Swindon v Foreign Legion

[valefan16]

From what I heard on the radio it sounds like we were good for at least a point today and Swidon scored from Anthony a Grants mistake.

Like others have said an experienced striker and winger and we should be ok.

Also, it's good to see opposition fans complementing Vale.

Misses out on Luke Varney and Leon Best so at least looking for one I guess! Ladbrokes have us second favs to sign Mario Balotelli lol! Would love it but won't happen!

 

[ColB]

Grant is our best player after Foley but does have an error in him. Playing Hooper as a wide player simply isn't the answer and we desperately need someone there as Mbamba isn't ready for football every week and Kelly, despite the odd moment of quality, isn't good or strong enough.

 

[valefan16]

Grant is our best player after Foley but does have an error in him. Playing Hooper as a wide player simply isn't the answer and we desperately need someone there as Mbamba isn't ready for football every week and Kelly, despite the odd moment of quality, isn't good or strong enough.

If only we had a fit Enoch!

Grants quality but my worry has always been if we go 1-0 we won't be able to break a team down defending a lead so need some quality up front.

 

[ColB]

If only we had a fit Enoch!

Grants quality but my worry has always been if we go 1-0 we won't be able to break a team down defending a lead so need some quality up front.

He would make a huge difference, especially away from home on the counter. It's silly that Smurf hasn't been able to find a few hundred quid more that would probably secure him for another year at least. Even more so when you consider he's likely to go for decent money if he went on to have a good season.

 

[valefan16]

He would make a huge difference, especially away from home on the counter. It's silly that Smurf hasn't been able to find a few hundred quid more that would probably secure him for another year at least. Even more so when you consider he's likely to go for decent money if he went on to have a good season.

Might be another season where we struggle away but are solid at home if we don't address it.

 

[Indian Dan]

Enjoyed that. Decent game between 2 decent teams. In control for the first 30 mins, then all Vale until half time.

Second half we fashioned some opportunities, as did Vale. Keepers not really tested much although Vigs made a decent save in each half.

Wherever the 2 teams end up this season it wont be fighting relegation that-'s for sure.

The attendance was truly shocking

 

[Agombar stool]

At Didcot waiting for the train back to the smoke so a few thoughts.

First half as many have said we started very well. Brad Barry on the right was getting acres of space but not doing a lot with it. Kasim was running the show but I think Vale pressed him more and gradually worked themselves into the game. They ended the half strongly and needed great last ditch defending from Lloyd Jones to keep us in it.

Second half we got the early goal we needed. Great work from Doughty who slipped a cute pass to Barry who fired into the roof of the net. After that we played a bit of a dangerous game trying to soak up pressure and break. I feared a Vale equaliser but thankfully they just never got the luck they needed, final ball etc was lacking. We had a couple of half chances to make the game safe but Vigoroux made a great save from a corner and more solid last ditch defending kept a clean sheet and another welcome 1-0 win.

For us I thought Vigoroux, Kasim, Furlong, Doughty, Delfouneso and Norris impressed and I thought Vale were a solid unit that tried to play the ball on the deck and looked threatening. Certainly not the shambles they have looked in previous seasons.

get a pacy winger and a striker and Vale might threaten the play-offs this season. For us, we are looking for another defender and a striker but I'm confident we might have a decent season and should be good enough to not go down!

Good luck for the season Vale fans.

 

[Indian Dan]

Tell you what, AS, we are now a big strong team. The day of the lightweight midgets is, hopefully, over. The bench looks strong and while there is a lot to improve upon we are 100% heading in the right direction.

 

[Agombar stool]

Tell you what, AS, we are now a big strong team. The day of the lightweight midgets is, hopefully, over. The bench looks strong and while there is a lot to improve upon we are 100% heading in the right direction.

Apart from Jordan Steward of course!

Many positives ID. I thought 400k for a keeper was barmy but he looks worth every penny so far.

Power has today said the budget has been increased by 500k because of the Ajose sale and wants a striker and another defender so maybe we will be competitive this season after all?

 

[Indian Dan]

Strangest booking for Stewart - wtf was he doing buzzing around that free kick?

We don't seem to create as much as we used to do but don'-t look like fucking up at the back 3 or 4 times per game. Could be a few 1-0 this season.

Bring on Irene!

 

[Agombar stool]

In other news the wife has made a Chicken Dhansak which I cannot wait to devour when I get home! 3 points, beer and a curry, is there a better Saturday?

 

[ColB]

At Didcot waiting for the train back to the smoke so a few thoughts.

First half as many have said we started very well. Brad Barry on the right was getting acres of space but not doing a lot with it. Kasim was running the show but I think Vale pressed him more and gradually worked themselves into the game. They ended the half strongly and needed great last ditch defending from Lloyd Jones to keep us in it.

Second half we got the early goal we needed. Great work from Doughty who slipped a cute pass to Barry who fired into the roof of the net. After that we played a bit of a dangerous game trying to soak up pressure and break. I feared a Vale equaliser but thankfully they just never got the luck they needed, final ball etc was lacking. We had a couple of half chances to make the game safe but Vigoroux made a great save from a corner and more solid last ditch defending kept a clean sheet and another welcome 1-0 win.

For us I thought Vigoroux, Kasim, Furlong, Doughty, Delfouneso and Norris impressed and I thought Vale were a solid unit that tried to play the ball on the deck and looked threatening. Certainly not the shambles they have looked in previous seasons.

get a pacy winger and a striker and Vale might threaten the play-offs this season. For us, we are looking for another defender and a striker but I'm confident we might have a decent season and should be good enough to not go down!

Good luck for the season Vale fans.

Even Swindon fans who have only seen us play for 90 minutes can see exactly what we are badly lacking! Hopefully our manager Bruno does too. He seems to be a pretty intelligent bloke so hopefully things are going on behind the scenes.

All in all I thought it was a good game of football between two sides who will 100% finish top half, and with a bit of luck can push for the play-offs, as it really is a bit of a shit league. Good luck for the remainder of the season, except at Vale Park of course! Always dissapointing not to come away with something after a decent away performance in which a point couldn't be argued against too much, but it could be worse, just ask any Gillingham fan this evening.

 

[1977Valiant]

Misses out on Luke Varney and Leon Best so at least looking for one I guess! Ladbrokes have us second favs to sign Mario Balotelli lol! Would love it but won't happen!

Yeah I saw Smurf confirm that on Twitter.

I would like to see if we could possibly bring Adam Le Fondre in from Cardiff.

He's come to and agreement that the won't ever pay for Cardiff again and they pretty much want him gone.

He's only 29 has a half decent goal record and comes from Stockport which isn't that far for him to travel to Vale Park.

If we could get Le Fondre (or someone of a similar calibre) then perhaps sign a loan winger and Andoh on a permanent basis then I feel that we could be looking very good this season for at least a playoff spot.

 

[Agombar stool]

Even Swindon fans who have only seen us play for 90 minutes can see exactly what we are badly lacking! Hopefully our manager Bruno does too. He seems to be a pretty intelligent bloke so hopefully things are going on behind the scenes.

All in all I thought it was a good game of football between two sides who will 100% finish top half, and with a bit of luck can push for the play-offs, as it really is a bit of a shit league. Good luck for the remainder of the season, except at Vale Park of course! Always dissapointing not to come away with something after a decent away performance in which a point couldn't be argued against too much, but it could be worse, just ask any Gillingham fan this evening.

Yeah that was a shocking result!

Even though one team lost, I don't think you should be too disheartened. One goal conceded in 4 league games isn't anything to be sniffed at!

 

[ColB]

Yeah I saw Smurf confirm that on Twitter.

I would like to see if we could possibly bring Adam Le Fondre in from Cardiff.

He's come to and agreement that the won't ever pay for Cardiff again and they pretty much want him gone.

He's only 29 has a half decent goal record and comes from Stockport which isn't that far for him to travel to Vale Park.

If we could get Le Fondre (or someone of a similar calibre) then perhaps sign a loan winger and Andoh on a permanent basis then I feel that we could be looking very good this season for at least a playoff spot.

Le Fondre would be amazing for us. Can't see it happening though. I do like the young lad Jones we have on loan, looks to have plenty about him. But him, Hooper, Forrester and Cicilia are all 'potential' type strikers that will improve bit by bit. We need some who has a proven goal-scoring record in the lower leagues, a goal-poacher in the Lee Hughes mould.

 

[markpvfc]

Not much between the two teams, just Swindon took one of their chances and we didn't, I get the feeling that could be the story of our season if we don't find a decent striker. That booking for the Swindon player on our freekick late on was stupid, it looked as though he was going to take it for us.

 

[1977Valiant]

Le Fondre would be amazing for us. Can't see it happening though. I do like the young lad Jones we have on loan, looks to have plenty about him. But him, Hooper, Forrester and Cicilia are all 'potential' type strikers that will improve bit by bit. We need some who has a proven goal-scoring record in the lower leagues, a goal-poacher in the Lee Hughes mould.

The only other striker that possibly could be available that has Lg1 experience and doesn't have a bad goal scoring record is Izale McLeod. Notts County have an abundance of strikers and Sheridan has said that he is willing to let McLeod go. Last time he was in Lg1 he scored 19 goals in about 40 odd games the season Crawley got relegated.

He would be a cheaper option than Le Fondre and is the same age but if we are looking to push the boat out a bit on the likes of Best or Varney, then I would prefer us to see if we can at least try for Le Fondre before pursuing someone like Izale McLeod.

I think a experienced striker is key to bring all the younger lads on. After all, when we had Lee Hughes the likes of Jordan Hugill came on leaps and bounds.

 

[Agombar stool]

Not much between the two teams, just Swindon took one of their chances and we didn't, I get the feeling that could be the story of our season if we don't find a decent striker. That booking for the Swindon player on our freekick late on was stupid, it looked as though he was going to take it for us.

We had 2 stupid bookings. That one, which was ludicrous and another when you had a corner which the vale player kicked towards the corner quadrant. Luke Norris tried a fancy volley flick behind his head and the ball, completely accidentally, went into the stand behind the goal. No Vale player complained but the ref booked him for dissent anyway!

With a thin squad, these silly, petty bookings take their toll!

 

[Vale on Trent]

We're not going to score enough goals, especially away from home