CITY V VALE

[mozzavale]

Unlike Mozza, who sounds worryingly suicidal, I'm very excited for the new season although have no idea what to expect. We seem to have made some good signings this summer in the likes of Tavares and De Frietas and also some dodgy one's, like Mbamba, although he may well turn out to be a pleasant surprise once propertly settled in and adjusted. I genuinely believe we have at least as decent a starting 11 this season and who knows, if our new manager can get a bit more consistency away from home than previous manager Page ever could, along with keeping up what was strong home form over the season, then there's absolutely no reason we can't be up there. It really isn't a good league.

My team for tomorrow -

Alnwick

Purkiss
Mac-Intosch
Smith
Knops

Grant
Tavares
De Frietas

Foley

Hooper
Cicilia

Reckon it will be a tight 1-1 draw, Hooper for us. Don't care who gets your goal, just as long as it isn't that ugly Hodor wannabe Hansen.

Not suicidal fella, just don't agree with the approach Smurf is taking. 100% hope I'm wrong and would love nothing more than to come on here and have my nose rubbed in it between now and the end of the season. I certainly won't take any satisfaction should I be proved right, unlike some of our fans that took great pleasure whenever we lost due to their hatred of Page.

I want the club to be ran properly, professionally and dragged into the 21st century. I'd love it if Smurf is the man to deliver that, but given his track record so far, I have little faith in his ability to deliver.

As for this match, I haven't got a clue how it could go. It could be one of many ways. We could be a surprise package due to team's not having the chance to really scout us in any competitive matches. On the other hand, we could have 11 lads who can't understand a word each other says and will take time to gel.

I'm not best pleased with Bradford's approach to selling tickets. It's quite clearly a way of restricting cheaper pre sales and cashing in from the big price hike on the day of the game. Charging Vale for unsold tickets is ridiculous, it's not like Bradford would sell the unsold allocation is it. Shame, probably would have seen a few hundred more on the following, still think it will be around the 900-1000 mark.

 

[ColB]

Not suicidal fella, just don't agree with the approach Smurf is taking. 100% hope I'm wrong and would love nothing more than to come on here and have my nose rubbed in it between now and the end of the season. I certainly won't take any satisfaction should I be proved right, unlike some of our fans that took great pleasure whenever we lost due to their hatred of Page.

I want the club to be ran properly, professionally and dragged into the 21st century. I'd love it if Smurf is the man to deliver that, but given his track record so far, I have little faith in his ability to deliver.

As for this match, I haven't got a clue how it could go. It could be one of many ways. We could be a surprise package due to team's not having the chance to really scout us in any competitive matches. On the other hand, we could have 11 lads who can't understand a word each other says and will take time to gel.

I'm not best pleased with Bradford's approach to selling tickets. It's quite clearly a way of restricting cheaper pre sales and cashing in from the big price hike on the day of the game. Charging Vale for unsold tickets is ridiculous, it's not like Bradford would sell the unsold allocation is it. Shame, probably would have seen a few hundred more on the following, still think it will be around the 900-1000 mark.

Smurf can be a bit of a weapon to say the least. Sometimes with how he can come across I honestly wonder how he's managed to become a millionaire. But that said, he's backed the new manager somewhat, and honestly think that Kiko, Knops, Tavares, De Frietas and Forrester can easily replace the likes of Dickinson, McGivern, O'Connor and Leitch-Smith. I wouldn't say yet that we've improved significantly on the team we had last season as I've not seen enough of the new signings obviously, but from what I have seen I certainly wouldn't say we'll be any worse either.

It will take the team an amount of time to form cohesiveness as is standard when you have 5 or 6 new players in a first 11. But to any decent side you have a backbone, and we have that with Alnwick, Streete, Grant, Foley and JJ Hooper. We were shocking away from home last season under Page and truly witnessed some dog shit performances. If Bruno can keep our home form going and improve the away form, and actually try to attack sides instead of setting the team up to sit back and hope for the best, then we'll have a chance to do something.

 

[Freakyteeth]

I'm absolutely terrified of these 5 marquee signings Bradford have signed.

 

[Cas]

I'm absolutely terrified of these 5 marquee signings Bradford have signed.

yer fuking wot dikhead m8

You might beat us tomorrow but we'll be top of the away attendance table at the end of the season and that's worth fifty extra points. </firthy>

 

[Freakyteeth]

yer fuking wot dikhead m8

You might beat us tomorrow but we'll be top of the away attendance table at the end of the season and that's worth fifty extra points. </firthy>

You forgot to ask me out for a drink

I'm going to get a restraining order against the dirty little bastard if he does it again

 

[ColB]

Looking at the Bradford teams people are putting out in this thread, with all due respect they really aren't anything to fear. Though they'll no doubt be thinking the exact same thing about us in fairness. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with there hoof ball if Hanson plays, though I'm not optimistic.

 

[valefan16]

Looking at the Bradford teams people are putting out in this thread, with all due respect they really aren't anything to fear. Though they'll no doubt be thinking the exact same thing about us in fairness. Hopefully we'll be able to cope with there hoof ball if Hanson plays, though I'm not optimistic.

Some half decent players but they wont have a clue about half of ours which may help us (Mind you neither do we!)

 

[ColB]

Some half decent players but they wont have a clue about half of ours which may help us (Mind you neither do we!)

Yeah, they have a solid side. But I don't look at there potential side and shit bricks because of the quality they have in midfield or up front. That could be said about pretty much any side in the league though to be honest. Some good organization and a good team spirit can take you a long way, especially in the lower leagues.

 

[LS Bantam]

I'm absolutely terrified of these 5 marquee signings Bradford have signed.

Firthy said 5, not the club as I said last week

 

[valefan16]

Firthy said 5, not the club as I said last week

Maybe Firthy means they have set up five beer tents around the stadium area...

 

[Cas]

It's gonna be a 0-0 shitter, isn't it?

 

[Freakyteeth]

Or maybe it's more complete and utter bullshit from the paranoid delusions addled brain of a man who genuinely thinks Bradford aren't a small club

 

[valefan16]

It's gonna be a 0-0 shitter, isn't it?

Possibly, your defence looks solid, we've looked fairly solid pre-season and neither is looking great shakes up top at the moment.

 

[José Bruno]

My prediction is 4-4, but it's all a question mark this match

 

[ValeMouth]

Not sure what to expect from this Vale team, not seen any pre season friendlies so can only go off what I have read on here and OVF. Therefore I think our defence is woeful and our strikeforce is going to blow league 1 apart. 8-8 (no that's not a smiley that's my score prediction) (Eight-Eight)

 

[F!RTHY]

Fucking boring.

Grow up.

 

[Fedora Dale]

With Bradford's.defence missing Darby & McArdle, I'll go for 0-1, with a late Vale.winner from a random substitute.

 

[valefan16]

Oddly wearing a mix of kits today as our two away kits clash with Bradford's shirt and our home shorts and socks also clash so a nice white shirt with gold short and socks number ... Strange one why no white shorts and socks for a clash like the past?!

 

[ColB]

Bradford will finish anywhere between 5th and 12th imo, so a point away from home would be more than acceptable all things considered. I'd love for three of course but won't be greedy. Got a feeling we'll be undone with a set-piece or two today though.

 

[valefan16]

Alnwick
Purkiss
Smith
Streete
Knopps
Thomas
Foley
Grant
Tavares
De Freitas
Cicilia

Only four foreigners start. Brave decision with Streete after his pre season!

Cicilia is a good choice being 6'4 against Bradford's usually aerially astute back line.

 

[Cas]

Just seen our team. Should be a very comfortable victory for Port Vale today.

 

[finley]

Omg didn't realise our injuries were so extensive,one kid starting and two on the bench,only six subs as well.Just shows,like I said at the start of this thread,we're not yet ready.I would happily take a point right now

 

[valefan16]

We've got a kid starting in Smith to be fair and can see Hanson bullying Streete

 

[Cas]

Sounds like we've been the better side so far. No goal threat though. Vale will nick it 1-0.

 

[valefan16]

Sounds like we've been poor bar from set pieces.

 

[ColB]

Shite game. Bradford have been slightly the better side as expected really, but on this showing it's two very average teams with next to nothing going forward.

 

[valefan16]

Shite game. Bradford have been slightly the better side as expected really, but on this showing it's two very average teams with next to nothing going forward.

Decent point... Need a striker still sounds like Mbamba did well when he came on!

Great debut for young Smith too sounds like he had Hanson covered.

 

[MJA]

I'll take a point there, hopefully Smurf is working hard on this 'proven L1 goalscorer'

 

[valefan16]

I'll take a point there, hopefully Smurf is working hard on this 'proven L1 goalscorer'

Need it although sounds like we missed two glorious chances at the very end.

 

[Freakyteeth]

Should have won it at the end with Mbamba or Periera.

Said it all season, 1 up front doesn't work. Thomas and Foley/new winger need to be smashing crosses in for Cicilia's massive 6'5 beanhead or for him to lay off to Hooper/Forrester.