The Voice - Match preview #3: Plymouth Argyle vs Bradford City Saturday 29th August 2026 3:00pm

This isnt an over reaction for the record. We have had a good start to the season and on our day, we can go toe to toe with anyone in the league

But there are glaring issues. Some from last year (the away performances and lack of plan B) and some from now (that sorry excuse of a midfield). If you are playing a midfield two, you need one person who is comfortable getting the ball, and spraying it about, and someone with legs, energy and pace. Pace is a 50/50, but we play with a midfield 2 so it’s needed to make up for whenever we play a team with a midfield 3, or when we are chasing the game.

some big points to address

Wing Back - Touray is solid in the tackle, positioning and working in cohesion with the back line but feck me does he fly into some dumb challenges and look as comfortable on the ball in an attacking situation as a gazelle wandering into a lion enclosure

The midfield - either we sack off the recruitment department for Loanees from Champ & prem clubs or we get on the phone to Rupp and ask for some more funds because there is no way there isn't a single player available for loan from a division or two above that is within our budget. we’re 5 games into the season now and Connolly hasn’t played a single pass forward and Sarc has looked anonymous in every match, barring a 10 min spell against Wednesday


Plan B - it started against Doncaster away last year and never really left since. We can lose, home or away, and as long as we put effort in, fair enough. Cant win them all. But these repetitive performances where we roll over after the first goal, cant be bothered running, or being able to make simple passes; and ending the game with less than 2 shots on target need to stop. Its the sort of stuff you see relegation-threatened teams play, not ones fighting for promotion

 

Today went exactly as I thought it would unfortunately, I expected us to be tired after Wednesday and a long trip down.

However, I saw too many red flags in that performance, similar to those in our poor away displays last season.

Plymouth are a big, physical side, direct and strong on set pieces. They don't give the ball away in their final third and as a result we don't create anything. Too many aimless long balls and an inability and unwillingness to play through the middle of the pitch. These are the exact problems we faced last season against the exact same type of opposition and nothing seems to have changed. We have one way of playing and when the opposition don't facilitate it, we struggle.

Midfield was really poor. Another game where Sarcevic is anonymous and we're wasting a player of that quality in a position where he does not effect the game. Our midfield has no creativity or pace.

 

You're not alone. I said the same after the first game of the season and got shot down in flames by most on here. The lad tries but he doesn't seem to have the basic skills of a footballer. Can't hold the ball up, can't pass, can't get in goalscoring positions and consequently doesn't score any goals. Very unspectacular career so far and it shows. I'd love to be proved wrong but he's no better than Humphrys up top, perhaps worse. Not what we needed.
Having said that, we were comprehensively outplayed today all across the pitch.

 

Why would there be “excuses” - he will just do his usual post match interview

 

the defence bypasses the midfield because they know Connolly will only play it back to them and Sarc aint quick enough to evade the man marking him and get a pass off

as for Phillips, he played for Barnsley for 3 years and they were shit. Im sure he’l get used to us throwing the occasional game

 

GA would never sign Haaland as not his type of player. Big strong basic footballer with a goal instinct. Not it seems what GA likes in a player.. Even if we had him GA would sell him for a Beesley type

 

Cook plays in league 2 for a reason, thats his level, and yes, very good at that level. He hasnt started a game for us for 20 months, we have moved on.

 

I think that will end the front 3 experiment that is making all 3 look bad (outside of Swan when he has his moments like against Burnley).

We so clearly aren't a 3 4 3 side, we don't need 3 centre forwards, our midfield 4 can't supply them, they don't have the creativity. 3 of that 4 are defenders.

Get the creative players on in that front line.

 

I said when he signed he's the sort of player that will do OK for us but isn't good enough to get us to the next level. Nothing I've seen from him up to this point makes me think I should change my mind about him.

 

Is Baldwin still league ones best defender?

Asking for a friend.

 

Ahh but he runs about a lot and works hard, that's all that we need (apparently)

 

We rarely get a hat full under GA

 

My mates a Plymouth fan and at the game. Says that’s the best they’ve played this season.
Also says the last train to Leeds has been cancelled. Fans need to go to Derby and then a bus. Poor lot.

 

We need a younger Cook / Powell type of player. Big. Strong bosses defences in to mistakes and can create his own chances and a natural eye for goal. Hard to find but fear we are not even looking as not GA cup of tea hence Powell not used enough

 

We won't, there isn't silly amounts of money and the players out there to make a massive difference. We have what we have more or less.

It's not the players I worry about. It's the lack of belief that creeps in every now and again. We saw it last year, early season we played like demons. Then all of a sudden we reverted to a team that look terrified of it's own shadows, and it wasn't just fitness. These guys are professionals and should be able to withstand a regular season. We're going to lose games in a season, and that's fine, it's the game, it's bad luck or just not getting the rub of the green.

But there's something else that happens, it's in their heads. You can see it in the body language, shoulders drops, angry looks are exchanged, fingers pointed, and from the same players that two weeks previously gelled like they'd be best mates all their lives. And that's the gaffer's job to sort, I just hope he does. Because you could chuck expensive players at a squad, but if there's some doubt or lack of belief kicking around, the same things happens.

 

I remember the same being said about Kavanagh.

 

Decent enough start to season but….
Same characteristics as last year already highlighting
Not enough goals and will probably rely on home form again
Why sign 6ft striker and not provide the service
Should’ve looked for out and out winger
None of our wingbacks are good enough for the attacking role

 

God we really suffer under GA don’t we with a promotion and a place in the play offs the following season

 

I wasn't expecting that-right across the board-no one sounded to be more than 4 or 5/10.

Can't be fatigue as they have trained to play when knackered.

Smashing high balls to Bobby just isn't what we should be doing.

IIRC I heard Sarcevics name mentioned about twice in the whole half-I don't think that experiment is working.

Interesting to see who comes in and who goes out in the next few days.