Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th January

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Si Robin]

With the overnight temperatures and a 12:30 kickoff, think our game with Walsall could be in doubt. The 18 yards or so in front of the away end simply doesn't get any sunlight so won't defrost in time.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[valefan16]

Tough one for us in the run we have been on, all be it our only win in the last 8 weeks was at the Keepmoat (is it still called that?).

We have a decent record there with 3 wins and a draw in the last 4 visits in all competitions but will need to build on New Years Days solid performance to get a result, after Moore went very open in the game at Vale Park (inexplicably for him) and we played a high line with the slowest centre halves we could muster which got done on the break three times this will be more of a performance akin to Notts County/MK away where we sit in deep and try and pick up a goal on the break.

Garrity back is a huge positive so should have midfield options, maybe Byers or Harper will add to the options, Stockley hopefully we will be back and we could all of a sudden have most of the big options back.

New signing Jaheim Headley may also debut.

Need a result here really, just to keep Doncaster within touching distance ahead of two winnable home games and Moore needs to stop the rot. Its the kind of game we'd go away and win 1-0 a couple of months ago soaking up pressure and nicking one but despite our superb away form this season we've been poor the last three or four away performances so will need a big improvement against a decent Doncaster side.

Don't think it will be a classic, 0-0 or 1-0 either way probably, hopefully Garrity makes the difference we are praying for now he is back in the levels we perform at and gives us a chance of ending our poor run, we love a good 0-0 draw at the minute so would probably take it if offered as long as we beat Barrow.

 

[LS Bantam]

Grimsby at home: No Andy Cook, so effectively playing with no goal threat and a defence that struggles to keep a clean sheet. Would’ve been relatively comfortable with this fixture a week ago but as I said the other day, we’re a one man team without the one man.

 

[Cloudy]

Grimsby at home: No Andy Cook, so effectively playing with no goal threat and a defence that struggles to keep a clean sheet. Would’ve been relatively comfortable with this fixture a week ago but as I said the other day, we’re a one man team without the one man.

Think for the majority of teams it will be about who copes best with the Christmas New Year schedule. Who has energy left in the tank? Who have rotated to try and keep players fresh?

Grimsby don’t have the best of records at Valley Parade but I will go 1-1

 

[DippyDon]

The return of El Plastico and one we really need to win, though I’m not sure what will happen with the squad, we might need to have a change in keeper if McGill is going to be recalled which I would guess is likely.

 

[Si Robin]

Pitch inspection confirmed for this afternoon. If it passes there will be another at 8am tomorrow.

Frankly, if they're doing an inspection this afternoon I don't see the game going ahead.

 

[JJ1990]

Our game with Bromley will be touch and go I reckon. Barely gotten above freezing in the last 2 days and whilst it does climb a bit tomorrow and Sunday, I'm not sure if it'll thaw any frost which has set in.

Not sure if it being on is a good thing either, given Bromley are flying right now. Let's see.

 

[valefan16]

The big problems look post kick off for away fans travelling home as the bulk of the snow seems to be coming over late afternoon.

 

[kieran_vale]

I’m assuming there won’t be any danger to this game getting called off. Expect us to approach this how we do all our games recently. Try and keep it tight and hope something drops at some point. Don’t see us flooding lots of men forward after Molyneux tore us a new one in the fixture at VP doing that.

For the lineup don’t think it needs a huge amount of changes or at least as many as Moore usually makes. Certainly Tolaj needs to keep his spot as a striker regardless if Stockley is available.

Amos
Smith Heneghan Hart
Clark Garrity Croasdale John
Curtis
Tolaj Paton

 

[GTFCfish]

We never win at Bradford but then we also never normally win at Tranmere Gillingham and AFC Wimbledon and we did all of those 3 so you never know.
We always find a way to mess it up there though last year being a prime example 1-0 up until the last minute and Bradford were garbage on that day too and we still couldn’t see it out.
Tomorrow I’m expecting for us to be the better side on the day, play the better football, and still not win.

 

[gary]

Fleetwood away on Sunday. Well I don't think we're be doing any training before the game. Back in the early hours from Newport last night a day off today I imagine and then back on the coach tomorrow for a long trip up to Fleetwood. I'd be happy with a point.

 

[Si Robin]

Game off

https://twitter.com/x/status/1875178595284635924

 

[FiRTHYY]

Grimsby Town (h)

We tend to have the edge in our meetings with Grimsby, especially at Valley Parade. They hadn’t beaten us for umpteen years until this season at BP in the reverse fixture - proving records are there to be broken.

We have, what seems to be, a very unsettled squad/starting XI at the minute. I’m sure this applies to most clubs this time of year, especially in L2. 4 games in 10 days is too much, IMO.

Losing Andy Cook is a big, big loss.

Vadaine Oliver was missing from the squad at Barrow, so my guess is he’s being shipped out to facilitate Cook’s replacement. There’s a lot of talk about who his replacement might be, but our fans never get anything like that right.

Would love to see Lapslie make his debut from the start and for us to revert back to 352.

We’ve literally just signed another MF from Birmingham, Brandon Khela, who will likely start on the bench.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Aden Baldwin
CB: Niall Byrne
CB: Cierán Kelly

RWB: Brad Halliday
LWB: Lewis Richards

CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Antoni Sarcevic
CM: George Lapslie

ST: Calum Kavanagh
ST: Ollie Sanderson

Subs:
GK: Colin Doyle
RB: Callum Johnson
CB: Jack Shepherd
MF: Clarke Odour
MF: Brandon Khela
CAM: Jamie Walker
CAM: Bobby Pointon

2-1 City (Lapslie and Sarcevic (Rose for Grimsby).

Win puts us 5th before the 3pm KO’s.

Att: 19,010 (2,100 Mariners).

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

Can't see anything other than a routine home win for Doncaster as there's no goals in this vale team. We usually keep it tight at the back but think it will be 1 or 2 nil loss. Id actually take a loss if we actually showed we could score a couple so would take a 3 2 loss. Just seen a post saying 900 sold which given were 23rd in the form table and without a win in the league since 16th November ain't bad, probably would have took 1500 if form had been alot better as people like me can't be arsed travel away after the shit from the last 2 away games.

 

[Optipez]

We need the win, home form is average. Swindon are in form but if we play to our best we should have enough to win.

 

[hellogregory]

Tranmere v Carlisle

Two teams in poor form (exactly the same over last 5 games).

I don't know what wednesday's collapse will do for an already low on confidence team. I think it will be a tight game of low quality, and a draw wouldn't be a huge surprise (although useless to us), but home advantage, the psychological edge of beating us already and the fact they are higher in the league so less pressure will mean I can see a Tranmere win.

Tranmere 1-0 Carlisle

Another nail slammed into our relegation coffin and a dose of reality for a portion of our fanbase that still think we're staying up.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Comfortable home win for Donny I'm afraid. We could have done with some easier games to be honest.

Some of our better players coming back but this is too soon and I'm not convinced the manager has the nous to change things. His win percentage is below Andy Crosby now so I believe.

This will be our 14th away game I believe, as opposed to 11 at home. Odd scheduling. We seem to have had very few Saturday 3pm kick offs.

 

[クレイグ]

3-0 Grimsby.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

Comfortable home win for Donny I'm afraid. We could have done with some easier games to be honest.

Some of our better players coming back but this is too soon and I'm not convinced the manager has the nous to change things. His win percentage is below Andy Crosby now so I believe.

This will be our 14th away game I believe, as opposed to 11 at home. Odd scheduling. We seem to have had very few Saturday 3pm kick offs.

I think you are over estimating how good we are.

 

[valefan16]

Comfortable home win for Donny I'm afraid. We could have done with some easier games to be honest.

Some of our better players coming back but this is too soon and I'm not convinced the manager has the nous to change things. His win percentage is below Andy Crosby now so I believe.

This will be our 14th away game I believe, as opposed to 11 at home. Odd scheduling. We seem to have had very few Saturday 3pm kick offs.

We've not long played bottom of the league at home and didn't win which should on paper be the easiest game!

 

[Soz]

I think you are over estimating how good we are.

Just accurately estimating how bad we are

I can't really see how we go there and win. Yes Garrity is back and hopefully good for 60-70 minutes but god knows what system we will play. It could be anything from Dazzler's ultra attacking 5 at the back, 2 holding midfielders and 1 striker to his Walsall spectacular of 5 at the back, 2 holding midfielders and no strikers.

One thing is for sure, if we're chasing the game he will only put a striker on if he can take a striker off.

Expect we'll start Hackford because I don't understand why anyone would start him so as long as you have 2 grown men at centre back then we're pretty much down to 10 men from the start.

2-0 would feel about right but we do love a capitulation so could easily end up 4 or so.

 

[valefan16]

Just accurately estimating how bad we are

I can't really see how we go there and win. Yes Garrity is back and hopefully good for 60-70 minutes but god knows what system we will play. It could be anything from Dazzler's ultra attacking 5 at the back, 2 holding midfielders and 1 striker to his Walsall spectacular of 5 at the back, 2 holding midfielders and no strikers.

One thing is for sure, if we're chasing the game he will only put a striker on if he can take a striker off.

Expect we'll start Hackford because I don't understand why anyone would start him so as long as you have 2 grown men at centre back then we're pretty much down to 10 men from the start.

2-0 would feel about right but we do love a capitulation so could easily end up 4 or so.

Dont talk utter rubbish! He will only put a winger on if he can take a striker off!

I think its going to be a stink the place out bore fest with how we will set up... if we nick the lead we probably win the game 1-0 but as usual if we go behind its hard to change the mentality in the game. First goal will probably decide which way it goes.

 

[Dan Phillips]

We're playing 3-5-2 tomorrow.

New lad making his debut.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

I think you are over estimating how good we are.

You don’t need be good beat us.
We’re on a horrific run, which, although it will end at some point, history tells us , is when the daffodils come up.
so you’ll be fine .
Boring daft Daz’s Port Vale 0 juggernaut will rumble on

 

[saddler78]

Sorry couldn't resist this one