The Voice - Match preview #19: Bradford City vs Reading Saturday 13th December 2025 3:00pm

It looks like Reading are emulating our decline to the basement division. No team spirit-dwindling disillusioned fanbase- a club with no footballing strategy. All sound familiar?

 

Not very good? Impossible we’ve been told by an expert on here he’s one of the best in the league.

 

He was crap when here.

 

Jesus, if Paudie was crap when he was here, I don't know what your opinion of the current crop of defenders are...

 

Disagree, he was our best defender and one of the best players in a poor team. But had we had him last season he’d have been a help not hindrance.

That said he isn’t anywhere near one of the best in league 1 as someone said, he’s big standard but I’d have him over the likes of Byrne, Kelly and Tilt.

That said he was absolutely honking yesterday but that can happen to anyone.

 

I thought Kelly played well on Saturday. Won most things and was the right call for that game. I think he struggles against quicker more technical strikers, which the top 10 sides tend to have.

 

No he wasn’t crap , just a slightly better than average L2 “ warrior” . Would I have him all over again, not on that showing , he’s less pace than Byrne ?

 

Slightly better if clean sheets are anything to go by?

 

His distribution in L1 lets him down too often for me , but in fairness a L2 defender who will earn his money.

 

I thought first half was even, but we still looked the better side and more likely to win the game.

Second half Reading were lucky to get 0

Ciaran Kelly had a good game. In fact he usually does for me and tends to come in for some very unfair criticism. Pace isn't his thing, but he is extremely solid and wins a hell of a lot more headers than loses. His distribution has come on a lot too in the last few weeks and he has started getting forrad to support the attack.

I thought Ty had a cracking game and was my MOTM. Both halves.... may not have put a pinpoint cross on to Bobbys head in the first but he was everywhere and their defence were struggling with him.

Sarcevic is THE mannest of all men that ever lived. The most important player in that side.

Metcalfe quality aswell in the middle.

 

Agreed. Saying that, Baldwin is more prone to brain farts than Kelly. I think there were 2 or 3 occasions on Saturday where Baldwin passed straight to the opponent when under no real pressure. I think Kelly is a safety first kind of defender where as Baldwin takes risks, but his long ball distribution is way ahead.

 

All players have their qualities and weaknesses tbh…… The better ones have more of one than the other I suppose. Of the two Baldwin is more of a rounded player, but yes subject to errors.

 

Kelly I thought played well, not too many hoof balls more short pases up to midfield

 

Metcalfe getting a lot of praise but I thought he looked very raw and a lot of his passing was very loose, as well as running into trouble with the ball. However what I will say is he never let his head drop and was always looking for the ball. Strong in the tackle too. He’s got a lot of improving to do but he bodes well for the future. Really pleased to have him at City.

 

Kelly seems like the sort of player who works extremely hard, and listens. So maybe they've been working in training on his passing and getting forward.

I think he's under rated. A proper defender who with a bit of work could be a real asset. He's never going to be quick, but he won't let you down.

 

Spot on about Kelly. He's the most undervalued player in our squad on here at least.

 

Underrated not as a defender , rather his distribution is pretty shocking. If as someone said earlier , he can keep those passes shorter then maybe , just maybe .
His weakness is when he’s up against a smaller more technically gifted forward . Donkeys he lives with , so to speak.

 

Do you want mine?

 

The long ball thing is fine but if he can't defend then he'll always be a liability and we'd be much better with someone solid in there.

Had Reading been better Baldwin could, and probably should, have cost us two goals in that first half. He'd certainly need to go some to outweigh two goals with a few crossfield passes.

That said, he was better when he switched to the right as he wasn't as exposed and for the minute he's still our best option there, at least until Pennington regains fitness.