Good Friday & Saturday 3rd April fixtures

[Super_horns]

It is absolutely obscene how often Salford get a ref on their side, it’s becoming beyond a coincidence now

I remember in their TV appearances over the seasons certainly Neville and Scholes have said have said they used to be encouraged to get in the ear of the ref and unsettle them on the pitch at Man U so goodness knows what they say to what are probably pretty weak and average officials in League Two even from the stands in a quiet stadium.

Rarely have I seen a worse referring display than I witnessed today at Salford. It was also witnessed (at the ground) by Giggs, Keen, Gary Nevil and Scoles; I wonder what they thought of the main official and whether they got value for their money (I think so). Sour grapes from me of course, but it was poor, very, very poor if you are a GTFC supporter.

 

[loz]

Seen

We were clearly robbed, if the ref had given us 5 penalties we would have stood a good chance of getting a point.

Seen the Cooper post match and one thing is clear; were he American, he'd vote Trump.

 

[longmover]

For the first time in ages we came steaming out of the blocks and got right in Tranmere's faces. When the first throw went in and caused absolute mayhem with the shout for a pen (never a pen I hasten to add) it seemed clear that was the way to go. Sure enough, seconds later, we were ahead. The second built on that, and then the third came just as Tranmere were getting back into it.

We seemed happy to sit on the 3-0 in the second half, until Callum Wright's wonderful volley put it out of reach.

That's what this team is capable of and has been all season. It's because of these performances that the ones against Barrow are so frustrating!!

Grimsby away on Monday, I pray that for once our players are up for it against a struggle - as much as I'd like to see them stay up.

its not a Tuesday so we have a chance

 

[Boz]

Clarke is forty and has played fifty games this season and looks knackered. I think we can forgive him an off day today. Ray has been solid in recent weeks as well.

Davies is a good communicator and I think he would have organised the defence in front of him better. I also think he would have been more commanding when coming out to claim balls. I think Davies' absence was a major factor in the defeat, but the biggest issue was the apparent lack of preparation on the training ground for dealing with the set plays, and the lack of aggression all over the pitch.

Cheltenham certainly deserved to win, but they did not cut us apart in open play for any of the goals.

Clarke could have had a rest in the Pizza Cup final game, but if the reports are correct senior players wanted to play and Keith Hill let them. He was below par in the Grimsby game that followed but until today had done ok since. Rovers needed him and Ray to be on top of their game here, unfortunately they weren’t. Organising the defence isn’t just down to the keeper, especially when there was an established pair in front of him. I agree that there seemed to be a lack of preparation to cope with the Cheltenham long throws and particularly the second ball after our initial clearances. It seemed like our penalty area around the goal line was too congested with defenders at times which made it harder for Murphy to deal with balls coming in leading to more punches than were ideal.

 

[RLC]

Clarke could have had a rest in the Pizza Cup final game, but if the reports are correct senior players wanted to play and Keith Hill let them. He was below par in the Grimsby game that followed but until today had done ok since. Rovers needed him and Ray to be on top of their game here, unfortunately they weren’t. Organising the defence isn’t just down to the keeper, especially when there was an established pair in front of him. I agree that there seemed to be a lack of preparation to cope with the Cheltenham long throws and particularly the second ball after our initial clearances. It seemed like our penalty area around the goal line was too congested with defenders at times which made it harder for Murphy to deal with balls coming in leading to more punches than were ideal.

I did not say defensive organisation is just down to the keeper. It is also down to the manager and coaching staff, and we were not properly prepared today.

It probably is not an issue in the remaining games, because we won't play another team with a long throw (as far as I am aware). Murphy is a reasonable deputy for Davies in other respects.

 

[E10rifle]

Choo choo motherfuckers...

 

[WilsdenBantam]

We were clearly robbed, if the ref had given us 5 penalties we would have stood a good chance of getting a point.

I liked it when Cooper said at 1-1 we had a clear penalty, someone should not probably tell him we were 3-0 up

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Thought Cheltenham were excellent in the bits of the game I watched.
If Davies and Vaughan had been available we still would of got beat.

Shit happens.

 

[Arbury]

Thank fuck for that!! Got the job in end but only just, nerves were going some towards the end.massive 3pts with everyone else bar Cheltenham bottling it.

Another good result for orient, playoffs a definite possibility for them now.

KTF

 

[Sydney Posse]

Fantastic result and performance. We look a completely different team now. Just a shame we’ve waited until now.

Our game management under DC now is light years ahead of what it was previously. To do it against a team with some obvious quality which Exeter have is a huge plus.

Fair play to you guys today, well deserved win, and 4 on the trot shows you’re finally showing what you can do, albeit a bit too late this season. To give some balance though, we are woeful currently, and your local pub side would have given Exeter a game today. Too many key players either injured or just going through the motions for us (especially the ones who know they are leaving in the summer). Good luck for the rest of the season

 

[leedsvaliant]

So frustrating this season. I'd say our best fully fit team is easily top 3, as we thought at the beginning of the season. That lost confidence and host of injuries has ruined us. It shows that some of the better teams in the league are still very poor and if we had only had this team all season we would be up there.

 

[valefan16]

So frustrating this season. I'd say our best fully fit team is easily top 3, as we thought at the beginning of the season. That lost confidence and host of injuries has ruined us. It shows that some of the better teams in the league are still very poor and if we had only had this team all season we would be up there.

Pretty much my thoughts. Excellent for the first 10 games, then riddled with injuries and lack of confidence and fitness, now DC has got us back to our best but we took too long to make that appointment.

League is dire this year, we’ve played most of the top 10 in recent weeks and none have looked up to much and this side of the last four games is up there but we’ve taken the steps off the field to correct that mess this season with the fitness staff, DOF and further investments so the one positive is hopefully the lessons of this missed opportunity are learnt and we get it right next season.

What do we do with Manny next season, do we give him another year? He’s good.... very good can we get him fit for a long period though! Same for Monty too (he was class today, their winger couldn’t get past him).

Plenty to consider, some players who looked like we’d be keen to boot out now asking questions.

 

[kieran_vale]

Fair play to you guys today, well deserved win, and 4 on the trot shows you’re finally showing what you can do, albeit a bit too late this season. To give some balance though, we are woeful currently, and your local pub side would have given Exeter a game today. Too many key players either injured or just going through the motions for us (especially the ones who know they are leaving in the summer). Good luck for the rest of the season

You had your moments in the game. The 15 minutes before half time when you switched formation and put us under some sustained pressure 6 weeks ago you’d have likely equalised and then we’d have folded.

I think what did for you today was lack of pace at the back which Rodney was able to exploit and as it happened you had more of the ball but felt like it was possession for the sake of having it rather than doing anything with it. I’ve seen us against Exeter a few times now and that seems to be the theme. Some of the best technical players in this division certainly but doesn’t mean much if not done in the right areas.

Obviously too late for us now this season but I do want us to aim for a top half finish. No reason that isn’t achievable now. Good luck to Exeter though, as it happens with Newport’s loss it hasn’t been too costly today.

 

[SVH]

Port Vale fans need to calm down ffs.

 

[valefan16]

You had your moments in the game. The 15 minutes before half time when you switched formation and put us under some sustained pressure 6 weeks ago you’d have likely equalised and then we’d have folded.

I think what did for you today was lack of pace at the back which Rodney was able to exploit and as it happened you had more of the ball but felt like it was possession for the sake of having it rather than doing anything with it. I’ve seen us against Exeter a few times now and that seems to be the theme. Some of the best technical players in this division certainly but doesn’t mean much if not done in the right areas.

Obviously too late for us now this season but I do want us to aim for a top half finish. No reason that isn’t achievable now. Good luck to Exeter though, as it happens with Newport’s loss it hasn’t been too costly today.

I thought today Exeter were just pumping long balls, usually they play some good football down the years against us, all trying to hit Bowman and Legge, Smudge and Bris will head balls for fun away all day.

Got some good players so a good result though but felt their tactics played into our hands a bit

 

[Chris FGR]

I liked it when Cooper said at 1-1 we had a clear penalty, someone should not probably tell him we were 3-0 up

Your first goal shouldn’t have counted (wasn’t a corner) and I was having a piss when you scored your third (if I don’t see it it didn’t happen). Plus if just one of those 8 blatant pens the (clearly bent) ref ‘missed’ had been given it would have been 1-1 at that point. So technically he was right.

 

[Bottega Don]

So frustrating this season. I'd say our best fully fit team is easily top 3, as we thought at the beginning of the season. That lost confidence and host of injuries has ruined us. It shows that some of the better teams in the league are still very poor and if we had only had this team all season we would be up there.

You realise there isn't a single team in this division that's had their best fully fit team all season and nobody ever will.

Having a good starting 11 means nothing if your depth is terrible and strong depth is what makes a team a quality team.

 

[Monkey Tennis]

Port Vale fans need to calm down ffs.

Worst bunch of players ever to play for the club a month ago, now they're a top 3 squad...

 

[Robshep]

Thought Cheltenham were excellent in the bits of the game I watched.
If Davies and Vaughan had been available we still would of got beat.

Shit happens.

Unfortunately some of that shit came out of the mouth of Keith Hill at full time. Apparently we prepared well for Cheltenham's tactics. Really noticeable that was.

 

[Laker]

Lol at Cheltenham scoring three goals from Tozer’s throws. Amazing weapon to have.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Port Vale fans need to calm down ffs.

You've named a stand after a player who has had one good season. Get a grip. We're just disappointed that this league is generally terrible, including the top 3 and we should have been in amongst it.

 

[RLC]

Lol at Cheltenham scoring three goals from Tozer’s throws. Amazing weapon to have.

You won't see a team defend them worse than we did today. Pretty laughable at times.

The Vale fans seem more bullish in sixteenth position than we are in fourth.......

 

[Soz]

Worst bunch of players ever to play for the club a month ago, now they're a top 3 squad...

i wish that was true. you wont have seen us between 2-5 years ago. christ.

 

[masi51]

Port Vale fans need to calm down ffs.

HMS Piss the league again next season

 

[Laker]

You've named a stand after a player who has had one good season. Get a grip. We're just disappointed that this league is generally terrible, including the top 3 and we should have been in amongst it.

That stand is sponsored and that company decided to name it after him for the remainder of the season - it’ll revert back at the end of the season.

You are 23 points behind us, and we had our two centre midfielders missing from December to February and Hoolahan not playing midweek either. We also sold one of our only two centre backs in January and have relied on loans there to fill the gap. We’ve also lost our first choice keeper for a couple of months too. We’ve had injuries and disruption just like every other team and frankly your team is a joke for being that far behind us since you had promotion aspirations and we didn’t.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Worst bunch of players ever to play for the club a month ago, now they're a top 3 squad...

Good go no. Our team 3 years ago was horrific. We were very fortunate not to drop out of the league.

 

[leedsvaliant]

That stand is sponsored and that company decided to name it after him for the remainder of the season - it’ll revert back at the end of the season.

You are 23 points behind us, and we had our two centre midfielders missing from December to February and Hoolahan not playing midweek either. We also sold one of our only two centre backs in January and have relied on loans there to fill the gap. We’ve also lost our first choice keeper for a couple of months too. We’ve had injuries and disruption just like every other team and frankly you’re team is a joke for being that far behind us since you had promotion aspirations and we didn’t.

Totally agree. I'm ashamed at where we are in the league having seen the quality of this league. Let's face it, we're all shite, just some less shite than others.

 

[Soz]

not sure why everyone is so touchy here.

there's a few things gone wrong for vale this year, a bit of bad luck a few injuries and some poor reffing, the rot set in, Askey couldn't turn things around, his signings weren't up to scratch depth wise and we have had several fatal injuries as far as our team is concerned.

Pope Worrall and Amoo all missing for long periods, not many teams could cope with that.

I mean vale fans are talking about injuries costing us, we've won 4 on the bounce and we've STILL got 2 left backs, 2 right backs and Pope out.

It's been a significant failure of season. We expected to be playoffs, we still think that target was realistic at the start of the season but for a variety of reasons it didn't happen.


If any walsall or leyton orient fan had of watched our game today, they'd have been amazed at the defence compared to the circus we served up agianst them. it's chalk and cheese. for nearly 20 games we've been playoff form, for 20 games we've been bottom of the table form.

 

[valefan16]

That stand is sponsored and that company decided to name it after him for the remainder of the season - it’ll revert back at the end of the season.

You are 23 points behind us, and we had our two centre midfielders missing from December to February and Hoolahan not playing midweek either. We also sold one of our only two centre backs in January and have relied on loans there to fill the gap. We’ve also lost our first choice keeper for a couple of months too. We’ve had injuries and disruption just like every other team and frankly you’re team is a joke for being that far behind us since you had promotion aspirations and we didn’t.

Wish we’d only had 2 out... (haven’t you an awful record when Hoolahan doesn’t play also?)

It is a joke, hence the frustration and the inquest into the ridiculous injury crisis has seen us spend a lot of money to ensure the same mistakes that the previous management did are not repeated as far down as a new training ground!

Injuries are a massive reason, despite a huge squad it was that bad over Christmas we had youth team lads filling the bench and about 6-7 big players out. No team at this level could lose 6-7 key players and not struggle. Worrall, Conlon, Montano, Oyeleke, Pope, Gibbons and Amoo. Massively important for us.

The fact that fitness was allowed to get as bad as it was under Askey was criminal, thankfully DC and Flitcroft has addressed that with big financially backing from Carol and we are now almost back to a full squad (still missing two big players in Pope and Gibbons mind).

This season has been a massive failure, the side has massively under performed and in a league of this level should of been up there but it isn’t, we have addressed the causes to it and should benefit long term from the lessons learnt.

The club off the field now is light years ahead of what it was 2-3 months ago. Luckily we have the best owners you could ask for and Carol has put it right.

 

[masi51]

Unfortunately some of that shit came out of the mouth of Keith Hill at full time. Apparently we prepared well for Cheltenham's tactics. Really noticeable that was.

Agent Hill strikes again