Port Vale vs Lincoln

[Luke Imp]

Having made 10 changes in midweek, we should be fresh.

Got a feeling we might go to a proper 4-3-3 and bring Pett back in for McCartan.

 

[GodsGift]

Be warned, I'm going to this so that'll be another defeat

 

[DippyDon]

If Vale play like they did against us they’re going to get absolutely battered.

Please don’t, another Lincoln loss would be perfect for us as we go into the game against Northampton.

 

[valefan16]

Play like we did against Exeter we can get something, play as we did at Grimsby and MK we will get panned.

Problem is with Manny we play too deep and invite pressure. Should be fresh for a change after a hectic few weeks with the key players not involved Tuesday, just hoping Miller's goal boosts his confidence as it was needed.

Without Manny I think we will come up short 0-2... Sign of the fall of this football club in recent years.

 

[valefan16]

If Vale play like they did against us they’re going to get absolutely battered.

Please don’t, another Lincoln loss would be perfect for us as we go into the game against Northampton.

Thats us this season, 3 days previous we had put in a superb performance to hold Exeter in a real high quality ding dong battle (partly down to why we were dead on our feet against you).

We seem to be very much in phases... go 4 unbeaten, then lose 2 or 3 then have a couple of results and a couple of bad ones. With everyone fit we look half decent this season but we haven't got that at the moment, Oyeleke is crucial and he is out, Pope isn't even training just o limp through matches for example.

 

[Luke Imp]

If Vale play like they did against us they’re going to get absolutely battered.

Please don’t, another Lincoln loss would be perfect for us as we go into the game against Northampton.

Aren't you playing Cambridge?

 

[DippyDon]

Aren't you playing Cambridge?

At the same time, so your result won’t really affect anything mentality wise. Going into a game against local rivals knowing that we’re closer though could be a boost we need to keep the pressure up.

I fully expect Lincoln to win comfortably though. The most effective team in the league that I’ve seen so far.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

My preseason tip for the title

 

[darren gregory]

My preseason tip for the title

i had us to finish 11th , so it's nice to see you rated us so highly VM

 

[darren gregory]

In all seriousness this has a pasting all over it.
I'll predict 0-2 though at a canter. Not even convinced he will start with Miller despite his goal

 

[valefan16]

In all seriousness this has a pasting all over it.
I'll predict 0-2 though at a canter. Not even convinced he will start with Miller despite his goal

He set up against Grimsby as though we were facing Man City in a cup tie so probably a 9-0-1 formation with Pope on his own!

 

[darren gregory]

Considering Lincoln reserves demolished us, albeit we made 5 or 6 changes too , that's my excuse in , they looked on the night a very well drilled team.
Are they as easy on the eye as Exeter or Mk , no but does that really mattter. They are a well oiled machine who will be Champions IMO.
Any result is a brucie bonus, but can't help the sinking feeling that after the next 3 games we are right in the thick of it at the bottom end.

 

[valefan16]

Considering Lincoln reserves demolished us, albeit we made 5 or 6 changes too , that's my excuse in , they looked on the night a very well drilled team.
Are they as easy on the eye as Exeter or Mk , no but does that really mattter. They are a well oiled machine who will be Champions IMO.
Any result is a brucie bonus, but can't help the sinking feeling that after the next 3 games we are right in the thick of it at the bottom end.

Yeah looks bleak as all three are tougher than Grimsby who comfortably saw us off, unless Manny returns I can see us losing all three.

The one hope we have is that we do have a habit of beating the top sides at home, Coventry, Lincoln and the demolition of Luton last season for example, Millwall the year before, Wigan before that so are capable. The performance against Lincoln last season was solid and will need to at the very least match that level to get a result again.

 

[Davidimp]

Our players were a bit 'post Wembley' that day.
No excuses Saturday but we do need to stop being so wasteful in front of goal, we always want an extra pass or touch in and around the area, drives me mad!

 

[Imp in Branston]

Our players were a bit 'post Wembley' that day.
No excuses Saturday but we do need to stop being so wasteful in front of goal, we always want an extra pass or touch in and around the area, drives me mad!

An extra pass, we only hoof it don't we?!

 

[valefan16]

An extra pass, we only hoof it don't we?!

If you hoof it and are physical we have a better chance as we have the likes of Legge who love that side of it, if you pass and play like MK Dons for example then it will be a struggle for us.

 

[Andy Proctor]

Play like we did against Exeter we can get something, play as we did at Grimsby and MK we will get panned.

Problem is with Manny we play too deep and invite pressure. Should be fresh for a change after a hectic few weeks with the key players not involved Tuesday, just hoping Miller's goal boosts his confidence as it was needed.

Without Manny I think we will come up short 0-2... Sign of the fall of this football club in recent years.

2 nil lincoln is what i expect too. They just have better players than us all around.

 

[wangle]

How has Miller got one for you? I think I was one of the few Lincoln fans that wanted to take a gamble on him. How much did you get him for in the end?

 

[valefan16]

How has Miller got one for you? I think I was one of the few Lincoln fans that wanted to take a gamble on him. How much did you get him for in the end?

Undisclosed fee so unsure. Fans favourite in that he gives everything and has that work rate, pain in the arse but hadn’t scored until Tuesday since the opening day, seemed to lack confidence so hoping that goal gets him firing again.

 

[valefan16]

Pope and Whitfield face fitness tests... great!

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Tom Pope feels like one big ‘fitness test’

Talented crock perfect for L2

 

[valefan16]

Tom Pope feels like one big ‘fitness test’

Talented crock perfect for L2

To be fair he scored 19 goals last season playing most of it on one leg! He’s so crucial and loves the Vale so much he puts his body on the line and will go through the pain barrier to play. Bonus of him not only being a club legend but Vale born and bred I guess!

If it’s a reoccurrence of last seasons injury we will need to get it sorted though.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

That’s exactly my point, talented , body on the line effort but injury prone so constantly a question mark on whether he can or will play . It’s so League 2 , and such a cocktease for the Vale fans

 

[valefan16]

That’s exactly my point, talented , body on the line effort but injury prone so constantly a question mark on whether he can or will play . It’s so League 2 , and such a cocktease for the Vale fans

He doesn’t miss many in fairness and assume he will play. Last year he had to for a operation.

 

[valefan16]

Big trouble for us today, it’s almost a Checkatrade line up this, Pope out injured, two debutant starts such is the crisis with Vassell and Kanu.

Pugh starting!

5-0 Lincoln against this XI

 

[GodsGift]

No Akinde in the squad so Rhead starts. Not particularly confident now.

 

[valefan16]

No Akinde in the squad so Rhead starts. Not particularly confident now.

Why? We’ve literally five or six of our better players out, no Gibbons, Monty, Oyeleke, Pope, We’ve got Miller and Worrall on the bench and a kid making his first EFL start as a lone striker.

 

[valefan16]

Why on earth isn’t Miller starting? Scored and was superb Tuesday?

We’ve got five defenders in that line up unless Clark is playing midfield too? At least no one can properly scout the Vale as the lines up seem to be picked out of a hat.

Weakest by far of the season against the leaders... happy days!

 

[Guernica]

Late change as Anderson comes in for Shackell, presuming an injury in the warm up? Never ideal especially at centre half.

 

[GodsGift]

Think there's a bug or something in the squad? Akinde, O'Connor and Shackell all missing.