The Voice - Match preview #15: Bradford City vs Burton Albion Saturday 8th November 2025 3:00pm

Er … yes.

 

I was thinking this the other day, especially now Richards is fit again. Whilst Tilt is out, McIntyre seemingly is out of favour and Kelly on the ball doesn't tick the boxes, maybe for balance it's best that Touray plays LCB and we have an outlet in Richards or Tyreik at LWB? It would stop Power having to drop deeper to pick the ball up too and give the midfield a bit more shape?

 

Spot on, BB

 

I'm not going to go back and moan about that game. It's already been covered above.

The defence for me was the problem. I like Joe Wright, what a defender he is. But he's nowhere near as good as McIntyre on the ball. I also think we miss Ibou at LCB. He was a monster.

So for me next league game the back 5 looks like this:

Walker
Pennington McIntyre Touray

Neuf Wright/Richards (prefer Richards if he's ready)

Alexander said we were playing simple passes across the back and being dragged into it. For me it's the limited passing ability the CB's have. The above would improve that ten fold. And not really lose much defensive quality.

 

It would be the same in the EPL (See Dan Burn yesterday)

 

Although Burns first challenge which the ref gave the Brentford player a yellow for diving was far more a pen that the one that was actually given. That ref had some really iffy decisions yesterday.

 

I'm not sure it's all on the CBs. Take Baldwin out and possibly Touray, then they are all much of a muchness passing wise. On Saturday Pennington played no better than Kelly, possibly even worse. There needs to be a pass on in order for them to make it and on Saturday I'm not sure the CBs ever had many options. I think some of the criticism of Kelly in particular was unfair because he was put in a position with little options. Yes he has his limitations....so why continuously put him in that position where he is being closed down with no options other than the safety ball down the line. Joe Wright had more time and was trying to play hopeless long diagonals yet he doesn't seem to have come in for the same criticism. The midfield and the manager need to take some responsibility here.

 

Problem we have with Touray is he's the best wing back and arguably the best centre back we've got. Very rare I've seen a player slot in two positions and excel in both. I'd also argue he's better than Wright going forward at times, can beat a man better than Wright can. Wherever we play him makes the other position weaker.

 

Thanks , perhaps I am biased after all?
I’ll check it out.

What we are saying therefore, it’s a yellow and a pen if denied a scoring opportunity via foul play in the box , yet 100mm outside the box it’s a red and a free kick .

The law is an ass just as is the interpretation of “denied a scoring opportunity”. Seen a corner lately, Les Kellet and Mick McManus would be proud.

A simple game ruled by idiots

 

Agree with that, although he did look a bit out of sorts on Saturday. I think a rest will do him good

 

The difference is that if the foul is in the box you get a penalty, which probably has an 85% chance of scoring from, rather than a free kick just outside the box which probably gives a 10% chance of scoring. Being given a near certainty of a goal and an extra man was seen as too big a reward for the attacking side.
The exception is if the ref thinks the defender made no attempt to play the ball then it’s a pen and a red card. But, as with many things in football, thats a subjective judgement.

 

The goings on at corners is getting worse throughout the leagues, horrible to watch, expect new regulations will have to be introduced at some stage soon ...

 

He wasn’t alone.

 

What wound me up more than anything was when their keeper went down in second half. They had been awarded a free kick in front of the main stand. It wasn't even a foul but that's another matter. Instead of placing the ball for the free kick their man with the ball turned round and gestured to the keeper to go down. Maybe he had had a signal from the bench. The keeper duly went down and on came the trainer. We were battering them at this point. Made even worse by the trainer smirking all the way back to the dug out. I have no idea how but they have to put a stop to this too.

PS I know Sam Walker is guilty of this too but I still hate it.

 

I've been saying it for weeks Jordan. That left hand side would have incredible mobility and pace with Richards, Touray and Pointon in there and all interchanging.

 

Speaking of which, has anyone got a video of the Pointon booking or seen a replay on tv? It looked like he clipped him to me and penalty or no penalty I thought the booking was extremely harsh.

 

My lad alluded to this on Saturday, the left side has been very little threat the last few games. Teams double up on Neufville so its imperative we have an outlet from his opposite side.

 

I think the booking might have been for the way Bobby protested the decision, rather than for diving. He was clearly incensed.

 

I can see why GA wanted to be fair to Kelly as he was probably MOTM against Lincoln but home games like this when we need the tempo high aren't games for no nonsense centre halves like him.

 

I did say i'd rather play McIntyre over Wright because of his on the ball ability. He's impressed me a lot when he's played