Crewe v Vale

[jbet]

Are Crewe just on the wind up? Artell saying we 'lulled' them into hoofball and your Twitter account saying you were the better side despite managing one shot on target all afternoon.

It'd be embarrassing if it wasn't so consistent. I'm genuinely worried about them. A bottom 8, Division 4 football club with barely 4000 home fans for their biggest game if the season who are massively in denial about pretty much everything.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Any Crewe fan thinking we were the better side today in that second half (because we were in the first half despite not playing well in my eyes) wants their head testing.

Embarrassed with Artell after that. Spent all week saying about a good style of play, then starts two big lads up top, clearly wants us to play direct then claims the players decided to hoof it and not follow instructions. It's a load of bollocks and it's cowardice to suggest that. He's gone full Steve Davis with that interview. Take some responsibility rather than throw the players under the bus.

Embarrassed with that midfield today, forwards were never in the game. Whelan had a stinker at RB. Only players I'll give any credit today are Garratt, Hunt, Ray and Ng who I all thought performed to expectations. James Jones may as well have been playing for Vale today such was his success at finding players in a purple shirt! I hope he gets dropped for our massive away game at Notts County next week.

If you don't test the keeper, you won't score. We had two good chances in the first half and almost got lucky in the second half with a potential own goal. Vale threatened our goal a lot in the second half and got what they deserved. We can have no complaints.

 

[Andy Proctor]

I bet we lose away at grimsby now im going.

 

[Dave-Vale]

Artell is an arse. Why can’t he ever give the opposition any credit at all? He’s like a sore loser version of Micky Adams.

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

Why would we give you the ball back from a free kick?

Prob a fair result

 

[mozzavale]

I bet we lose away at grimsby now im going.

Don't go.

 

[Andy Proctor]

Don't go.

Ive already paid the bus fare to go but my last 4 away games ive been vale have lost 1 nil to tranmere 2 nil to colchester 5 nil to cambridge and 5 1 to cheltenham so lump on a grimsby home win.

 

[Fuzzyvalefan]

It wasn’t a free kick. We were on the attack and your player went down with a fake head injury then instead of giving us the ball back you tried to start an attack. Disgraceful cheating antics. The Crewe way my arse. They have about as much class as a floating turd

 

[beltzaetazuria]

Ive already paid the bus fare to go but my last 4 away games ive been vale have lost 1 nil to tranmere 2 nil to colchester 5 nil to cambridge and 5 1 to cheltenham so lump on a grimsby home win.

keep the faith mate Over the last nearly 60 year's have seen ups and downs May be a turning point.

 

[valefan16]

Back now.

We’ve been playing well for the last three games before today and seem to finally been settling down with a best XI and it’s starting to reap rewards.

Crewe bizarrely played a lot of hoofball but on the two or three times they did knock it about we had to be alert.

Legge was immense again today (and battered Artells comments on twitter) he just wins everything! Conlon released by Stevenage looks a real find as he gives us that energy we’ve lacked. Aside from that Manny was a level above as always and the rest put in a shift.

We were fairly comfortable but it didn’t seem to look like it was going to fall for us with the miss on half time then hitting the bar with the goal gaping, you’d put your house on Tom scoring there!

Miller was a nuisance but just needs to learn to time his runs. Strangely first half Crewe’s centre halves kept letting the ball bounce rather than deal with it and Miller could have profited with better timing.

Overall a well deserved win even if I had to watch it crushed in the stair well as the seating wasn’t enforced!

Overall if you compared today with the game at the end of the last season I felt you could tell that one club had been proactive in trying to improve it’s squad and one has stayed fairly still.

We’ve got that away monkey off our back now so hopefully with Grimsby next Away we can take that confidence into that game and go and play a positive game and start getting results away from Vale Park.

The comments from Artell are comedy gold to be honest and they official Crewe twitter and website... somehow despite the stats massively in our favour but hey ho... we can see our flaws and are working to improve them with the right attitude.

Trouble seemed scarce, a Crewe fan threw a ball in Browns face but it wasted their own time so won’t complain at that.

The last three games have turned a poor start into an alright start and we already have more than a quarter of last seasons total. Long may it continue and we have a secure season. We certainly look miles ahead of last season now we’ve settled.

 

[Crewelad87]

Vale deserved it. I thought we edged the 1st half, but Vale were comfortably better 2nd half. Legge was a man mountain for them. Artells comments were ridiculous and abit like his tactics abit naive. It’s abit of a worry the lack of goals, only scored in two league games so far.

 

[valefan16]

It wasn’t a free kick. We were on the attack and your player went down with a fake head injury then instead of giving us the ball back you tried to start an attack. Disgraceful cheating antics. The Crewe way my arse. They have about as much class as a floating turd

Wasn’t a foul as you say, couldn’t believe what I saw especially as we gave them the ball back in the same situation in the first half. Dire sportsmanship. No excuse for that at all.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Crewe edged it first half without creating a massive amount. We had most of the pressure second half and it felt like a goal would come at some point. Legge deserved it as he was an absolute colossus, he didn't deserve the comments from artell. I think the genuine crewe fans have been pretty fair with their comments. I still expect us both to finish somewhere around half way.

 

[valefan16]

Legge seemed a right dud signing based on pre season... had us all eating our words. Don’t think he’s lost a header this season yet! Hopefully Smith develops with Legge next to him.

Rawlinson did well today too. Out of position at right back but played well. Genuine guy enjoying his chance in the EFL (strange to say that about a Champions League regular!) he’s buzzing on twitter.

In terms of the away hoodoo it’s nice to end it but think a lot has been made of it this season, this squad can’t be held responsible for the first five months of that run so essentially it’s won one and drew one of five away. Yes the Carlisle and Tranmere games were poor and down to injuries and baffling tactics but this team deserves the chance to be judged on this season not the last one.

 

[Soz]

Nail. Head. It's a defence mechanism of theirs.

A defence mechanism like repression. Common in child abuse victims that is. Not that that is relevant here obviously.

 

[Floreat Salopia]

Crewe had the better of the first without really creating too many clear cut opportunities.

Second half, think the Vale players must have had a bollock off Aspin. Much better from them. Whitfield looked dangerous from the wing and I was really impressed with number 8 (think it’s the lad from Aldershot). Still don’t know how Pope missed that open goal?!?!?

Overall it was a game between two mediocre League 2 teams. Be surprised if either were involved in the play offs or higher. Enjoyed the game today though!

 

[TimeyWimey]

Crewe had the better of the first without really creating too many clear cut opportunities.

Second half, think the Vale players must have had a bollock off Aspin. Much better from them. Whitfield looked dangerous from the wing and I was really impressed with number 8 (think it’s the lad from Aldershot). Still don’t know how Pope missed that open goal?!?!?

Overall it was a game between two mediocre League 2 teams. Be surprised if either were involved in the play offs or higher. Enjoyed the game today though!

Agree with that. Other than flattering either side with mention of even thinking of challenging the play-off spots.

We got worse with every passing minute and against a side as bad as Vale were, that is extremely worrying for the rest of the season. Can’t believe how toothless we are in the final third and Artell’s subs were bonkers.

 

[valefan16]

Agree with that. Other than flattering either side with mention of even thinking of challenging the play-off spots.

We got worse with every passing minute and against a side as bad as Vale were, that is extremely worrying for the rest of the season. Can’t believe how toothless we are in the final third and Artell’s subs were bonkers.

Yeah we were dreadful... Need some salt?

 

[Buxton Vale]

Happy with the win, but we need to follow it up with a win at Grimsby, especially with some difficult looking home games to come.

 

[valefan16]

Happy with the win, but we need to follow it up with a win at Grimsby, especially with some difficult looking home games to come.

Three homes games in four but think they are Exeter, MK and Lincoln! Although if include the checkatrade we’ve got five in six at home!

If we can average the points we are currently at I.e. 13 in 9 il take that over the season as it would put us around the 65 point mark which would be a 10th to 12th finish which is probably about right this season. We’ve got a very good spine but still lack goals a bit but a solid season to build on next with tweaks is the aim surely?

Left back will be a small worry in January because I can’t see Villa letting us keep Clarke... their fans were demanding for him to be in their first team and he’s clearly way above league two level so that will likely need sorting.

We are not a poor side but still short of the level we want to be at in terms of challenging the top I think. Hopefully now Aspin has settled on his seemingly best XI and is playing to our strengths the results and performances will continue. We are gelling nicely at the moment and the early season worries seem touch wood to be behind us.

 

[Cereal Killer]

Wasn’t a foul as you say, couldn’t believe what I saw especially as we gave them the ball back in the same situation in the first half. Dire sportsmanship. No excuse for that at all.

Really? you want to get out more fella!

Of course if you actually watched the game, you could have saved yourself all that disbelief. The ref didn't restart the game with a drop ball..... hence (rightly or wrongly) he gave the free kick. But of course that doesn't fit with your agenda of nasty nasty crewe.

I couldn't believe what I heard on the radio. Artell didn't tell us all what quality he had just witnessed from the opposition and what a privilege it was to witness.

 

[valefan16]

If a free kick why did the Vale players go nuts when the ball wasn’t given back and again why didn’t the referee blow for a foul rather than let us play on until the head injury was clear and it was pulled back? No suggestion of a free kick in the incident at all!

 

[darren gregory]

Deserved win after a first half that Crewe were the better side.
Think the gimp Artell needs to be looking at his own failings. 9 games played and 7 of those resulting in a nil for Crewe is staggering. Mind you they did beat Morecambe and Macc , well done David

 

[darren gregory]

Apologies it is 8 games as they have a game in hand

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

Bottom line is this, Vale deserved the 3 points. Thought we just shaded the 1st half, but as soon as the 2nd started and Pope hit the woodwork then that was it from us.

Not sure what the point in starting with 2 big lads up top is, Big Dave say’s the players panicked into playing horrific aimless hoof balls, but having 2 big units up front Is going to lead to this, they can both play a bit on the deck but they cancelled each other out, the Vale CB’s didn’t really get troubled.

Vale seem a better side than the one that we should have buried in April. Miller is a busy nuisance, a bit of a Luke Rodgers throwback, and the lad who scored looks a good acquisition for the back line. The keeper always looked in control of his area, where’s Ryan Boot when you need him.

As for us, we have to suck it up, not seen a replay of Vales goal to see if was on or offside, but we got what we deserved. The fans are starting to turn on the manager a bit now which is a shame as I like him, but we are no better off. Fortunately I think there are at least 2 worse teams than us, but we can’t keep looking over our shoulder season after season, as it’s going to catch us out one year.

I think Aspin did well when we played on from that’s free kick/drop ball, it looked like it was going to kick off on the touch line, but I think Dave said to him that we thought it was our free kick, Aspin put his hands up as if to say fair play, not sure if he believed our gaffer but it defused the moment.

As for our fans that threw bottles at the female lines person, fuck me, that’s just what that club needs right now, more shit publicity. As for the Vale fans who delight in signing songs about peadophiles, people in glass houses hey lads, take it you must have missed the news the other year about your own City....

 

[valefan16]

Commenting objectively and taking the rivalry and banter out of it looking outside into Crewe Alex you need to ditch the obsession within your club of "The Crewe Way"... Micky Adams pointed it out and he isn't wrong that there is more impetus on the playing style than wanting to win games.

Its been five years of struggle really for the Alex and so seems silly that this obsession with playing "Football" when it clearly isn't working for the first team's needs at the moment, it is easier to do it with the likes of Hulse and Ashton but this is League Two.

The plus side to not scoring though is they are not conceding either in a few games and clearly are a level above Morecambe and Macc Town so wont be in the relegation issue.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Commenting objectively and taking the rivalry and banter out of it looking outside into Crewe Alex you need to ditch the obsession within your club of "The Crewe Way"... Micky Adams pointed it out and he isn't wrong that there is more impetus on the playing style than wanting to win games.

Its been five years of struggle really for the Alex and so seems silly that this obsession with playing "Football" when it clearly isn't working for the first team's needs at the moment, it is easier to do it with the likes of Hulse and Ashton but this is League Two.

Even Lord Micky Adams is about a decade behind the majority Crewe fans with this insight, problem is this club is a shut up shop.

 

[IanPVFC]

There's a good angle of the goal about three and half minutes into this video, I think it clearly shows Legge is well on side when the ball is played, the fella at the back knows he's played him on too.

Didn't go due to reasons discussed previously but so glad to finally get an away win. It's been a long time coming.

That's not 4 wins and 4 defeats this season, and about what I expected really. Obviously we're in a lot better a position than last year and shows the improvements made.

 

[mozzavale]

That's not 4 wins and 4 defeats this season, and about what I expected really. Obviously we're in a lot better a position than last year and shows the improvements made.

I agree. We'll have spells where we lose a few on the trot, and then we'll win and draw a few like we have the last few weeks. We're mid table now, and that's where a lot of our more realistic fans would have accepted at the beginning of the season. Aspin isn't someone that will come in and change things drastically, and Smurthwaite should have known that. He's made mistakes, and fans will get restless over time, but he's building something slowly but surely. Hopefully by the end of the season he has us in a similar position to when Smurf engineered Page's exit, a settled squad that just needs a few quality additions for us to build on next season. That will take patience, I just hope our fans have it, otherwise Smurf may get tempted to intervene yet again, and history suggests that's never a good thing.

Those that criticise Aspin's recruitment need to look at the players that have come in and now fans are loving them; Hannant, Clarke, Rawlinson, Miller, Conlon, Manny, Legge, Brown. There'll be a few duds, but if he can offload them and build around that spine, with the long term players like Pope, Montano, Smith, Worral, Gibbo etc we've got a good starting point for the next few seasons hopefully. Obviously there'll come a point whena decision will need to made on players on loan like, Angus and Turner, but things for me are definitely looking up.

 

[valefan16]

I agree. We'll have spells where we lose a few on the trot and, and then we'll win and draw a few like we have the last few weeks. We're mid table now, and that's where a lot of our more realistic fans would have accepted at the beginning of the season. Aspin isn't someone that will come in and change things drastically, and Smurthwaite should have known that. He's made mistakes, and fans will get restless over time, but he's building something slowly but surely. Hopefully by the end of the season he has us in a similar position to when Smurf engineered Page's exit, a settled squad that just needs a few quality additions for us to build on next season. That will take patience, I just hope our fans have it, otherwise Smurf may get tempted to intervene yet again, and history suggests that's never a good thing.

As I say if we keep this trajectory around 13 points every 9 games we will get to around 62-65 points which would be 10-14th which is about right. It feels similar to Micky Adams first season after the dire season under Glover a rebuild which will start to come good but ultimately need time.

In fairness I have seen few fans suggesting we are going up and challenging this season.