Viking Supporters Co-operative
Viking Chat => Viking Chat => Topic started by: selby on January 01, 2025, 09:48:55 pm
-
Well our well earned reputation of getting teams back on track will be well tested by Port Vale who have gone without a win in eight games, November the 16th being the last date they won a league fixture and were riding high at the pinnacle of the division at the time.
Since then things have nose dived and comments like we are being served up the most boring football in fifty years are being levelled at Darren Moore by supporters, reminiscent of his last period here, let's hope we can extend the run just a little longer.
So we have the prospect of second playing fifth and both teams not exactly playing flowing exciting football. No matter how out of form Port Vale are I doubt we could put on another so lacking a show as we did today and get away with another three points, surely we will have to show more form against the Vale to get the three points on offer.
Today the only thing that was remotely good was the win getting us three points, we were disjointed, slow, and sloppy, and got away with it, but a win is a win and we have played well and lost so one back against the head.
Our main problem is? poor defending around our box, we fail to dominate mid field, and we don't exactly create or take many chances, please take your pick, and are certainly not providing the free flowing football normally associated with teams second in any division, Just how did it happen?
It is a strange division, apart from Walsall no team is that consistent, Chesterfield the side that played the best controlled football we have seen on the edge but not in the top promotion places. and Harrogate who we just cannot beat up to press and routinely beat us third from bottom and in an early relegation battle.
So what have we to go on, well earlier in the season we beat them 3-2 away in a great game when both sides were in far better form than at the moment, and Port Vale came here and knocked us out of the Football League Trophy 1-0 in another closely fought game with little between the two sides, so obviously not a lot between the teams.
Also both sides can now sign players over the next few weeks so lots of uncertainty who plays with not many players in our case apart from Olowu and the keeper showing anything like the form they are capable of consistently and the Vale must be in about the same position.
An important game for both teams, both with aspirations of promotion after spending and acquiring players in the closed season and despite recent form are still up there chasing Walsall for a promotion spot.
What do you think? the last gasp goal by Billy changing the outlook somewhat and easing a little pressure, and Vale's draw with Cheltenham hoping to stop the bad run they have been on recently.
Lots to talk about, always a game since the start of the season supporters would have looked at and thought a hard game in the shakeout, and the present form of the teams not envisaged earlier in the season.
We need a win, how we do it really does not matter, but we can play a lot better than of late and might just have to in this game if they come here on it.
So please have your say, with lots to talk about and a team to play who at their best are one of the strongest in the division.
-
Let’s get the place packed and rocking
-
Looking at the weather forecast, this might be under threat.
-
I found a comment by the new Fleetwood manager interesting saying they set out to start fast, and impose themselves on us something I have alluded to in the past, also upset our rhythm knowing that we would then overplay the ball (mess about at the back) and make a mistake.
Just about spot on describing Port Vale's approach in the cup game they beat us in, and the way most teams play us at home.
-
Looking at the weather forecast, this might be under threat.
The sun is getting rid of the frost nicely today but no sunshine forecast tomorrow. Highs of only 3C tomorrow after another frost tonight.
Hopefully the covers do their job.
-
Ian am struggling to understand Grants pre match comments when asked about the fleetwood game. He started by saying it was difficult when they came to sit behind the ball?
That certainly not how I viewed the game, they seemed to be willing to apply a press and attack us at every opportunity.
Yes we gave them every opportunity to get behind the ball with our slow play out from the back.
Was Grant watching a different game to many of us?
-
Chance to get a little closer to Walsall as their game at Cheltenham tomorrow is off because of frozen pitch
-
I fancy us against Port Vale, we've got to be at it and play on the front foot but I think they're the type of side we could go out and beat well.
I'd get Ironside and Sharp on the pitch together from the start, I think both have been decent last few games but need time together with support.
We can't make mistakes though, we keep giving free goals away, if we go in front we'll kick on and win well but not sure we'll come back from behind. With that in mind Broadbent drops to the bench, and play a 3-5-2.
-
We will have to try and keep a clean sheet at last, their forwards in the cup game we played them in earlier in the season showed they can give us problems with quick forwards, although like us tend to overplay the ball.
We need to step up from the Fleetwood game especially at the back, they are not in the best form but can put a good game together given the chance , and it has to be recognised we can be got at if we are not on our own game, and they are capable of running past us.
-
They are on an appalling run of form. One win in the last ten games and have never scored more than 1 goal in those ten.
We will have difficulty losing - but then again we have managed it against the odds quite quite bit recently!
-
They are on an appalling run of form. One win in the last ten games and have never scored more than 1 goal in those ten.
We will have difficulty losing - but then again we have managed it against the odds quite quite bit recently!
I have to say that I really don’t like posts like that one mate.
Such a fate tempter..
-
When will people learn.
-
If Rovers play to go forward with every touch we can win, if we keep turning backwards instead of taking risks going forwards we will lose. Let's see.
-
Ian am struggling to understand Grants pre match comments when asked about the fleetwood game. He started by saying it was difficult when they came to sit behind the ball?
That certainly not how I viewed the game, they seemed to be willing to apply a press and attack us at every opportunity.
Yes we gave them every opportunity to get behind the ball with our slow play out from the back.
Was Grant watching a different game to many of us?
Totally agree, love Grant's honesty in his interviews but must dissagree with his first half view, Fleetwood got forward in numbers & played decent football with their passing & movement. Apart from the goal we were miles off it, I certainly don't think we controlled it.
-
quote from the PV fansite
Trivia: should Jaheim Headley start he will be the 30th player to play in the League already this season.
surely we can't beat that
and finally a bit of old news (nearly 60 years late) our oldies will be please to hear Well done Port Vale
Featured connection
Respected defender John Nicholson was signed from Liverpool by Port Vale in 1961. A regular in the Valiants defence, he made 208 consecutive appearances for the club. He was sold to Doncaster in 1965 and was sadly killed in a car crash in 1966 aged just 29. Port Vale FC donated a sizeable sum to his widow as a mark of respect.
-
They love playing out from the back, so we really need to get at them and force the mistakes, like Grimsby did to them last week.
-
Yeah John Nicholson was a great centre half, and tragic accident which I still remember now, even though I was only 12, particularly has the accident occurred near where we lived at the time. It was a nice gesture from pv, footballers wages at that time were very small compared to those today.
-
Wasn't Alick in the car as well?
-
Alick was in the car and spent some time in a Coma I believe
-
They are on an appalling run of form. One win in the last ten games and have never scored more than 1 goal in those ten.
We will have difficulty losing - but then again we have managed it against the odds quite quite bit recently!
Well like giving teams in poor form a leg up
-
They love playing out from the back, so we really need to get at them and force the mistakes, like Grimsby did to them last week.
Clifton will be key.
-
Wasn't Alick in the car as well?
He was, and so was John Wylie.
-
They are on an appalling run of form. One win in the last ten games and have never scored more than 1 goal in those ten.
We will have difficulty losing - but then again we have managed it against the odds quite quite bit recently!
Well like giving teams in poor form a leg up
We also have form for giving managers under pressure a push over the edge…
-
Can’t see them outing Judas even if we give it to them dry today ! He’s on a 5 year deal apparently.
-
Didnt deserve to lose today, teams win the games in hand and were out of the play off places,need start winning soon
-
Didnt deserve to lose today, teams win the games in hand and were out of the play off places,need start winning soon
Maybe the people who say that everything is fine because we "were" 2nd start worrying.
-
Much better performance first half and again being poor in the final third cost us. Whoever booed at HT just need to f*ck off and stay at home.2nd half though, I have to question McCann. The 3 changes were baffling. We were ok with the game in the balance and thought those changes cost us the 2nd. This squad just isn’t good enough to win automatic promotion. We can dress it up all we want but, I can’t see us getting there. Hope I’m wrong.
-
Better but still nowhere near top 3 material im afraid.
We need some serious quality in the middle of the pitch this month.
I am lost for words at the referees performance!
-
Better but still nowhere near top 3 material im afraid.
We need some serious quality in the middle of the pitch this month.
I am lost for words at the referees performance!
As bad as the Chesterfield refs performance.
-
Didnt deserve to lose today, teams win the games in hand and were out of the play off places,need start winning soon
Maybe the people who say that everything is fine because we "were" 2nd start worrying.
Not at all. One signing now in midfield can be all the difference.
-
I’m not lost for words regarding the referee, but it’s pointless. If you watched the game, you know.
-
No idea!
We looked something like for the last 10 mins and we nearly got a point. But, we deserved nothing.
We’re getting worse!
-
No idea!
We looked something like for the last 10 mins and we nearly got a point. But, we deserved nothing.
We’re getting worse!
Alan if you think we deserved nothing out of that game then you have no idea about what you’re watching. Stop being negative without thinking what you’re saying
-
I’ve said it a thousand times and I hate saying it because it’s sounds so regressive but we’re crying out for a proper Mr or two in the midfield, we get bullied, we let their experienced players referee the game, we always look like the victim. It’s so hard to watch. How many midfielders we got? It reminds me of Alan Partridge when he’s pretending to be at Bono’s house and says “He's got the biggest collection of, uh, hatchbacks in the country”, get rid of a couple and get a nice steady saloon for God’s sake!
-
We are playing games with only one natural defender, Ol0wu, the others are easy on the eye when they have room and time, especially down our left flank, but defending is not their strong point.
And if Olowu has started one of his bollock a game runs with todays mistake, like he has had in the past, we are in for a sticky period and have a good chance of falling well short of our ambition.
It is twelve games since our last clean sheet, I have said before if we continue to have to score two or more goals a game to win a game of football, we will not end up in the top three positions and will find it hard to obtain a play off place.
-
Maxwell and Bailey were very poor today. I would’ve taken Maxwell off before halftime - a stinker from the lad who is normally half decent.
Bailey might not be obvious to some for stick ( and I have been on his back all this season) but he slows the play down, it is like he is over thinking and reluctant to play anything but walking football. The midfield is vey very weak.
Molly is well of it, and apart from 2-3 games in the beginning of the season he has also underperformed.
Gibson as with Molly has been pretty poor, althoug( had his best performance in the game he was sent off in, but today poor.
McGrath, the lad is good, but his constant wanting to play the Hollywood ball rather than the simple pass is frustrating the hell out of me, he almost spits his dummy out at the right Simple’s pass and blasts it towards them.
Kelly and Clifton, not sure they were in the game much at all.
No service to the front is a massive issue, we give them service and it normally ends up being close to a goal, we just don’t do it often enough.
Sterry was by far the mom ( a country mile)
All that said and we were not far from being the better side! They are a typical Darren Moore team big, strong and well schooled in the dark arts, but importantly clinical.
I will say it again, Adelukans form hid all this last year.
-
It wasn’t just Adelakun last season though was it, we had plenty of players playing out their skin each week.
We will go on another run this season, maybe not ten games but at some point we will click
-
Biggins was fantastic at the back end of last season. Nobody has come close to that form in that position.
-
He was dreadful though for the rest of the season, still time for someone to have the same effect from this group
-
He was dreadful though for the rest of the season, still time for someone to have the same effect from this group
Yes agree, just backing up your point last seasons run wasn’t just Haks!
For what it’s worth I’d swap Biggins for Clifton tomorrow.
-
Wasn't Alick in the car as well?
He was, and so was John Wylie.
It was John Flowers, mate. Wylie had to fill in at CH for the next match.
-
Replacing someone as average as biggins should have been easy. Yet in Clifton it's actually a massive downgrade. Best attribute is running.
-
No idea!
We looked something like for the last 10 mins and we nearly got a point. But, we deserved nothing.
We’re getting worse!
You must’ve gone to a different football match if that’s your thoughts, absolute nonsense
-
They are on an appalling run of form. One win in the last ten games and have never scored more than 1 goal in those ten.
We will have difficulty losing - but then again we have managed it against the odds quite quite bit recently!
I have to say that I really don’t like posts like that one mate.
Such a fate tempter..
Bump.
-
I’m not lost for words regarding the referee, but it’s pointless. If you watched the game, you know.
Apprently he's an experienced referee,But it was his first game this season,anyone know why? seems a bit odd,last season he Ref'd 20+ games all in Championship or league one bar 1 league two game.
-
Just watched the game .Totally underwhelmed. Was the midfield having a day off,Completely non existent. We need a live
lier attacker and a midfield maesrto
-
Just watched the game .Totally underwhelmed. Was the midfield having a day off,Completely non existent. We need a live
lier attacker and a midfield maesrto
Midfield has nearly every day off, theres no one that can dictate play, Broadbent isn’t mobile enough to be the sitting midfielder
-
The midfield has been below average all season so far. The recruitment in the summer has not worked resigning Close and Westbrooke not worked.
We are now in 6th place could be 7th if Crewe win today. I don’t see how we can improve with those midfield players I hope Grant proves me wrong.
But looking at BBC stats we had most possession 62% we had 15 shots but only 5 on goal and we only score 1 goal. These stats continue but we are not winning games because we are not scoring.
-
The midfield has been below average all season so far. The recruitment in the summer has not worked resigning Close and Westbrooke not worked.
We are now in 6th place could be 7th if Crewe win today. I don’t see how we can improve with those midfield players I hope Grant proves me wrong.
But looking at BBC stats we had most possession 62% we had 15 shots but only 5 on goal and we only score 1 goal. These stats continue but we are not winning games because we are not scoring.
Those stats don’t have anything to do with the midfield though.
-
Crewe won . Bogle getting 2 of their three goals . Rovers now 7th
-
Yep
Crewe gone from 7th to 2nd which shows how tight it is
-
We are likely to be 4/5 points from automatic and 12+ points from top after next weekend. We have won back to back league games once since September and twice all season. It’s not been a horrendous half a season but it’s not been good enough given the investment and faith put in Grant. Not impossible he isn’t here in March.
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
It’s the performances each game which make people feel like it’s slipping away. You clearly don’t see it/want to see it so there’s little point continuing the conversation.
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
They also won around double the home games we currently have, it's the home
form that's killing us.
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
Exactly, top 3 teams find a way to win, whatever the performance, we didn't.
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
Exactly, top 3 teams find a way to win, whatever the performance, we didn't.
To be fair though Les, we did find a way against Fleetwood.
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
Exactly, top 3 teams find a way to win, whatever the performance, we didn't.
Yet we did against Fleetwood and there was uproar about the performance
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
They also won around double the home games we currently have, it's the home
form that's killing us.
Correct, just means we’re better away than Wrexham were, 5 points off where they were at this stage just shows the season hasn’t been as disastrous as is being made out
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
Exactly, top 3 teams find a way to win, whatever the performance, we didn't.
To be fair though Les, we did find a way against Fleetwood.
We did Hound, but more the exception than the rule at home, we have to be more consistent.
-
It’s not though!
The performance on Saturday was widely recognised as being the best for a while.
But we lost.
Exactly, top 3 teams find a way to win, whatever the performance, we didn't.
To be fair though Les, we did find a way against Fleetwood.
We did Hound, but more the exception than the rule at home, we have to be more consistent.
Yes, we sure do and I think that most of us will agree with that statement.
When we won L1 in 2013 most of points came from away games and our home form (points collection) was quite poor in comparison.
Hopefully we can turn around the home form and we will get that auto promotion place.
I’m personally hoping we can go a little bit better than that as I had a nice bet at 14/1 in July that we would win the title.
-
Yes me too, I only got 12/1 to win it outright!
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
They also won around double the home games we currently have, it's the home
form that's killing us.
Correct, just means we’re better away than Wrexham were, 5 points off where they were at this stage just shows the season hasn’t been as disastrous as is being made out
Nobody has said it's been disastrous. In comparison to your comparison, Wrexham lost 2 away games in the 2nd half of the season. We have also dipped away from home recently, winning 1 in the last 5.
-
Yet we’re only 5 points off them at this stage!
Can’t all be bad
-
We are 9 points behind them at this stage, not 5, they were 3rd on 49 points, & 10 points ahead of the final play off spot., scoring 40 odd goals to our 30, & with arguably a better squad of players than we have. But hey it's not all bad.
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
There’s no reason we cant kick on now however have you seen anything that leads you to think we will? Other than a half decent first thirty minutes against PV I’m personally struggling to see where the improvement is coming from.
-
Most we can be is 4,
It’s been a decent start, we’re only 5 points off what Wrexham had last season after 25 games and they clinched automatic promotion at a canter, so plenty still to play for
All teams have a sticky period, no reason why we can’t kick on now
There’s no reason we cant kick on now however have you seen anything that leads you to think we will? Other than a half decent first thirty minutes against PV I’m personally struggling to see where the improvement is coming from.
I’ve seen a lot more than I had at this point last season.
-
Looking at the run of games we have coming up over the next few months we can easily put ourselves back in that top 3 and possibly even put some distance between other clubs. Barring the odd few fixtures we have a very winnable chunk of games where you would usually put money on us to build some momentum and put consecutive wins together. But all that is easier said than done. Need targets in the building and go from there. It’s a big opportunity looking at the fixture list.