 'leave it' as he's running in. Maybe he did. Like you say, either way it was a critical moment and a very bad decision not to leave it for Sarc.

 

Unfortunatly that's allowed , another rule that was needlessly brought in .

 

Sarc was absolutely fuming about it as well.

While Bobby was getting treatment Sarc spent the whole time stood having a drink shaking his head and looking decidedly miffed.

 

Agree......I knew EXACTLY what to expect after being down at Stevenage earlier this season. And yes, every chance that the ref would be poor BUT he knew it was going on and decided not to book their keeper at any stage despite telling / warning him and his captain throughout the second half. Power was getting in his ear all the time and you could see him pointing and gesticulating and getting frustrated. However, we weren't good enough for long enough to beat them.

Yes, as entertainment it was p**s poor.

 

Absolutely. The law makers thought it would 'speed' the game up without actually thinking about all scenarios and that it would actually slow the game down completely.

I used to implement bonus schemes for a large UK bank but before we ever did we would run it past a panel of branch colleagues to see if any new measures could be manipulated or exploited so that colleagues could get maximum bonus by in effect 'cheating' the system. I'm not sure that IFAB think about that.....

 

if we could get rid of all the needless rules that have been imposed we would have a sport and entertainment called Football.

 

The lack of a potent striker will/could harm us….

 

I'm sure they do but the problem is whatever they come up with it will only take 1 manager to think of a way to exploit it then everyone copies it . The problem will always be that managers and backroom staff are always looking for ways to cheat or find loopholes to gain an advantage. It's why I never buy the idea of having a clock that stops as you will still have teams taking their time on restarts to slow the game down and kill momentum then you're back to the question of how to speed up play.
For me football has to stop looking for perfection just accept the perfect laws will never exist and every change will have consequences.

 

Just wondering if Lapslie has trained as a ballet dancer,certainly still got all the moves.

 

You'll be accused of living in the past mate, such a simple game until those at the top started messing about with the rules, I remember when they wanted to introduce VAR telling us it would be similar to cricket the referee would make a call and within 60 seconds or so there would be a defined verdict, well tell that to the clowns who are reviewing the incident, not being able to make what we were told would be a simple exercise sometimes taking 3/4/5 minutes when the referee has to be involved to get a final verdict.

 

One good thing to me yesterday was Powell when we signed him I thought what a pointless signing and I suppose with the amount of game time he has had he is. However seeing him yesterday he reminded me of Jon Stead using his brain and drawing defenders out of position he may not get that much game time from now till the end of the season but he might just give us that little extra we need

 

He could be the surprise package for the play offs. Maybe like a new signing. He's got that quality of 'knowing the game' Seems a wily customer like Sarc. He may also do nowt. Who the fck knows?