Let's talk about the Port Vale game

[selby]

 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.

[DRFCTom]

Let’s get the place packed and rocking

[bobbymax]

Looking at the weather forecast, this might be under threat.

[selby]

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.

[ncRover]

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 Nimmo]

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?

[donnyguy]

Chance to get a little closer to Walsall as their game at Cheltenham tomorrow is off because of frozen pitch

[Reg of the Rovers]

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.

[selby]

  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.

[ForsolongaRover]

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!

[drfchound]

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..

[sedwardsdrfc]

When will people learn.

[Barmby Rover]

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.

[Lesonthewest]

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.

[Colemans Left Hook]

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.

[Prez]

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.

[Ian Nimmo]

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.

[ravenrover]

Wasn't Alick in the car as well?

[Juddy]

Alick was in the car and spent some time in a Coma I believe

[Filo]

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

[DonnyOsmond]

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.

[drfchound]

Wasn't Alick in the car as well?

He was, and so was John Wylie.

[NickDRFC]

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…

[The Dav]

Can’t see them outing Judas even if we give it to them dry today ! He’s on a 5 year deal apparently.

[bpoolrover]

Didnt deserve to lose today, teams win the games in hand and were out of the play off places,need start winning soon

[DonnyOsmond]

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.

[StocksArmy]

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.

[mushRTID]

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!

[DonnyOsmond]

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.

[mpc123]

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.