Port Vale v FGR - The good and bad of club ownership

[kieran_vale]

To be honest am past the game now, especially after listening to Stomin Norm just go on Radio Stoke and have a mental breakdown. What a club to support!

 

[Stripes]

I'd rather blame the linesman, complete and utter bottle job. Totally inept.
The wiping out of Clark three feet from him was simply staggering.

I felt 0-0 was fair, the 2nd goal was irrelevant as we had all 10 outfield players up
Let me say now the officials did not cause the defeat.
But diving bastards like Doidge need eradicating from the game.
Didn't know they had any fans either until the 2nd goal when they bravely chanted ' time to go ' .
Complete none entity of a club

Well your right about Doidgy, that is part of his game these days. Non entity of a club is a bit harsh. Our away support has improved this season a fair amount and they do make a lot noise mostly.

 

[valefan16]

To be honest am past the game now, especially after listening to Stomin Norm just go on Radio Stoke and have a mental breakdown. What a club to support!

What a call in

 

[darren gregory]

Thought it was Cheshire had the salt?

Did you go ?
Thought not

 

[Buxton Vale]

Played well for the first hour, and unlucky not to be in front at half time. FGR defence was comical in its abilty to lose the ball around their own 18 yard box, and didnt look like much at that point.

However the subs changed the game coupled with us running out of steam. Once behind we struggled but were unlucky to be caught upfield with the second. So not to be today.

Have to say that they were possibly the worst officials Ive seen all season, coupled with a lot of falling over from Doidge made it a frustrating game. I still think we will stay up, but tonight the game fades into insignificance compared to our off-field issues.

 

[Buxton Vale]

What a call in

he sounded really rattled like he knows his time is up, and intends to cause the maximum damage on his exit. I really hope the club gets purchased without the ground and we end up playing at Leek or Kidsgrove.

Keep your ground Norman. I hope you rot in it.

 

[valefan16]

Back home, one of those games we shouldn’t of lost on the day but didn’t clear our lines for the first goal, second isn’t relevant as wouldn’t have happened had we not loaded their box.

Thought we tired second half again worryingly and might need to freshen it up personnel wise.

Another good goal ruled out, Askey probably in trouble after his comments after the game but that’s our luck lately!

Played some great stuff at times first half just need that killer finish. Pope hopefully back soon.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Back home, one of those games we shouldn’t of lost on the day but didn’t clear our lines for the first goal, second isn’t relevant as wouldn’t have happened had we not loaded their box.

Thought we tired second half again worryingly and might need to freshen it up personnel wise.

Another good goal ruled out, Askey probably in trouble after his comments after the game but that’s our luck lately!

Played some great stuff at times first half just need that killer finish. Pope hopefully back soon.

Tom was sitting with us, I dont think he'll be playing next week, but hes getting closer.

 

[valefan16]

Tom was sitting with us, I dont think he'll be playing next week, but hes getting closer.

Was crying out for him as first half we murdered their wing backs but no height to hit with the crosses!

Frustrating day probably summing up why we need change at the top.

 

[darren gregory]

Strange how after one defeat Pope suddenly gets to be a better player than this time last week.
I don't see Askey playing 2 up top.
Miller was bang average at best today , however in my book he still keeps his place .

Pope is a good option as a sub

 

[leedsvaliant]

Yep. First hour I don't think forest green had a single shot on target and I wondered how the hell they were in the top half. The subs changed the game no doubt and we never reacted to it, poor management that.

We could never build any momentum because their players fell over when breathed on and the ref and linesman were beyond inept. We had a perfectly good goal ruled out too. We hardly got any decisions all day.

Our manager said that he's had that referee and linesman before and he's amazed that they're still refereeing at this level.

Wasn't to be today but with a bit more rub of the green and a stronger ref, they were no better than us and they're in 6th! Says all you need to know about this tinpot league.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Didn't know they had any fans either until the 2nd goal when they bravely chanted ' time to go ' .
Complete none entity of a club

Away support 179.
Quote from one of our guys on FGR forum:
"Terrific following - close on 200 with directors and a few in other stands.
Compares favourably with away support at PV from:
Cheltenham 100
Crawley 70
MK Dons 124
Colchester 122
Morecambe 141
Yeovil 76"

I was at game and the FGR faithful made plenty of noise.
And we all stood up during 2nd half to applaud Trevor Horsley, our recently departed former chairman.
You are being disingenuous to FGR in your post.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Away support 179.
Quote from one of our guys on FGR forum:
"Terrific following - close on 200 with directors and a few in other stands.
Compares favourably with away support at PV from:
Cheltenham 100
Crawley 70
MK Dons 124
Colchester 122
Morecambe 141
Yeovil 76"

I was at game and the FGR faithful made plenty of noise.
And we all stood up during 2nd half to applaud Trevor Horsley, our recently departed former chairman.
You are being disingenuous to FGR in your post.

There was no particular lack of noise tbh , but Yeovil and MK were night games.

 

[kieran_vale]

Away support 179.
Quote from one of our guys on FGR forum:
"Terrific following - close on 200 with directors and a few in other stands.
Compares favourably with away support at PV from:
Cheltenham 100
Crawley 70
MK Dons 124
Colchester 122
Morecambe 141
Yeovil 76"

I was at game and the FGR faithful made plenty of noise.
And we all stood up during 2nd half to applaud Trevor Horsley, our recently departed former chairman.
You are being disingenuous to FGR in your post.

Not that any of it matters but from where I was sat the moment George Williams came on for you then your fans made a bit of noise. Was a very subdued type atmosphere all round today though for the most part.

 

[Chris FGR]

Did you go ?
Thought not

Yep. Went to the Vale Cafe with a couple of others before the game and bought nothing in the ground to help support your cause, and yeah we are a small club but we brought more then a few have and definitely made a bit of noise especially the chants in honour of Trevor Horsley. This club means a lot to us fans, particularly those like me that we're around when Trev was building us up.

We might be a non entity to you but to those of us around here the club is important, does a lot of community work and yeah we might be much smaller then you as a club but we still have some very passionate fans. So no need to be cuntish about it.

Plus reckon Miller more then matches Doidge in the cheating stakes.

Good luck for the season, you looked more then good enough to stay up, you moved the ball well especially first half and pressed us into giving the ball away a lot. Without Ward you could easily have been 2 or 3 up at ht. Subs changed the game, but could easily have gone the other way.

 

[valefan16]

Doige was terrible overall to be honest, heart maybe not in it after what’s gone on with Bolton?

To be fair 179 in a 4500 seater stand it’s never going to come across as the Azteca in there, thought it was decent numbers considering the size of the away side.

 

[Chris FGR]

Doidge did better once we put some pace on around him, some nice flicks/layoffs but yeah gotta say overall he hasn't been great. Losing that Bolton contract has clearly affected him. Can't blame him, life changing money and Championship football, big come down coming back here.

Think you'll do better when Pope comes back, need some more cutting edge/physical presence up top, you're build up play was decent. Liked your no 8 and left winger, not many give Liam Shepard a tough game but he caused a lot of problems.

 

[valefan16]

Doidge did better once we put some pace on around him, some nice flicks/layoffs but yeah gotta say overall he hasn't been great. Losing that Bolton contract has clearly affected him. Can't blame him, life changing money and Championship football, big come down coming back here.

Think you'll do better when Pope comes back, need some more cutting edge/physical presence up top, you're build up play was decent. Liked your no 8 and left winger, not many give Liam Shepard a tough game but he caused a lot of problems.

Number 8 Manny is quality. Key to us.

Montano the winger is hit and miss. Wasn’t a bad performance by him by one of those where he is on his day unplayable but often than not anonymous.

Big bald bloke for you was decent, won a lot against Legge which isn’t easy!

 

[Greenacres]

Big bald bloke for you was decent, won a lot against Legge which isn’t easy!

I think you must mean Farrend Rawson, and you are right he is a decent player, only 22 as far as I know so it makes you wonder how high he might go if his career really takes off. I brought a member of my family to a Rovers game recently, the first time he had seen us play, and told him a bit about our players and what he might expect to see from them. Admittedly it was the game we lost against Notts County but Rawson was the player he picked out from our team for special praise. Brown gets most of the plaudits for his trickery and goals but Rawson should feature when the player of the season award is made, though he probably wouldn't win it because much of what he does goes unnoticed.

 

[valefan16]

I think you must mean Farrend Rawson, and you are right he is a decent player, only 22 as far as I know so it makes you wonder how high he might go if his career really takes off. I brought a member of my family to a Rovers game recently, the first time he had seen us play, and told him a bit about our players and what he might expect to see from them. Admittedly it was the game we lost against Notts County but Rawson was the player he picked out from our team for special praise. Brown gets most of the plaudits for his trickery and goals but Rawson should feature when the player of the season award is made, though he probably wouldn't win it because much of what he does goes unnoticed.

Legge is a monster yet that’s the first time I’ve seen him struggle in the air against someone. FGR both games easily the best footballing side, issue they have is over playing at the back which nearly cost you and did last year with Turners goal if I recall but second half cut that out and played higher up although partly down to us sitting deeper after the change which pinned our wing backs in, should of changed it ourselves maybe 4-4-2 to counter it.

That said I thought we played some good stuff at times and Joyce was in the main superb on the ball. Disappointing result, hard day off the field with Norman but enjoyed it; we’ve come a long way from a few weeks ago aimlessly punting 50-60 yard balls to Pope on his own.

 

[kieran_vale]

Legge is a monster yet that’s the first time I’ve seen him struggle in the air against someone. FGR both games easily the best footballing side, issue they have is over playing at the back which nearly cost you and did last year with Turners goal if I recall but second half cut that out and played higher up although partly down to us sitting deeper after the change which pinned our wing backs in, should of changed it ourselves maybe 4-4-2 to counter it.

That said I thought we played some good stuff at times and Joyce was in the main superb on the ball. Disappointing result, hard day off the field with Norman but enjoyed it; we’ve come a long way from a few weeks ago aimlessly punting 50-60 yard balls to Pope on his own.

Agreed with all that. Think one area Askey could maybe look at from his perspective is once they made the changes maybe he should have been a bit more proactive in changing things himself as almost immediately we were struggling get any outlet at all. He does seem reluctant to make changes until very late on. Not discouraged though as more good than bad overall apart from the obvious of the result.

 

[valefan16]

Agreed with all that. Think one area Askey could maybe look at from his perspective is once they made the changes maybe he should have been a bit more proactive in changing things himself as almost immediately we were struggling get any outlet at all. He does seem reluctant to make changes until very late on. Not discouraged though as more good than bad overall apart from the obvious of the result.

They had a ten minute spell before the goal after the change and it was obvious what was going to happen, not sure why Whitfield isn’t getting a look in either needed fresh legs and width at that point.

 

[IanPVFC]

As said the subs changed the game. FGR pushed 2 wingers up closer to our full backs which nullified our threat. First half our full backs were pushing on which allowed our own wingers much more space and freedom, it was 2 on 1 for the most part until that change.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Darren's talking shite, FGR fans.

I sat in the Lorne Street again for this one, and I heard your fans chanting on numerous occasions during both halves. I thought your following was decent given where you've come from and that because your home attendances have increased tenfold, doesn't necessarily mean FGR fans are going to be flocking to away games regularly too.

You weren't brilliant by any stretch of the imagination, but you did the basics when needed. Stopping the flow of our attacks with little niggly fouls, or stoppages etc.. Nothing out of the ordinary. Cooper swung the game in your favour with the double substitution. Williams gave you another outlet and we suddenly ran out of steam. Conlon was blowing out of his arse for the final 15 minutes or so that he was on the pitch for. Miller was knackered too, and I doubt Monty should've stayed on for as long as he did do. Askey should've been proactive and made changes when we still had a foothold in the game. Whitfield and Hannant the obvious choices. We needed fresh energy, movement and to continue with the pressing and high tempo but we were running on empty at 60-65 mins. Understandable given the sudden turnaround in tempo levels we've had in recent matches.

We'll take this one on the chin. First loss in 5 and to a side in the top 7. Another win and another draw and we're safe anyway. Notts, Macclesfield and Yeovil would need a ridiculous turn in form to catch us now. All the best in the Play Offs. It's an achievement in itself to even be in contention given your struggles last season.

 

[darren gregory]

Entitled to your opinion Dan.
The whole game was played out in a weird morgue like atmosphere.
There was a chant about an ex owner who passed away ?
And as I previously said the ' time to go ' chant.
As for great achievement I thought their eco warrior predicted promotion last season ?
A million trillion times better than our rotten club hence the reason they are challenging.
I'd imagine they pay top 7 wages given the fact that we have a top 10 budget yet they can pay Gunning more than we could

 

[Chris FGR]

Gunning was your lowest paid player and on a short term deal. Didn't take much to improve his contract. Plus you were hardly desperate to keep him apparently. Big mistake that, quality player for us.

Our budget is less then what we had in the Conference which is why we made a profit last year. Small squad as well, withmost of our players other then about 7 being youngsters picked up on frees, on loan or signed from non league.

On paper you've probably got a stronger squad.

 

[darren gregory]

We offered him a deal, glad he's doing well, I'd say he was ok /average nothing more.
Grimsby fans said he was horrific , he wasn't but he wasn't the player our fans made out when he went to yourselves.
Reading our sites I thought we'd lost Maldini how they were talking.
Steady Eddie prone to moments of madness. He was decent on Saturday.
Maybe found a club that he feels happy at and not being a bit part player so can't knock him.

Lee Collins was a brilliant player for us and scored the goal that clinched promotion in 2013 so he definitely would of had a good reception had he played

 

[valefan16]

We offered him a deal, glad he's doing well, I'd say he was ok /average nothing more.
Grimsby fans said he was horrific , he wasn't but he wasn't the player our fans made out when he went to yourselves.
Reading our sites I thought we'd lost Maldini how they were talking.
Steady Eddie prone to moments of madness. He was decent on Saturday.
Maybe found a club that he feels happy at and not being a bit part player so can't knock him.

Lee Collins was a brilliant player for us and scored the goal that clinched promotion in 2013 so he definitely would of had a good reception had he played

You missed out a key bit of that last sentence... he was indeed a great player for us but of course scored the goal that clinched promotion for us... whilst playing against us for Northampton! Superb O.G. lobbing the keeper with 5 minutes to go!

 

[darren gregory]

You missed out a key bit of that last sentence... he was indeed a great player for us but of course scored the goal that clinched promotion for us... whilst playing against us for Northampton! Superb O.G. lobbing the keeper with 5 minutes to go!

A minor detail !!!!
Amazed didn't make it at Barnsley who may of been in The Championship when he joine d them ,, around 2010-2012 he was superb for us , although he did have off field problems .

 

[valefan16]

A minor detail !!!!
Amazed didn't make it at Barnsley who may of been in The Championship when he joine d them ,, around 2010-2012 he was superb for us , although he did have off field problems .

I thought he would leave us and play at the top.

That goal against Hereford when he ran the length of the pitch and had the nous rather than risk missing to set Rico up for a tap in (with us down to ten men also and holding a lead)