Port Vale (H) - EFL Trophy Last 16

[Zico]

On 16/01/2026 at 03:57, Johnnyrotten said:

I agree that can't be knowledge that anyone would have at any time never mind after 2 or 3 months.

And Castledine scoring for fun at Huddersfield would have more votes than Simons.  Then there are the proven one's doing it season after season not for 3 months, like Connell or Sheehan arguably.

But Simons looked quality, his passing, tackling, physicality, organising and driving forward at the heart of a defence was a step up from what we'd got used to, he also nearly had that champagne moment at Blackpool that was chalked off.

But that was months ago, a different player since.

Aye, odd

ACD was the best player in the league and Burstow top scorer not long ago 

Having 3 players lose their form like this at the same time has hit us hard

It was suggested we hadn't fully got going either because we had the issues of always conceding and not scoring and just wait till we do

I was looking forward to us proper cocktails clicking based on early signs

I didn't think it would go the other way like this, not again 

[Wanderlust]

On 14/01/2026 at 06:47, onefinfrandsen said:

Considering he was one of our hallmark signings in the centre of midfield, very rarely finishes a game if he’s not coming off the bench.

Erhahon £850k, Simons £350k wasn’t it?

I still believe Simons will come good, especially if we get some fluid movement ahead of him, but even now his stats are still well above average. 
He’s the attacking alternative to Sheehan though, and if SS is brave enough to switch the wingers and play two strikers he would be in his element, but currently the system isn’t quite right to get the balance right for him to show his array of forward passing.

 

[masi 51]

The crux of the matter this league is full of hungry competent coaches and just like Evatt, Schumacher has been found out.

Now it is up to Schumacher to change systems or he will go the same way as Evatt went. Teams now have worked the exact way we play and it does not alter week on week. 

Seems today Schumacher may change system and it is not before time

Good lge one players are starting to look poor for one reason we are predictable............Seems we have not learnt from the past three seasons

[CumbrianWhite]

6 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Erhahon £850k, Simons £350k wasn’t it?

I still believe Simons will come good, especially if we get some fluid movement ahead of him, but even now his stats are still well above average. 
He’s the attacking alternative to Sheehan though, and if SS is brave enough to switch the wingers and play two strikers he would be in his element, but currently the system isn’t quite right to get the balance right for him to show his array of forward passing.

 

I mean he’s not the attacking alternative to Sheehan and he’s been poor for quite some time.

Hes a holding midfielder and unfortunately when we play him with Sheehan we’re too flat as they both want to sit in. it’s the same issue with Erhahanon as well. Poor recruitment again unfortunately.

Edited January 17 by CumbrianWhite

[boltonboris]

Simon's is only 22. Harsh to be writing him off as a poor signing in my opinion. He has a lot of potential. 

 

Edited January 19 by boltonboris

[Tonge moor green jacket]

I reckon Simons is Sheehan's "successor".