The Voice - Match preview #7: Luton Town vs Bradford City Saturday 19th September 2026 3:00pm

On the flip side if you don't concede you lose.

Look I am not saying Beesley shouldn't do more but when we playing hopeless punts upfield is that really down to him being a poor player. He never got a sniff today apart one cross which looked like he would get on the end of but Ashby seemed to bring him down however the ref didn't give the pen. Likewise when Powell came on we didn't create anything for him either. However we sit top of the league after 7 games and I am sure everyone would have taken that at this stage regardless who has scored and who hasn't.

 

Of course I would but what's going to happen when Pennington or Baldwin get injured or we lose form. Maybe our defensive performances will last all season and we go on to have the greatest defensive record in the efl. It's a lot to hang your season on that.

This excuse that he's got no service is weak. Firstly we can still judge him on whether or not there are positive outcomes when he does get involved. It rarely amounts to much. Secondly I don't think we can afford to have an attacker who requires 'service' at the expense of having to do anything else. All of our other strikers in that position have been far more effective in forcing themselves into games and affecting the play without having the ball served to them on a platter.

 

I'm afraid your regular tiresome criticism of Beesley is perfectly summed up by your own final paragraph.
Maybe just give it a rest for a week or two, you may get to enjoy how well we are doing.

 

It's a football message board chief. Discussions about the merits or lack of with regard to certain players is par for the course. If you find it tiresome you can always try ignoring it. In the meantime I'll look forward to seeing some performances that change my mind and keep my fingers crossed that our defence carries on being superb.

 

If Alexander didn't think he was up to the level he wouldn't be playing him regardless of the price tag, we've had many big earners sat on the bench or in the stands.

In the pressing stats we are either top or near the top, you can't do that in this formation without the striker leading the press or backing up either 10. Before today's games were were joint top for high turnover and joint 3rd for shots from high turnovers, the reason for the lack of goalscoring chances from that has been down to all of the attacking players as Alexander has mentioned, we've been very sloppy in possession.

I'd say there are some people on here who decided early on they didn't like him and now refuse to see any positive contributions he makes. 4/10 over the season is incredibly harsh. I stand by that he's a hard worker for the team who does a lot of work that goes unnoticed by many. He started the season very well up to and including the Cambridge game, in that Cambridge game he did everything but score. Since then he hasn't been able to get into games as much but I also think that is down to some very poor service to him including today where many balls were nowhere near him.

 

The turnover stats are interesting but I'm sticking with the qualitative stuff for now. I'm not seeing it. I still think it's pretty tenuous when faced with what I see. I think you're overstating the 'what many don't see' angle. Maybe I need you to talk me through a game live so that I can see the contributions that I'm missing. I'm not being facetious, I'm literally struggling to see the impact.

 

As i said before the first league match: he's the new James Hanson. Opinion will always be divided on him.

Personally, I'd be more critical if he was missing and messing up several chances per match.

I understand the point of working hard but we can only really say a forward "started the season well" if they've scored. He hasn't but he also needs better passes into him. Our general attacking play in the league has been sub-par, exemplified by the lack of goals but defensively the team have been better than anyone ever imagined, I would bet.

 

Regarding 'leading the press' I watched Beesley today in that regard and he was miles off it. He'd be ten yards off their centre backs and when they moved the ball he was nowhere near anyone to exert any pressure at all. Sure, he put in a lot of effort but it was completely fruitless.

 

Superb defensive performance highlighting our functional style. Love Sars but he is not a CM. Add a quality CM and ST to strengthen our promotion chances.

Not sure why everyone is bashing Beesley, enjoy the win and top spot.

 

You've answered your own question. You're not sure why we are discussing Beesley and then you've said we need a better striker in your first paragraph if we want a better chance of getting promoted?

 

Luton fan view of the match

 

Another, less balanced, Id say, view

 

'Mystifying formation with just one in the centre of midfield.' Hmm...

 

I understand what you are saying, but we brought in players this season to improve our goal output. Beesley was one of these. He has never been prolific, however he won't score playing in the areas he does.
So, are we saying that he is not doing as asked? Personally I don't think so, I reckon he is doing as he is asked by GA.
So we have bought someone to improve our goal output but negate any threat he has.
Add playing Sarce deeper and we are going in the wrong direction as far as goal threat is concerned.
I will absolutely take our results, but they will not continue with our current goal output.

 

Great win. Really good defensive performance but still lots to work on in the final third. Last two games we've struggled to create anything really.

Luton quite nice in their build up in the first half but poor in both boxes.

Hopefully Neufville’s injury isn't serious but doesnt sound promising. He's had a fantastic start to the season even if he's not got the goals or assists he did this time last year.

 

W8 L2. Fantastic start. And when we beat Posh its a LC QF to look forward too. Things are good...

Defences toughest test to date in 2 weeks when they come up against Marriot though.

 

Needs to work on his first touch though. It's shocking at times.

 

@Jayteebee Just ignore him for a few weeks. Work's well that function ;-)

 

Great post. What's amazing that all us fans have had this system for nearly two years, where we've taken an average of two points (or near as damn it) yet still some fans still think we must have 20+ goal striker.

 

Problem is, Beesley was totally 'impactful' in the only goal we scored against Mansfield.

I also think you forget, what a tough start we've had away from home. No-one, other than perhaps Huddersfield and Leicester are going to be creating a host of chances at Sheff Wed, Plymouth and Luton.

Wright is also a miss for a player like him. Added together with what I mentioned above, we are not getting lots and lots of crosses into the box.

I'd say on a rough estimate of those, of the people that I know, 20% think he's rubbish with most of the rest frequently commenting on his work-rate and been fine with him.

I also can think of dozens of players in City's history, who have been written off after 10 matches, only for those critics having to eat their words.