The Voice - Match preview League One Playoff Semi-Final: Bradford City vs Bolton Wanderers Thursday 14th May 2026 8:00pm

I wonder if we'll rethink 3 at the back. I personally think the only naturally suited wide CB we have is Touray. Neufville doesn't have enough attacking quality.

Anyway. The dust will settle. Not sure about 9, but we need 5 or 6 quality additions

 

Cannot be arsed in a game like that then whats the point of him being here

 

We do and I think I can guess.

 

I still keep thinking back to January. Would we have felt better with Cook on the bench tonight, ready to come on after an hour? I would.

I'd rather have Halliday than Ashby. Rather have Pattison than any of Evans, Sibley, White.

 

And definitely no Mullin type signings who look lost in the style of football we play and just disappear without a trace.

A “name” signing if I ever saw one

 

Hilton, Ashby, Kelly, Evans, White, Sibley, Mullin, Wheatley will be off - possibly Powell too. Tilt aint good enough, one of Hump and Swan will probably go, dont see Lapslie hanging around.

Easily 9 summer signings imo.

 

I think a back 4 is needed going forward. Touray was our best player tonight, but let's be honest watching him try go over the half way line is tough if he plays wing back. If he's left back in a 4 with a winger ahead of him, fantastic. Or LCB in a back 3, great. But not as a wing back anymore.

I've seen enough of Tilt, he had a good spell mid season but has been getting worse by the week. Feels like at his age he can only play in a 3 which limits us too. Feels like the 5 at the back has been phased out by a lot of teams as the season has gone on. Think we only kept 3 clean sheets in our last 15 or so games and they were all to relegated sides. The tactic has been leaking for a while now.

 

A little harsh on Tourey, Neufville who I thought managed the defensive duties on Cissoko and Cozier-Duberry well. Neufville was isolated and we struggled to the get the ball to him and Sarcevic meaning he had little chance to run at them.

Power and Metcalfe is very harsh IMO. I really don’t understand the stick Power gets in general on here. Metcalfe indeed had a dip in form but from high standards. Coincidentally around the same time we lost Wright and Power. He’s a player who relies on movement around him and with Neufville isolated also, our set up hasn’t helped him.

 

Be more than 9 i think. There's the obvious outgoings listed above, then theres always a player out of contract who doesnt sign their new deal and moves out the blue and with Tyreik and Baldwin out of contract, i wouldn't at all be surprised if both tested the market.

Then there's Metcalfe and Pointon, dont be shocked if one or both have bids this summer and are moved on for good money.

 

Another keeper aswell .........

 

Ultimately fell at the second to last fence but an admirable effort from Alexander and his squad in their first season back in league one. Arguably overachieved with a team that works its socks off but doesn't have anyone anywhere near championship quality within its midst.
I guess its how we now evolve into next season and how Alexander approaches what weaknesses we have, primarily a team and set up that creates very little, relying on a strong defensive set up will only go so far and attack wise we look very average compared to quite a few others in the division.
This season has been a bit of a free hit, we will be looked at as one of the front runners for the playoffs next year and that means a rethink and a squad overhaul in my opinion.

 

Only Jackson from our 7 January signings featured tonight. Instead of improving the starting 11, we just bloated the squad. 6 didnt even make the bench.

Speaks volumes on how shite our January business was.

 

It wasn't evident in the stadium at all, just reporting from my personal experience in the ground.

 

Yeh 9 minimum. I reckon 11 or 12 leave. We can trigger Baldwin and Tyriek into another year.

Sarc another who could go....he likes a new challenge.

 

We need a reset of playing style for next year. Too reliant on 1 goal and shut up shop. No plan b and only playing good football for 20-25 mims per game. How have Lincoln prospered? Can we do the same?

 

It's an old squad too, feels like we've fielded the oldest 11 a fair few times.

Sounds mental for a team finishing 4th, but with the age of some of our squad and the obvious tailing off of quality, a rebuild wouldn't be shocking to see.

 

January still gives me nightmares. I will die on the hill that with the addition of the 3 or 4 quality players we needed, we could've kept up with the top two. As it is, certain players have been flogged to death and we've played the majority of the season without a recognised centre forward.

Whilst we've had a great season, that window will continue to irritate me, knowing we passed up on a glorious opportunity.

 

Sharpe needs taking to task on that window. He got shirty at the fans forum when questioned....he bigged it up as an expensive window! Even worse...

 

Surely we don't offer Baldwin a new deal? This isn't solely about tonight but enough has to be enough now. Surely!

 

I’ve stopped reading some of the replies here - a very harsh assessment by some and there’s really no need for some of the vitriol being spouted.

I thought Bolton were excellent over the two legs. We showed plenty of endeavour but fell short.

Overall a season to be proud of. We will move forward and we will improve.

Have a good summer everyone, and hope some of you calm down a bit.