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

Saw it on the concourse TV in the lower kop (I gave in and called it a half after the second goal) and from the replays it looked like a dive, people in the queue around felt similar.

 

I agree, on the occasions McIntyre has played he's looked very assured on the ball, the sort of player who can actually run with the ball out of defence rather than playing a safe sideways pass or launching a hopefull ball forwards. Seems a mystery to me why he's being overlooked when it's been clear over the last 3 or 4 games that his guile and confidence on the ball in defence has been missing. Think his last appearance was Rotherham and I was pretty impressed with him that day.

 

I'm assuming he's another one that isn't quite fit, otherwise I have to see, GA getting that wrong also.

 

Yep, that or him not training to GA's liking are the only conclusion I've come to as well. Let's see if he features tomorrow night

 

I think I'm right in saying that since GA came in Kelly has always played when fit. Maybe he's just GA's kind of player.

 

I was surprised he was offered another contract given his injury issues. We have enough horses for courses and he’s one I’d play away from home. Saying that he’s not had the academy schooling and is raw which can be our undoing. Strengthen defence with agile ball playing centre halves who also know the basics of defending.

 

23/24 (after GA's appointment)
Squad: 28,
Starting eleven: 25,
Substituted in: 1,
On the bench: 2,
Suspended: 0,
Injured: 0

24/25
Squad: 24,
Starting eleven: 16,
Substituted in: 5,
On the bench: 3,
Suspended: 0,
Injured: 22

25/26

Squad: 10,
Starting eleven: 4,
Substituted in: 5,
On the bench: 1,
Suspended: 0,
Injured: 5

 

There told you so

 

Looks like he was an absolute first choice at the start of GA's reign and as we've progressed he's slowly becoming less and less of a first team option.

 

My only issue with that is the current Richards is miles off the one which we saw early last season. He needs significantly more game time before getting even close to a starting XI spot for me. I’d rather see McIntyre/Tilt - Tourey - Pointon right now.

 

Me and my eldest lad were discussing this during the game as it happened. The ball had been no where near their keeper for a minute or so, blatant time wasting and knowing no action would be taken. My lad suggested that in these circumstances, an outfield player should be nominated to take the 30 seconds off the pitch as if an outfield player had had treatment!! Don't know if it would stop it but they would maybe think twice about it!!!

Alternatively, as a really extreme option, an outfield player should have to spend 30 seconds in goal whilst the keeper is off!!!

 

I do think it will only be a matter of time before football has enough of keepers going down for a tactical timeout and a new law is brought in for it to act as a deterrent which will most likely be that the captain (or nominated player if the goalkeeper is captain) has to go off. The goalkeeper going off would end up in team just trying to injure a goalkeeper to get time against an outfield player in goal and it would be a farce waiting for shirts to be changed over twice.
The problem in football will always be that as soon as a new law comes in every manager is looking for loopholes or ways to exploit it so it will never end. Teams will always find ways to run the clock down and slow restarts.

 

Tilt is currently still injured and hasn't played since early September so I'm not sure that argument holds weight.

McIntyre would be fine but I'd prefer us to give Richards one last try to see if he can put together a run to bring back the form we've seen in the past.

 

They will I'm sure but I do think there are enough laws already to stop a lot of the time wasting, the referees need to actually enforce them.

It was ridiculous on Saturday. In the 13th minute, I think it was, Burton had 3 different players touch the ball, pick it up and hold it, drop it back down and move off before they eventually took a throw in. He can nip that in the bud there and then by booking the final one of the 3!!

Similarly towards the end of the game their right back was told about 3 times to retreat for the throw in...he then threw it to one of the subs to dry it off!!! Nothing said or done by the referee.

The 8 second rule for the keepers that has come in this season is as a direct result of the referees not applying the previous 6 second rule and award of an indirect free kick. Now they get longer and less of a punishment with a corner. The rule was already there, it didn't need changing just actually applying!!

The holding of the watch in the air to let us know that the ref knows they are time wasting does my head in - do something about it then!!

 

Yes, it was a 'way out' there thought from my lad, borne of frustration!!!

 

The 6 second rule was a bit ridiculous and it was never going to be applied as no referee wanted to be the first and then have the mess of sorting an indirect free kick in the penalty area which end up taking ages to sort with players pushing and the wall trying to move early. I always thought 6 seconds was too short. The 8 seconds is working as you don't have the ridiculous 20+ seconds that you used to have, I don't think it was ever intended as an exact 8 seconds and it's why refs are allowed to apply some lenience like not started it the second a goalkeeper gets the ball if they have got it from a dive or they are surrounded from a corner.
The watch holding is more a signal to say they are adding on the time and often a warning saying you are close to a yellow card. I did think on Saturday that the ref was more than fair with added on time as I was expecting only 5 or 6 minutes especially when there were only 4 subs in the match.
The problem refs will have is they can't win, if they hand out a load of cards they'll be accused of being card happy, ruining the game and making it about them. If they don't give out cards then they are not being strong enough.

 

Exactly , however one could consider no attempt was made to play the ball on Sat because the ball was out of reach added to that Hump was also in the way . He made an attempt in the loosest strength of the words imaginable even though in my judgement there wasn’t a chance on earth he could have touched it without going through Hump.
“Subjective” in the loosest sense of the word Offy?

 

Me too , I’ve been saying it two years , Pickford started it at Everton.

 

We did in the first few games until Tilt got injured, defences were stretched because the threat came from both sides , especially those with 4 at the back .

 

Probably because the standard required is far higher?