Saturday 30th April & Monday 2nd May

[valefan16]

It was a huge let down (again), the atmosphere was buzzing before kick off and to see the home ends busy it felt like let’s get the job done.

Within 3 minutes the place was flat. Awful from Hussey and it is the type of goal we are conceding at the moment.

First half we never got going at all and as per Bristol Rovers and Walsall games at times it felt like we were playing out an end of season dead rubber, lacked urgency, quality was missing and it was all back and sidewards.

Second half with a massive bollocking and out after ten minutes we started well, great ball from Wils and calm finish from BG. We had them on the ropes there and it just seemed a matter of time before we’d get the second but then absolutely dog shit defending from a corner and second phase and games gone.

Poor substitutions, Amoo was a disgrace at Walsall last week, Willo had looked our best hope of creating anything and Jake Taylor didn’t get a look in when we cried for him second half.

Hussey was absolutely awful, he’s the man you want in this situation with his experience and promotions but was terrible today. Granted not ideal playing him LCB and we missed Hall like a hole in the head, the first goal doesn’t happen with him there and we probably create more as he’s our roller of a centre half, Smudge is a great defender, awful with the ball.

Garrity decent, Wilson showed his class at times but ended up too far from goal.

It’s a bottle job. We’ve absolutely gift wrapped 3rd spot to Cobblers or Rovers when everyone else would have got the job done in our position three matches ago.

Not sure what’s changed, tiredness? Understandable but with 9 days break I’d hoped we’d have mustered more today. Nerves? Shouldn’t be considering the experience in the squad like Pett, Hussey, Martin, Proctor.

Are we missing Brad Walker for more than we thought? Possibly the midfield has been crap since Hartlepool and missing his breaking up play then that diagonal he does, but why not play Jake Taylor to try and offset the loss of Conlon?

Managed to get big home crowds back and we’ve let them down twice.

Really gutting, only Vale could get 25 points from 27, smell the finish line then lose three on the spin.

Feel for Carol and DC, but it’s difficult, the whole situation is difficult and it’s hard to be too scathing, most clubs would have folded and flew down the table months ago in our position and the boys have given us everything to have got to this point after the emotional events.

Would be gutting to miss out on the top 7, can’t really be arsed with the slog down to Exeter now but il be there because that’s what we do.

Now the pressure is off we will probably go and beat them now it’s too late! Either way we need a massive reaction and performance to salvage the season, anything less than a performance at the very least would be unacceptable, they have to stand up and be counted.

 

[Trapdoor]

We will be going for it against Vale. You won't want to hear this, but you can be assured that our lads will be incredibly fired up.

 

[kieran_vale]

We will be going for it against Vale. You won't want to hear this, but you can be assured that our lads will be incredibly fired up.

No doubt, I just hope our players are. Want to see some sign of aggression from the first whistle whether that means booting one of your players 6ft in the air or whatever as that’s been lacking in the last few games.

 

[valefan16]

No doubt, I just hope our players are. Want to see some sign of aggression from the first whistle whether that means booting one of your players 6ft in the air or whatever as that’s been lacking in the last few games.

Exactly, go a shithouse a 0-0 if we have to but make sure we have those play offs in the bag and some positivity to take into them, we know if we put in the levels we are capable of we can put on a performance there but they need to dig it out because the last three games have been way below the standards we’ve set this season.

We need at the very least next weekend some reaction from the lads, if that means Gibbo now he is back booting one of their lads into the stands early doors to get them going so be it, show some fight for christs sake.

 

[Gassy]

Now the pressure is off we will probably go and beat them now it’s too late! Either way we need a massive reaction and performance to salvage the season, anything less than a performance at the very least would be unacceptable, they have to stand up and be counted.

Is it though? Maybe for autos, but now you're looking over your shoulder? Let's face it, Sutton could easily beat Harrogate on Saturday.

 

[kieran_vale]

Exactly, go a shithouse a 0-0 if we have to but make sure we have those play offs in the bag and some positivity to take into them, we know if we put in the levels we are capable of we can put on a performance there but they need to dig it out because the last three games have been way below the standards we’ve set this season.

We need at the very least next weekend some reaction from the lads, if that means Gibbo now he is back booting one of their lads into the stands early doors to get them going so be it, show some fight for christs sake.

Yeah they’ve got to do something just get into the contest. Different sport but Shane Warne always used to say if things weren’t going well he’d go and pick a battle with an opposition player to get the juices flowing and we need to do the same. Things were far too nice today from us. Let them know yeah they might win the title but to do so they’re going to have to come off the pitch with their shins black and blue.

 

[valefan16]

Is it though? Maybe for autos, but now you're looking over your shoulder? Let's face it, Sutton could easily beat Harrogate on Saturday.

No one expects us to get anything, the pressure is off in that aspect.

 

[valefan16]

Yeah they’ve got to do something just get into the contest. Different sport but Shane Warne always used to say if things weren’t going well he’d go and pick a battle with an opposition player to get the juices flowing and we need to do the same. Things were far too nice today from us. Let them know yeah they might win the title but to do so they’re going to have to come off the pitch with their shins black and blue.

I think Saturdays game will suit us far better than the last three, let’s face it Exeter will want to attack us which will allow Wils and Procs more space than they had against sides like Walsall and Newport today who wanted to sniff us out as an attacking threat.

It will be tough, they will want to win the title but we’ve got to match their desire and be equally fired up for it. If we put in a mega effort and fall short and miss out so be it, if we feebly roll over and don’t lay a glove I imagine it won’t go down too well with the sell out away following.

Today has to be a trigger for this group otherwise a lot of progress this season will be forgotten.

 

[kieran_vale]

I think Saturdays game will suit us far better than the last three, let’s face it Exeter will want to attack us which will allow Wils and Procs more space than they had against sides like Walsall and Newport today who wanted to sniff us out as an attacking threat.

It will be tough, they will want to win the title but we’ve got to match their desire and be equally fired up for it. If we put in a mega effort and fall short and miss out so be it, if we feebly roll over and don’t lay a glove I imagine it won’t go down too well with the sell out away following.

Today has to be a trigger for this group otherwise a lot of progress this season will be forgotten.

Yeah end of the day if ultimately we close out the season on four losses we don’t deserve to go up.

Must say I thought Newport were really good though. If I was a fan of theirs I would be questioning where the hell that has been lately. Not sure on his contract situation but their LWB Haynes looked decent, I’d be sounding him out if we move on from Benning in a couple of weeks. Azaz as well was quality but obviously his career is destined for higher up the leagues.

 

[valefan16]

Yeah end of the day if ultimately we close out the season on four losses we don’t deserve to go up.

Must say I thought Newport were really good though. If I was a fan of theirs I would be questioning where the hell that has been lately. Not sure on his contract situation but their LWB Haynes looked decent, I’d be sounding him out if we move on from Benning in a couple of weeks. Azaz as well was quality but obviously his career is destined for higher up the leagues.

Someone made the point on Newport though… crap form, had some real stinkers and when the pressure is off they perform, they’ve basically done a bottle job like us! So it’s not only us.

I’d be looking tooth and nail to get Cass back personally. That’s one of many freak things to go against us this season with a freak season ending injury, that’s killed us losing that ball carrying centre half… we’ve ended up with Smith like today who can’t do that.

Add to that Politic who isn’t getting a sniff in Italy of game time!

 

[Uncle Pastuzo]

Haynes is out of contract, he was only on a year this time. I don't know what his reputation was at Coventry or Shrewsbury but with us he has been wildly inconsistent, rarely puts in two good performances in a row.

Why that big block of empty seats? Can't you segregate the away end?

 

[IanPVFC]

Haynes is out of contract, he was only on a year this time. I don't know what his reputation was at Coventry or Shrewsbury but with us he has been wildly inconsistent, rarely puts in two good performances in a row.

Why that big block of empty seats? Can't you segregate the away end?

No concourse behind the stand (think it's players gym currently) so no way for fans to get in/out safely.

Stunk the place out yesterday, the most Vale of Vale performances. Real shame the season has petered out the way it has. We've either had tremendous runs of form that are champions material, then we've looked like a side who've never played with each other. The last 3 games falls into the latter.

Gutted

 

[valefan16]

Haynes is out of contract, he was only on a year this time. I don't know what his reputation was at Coventry or Shrewsbury but with us he has been wildly inconsistent, rarely puts in two good performances in a row.

Why that big block of empty seats? Can't you segregate the away end?

No concourse yet, they've put the seats in for the Robbie Williams concert next month as you dont need a concourse for that (you can put portaloo's in) but at the moment until complete it can't be used for football.

Away end we've been debating on here, there isn't a barrier inside to split the concourse (and not sure if theres two sets of toilets/catering) not been in there properly for years.

Hopefully once the concourse is finished we could put away fans in the new Lorne Street bit if a smaller following is expected and a bigger home requirement.

 

[kieran_vale]

It shouldn’t really be that difficult to have a barrier put in the Hamil End. It’s ridiculous really that we give away teams all of that stand especially as we are not allowed to sell all the seats in home areas. Failing that move away fans to a few blocks in the Railway Stand as we used to put some there and have home fans behind both goals.

Said it before and I understand why the club won’t do it but at some point it needs to be acknowledged VP is not fit for purpose and perhaps a new stadium is the way to go or at least look at the option.

 

[valefan16]

It shouldn’t really be that difficult to have a barrier put in the Hamil End. It’s ridiculous really that we give away teams all of that stand especially as we are not allowed to sell all the seats in home areas. Failing that move away fans to a few blocks in the Railway Stand as we used to put some there and have home fans behind both goals.

Said it before and I understand why the club won’t do it but at some point it needs to be acknowledged VP is not fit for purpose and perhaps a new stadium is the way to go or at least look at the option.

Police wouldn't let them change the away end due to access I believe.

I dont think we will move grounds, the big Carol thing is being the heart of Burslem so with a new ground it would need to be away from VP and kill the town off, I guess you could rebuild VP on the current site (assume the mine issues are sorted now?) and play somewhere else for a season, problem is it would probably have to be the Lard or Crewe.

Only other option is to rebuild the Railway Stand, closer to the pitch with better facilities, probably similar in design to Crewe's main stand and then re-do the Bycars.

I imagine the question will be asked at the SC meeting exactly what the issue with the capacity is, loads of empty seats and many fans who were going to POTD missed out (although probably did them a favour!)

If we make the play offs to only have 9000 home fans allowed in home area's is poor.