Port Vale (A)

[Tombwfc]

1 hour ago, barrycowdrill said:

That’s also what worries me

we’re 3rd and by all accounts had not written off the automatics. We are the hunters rather than the hunted. We were hoping for a Cardiff wobble and that wobble has arrived. If the players can’t handle the pressure when there is non. How the fuck will they be able to handle it over a potential 3 game play off period when it’s shit or bust

If you are having to have refreshing conversations now when the carrot is potential automatic promotion, the very thing they have been working towards all season and no one expects you to get it then we may as well give up. 

 

Before Wigan away we were 9 points behind Lincoln and 13 behind Cardiff.

We've been lauded for 13 game unbeaten run which has now ended with us 11 behind Cardiff and 18 behind Lincoln.

I would like to be hunted by us.

 

[Leyther_Matt]

2 hours ago, Marc505 said:

So yeah @Leyther_Matt moments after I saw you after the game, the taxi I'd booked showed up (already 15 minutes late) and tried to mount a kerb that was way too steep for it. Wrecked its bumper and twisted it into the front tyre so it couldn't drive anymore.

Then I booked an uber instead, which tried a short cut that failed and put us into a huge traffic jam.

Which meant I missed the only train out of Stoke that would get me to the arena on time to watch Peter Kay, and ended up missing the first 45 minutes of it.

Some day.

Oh yeah btw, there's village clubs that have a better bar set up than Port Vale do.

Well if that doesn’t sum the day up, nothing will 😂 

Good day of boozing was the saving grace because the match was bloody horrible 

[Marc505]

1 minute ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Well if that doesn’t sum the day up, nothing will 😂 

Good day of boozing was the saving grace because the match was bloody horrible 

Never thought I'd say it, but during the uber's meandering way through Burslem I thought there were one or two decent looking pubs there. Is that where you ended up going after?

[Leyther_Matt]

Just now, Marc505 said:

Never thought I'd say it, but during the uber's meandering way through Burslem I thought there were one or two decent looking pubs there. Is that where you ended up going after?

Yeah before the match we did three pubs near the station and then on to Hog Noggins in Burslem which was outstanding.

After the match we had no issue getting in Bursley Ale House nearest to the ground. Old Post Office opposite was a let down, was like a crèche. Post Office Vaults was excellent though as was Jonny’s Micropub. Looked like we missed out a couple of decent ones too or we’d have never got home!

[Ani]

I think the fans reaction yesterday will be a real wake up call to the players. 

[ianofcleveleys]

9 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

Before Wigan away we were 9 points behind Lincoln and 13 behind Cardiff.

We've been lauded for 13 game unbeaten run which has now ended with us 11 behind Cardiff and 18 behind Lincoln.

I would like to be hunted by us.

 

You're right, though I think most of the lauding has been from outside, looking on from afar. 

Of as much concern is us having a 10 point gap to 7th before last weekend, now down to 7, 4 if they beat us

[Didledee]

Are they ready for a sweatfest incoming just to keep our playoffs? then have to raise it in the actual playoffs, I think we'll keep our place, but not third and no guarantee of a home game 2nd leg.

Potential for a lot of points dropped and we couldn't have asked for a worse games coming up in 2 weeks and I don't trust these players to use this mini break to rectify things, we went from smashing Exeter 5-1 to playing terribly vs Wycombe, but we had a miracle comeback, we then took that result and was 2-0 down to Rotherham, what did we do vs the comeback vs Rotherham, not score vs Doncaster and Port Vale and take 1 point?!?!?? 

Our January transfer optimism as gone, keeper as turned bad, Raptor does nothing, CBT injured, Kenny inconsistent and only effect the games now and again in moments.

We could have at least been absolutely sure of the playoffs vs Doncaster and Port Vale and with a glimmer of hope of catching Cardiff, but that's all gone and now go into our toughest period in shocking form and the players but feel absolutely embarrassed and downbeat.

[Marc505]

12 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Yeah before the match we did three pubs near the station and then on to Hog Noggins in Burslem which was outstanding.

After the match we had no issue getting in Bursley Ale House nearest to the ground. Old Post Office opposite was a let down, was like a crèche. Post Office Vaults was excellent though as was Jonny’s Micropub. Looked like we missed out a couple of decent ones too or we’d have never got home!

Well, PV is currently on the never again list with Wycombe and Northampton, but it sounds like it has potential if that ever changes 😀

[ianofcleveleys]

14 minutes ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Yeah before the match we did three pubs near the station and then on to Hog Noggins in Burslem which was outstanding.

After the match we had no issue getting in Bursley Ale House nearest to the ground. Old Post Office opposite was a let down, was like a crèche. Post Office Vaults was excellent though as was Jonny’s Micropub. Looked like we missed out a couple of decent ones too or we’d have never got home!

Only down the road from Burslem town centre, 5 mins, is Titanic Brewery's factory shop, well worth a visit for some cracking take home stuff 

[burnden]

2 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

Most passes by anyone in L1 this season. By some distance too 

Most of those passes back to the keeper or across the back line repeatedly?

[Johnnyrotten]

13 hours ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

We were dogshit BUT that referee was a blatant cheat. How many atrocious challenges did they put in without a yellow and the foul on Dalby was the clearest penalty you could get. 

Agreed he was poor and not sure how we didn't get that free kick in injury time on the edge of the box when Dempsey got wrestled to the ground (again).  It was a bruising game and the ref let it happen.

But even SS said the foul on Dalby was outside the box, so no pen (I just saw it from behind the goal and couldn't tell).

[Whitestar]

4 minutes ago, burnden said:

Most of those passes back to the keeper or across the back line repeatedly?

That's coz when Schumacher turned up up he was just as clueless as he still is and said " so what do yous usually do laa?"

Well we normally piss about sideways & backwards boss was the answer,

"Well just do's dat den eh?"

And the vicious circle continues.

[Wanderlust]

On 18/03/2026 at 08:23, Wanderlust said:

Based on last night’s “performance” and Port Vale’s predicament I suspect we’ll lose this one, even though I’m praying we turn this recent slide in form around.

SS needs to get the starting line up and strategy right this time - lose and the bedsheets will start to make an appearance.

Well we did lose as predicted, and although the bed sheets haven’t quite made an appearance yet there is discontent brewing.

In the broader picture, we’re still not at the sliding out of the playoffs altogether stage  - largely thanks to rivals bottling it - but when I mentioned that as a possibility a couple of months ago nobody agreed cos they were too focused on “the automatics” and who we’d like to play when we finished third - but now the idea of missing out is gaining traction at last.

Maybe the players and manager were also naive enough to think of playoffs at least already in the bag. If so they need to fuckin stop right now.

We’re in a war not a parade - and they should have realised that several games ago instead of strolling around like prima Donna’s in a system that isn’t built for war. 
 

Hopefully they’ve got the message now after that shit show. We need performances and wins and hopefully we’ll get a couple before the hellish run in starts.

 

[paulhanley]

If you lose against the marooned bottom of the table side while chasing promotion the mood afterwards is going to be sour - players, fans, everyone associated. On top of that we know that the number 1 aim of getting up automatically is gone.

But 24-48 hours of this and then we have to draw a line. Everyone. We are going to be in a play off scrap with a clutch of sides in form as equally unconvincing as ours. We need to get the play off place secured and than it is all up for grabs. We will not take advantage of the chance that remains open to us if we dwell and allow the mood to fester.

The last twice we got promoted through the play offs there were days towards the end of the regular season that were dreadful. I recall a miserable 3-1 defeat at Oldham and 1-0 defeat at Tranmere in the year we beat Reading at Wembley (94/5). Not to mention a grim 1-1 home draw to an already relegated Burnley. Under Big Sam (2000/01, win v Preston at Cardiff) we went a good part of that Spring unable to get a win over the line in a home fixture. That included blowing one or two solid winning positions.

None of this matters if we get in the play offs and get to the Championship. And those things have less chance of happening if we all wallow and maintain a low mood. By all means be angry and sulk for a bit yet. I will join you. But it cannot go on...as a fanbase we need to look forward to the crucial seven or eight weeks ahead and do what we can to create the right atmosphere in the 90 minutes. 

[Johnnyrotten]

6 hours ago, Lostock Whites said:

 

I'd make it out No1 priority next season regardless of what happens to get a quality centre back and goalkeeper in.

The 2 areas that every attack starts from.

Agree with your point that we need more from our CBs if that is how we're going to play.

But as for no.1 priorities - if we don't get a goalscorer, we're going nowhere.  I know they don't grow on trees but for the first time in recent history we don't have anyone in the squad who's judged on goals and/or has a hunger to aim for 20 a season.

And can we finally have a right back please?

As usual, loads to do in the summer whichever division we're in.

And a captain/leader?

[desperado]

14 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

If you lose against the marooned bottom of the table side while chasing promotion the mood afterwards is going to be sour - players, fans, everyone associated. On top of that we know that the number 1 aim of getting up automatically is gone.

But 24-48 hours of this and then we have to draw a line. Everyone. We are going to be in a play off scrap with a clutch of sides in form as equally unconvincing as ours. We need to get the play off place secured and than it is all up for grabs. We will not take advantage of the chance that remains open to us if we dwell and allow the mood to fester.

The last twice we got promoted through the play offs there were days towards the end of the regular season that were dreadful. I recall a miserable 3-1 defeat at Oldham and 1-0 defeat at Tranmere in the year we beat Reading at Wembley (94/5). Not to mention a grim 1-1 home draw to an already relegated Burnley. Under Big Sam (2000/01, win v Preston at Cardiff) we went a good part of that Spring unable to get a win over the line in a home fixture. That included blowing one or two solid winning positions.

None of this matters if we get in the play offs and get to the Championship. And those things have less chance of happening if we all wallow and maintain a low mood. By all means be angry and sulk for a bit yet. I will join you. But it cannot go on...as a fanbase we need to look forward to the crucial seven or eight weeks ahead and do what we can to create the right atmosphere in the 90 minutes. 

Excellent post 👏

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

All that being said, which is fair, it’s the manner of performances which is the concern. Unbeaten runs whilst positive, do give an inflated view. We’ve drawn nigh on half of our games this season, an awful lot of the wins have come from nicking it in injury time. While that’s a fantastic knack to have, it could quite easily have gone the other way and we’d be sat in 10th 

i don’t buy this “he doesn’t know his best side” noise that’s coming out, clearly applying a horses for course approach which is the modern game. 
 

however, I counted 5 players of the 11 yesterday who weren’t playing in the positions they’re accustomed too. That is a major concern for me because it feels like he doesn’t know the answer to the recurring question and he’s trying to unearth it somewhere somehow 

in hindsight not addressing the defensive situation has been poor. Yes he might’ve felt we had the numbers in there and that was the least of his concerns. But numbers don’t guarantee quality and it has been an issue all season. Just a collective inability to defend and make the right decisions 

we could walk the play offs battering someone 5 nil on aggregate or get hammered by the same scoreline. We can’t trust them at the minute and that’s where the frustration comes from 

Totally agree "numbers don't guarantee quality".  Its been annoying all season that fans have pointed out we have the strongest squad or whatever.  But as you say this means nothing if we're playing a winger at RB, a CF on the wing, a CB at LB, etc.  And have no goalscorer or captain, we could have 50 in the squad and still be lacking in the 11 that are on the pitch.

I'll disagree slightly on the "we could batter someone 5 nil" in the play offs.  We really couldn't, we don't have the quality.  Our big wins, in fact any more than by 1, have been against bottom half/struggling teams.  We've hardly beaten any of the teams that will be in the play offs, we don't have it in us to dominate any difficult games especially away.  FWIW I don't think we'll lose comfortably either.  The usual tight games that we've become used to!

[Johnnyrotten]

6 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

 

Port Vale have the worst home record in the league by miles - yesterday was their first win since New Year's Day and their third all season.

It's not a difficult place to go.

Not to excuse our performance, but to give PV a bit of credit, since 21st Feb they've won home games v Sunderland, Bristol City and Bolton and drawn v Huddersfield, Luton and Reading.  And lost to Bradford.

I'd argue its harder to go to Vale than Bolton currently, on current form they'd be unlucky to go down.

[RUREADY2ROLL]

We don’t have a defender with any pace to catch someone running at us like their goal yesterday 

[Farnywhite]

22 minutes ago, RUREADY2ROLL said:

We don’t have a defender with any pace to catch someone running at us like their goal yesterday 

On the manager that on is interview the tactic was  to leave only one player back and it being tutu because he is our quickest  falls apart if they have a quicker player which they did 

[Johnnyrotten]

6 hours ago, wakey said:

Seen plenty of him now and I'm still not sure what he's good at. Pretty sure we've not - yet - seen the player folk were raving about when we bought him.

He's better than most at winning the ball, he's clearly our strongest midfielder in the challenge and can hold off his opponent well.  His passing over 15 to 20 yards is normally accurate and reliable.

But he's limited.  No right foot that I've noticed, similar to Tomo in sometimes looking flat footed and taking an age to get the ball under control.

And playing him means absolutely 100% having a midfielder that won't score, including with his head which is surprising considering his size, has he ever attacked a corner or had a shot?  In comparison we'll get occasional goals/shots on target from Dempsey, Sheehan, Simons and before that Morley and Tomo.  His selection is to be more "solid" but the last 2 away games he's been clumsy and got booked and subbed by H-T.   Disappointing so far overall, for me.

[worthy10]

It's difficult not to be disappointed with SS. I was happy with IE sacking, albeit 6 months too late. When we acquired the services of SS, I was optimistic that we had the right man. But with the rare exception, the style of play and the inability to change tactics and formations is a let down. It is so predicable and boring. Yet we always expect the next match to show our best?

We've spent big compared the the vast majority of clubs, so SS has had a lot of financial backing.

I don't think a change of manager is on the horizon, but despite being 3rd in a poor league, we have to be honest and admit that a lot of enjoyment has slowly bled away. The questionable managerial abilities of the manager are a major contributing factor to this.

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, tomski said:

Yesterday was guff but in the grand scheme of things may be a decent wake up call.

Being undefeated can mask a lot of things and hopefully a few refreshing conversations are had and we start to kick on.

If there's a positive to losing, and I wanted us to equalise as much as anyone, its getting rid of the "we're unbeaten in 14" stuff.  Because draws are 2 points dropped, they aren't a positive against bottom half teams.

And if we'd equalised on 98 minutes yesterday, to get a fairly undeserved and useless draw, it would have given the "we draw too many" comments more ammunition.  As if drawing is in some way nearer to a win than a loss!  No more pretence that we're in good form, so yes we are all now clear from SS to the players to the fans that if we don't improve we won't win any more games (given the fixtures), never mind win any in the play offs.

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, barrycowdrill said:

I’d argue it’s a lot more than a 1 off, last Tues, last sat and Blackpool games show it’s at least a 3 off before we even get in to the 

burton (a) 

Northampton (a) 

Northampton (h)

Doncaster (a) 

Blackpool (a) 

orient (a) 

Mansfield (h) 

examples 

 

 

Agreed, it wasn't a 1 off, it was the average for our away form since day 1 (accepting that yesterday was even worse than most).   Rarely looking like scoring and conceding easily is this season away from home, with a few exceptions which have been nearer to being the "1 offs" than the bad performances have.

[Johnnyrotten]

5 hours ago, jmjhb said:

Just looking at last season.

46 games: 18 defeats and 70 conceded!

39 games: 7 defeats and 39 conceded.

So yes, things have improved but it's always going to be two steps, one step back

 

Clearly the defence has improved looking at those stats.  But they are incomplete without goals scored and wins or draws.

We're scoring less (only 55 to date, compared to 67 last season, we aren't going to catch that).

Last season we won 20, this season we'd need to win another 4 out of the last 7 to better that - unlikely.

Yes we'll beat last season's points total (68) so some improvement but not a lot and arguably a weaker division this year.