143 Year Record Breakers v Stags

[darren gregory]

Well will Vale suffer the disgrace of a 7th successive home defeat which will be an all time low in our history ?

Realistically the answer is a resounding yes.

Think a few folk got carried away last weekend. The performance was good and we dominated the game. To put it in perspective we still didn't score against a truly awful Notts County side.

Tomorrow is the polar opposite, a team high on confidence and probable automatic promotion.

I was more encouraged by the fact County were so bad rather than our mini improvement.
1 goal in our last 7 League games is an absolute disgrace and there has been no manager bounce whatsoever.
That said you can't polish a turd so Askey has a bit of leeway.

Sadly i can only see an away win tomorrow and then it is the crucial Yeovil game on Tuesday where not winning isn't an option.

Vale 0 Mansfield 3

 

[valefan16]

I would take a point...

Some positives last weekend, we looked far fitter and kept going for the full 90 minutes at full pelt and we played some decent stuff at times, that said we should of won it at a canter and didn't so goal scoring is still a major issue... 3 goals in 2019 now!

It is a bit of a free hit, Tuesday is the important one so hopefully we can play pressure free and maybe spring a surprise. They lost to Yeovil and Notts so it isn't impossible but we need to improve on recent home performances to get anything at all.

Got a feeling we might get a point... don't know why and probably wishful thinking but 1-1 Pope to finally get the 100th! and set up a huge game on Tuesday.

 

[AdamStag]

We’ve you and Crawley away in 4 days and realistically need to win one, 4 points minimum to keep up with the others.

After the embarrassing defeat to notts, we’ve won 2 home games in a row but with this being the first away game since the players and manager know they owe the fans, with 1500 or so in tow this is their chance to do just that.

We understand that we’re not to buy food from the club, but with that number going unfortunately I dare say you’ll sell out whatever food you put on.

I’m sorry to see vale in the state we’re in, if it’s any comfort, we know exactly how you feel and what you’re going through.

 

[valefan16]

We’ve you and Crawley away in 4 days and realistically need to win one, 4 points minimum to keep up with the others.

After the embarrassing defeat to notts, we’ve won 2 home games in a row but with this being the first away game since the players and manager know they owe the fans, with 1500 or so in tow this is their chance to do just that.

We understand that we’re not to buy food from the club, but with that number going unfortunately I dare say you’ll sell out whatever food you put on.

I’m sorry to see vale in the state we’re in, if it’s any comfort, we know exactly how you feel and what you’re going through.

We are boycotting the food kiosks as these it turns out don't go back into the club.

That said he rarely supplies enough anyway!

 

[Semi-skimmed Silk]

Mansfield will continue their 2019 trend of losing 1-0 to our relegation rivals this weekend (and later vs Morecambe) as they work on ensuring emphatic MTFC-superiority.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Looking forward to this as I'm in a box again. If we can somehow get a point from this and beat Yeovil, then I'd be delighted.

Drop the Pope and we will score.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Didn’t realise your home record was that bad. We’ll probably make things hard for ourselves and drop points here!

 

[AdamStag]

Mansfield will continue their 2019 trend of losing 1-0 to our relegation rivals this weekend (and later vs Morecambe) as they work on ensuring emphatic MTFC-superiority.

Having lost to notts county away Yeovil at home and drew away, while drawing at yours weee under no illusions it’ll be tough

 

[kieran_vale]

Would take a point right now if we could. Am a little more optimistic we can cause some problems after last weekend. Although it's a good argument it was against a Notts team which was not at the races at all for the first time in a long time it looked like we had some sort of purpose to what we were doing and the players seemed to understand their roles a lot better. As VF16 says above they also looked a lot fitter which issues with Smurthwaite aside does lead me to ask the question what the hell Aspin was doing in training with them?

Mansfield are clearly better than us player for player no question but if we can get the first goal (and I do feel one is coming for us at last) then maybe we can make life tough for them.

Just to add thanks in advance to any of the Mansfield fans attending the game who join in with the kiosk sales boycott, it's appreciated.

 

[valefan16]

Would take a point right now if we could. Am a little more optimistic we can cause some problems after last weekend. Although it's a good argument it was against a Notts team which was not at the races at all for the first time in a long time it looked like we had some sort of purpose to what we were doing and the players seemed to understand their roles a lot better. As VF16 says above they also looked a lot fitter which issues with Smurthwaite aside does lead me to ask the question what the hell Aspin was doing in training with them?

Mansfield are clearly better than us player for player no question but if we can get the first goal (and I do feel one is coming for us at last) then maybe we can make life tough for them.

Just to add thanks in advance to any of the Mansfield fans attending the game who join in with the kiosk sales boycott, it's appreciated.

My hope is no matter how shit we've been we've always had that one stellar home performance against a side at the top, Luton 4-0 last season, Millwall 3-1 the year before that...

Hopefully we are due one... in fact just a goal would be a start!

 

[Conker]

We are still only left with one striker and Ajose is not really been hitting the net despite playing well, so we are almost entirely dependent on midfielders and defenders to score which is always a worry.

 

[jbet]

I'm going to this. Fourth home game of the season.

I actually quite fancy us. Solid defence, footballers being played in midfield again and some positivity after not losing a 6-pointer last weekend. As another poster already alluded to, we'd stand even more of a chance if we dropped Pope (or partnered him with Miller), but he'd have to break a leg for that to happen and even then he'd play if he said he was playing.

Whatever happens tomorrow, Tuesday night is the main match even though the crowd will be half what it'll be tomorrow.

 

[valefan16]

I'm going to this. Fourth home game of the season.

I actually quite fancy us. Solid defence, footballers being played in midfield again and some positivity after not losing a 6-pointer last weekend. As another poster already alluded to, we'd stand even more of a chance if we dropped Pope (or partnered him with Miller), but he'd have to break a leg for that to happen and even then he'd play if he said he was playing.

Whatever happens tomorrow, Tuesday night is the main match even though the crowd will be half what it'll be tomorrow.

Only issue jbet is the Solid Defence only appears away! Lowest conceded away in the league compared to most to home!

I wouldn't drop Pope... last week we finally got the balance right in terms of getting service and support to him. Outside that who do you drop to bring Miller in? Is he that pumped to do it against Mansfield? He was in the pub with our fans before playing them last season at theirs!

In a relegation battle dropping your top scorer would be suicide, regardless of form.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Aspin only went in the club once a week and had vert little involvement in training. To be a top manager you have to put the hours in and it clearly showed that we weren't putting any work in on the training pitch, hence the lack of fitness.

We'll almost certainly lose tomorrow. Our big game is on Tuesday night. We just need to not lose by too many.

 

[jbet]

Only issue jbet is the Solid Defence only appears away! Lowest conceded away in the league compared to most to home!

I wouldn't drop Pope... last week we finally got the balance right in terms of getting service and support to him. Outside that who do you drop to bring Miller in? Is he that pumped to do it against Mansfield? He was in the pub with our fans before playing them last season at theirs!

In a relegation battle dropping your top scorer would be suicide, regardless of form.

I guess I'm just saddened to watch Pope lumber around the pitch barking at younger players all game whilst missing chance after chance put on a late for him by the good work of others.

He doesn't excite me as a player, Miller does. Maybe I'm blinded by the last game I went to - Crawley away - where we put in an encouraging performance without Pope and with Miller leading the line well.

 

[AdamStag]

If miller excites, you really are in bother.

 

[Buxton Vale]

If miller excites, you really are in bother.

thats how bad we are under Smugthwaite

 

[AdamStag]

thats how bad we are under Smugthwaite

He’ll score the winner tomorrow now

 

[valefan16]

Millers excitement can go either way. A red card or something. He wins us penalties which is his best trait as we never get them otherwise!

Even his goal celebration usually ends in a card!

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

The confidence we gained from drawing against the bottom side(!) should see a spirited performance at least, but I can only see another defeat.
1 nil stags, Pope misses 2 free headers.

 

[Conker]

I hope we proper go for it, after the first half hour chuck CJ upfront again and give him free rein to catch Vale off guard.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Lincoln get the weekend off to a good start

 

[valefan16]

Lincoln get the weekend off to a good start

Sets Tuesday up nicely regardless of tomorrow’s result!

 

[darren gregory]

I hope we proper go for it, after the first half hour chuck CJ upfront again and give him free rein to catch Vale off guard.

More comatose than off guard mate, hence our league position

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

Any stags fans wanting a drink, the bulls head and the leopard are both away friendly.
Both do food and the leopard especially a cracking pint.
I’ve noticed recently the coppers are sending away fans to the talbot, doesn’t seem far on google maps, they don’t account for hills!
Enjoy the game, and probably the three points.

 

[Conker]

The wind is making me nervous.

 

[kieran_vale]

Pope out with an injury and Miller in place of him. Otherwise unchanged, am ok with that.

 

[valefan16]

Pope out with an injury and Miller in place of him. Otherwise unchanged, am ok with that.

Heard this morning on social media rumours that Tom was being saved for Tuesday.

 

[Conker]

Matt Preston still out for us which is a concern.

 

[Conker]

Standard slow start from Mansfield, had a penalty that Ajose messed up though - Port Vale started quite well but lacking quality.

Nicky Ajose is lacking serious quality up front despite having a good work rate, he reminds me of Hemmings - brilliant at leading the line but a bit of a drongo in front of goal.