The Voice - Match preview #24: Bradford City vs Grimsby Town Saturday 4th January 2025 1:00pm

Totally agree, if we can keep them fit they should both get a few goals and assists each. Every team has a few "what ifs" at the end of the season and if we don't go up one of our biggest one will be what if they didn't get injured. In a way being forced into the 343 has probably helped them both as I think it suits them more than both playing as no 8s either side of Smallwood especially Sarcevic.

 

You city fans... Are very easily pleased. @everyone it's not the worst game I've watched

Yes we're a league 2 side but today hard work. We are way off from being a top 7 side let alone a league 1 side.

 

Spot on. It’s also the keeper getting “ treatment” because he doesn’t have to leave the pitch …..

 

Pressing isn't just going forward either.
If a team breaks the press then you've got to chase it down from the front.
All 3 did that today and hopefully we will see more going forward, especially away from home and start getting wins on the road

 

Superb performance today by all concerned. Kavanagh's mobility seemed to transform the way we played, and it was a joy to watch players who hadn't really done themselves justice this season flourishing. I also thought the back three complemented each other as well as any combination we've had there. As some have said Grimsby didn't offer much and there will be harder tests before the end of the season but I'm more encouraged after today than for a long time.

 

Any credibility you had has long gone, , replying to me it wasn't you when I posted "Name and Shame".

 

I don’t think even the optimists would have dreamt that…..If only.. at Barrow?

Well done today best performance this season for me . The running through the middle at pace was fantastic. The one-two between Pattison and Sarcevic that left the latter facing a one on one where it screwed left of the post was excellent stuff. Those two were the standout , along with Richards/ Bobby.

Even Smallwood had a great game as he had runners around him.

On that show there is no way in now for Walker

 

Wasn’t able to go today as we are currently plague ridden. Just watched the highlights and I’d have been seriously miffed if that penalty had been awarded against us. I played it back at quarter speed and what contact there was seemed to occur outside the box and as Sarcevic was already stumbling a bit.

Having said that, I really don’t care, it’s just such a pleasant change to be on the right side of an official’s error. The Salford non-goal still looms large in my memories of the season so far.

 

It's not just them either. Dunno if anyone watched MNF this week, but Carragher did a breakdown of the Man United tactic and why they can't create and it rang true to us, as they and us play this 5221/3421 (whichever way you look at it) system.

He said that United struggle when it's Dalot and Mazroui because they are trained full backs who forget how key they are to this tactic. United struggle when they get pinned to a back 5 and even when they win the ball, the WBs stay back and dont use the width, as that's their first nature. To make it work, your wing backs need to be your most mobile and constantly closing or filling wide space.

We are the same. We look our worst when teams pin our wing backs right back and make us play a back 5. Even when we get the ball out on those scenarios, there aren't enough bodies to support the forwards and the system breaks down..... But today, we nailed it! Richards and Halliday ran their arses off. Whenever we got the ball, they were on their bike going high and wide which is the main way we are going to test teams and create avenues. Neither should be scared to go forward either, that's the point of Smallwood and 3 CBs, there's cover to allow them to bomb forward which both did to great effect today. I hope this trend is one they continue with as it makes us far more exciting and is how you get the best out of the tactic.

 

Although Alexander said as yet there are no out goings I would hope that doesn't mean there wont be movement during the January window, obviously depending on the wording of the loan deals we may have to keep the likes Sanderson and Diabate but hopefully the likes of Walker, Smith, Oliver, Evans and Huntingdon would be moving on.

 

I'm not looking for credibility...

But I demand to out of this league. It's just a purple patch until proven otherwise! I'm not convinced.

Nor do I care what you or others think.

It's my opinion. Ultra harsh, absolutely.. but tough shite.

 

Diabete player sponsorship has been transferred to the lad from Brum-I reckon he is on his way.

 

I think GA shouldn't be taken at face value with that one today. I reckon it's good old fashioned manager talk where he isn't committing to outs or ins talk and playing it all down. I think we all.k ow probably 5 or 6 leave this window, especially if 4 or 5 come in.

 

Has Rupp gone yet? When are the protests?

 

Anyway you can enjoy your shandy tonight after that fabulous entertaining win today. UTFC.

 

Well spotted.

 

If he says somebody is going,he’s immediately asked who it is.
This then can’t be answered and the interview just gets awkward,
It was definitely a fend off by GA.

 

I only know cos I was speaking with the people who sponsored Diabete before the game and they said they received an email advising them of the transfer.

 

What a great team performance that was today. I couldn’t pick a man of the match. Classic team performance. We totally dominated and outplayed them. Yes, it was the softest of soft penalties but we get a fair few sickeners ourselves. Credit to the whole team. Although Kav didn’t score, thought it his best game of the season. Smallwood had brilliant game, I could go on and on. Well done City, what a brilliant Christmas & New Year return.