Port Vale v Luton Town

[Maple Hatter]

Would have preferred to have played Vale a month ago as they seem to have found a bit of form of late. That said we aren't struggling for form either so should be an interesting game. Expect to see the same line up for us which means Collins keeping his place. One things for sure it won't be a goaless affair and if thats the case I tip us to win by a couple of goals. Its not just our scoring ability but of late we have been tight at the back. In fact I'm pleasantly surprised as to how well our defence is playing since Cuthbert got injured. Of course football being the great game it is means anything can happen. We aren't expected to win every game and at some point this run will end. I don't expect it to be on Saturday though even if Vale will be up for it especially after beating Coventry. NJ is looking to increase the gap between us and the other promotion candidates so will have the players well motivated. Not sure what the away attendance will be. A tough period financially with so many games.

 

[Aberstone]

I may well make the trip to this one. We don't have a game, it's pay on the day and another of the 92 to tick off.

 

[IanPVFC]

As I said in the general match chat, this will be very very tough but you know what, I'm not half as apprehensive as I was just a couple of months ago. Let's have a go at them, we have nothing to be afraid of. If we do get steamrollered then so be it, I certainly won't be too concerned going forward as we are in a much healthier place now compared to the Brown days.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Hadn't read the general match thread so didn't know this game was already covered. However there are enough posters from both clubs to have a seperate thread. Saves having to search through the other lesser games to read comments.
There does seem to be more optimism amongst Vale fans recently so obviously something has happened at the club.

 

[IanPVFC]

Hadn't read the general match thread so didn't know this game was already covered. However there are enough posters from both clubs to have a seperate thread. Saves having to search through the other lesser games to read comments.
There does seem to be more optimism amongst Vale fans recently so obviously something has happened at the club.

I think we were just generally talking about general match talk!

There certainly is, don't get me wrong I'm not expecting us to win on Saturday, if you gave me a point now I'd snap your hand off. It's just nice to go and see a side actually give a damn, have a direction and a clear game plan. The difference between now and under Brown is night and day.

 

[Kenneth E End]

As I said in the general match chat, this will be very very tough but you know what, I'm not half as apprehensive as I was just a couple of months ago. Let's have a go at them, we have nothing to be afraid of. If we do get steamrollered then so be it, I certainly won't be too concerned going forward as we are in a much healthier place now compared to the Brown days.

“Let’s have a go at them”

Probably the worst gameplan against us.

 

[valefan16]

We won’t have a go as it isn’t the way we play, four at the back two holding midfielders and one up front supported by the pace of Whitfield and Harness.

We’ve been in auto promotion form for nearly three months (12 games) since Aspin came in so we can be confident but still a ‘bonus game’ no pressure really on us as we are expected to lose so can go in there relaxed and give it a good go.

Get these two games out the way and we will have played the run away leaders and distant second side twice and should still have a five or six point cushion.

Main concern is this sickness bug that’s wiped out some of our key players during this run, could do with Anderson and Worrall fit, huge credit that with a few ill players playing we still beat Coventry and drew at Col U.

Think we will lose by the odd goal but show the battle we did at Yeovil with 9 men and the quality to destroy Oxford in the cup and you never know.

Regardless of the result we go into 2018 positive after the return of the legends.

 

[kieran_vale]

They are obviously favourites but if we do what we have done lately which is be well organised, close the opposition down quickly and play to our strengths going forward there is always a chance. If we get the first goal then who knows, it could become a bit more challenging than they've found it lately.

Be nice if we could confirm the signing of Whitfield for at least the rest of the season beforehand mind.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Am quite tempted to make the trip for this one, its perhaps a little further than I normally go but with the team playing as they are, you just want to see them as much as possible and enjoy it while you can. Probably make a decision on the day. We should be confident going into this, even though Vale are in good form, we are moreso and I dont think the fatigue you get around this period will have kicked in quite yet, think that might come on Monday.

As I understand it Vale Park is one of the biggest pitches in the whole FL, which could play to our strengths of keeping possession of the ball (grass length permitting of course). A player like Olly Lee might really enjoy that.

Be interesting to see what, if any changes are made from Boxing Day. All the strikers must be absolutely desperate to get starts with them all scoring, some real tough selection decisions to be made, especially as youd think they may have an eye on keeping people as fresh as possible.

 

[IanPVFC]

“Let’s have a go at them”

Probably the worst gameplan against us.

I don't mean go all out attack, that definitely isn't our game. But get in the oppositions faces, hassle and harrass, be organised, disciplined, battle.

Basically everything opposite to the start of the season where we'd just keel over and take a hiding.

 

[Judge Dredd]

As I understand it Vale Park is one of the biggest pitches in the whole FL, which could play to our strengths of keeping possession of the ball (grass length permitting of course). A player like Olly Lee might really enjoy that.

On the other hand, a wide pitch could help expose our relative lack of pace and width in the middle if played right.

With the huge pitch and busy schedule in mind, I wouldn't be adverse to us starting with the 4-3-3 rather than the diamond. Would mean "dropping" Shinnie which is harsh of course but Cornick has excelled from the bench of late and a big pitch would play to his strengths perhaps moreso than anyone else in the squad.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

On the other hand, a wide pitch could help expose our relative lack of pace and width in the middle if played right.

With the huge pitch and busy schedule in mind, I wouldn't be adverse to us starting with the 4-3-3 rather than the diamond. Would mean "dropping" Shinnie which is harsh of course but Cornick has excelled from the bench of late and a big pitch would play to his strengths perhaps moreso than anyone else in the squad.

Very true, didnt think about that, guess it could cut either way. Bringing in Cornick might be a decent idea, save Shinnie perhaps for the Monday game, although with Artillery barrage expected in that one it might not be his sort of game either! Some interesting possibilities no doubt, with everyone seemingly playing so well we do have options.

 

[Andy Proctor]

I may well make the trip to this one. We don't have a game, it's pay on the day and another of the 92 to tick off.

2 quid dearer to pay on the day so 22 quid and it will be cash only as our prick chairman only seems to deal in cash sales.

 

[Andy Proctor]

With Luton scoring so many goals I presume they are clinical with there chances in front of goal. We battered Mansfield about a month ago but couldn't score they had 4 on target and all 4 went in wouldn't be surprised if the same happens in this game.

 

[Kenneth E End]

We had 5 shots on target v Swindon.

Clinical

 

[Buxton Vale]

This will be a test of our recent revival, but as we aren't expected to win we can play without any pressure. If we can put a decent team out, we can get at least a point. There are only two decent teams in this league, and we have them back to back. If we can avoid defeat in those two games I'll be well pleased.

 

[valefan16]

Well these are the games in the legendary 90s years that Sir John would come to the fore and have a masterplan... let’s hope he has one for Aspin on Saturday!

To be fair Luton have spent well and built their team slowly over two or three years tweaking here and there where we’ve signed 51 players in less than two seasons and had four managers (plus one caretaker in Morgan) so shows what stability can bring and hopefully we are now on the start of that journey back where we belong with Aspin signing a new long term deal last week. Had we not shafted off a top half league one squad two years ago we wouldn’t even be playing Luton until next season or may have made that little tweak we needed to be a top 6 league one outfit.

According to OVF some fans on their forum reckon they will sell out and have fans in the home end? Can’t see them bringing over 4500 though so assume they don’t realise how vast our away end is!

Reckon they will bring about 1200 max with 5000 Valiants, down on Boxing Day but 6200 would be decent enough as dare say we will be taking our usual 1000 or so to Meadow Lane.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Haven't seen any threads about the away following to Vale on our forum yet, suspect whoever said that was mistaking a thread about the Newcastle game which is the current topic of the moment. We haven't even announced pre-sale figures for this one as it's been pay on the day the whole time. Would imagine it'll be similar number to Coventry on Boxing Day, give or take a few hundred. Certainly won't be anywhere near sold out, especially with the expensive Newcastle trip on the cards a week later.

 

[Maple Hatter]

According to OVF some fans on their forum reckon they will sell out and have fans in the home end? Can’t see them bringing over 4500 though so assume they don’t realise how vast our away end is!

I haven't seen any post on a Luton forum that claims we will sell out the Port Vale end. They've either been watching too many Disney films during Xmas or have found some obscure forum full of trolls. Doubt we will bring any more than 1200 with games coming thick and fast. Newcastle will be the priority for most fans and the cost of travelling to the North East will eat into a lot of people finances. Should still be a decent atmopshere and a good entertaining game I hope.

we’ve signed 51 players in less than two seasons and had four managers (plus one caretaker in Morgan)

Blimey! There's your problem. Stability is everything.

 

[Andy Proctor]

Someone posted on our onevalefan forum that Luton had sold 800 as if this morning and vale had sold out of the 500 tickets they had been given for Notts county.

 

[hellogregory]

“Let’s have a go at them”

Probably the worst gameplan against us.

You’re not fucking Manchester City for fuck sake.

 

[TylerB]

“Let’s have a go at them”

Probably the worst gameplan against us.

You may well be the best team in the league, but comments like that are so fucking cringe.

I wasn't that impressed with you in the game at your place, and we're a much better and more organised side now than we were then, by an absolute mile.

Tough game but I can easily see us being good for a point at least.

 

[Kenneth E End]

You’re not fucking Manchester City for fuck sake.

See Stevenage and Cambridge.

 

[Kenneth E End]

You may well be the best team in the league, but comments like that are so fucking cringe.

I wasn't that impressed with you in the game at your place, and we're a much better and more organised side now than we were then, by an absolute mile.

Tough game but I can easily see us being good for a point at least.

The best way to get a result against Luton is to keep it tight, almost like playing as an away team against us. Frustrate, hit us on the break and try and nick a goal. If you mean "have a go" by getting in their faces, doing the physical, "other" side of the game, that will go some way, but remember we have a few wind up merchants in our team as well. There are a few teams that we've come unstuck against playing this way. We've scored 99 league goals in 2017 - only 3 less than Manchester City.

As I say, Cambridge and Stevenage tried to go on the front foot; they left gaps and ended up conceding 14 goals between them. We've scored 4 or more goals in a game SEVEN times already this season and we're only half way.

 

[kieran_vale]

Lutons goalscoring record is very good no question however when you concede 7 like the two teams mentioned above did I think there is more than a slight chance they gave up a bit, no team at this level should be losing like that. Even we didn't when we had Brown as manager.

As for today it'll be the same as any other game. Be organised and aggressive when they have the ball and when we have it play direct and look to win the second ball off Pope and hope its enough. No great secret to it.

 

[valefan16]

What I have noticed is Luton score a lot of long range efforts so we need to be in their faces and Kay and Tonge need to stop them getting a sighter mind.

We weren’t too bad at their place a lost to a bizarre own goal and a keeping error but they found their feet more since.

Should be a good test hopefully for both teams!

 

[kieran_vale]

Aye, as far as I'm concerned we are playing with house money today. Anything we get is a bonus as we already have a nice gap over the bottom two now which was looking anything but likely a couple of months ago. They'll probably win say 2-1 but all I ask is we make them come off the field knowing they've really been in a game.

 

[valefan16]

Aye, as far as I'm concerned we are playing with house money today. Anything we get is a bonus as we already have a nice gap over the bottom two now which was looking anything but likely a couple of months ago. They'll probably win say 2-1 but all I ask is we make them come off the field knowing they've really been in a game.

Yeah to be honest I expected we’d beat Cambridge and possibly get a point at Carlisle and Coventry at best so to have double the points these two games are free hits for me. Give it everything and see what happens. Reckon we can get a point Monday.

Luton seem like us in our promotion season where we hit promotion rivals for 6 and 7 etc and it’s enjoyable whilst it lasts certainly, considering the shit they’ve been through in the past decade or so fair play to them.

 

[kieran_vale]

Looking ahead after these two games we have Forest Green and Yeovil where we have an opportunity to consolidate ourselves in midtable. So long as we can avoid any injuries or suspensions over the next couple of games with them to come I'll take that.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Lutons goalscoring record is very good no question however when you concede 7 like the two teams mentioned above did I think there is more than a slight chance they gave up a bit, no team at this level should be losing like that. Even we didn't when we had Brown as manager.

As for today it'll be the same as any other game. Be organised and aggressive when they have the ball and when we have it play direct and look to win the second ball off Pope and hope its enough. No great secret to it.

Oh they absolutely did give up. You've still got to score them though...