The Voice - Match preview Bradford City vs MK Dons Saturday 22nd February 3:00pm

Yes tomorrow's game really worries me as well. We played our 1st choice midfield 3 on Tuesday and I think that will inevitably be broken up again tomorrow. That, with other changes and the loss of Shepherd makes us vulnerable I fear.
Really hope I'm wrong and we manage to scramble a win which would put us in a fantastic position.

 

There is potential of course, on the other hand Tuesdays performance may just as likely give them a massive boost . It’s not easy to recognise for 35 mins on Tuesday we were bettering the best L1 side, even without a recognised centre forward . Even their fans agreed . It’s another stepping stone .

 

Thing is though, it will be a very different 11 that takes the field tomorrow. Regardless of the attributes of the incoming players they will have to be on it from the start which won't be easy. Not being negative and I'll obviously be delighted if the lads pull it off tomorrow.
Team selection will be very interesting as it always is nowadays!

 

I think tomorrow is the start of our lull in form. The hangover from being minutes away from a chance at Wembley, all the players ran themselves into the ground for over 100 minutes, I think MK will capitalise on us tomorrow. We'll have to have a drop at some time, I'd prefer it to be now so we still have plenty of time to pick back up again, rather than later.

 

He has to rotate…This Sat , Tuesday schedule, when pitches are at their natural worst, is rank bad planning by the EFL. They are crammed deliberately to allow for trophy competitions earlier in the season at the expense of league fixtures.

I feel better now…

 

I don’t believe there’ll be a hangover. On reflection we had a good start to the second half in an attacking sense, the remainder was a training exercise in defending and stopping opportunities for a much better side. The result wasn’t unexpected and it didn’t feel like the Wycombe game that was snatched in the dying minutes. I think there was around 15 minutes to go and we didn’t really fashion a chance. We played better than I expected and would think the players will be on a high following that performance.

 

We played fantastically, but the lads looked absolutely shattered with 15 to go then the following added on time. There's surely 4 or 5 changes tomorrow? Wright might need nose treatment as that looked awful. Shep replaced, could well see one of Patto or Sarce rested, Leigh and Mellon will probably come in too? It depends who survives to be "on a high".

Pointless stat I know, but we have just 1 league win in our last 8 games after being knocked out of a cup mid-week, which was back in Nov 2022 after being knocked out of the FA Cup.

 

I thought we beat Accrington last year after Wycombe? Or did we have a game before?

 

The players clearly enjoyed playing in the better atmosphere of a packed stadium against a better standard of player and an excellent playing surface. The hardest part is getting them back up now against a non descript side in a run of the mill league 2 fixture.
Start with the same team for me, bring on fresh legs when necessary.

 

Not with Shepherd banned and Jamie Walker not up to the role he was given, I reckon at least 4 changes will need to be made for this one....

 

As an absolute minimum I'd want to see the same midfield 3 starting, but really don't see that happening unfortunately.

 

I'd realised Shepherd was banned as i posted it, probably Wright out injury pending. Not sure who will come in, i think Khela has something about him and would like to see him at some stage. Mellon did alright last time out so deserves another start, Leigh and Lapslie may come into play. Can't change that midfield three of Smallwood, Sarce and Patto though. its the whole reason we are in good form.

 

There will be changes , no question.

Shep out for Huntingdon
Walker out for Mellon/ Leigh
Wright out for Tayo

For me start with our best midfield of Pattison and Sarcevic , Bobby et al and keep people like Leigh/ Wright until the last 25-20 mins .

One of the biggest bonuses from Tues….Bobby learnt that arriving in the box from a deeper position can pay huge dividends …

Quite a conundrum?

 

Normally I would agree , oddly they were apparently appalling last week and there are many calls for their coach / manager to be sacked . ( Scott Lindsey) . A weird club considering they have a
“plan” ? The outcome is difficult to call, it depends which side turns up tomorrow?

 

I'm a bit more confident than most people seem to be, I think our style of play is very well suited to expose the weaknesses in their play (ie, let them tippy tappy about then pick them off with a well timed press), expecting plenty of freash legs - fairly confident the line up will be this, or very close to:

Walker
Baldwin - Huntington - Crichlow
Johnson - Sarcevic - Smallwood - Adaramola
Leigh - Pointon
Mellon

Maybe he'll rest Sarcevic instead of Pattison and maybe he'll feel Kav better suited to the type of game if he's fit but feel will be there or thereabouts

 

I can see Huntington in for Shepherd being obvious. I would play Adaramola instead of Wright who is more than a little bruised and battered after Tuesday. Mellon up front, perhaps Kavanagh later on.
I hope we start with Smallwood, Pointon, Sarcevic and Pattison, with substitutions later when hopefully we will be ahead.

 

Spot on

 

I think he will start Leigh tomorrow who will see himself as having a point to prove to MK.

That will go either way, he'll have the game of his life or end up having a complete shocker

 

It’s such a relief to be able to see some midfield names down as hopeful starters knowing they are round pegs in round holes.
Too long we’ve asked players to do different jobs and it’s bit us on the arse.
Pattison,Smallwood and Sarcevic are absolutely the key to where we finish this season imho.
Keep all these three fit and playing together regularly and we’ll be nearer to the top three than we have been for the last few years.

That said,Mellon and Kav have a massive part to pray as well with no Cook.