1st Matches of 2021-22 Season: 7th August 2021

[valefan16]

Northampton got a couple of players out I think for tomorrow. Don’t know how key those players are but always thought quite highly of Sam Hoskins who is one of them.

Think the majority of the team picks itself just whether we try to get Dan Jones into the lineup at either LCB or LWB to use that long throw.

Its odd... usually we go to Northampton with them the land of the giants but this year we are 6 footers with a long throw!

I think you have to play Benning though at LWB.

 

[kieran_vale]

Its odd... usually we go to Northampton with them the land of the giants but this year we are 6 footers with a long throw!

I think you have to play Benning though at LWB.

Yeah, last time we played there I think was Leon’s finest game in a Vale shirt as they were constantly sticking balls in our box from all angles and he won everything.

I think you’ll probably be right on Benning. Some good quality delivery from out wide from him and Worrall at least.

 

[The Terminator]

GK: Lawrence Vigouroux
RB: Tom James
CB: Dan Happe
CB: Omar Beckles
LB: Connor Wood

CM: Craig Clay
CDM: Darren Pratley
CM: Hector Kyprianou

LW: Dan Kemp
ST: Ruel Sotiriou
RW: Paul Smyth

Subs
Sam Sargeant
Shadrach Ogie
Jayden Sweeney
Antony Papadopoulos
Matt Young
Theo Archibald
Aaron Drinan

Our bench will be a very young bench tomorrow. Drinan might start ahead of Paul Smyth.

Would be happy with a draw, we're going to need to be clinical with any chances we get. As happy as I am with our team shape and back 5/6, you will concede chances in a game at some point and that is where Nerdford have the edge over us - with their firepower.

 

[Chris FGR]

Is it 3 or 5 subs allowed?

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

I’m expecting us to play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks. Team virtually picks itself apart from the back 3. I would think:

Lucas Covalan
Nathan Smith
Aaron Martin
Ryan Johnson
Mal Benning
Dave Worrall
Brad Walker
Tom Pett
Tom Conlon (c)
Devante Rodney
James Wilson

Although Leon Legge or Dan Jones could start.

If it’s my team then that’s 7 debuts in the starting line up!!!’

 

[denzel ecfc]

Is it 3 or 5 subs allowed?

Back to 3 again. Which is a shame

 

[valefan16]

I’m expecting us to play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks. Team virtually picks itself apart from the back 3. I would think:

Lucas Covalan
Nathan Smith
Aaron Martin
Ryan Johnson
Mal Benning
Dave Worrall
Brad Walker
Tom Pett
Tom Conlon (c)
Devante Rodney
James Wilson

Although Leon Legge or Dan Jones could start.

If it’s my team then that’s 7 debuts in the starting line up!!!’

Would be my XI too. If it was Curles Cobblers I’d play Legge but do like the look of Johnson pre season.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I’m expecting us to play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks. Team virtually picks itself apart from the back 3. I would think:

Lucas Covalan
Nathan Smith
Aaron Martin
Ryan Johnson
Mal Benning
Dave Worrall
Brad Walker
Tom Pett
Tom Conlon (c)
Devante Rodney
James Wilson

Although Leon Legge or Dan Jones could start.

If it’s my team then that’s 7 debuts in the starting line up!!!’

I know he's had some 'issues' but it seems strange not seeing Pope in the reckoning.
Even more strange seeing hes gone to Congleton!

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

I know he's had some 'issues' but it seems strange not seeing Pope in the reckoning.
Even more strange seeing hes gone to Congleton!

Very weird I know. I shall go along to Congleton as often as I can this season to watch Tom. We are planning a series of testimonial events this season with a proper testimonial match at the end.

 

[Casey]

Welcome back Pool.

Heard a whisper Crawley front man Tom Nichols will miss out due injury and captain George Francomb is suspended. Its probably not what I would pick but I think Yems will go with....

442
Morris
Davies
Tunnicliffe
Craig
Gallacher (the translator)
Matthews
Powell
Hessanthaler
Frost
Rodari
Nadesan

Subs
Blondy (gk)
Ferry
Tiley
Ashford
Dalison
Payne
Only six because no youngsters been at the club for long enough.

I expect a large noisy crowd but if we can withstand the early onslaught, play a bit of keep ball there's enough quality to get something from the game.

0-1

Casey

 

[Chief Rocka]

Really looking forward to being back in a busy Vic tomorrow, should be a decent crowd, hopefully we go back to being an intimidating place for teams to come and keep the toxic negative shite from the stands away, a bad result tomorrow isn't the end of the world, survival is the aim.

I'd assume DC will stick with the tried and tested 352/532 formation, team picks itself until we get to the forwards, dunno what DC is gonna go with, with only one fit striker it's a given Olomola will start, he can either stick Luke Molyneux up next to him as a makeshift second striker, or play him or Tyler Burey just behind in an attacking midfielder role.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Wonder how many we'll get tomorrow? I wish I was there and no stream unfortunately until ifollow gets set up.

Still buzzing mind, still a sense of disbelief that we're back.

Club are getting things moving, it's gonna be a proud day, quietly confident of a result tomorrow but not unhappy with a draw.

 

[valefan16]

I know he's had some 'issues' but it seems strange not seeing Pope in the reckoning.
Even more strange seeing hes gone to Congleton!

Was an article he wrote today, he wasn’t happy with how DC handled it but understood being let go.

Had to be convinced to take a testimonial as he had only been at Vale 9 rather than 10 years but deserves the great goodbye. Ultimately he’s still Vale though born and bred a die hard fan so still part of the fabric.

He had offers to train and go on trial at a few clubs (rumours Scunny wanted him) but his shoulder hasn’t recovered right so he knew he’d struggle so went Congleton who seem to be building a very good squad! Managed by Richard Duffy (not sure if he’s still coaching at Vale) and have Gary Roberts there with Pope and Griff… so should be fun!

Them and Hanley Town locally are really pushing the boat out!

 

[E10rifle]

Hopefully things will improve in the coming weeks but as it stands, player for player, we are way behind Bradford.

Don’t worry - you’ve got us next. We love losing to Exeter.

Tomorrow I expect we’ll lose a shite game at the hobby club. 2-0 them.

 

[Kauto Star]

He was hard as nails for us, but as clumsy as Rory McArdle. Glad he's not back at Dale to be honest.

Mind you; we have a clownshoe of our own in Jim McNulty. Very similar player to be honest.

The Rory McArdle we had was not clumsy, he was a rock for us and starred in our 2013 legends team that saw us promoted and reaching the League Cup final.

Canavan stood out for us since signing last January

 

[AdamStag]

Colchester look like they’ve strengthened well. Have brought in a load of proven experienced players from a higher level. Think this is a really tough start for us, 1 because of the quality Colchester have recruited and 2 because we frequently get off to slow starts anyway, just as we did last season.

Zach clough likely to miss out tomorrow through injury is a blow. He’s got that bit of extra quality in the attacking third we could have done with last season, and for that reason plus the fact i think we’re a weaker defensive unit this season, I can’t see anything other than a Colchester win.

Carlisle United 1-3 Colchester United

Lovely to see optimism is still at peak level for carlisle fans

 

[AdamStag]

Its odd... usually we go to Northampton with them the land of the giants but this year we are 6 footers with a long throw!

I think you have to play Benning though at LWB.

I wish benning well, will get a great reception from the mansfield fans when we play, his goal that all but relegated chesterfield a few seasons ago enhanced his status further.

If he’s handled well and keeps clear of injury youve a cracker, personally i’d have kept him on, and his move really divided the fans.

 

[valefan16]

I wish benning well, will get a great reception from the mansfield fans when we play, his goal that all but relegated chesterfield a few seasons ago enhanced his status further.

If he’s handled well and keeps clear of injury youve a cracker, personally i’d have kept him on, and his move really divided the fans.

That explains why their players were going in on
him in last weeks friendly

 

[AdamStag]

As for mansfield i think a case of cautious optimism. after 2 disastrous managerial appointments hopefully the link up between mansfield and nigel clough could well bring some success at long last.

Inheriting a shocking side put together by coughlan he managed to drag us to mid table and the PPG under him over a season would have had us in or around the playoffs.

With one of the better midfields in the league he’s managed to bring in some defenders who can defend and forwards who can shoot, impressive pre-season wins over hull and coventry (of course only friendlies) have added to the cautious optimism.

After what’s happened with covid the last year and a half i’m happy just to have a club!

 

[AdamStag]

That explains why their players were going in on
him in last weeks friendly

Haha they’ve had 26,373 players since then (half of them on furlough)

He was more than likely just too good for them

 

[Big Bird]

No idea what to expect today but glad to have it back. Seems to have come around ridiculously quickly!

Travelling back from Cornwall so won't be with the 800 or so Swindon fans there unfortunately.

 

[hellogregory]

With Hayden possibly gone already (not sure how far done the Wrexham deal is), our central defence is going to be weak as fuck. Can see Colchester having an absolute field day.

Oh man this club. One opening day victory in about 11 years says it all.

 

[LS Bantam]

Going for a win away at Exeter, first day wild optimism against a side that will no doubt be up there. Their players out(/sold) seem more significant than ours and off the back of an impressive preseason and a feel good factor looking ahead I’ll go for 2-0 Andy Cook double.

 

[Bottega Don]

I was thinking Swindon would be in the relegation mix but they seem to have built a good squad out of nowhere which makes me think they will pose a real threat today.

Think we've just got to hope they haven't had time to gel before today and we catch them early.

 

[kieran_vale]

Think it’ll be a tight encounter today. Don’t think either us or the Cobblers have the firepower to blow teams away. Hopefully can hit the ground running but if not it isn’t the end of the world. Will say 1-0 to us and Worrall the scorer as he seems to like playing them at Sixfields.

Other than that good luck to everyone for season apart from just for today the Cobblers, hope your day today is fucking miserable

 

[Agombar stool]

I was thinking Swindon would be in the relegation mix but they seem to have built a good squad out of nowhere which makes me think they will pose a real threat today.

Think we've just got to hope they haven't had time to gel before today and we catch them early.

I'm inclined to agree. We seem to have made some good signings but wether they are part of a 'team' just yet is another thing. Confidence and a decent travelling support should make today a positive experience for us. Hopefully we can get off to a good start.

 

[LordJord]

Think we will create a decent amount this season and will set up to be reasonably expansive, defensively may cost us though. I am expecting us to go 442. Hopefully McWilliams is fit enough to start as need his energy and defensive thinking in midfield.

Will go for an entertaining 2-1. COME ON TEYN

 

[Salvador]

A lot of Dale fans around Harrogate. Most I’ve met are in the home ends today . Should be a good day out this. Absolutely amazing feel good factor around the club at the moment as we fight off a dodgy takeover. Manager and board so in sync with the fans. Win, lose or draw I’m so happy we’re back.
Enjoy the season lads and lasses. Up the Dale.

 

[Shrimper92]

Scunthorpe relegated by 5pm

 

[hellogregory]

Our lineup is in.

Defensively weak is how i’d describe it.

Tough tough afternoon ahead.