Saturday 9th January - Wednesday 13th January

[Son of Cod]

Grimsby need to turn blundell Park into a fortress. I cant remember the last time they had a decent home record.

That would be back when we were in the Conference.

 

[valefan16]

To be fair Askey lost his first games mostly against teams in the relegation battle with us at the time:

Cambridge A
Morecambe H
Tranmere H
Cheltenham A

Then drew a huge one away at Notts before winning 4 of our next 6 with a draw and loss to pull us away from danger.

Can take time.

Meanwhile after losing to Grimsby Aspin won 3 in a row, had a 2 points a game average for 12 games to take us from 5 points to 31 points beating Luton 4-0 on December 30th...

Then promptly didn’t win for 3 months! And only two more wins at the end of the season scraped us over the line.

 

[Son of Cod]

Also, Chris FGR FGR Stroud Greenacres (apologies I feel like I've missed one of you) was Williams always such a massive pussy at FGR or has this come about as a result of his injuries? He's great on the ball, but he is constantly shrugged and barged off it, shies out of tackles and I don't think I've seen him get remotely close to winning a header once.

 

[Chris FGR]

Was never the most physical, but I think the fact he's had two serious knee injuries and then broke his leg at the start of last season are probably having an effect on him tbf. The position he plays in heading shouldn't really be an issue, don't think we ever played it to him in the air, he was more of a no.10 or occasionally false 9 (when Doidge went to Bolton).

You need to get him on the ball in and around the edge of the box rather then knocking it long to him or expecting him to out muscle defenders.

 

[Son of Cod]

Was never the most physical, but I think the fact he's had two serious knee injuries and then broke his leg at the start of last season are probably having an effect on him tbf. The position he plays in heading shouldn't really be an issue, don't think we ever played it to him in the air, he was more of a no.10 or occasionally false 9 (when Doidge went to Bolton).

You need to get him on the ball in and around the edge of the box rather then knocking it long to him or expecting him to out muscle defenders.

Oh yeah, not expecting him to win loads of headers but he doesn't even really challenge for them. A token three inch hop is about the best he does, it'd make more sense for him to peel round the back in case the defender he's supposed to be competing with in the hope that they mess it up and he can latch onto it.

Been a frustrating signing for us really, he's obviously got lots of ability for this level but he's struggled to slot in and doesn't look up for a relegation battle at all. Another of our top earners that isn't delivering for whatever reason.

 

[FGR Stroud]

Also, Chris FGR FGR Stroud Greenacres (apologies I feel like I've missed one of you) was Williams always such a massive pussy at FGR or has this come about as a result of his injuries? He's great on the ball, but he is constantly shrugged and barged off it, shies out of tackles and I don't think I've seen him get remotely close to winning a header once.

Former Wales international George Williams was our best player until he got injured.
At the time some said it so bad that many considered it a career ending injury.
Credit to the guy to return to the game but he is only half the player we knew a year earlier.
Shame because he is one of the nicest guys around.

 

[shoddycollins]

Didn't know our match was considered a doubt again. Harrogate should have sorted out whatever issues they had from the other week.

After today we'll have played two games more than Newport and a game more than FGR and Cheltenham

 

[valefan16]

Bolton manager wants it all stopped. That said our owner said along the same lines last night.

 

[North_Cheshire_Alex]

olton manager wants it all stopped. That said our owner said along the same lines last night.

There you are, I was just having a flick through OVF and found this nugget from yourself,

"
Crewe had their golden period just after Rudge in fairness with Hulse, Ashton etc.

We’ve tended to trade the upper hand since. There league one sides were terrible in the mid 10s for a start.

Much as a detest him though Artell has done well."

Out of the last 20 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 14 times.

In the last 10 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 6 times, so you are a bit closer, but no way in the last 20 years have you ever had the upper hand on us for a sustained period.

Interestingly your much bigger massive fan base has beat our tiny band of followers 12 out of the last 20 seasons, but the average home attendance over 20 seasons is Crewe Alexandra 5281 versus Port Vale 5022.

Hope you report back to OVF with these findings.

 

[BarraMatt]

What the fuck's that got to do with anything?

 

[Son of Cod]

There you are, I was just having a flick through OVF and found this nugget from yourself,

"
Crewe had their golden period just after Rudge in fairness with Hulse, Ashton etc.

We’ve tended to trade the upper hand since. There league one sides were terrible in the mid 10s for a start.

Much as a detest him though Artell has done well."

Out of the last 20 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 14 times.

In the last 10 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 6 times, so you are a bit closer, but no way in the last 20 years have you ever had the upper hand on us for a sustained period.

Interestingly your much bigger massive fan base has beat our tiny band of followers 12 out of the last 20 seasons, but the average home attendance over 20 seasons is Crewe Alexandra 5281 versus Port Vale 5022.

Hope you report back to OVF with these findings.

Yes but who has the better %age of home supporters taken to away games?

 

[valefan16]

There you are, I was just having a flick through OVF and found this nugget from yourself,

"
Crewe had their golden period just after Rudge in fairness with Hulse, Ashton etc.

We’ve tended to trade the upper hand since. There league one sides were terrible in the mid 10s for a start.

Much as a detest him though Artell has done well."

Out of the last 20 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 14 times.

In the last 10 seasons we have finished higher than Vale 6 times, so you are a bit closer, but no way in the last 20 years have you ever had the upper hand on us for a sustained period.

Interestingly your much bigger massive fan base has beat our tiny band of followers 12 out of the last 20 seasons, but the average home attendance over 20 seasons is Crewe Alexandra 5281 versus Port Vale 5022.

Hope you report back to OVF with these findings.

Jesus Christ what’s that got to do with anything?

We had a sustained few years in the mid 10s (4 years I think) which is pretty much what I said. Other than that a couple where you finished just above us. Log on to OVF if you wish to discuss that

Not sure what attendances have to do with anything, would imagine actual home fans favours us though. You had a few years in the Championship with large away followings and a couple of years when we were protesting V2001 but can’t see anything since as you brought it up. 2007/2008 possibly the last time you had more? (The year the worst performing Vale side of the century in terms of points)

 

[Bottega Don]

Think it's time we end the season and decide final places on PPG.

Turns out Grimsby have been relegated, what a shame

 

[valefan16]

Think it's time we end the season and decide final places on PPG.

Turns out Grimsby have been relegated, what a shame

If it became obvious it wouldn’t continue now surely get all games played up to match day 23... use the table from everyone playing each other once. Jobs a good un.

 

[Bottega Don]

If it became obvious it wouldn’t continue now surely get all games played up to match day 23... use the table from everyone playing each other once. Jobs a good un.

I disagree, solely because my team might be in the relegation zone by then.

 

[North_Cheshire_Alex]

Jesus Christ what’s that got to do with anything?

We had a sustained few years in the mid 10s (4 years I think) which is pretty much what I said. Other than that a couple where you finished just above us. Log on to OVF if you wish to discuss that

Not sure what attendances have to do with anything, would imagine actual home fans favours us though. You had a few years in the Championship with large away followings and a couple of years when we were protesting V2001 but can’t see anything since as you brought it up. 2007/2008 possibly the last time you had more? (The year the worst performing Vale side of the century in terms of points)

In fairness I should have started a new thread, I tried OVF but no joy, perhaps they don't like Cheshire IP's.

Glad we cleared up your 'upper hand' claim.

 

[Gladders]

Think it's time we end the season and decide final places on PPG.

Turns out Grimsby have been relegated, what a shame

Null and void the season now


Also haven't some sides in national League played about 10 games? Can't see them having promotion on ppg in that case so maybe we will get saved that way!

 

[valefan16]

In fairness I should have started a new thread, I tried OVF but no joy, perhaps they don't like Cheshire IP's.

Glad we cleared up your 'upper hand' claim.

I didn’t claim we had the upper hand... I said we’ve traded it in recent years which is correct 4 times out of the last 8 I believe apiece.

Not sure why it warrants a thread or why your browsing another teams forum looking for mentions of Crewe!

You can make any claim over a period, over 145 years I imagine we’ve had the upper hand.

Swings and roundabouts.

The highest quality encounter I actually recall us playing out was at this level in a 1-1 draw in about 2011/12 at VP

 

[valefan16]

Null and void the season now


Also haven't some sides in national League played about 10 games? Can't see them having promotion on ppg in that case so maybe we will get saved that way!

Dover have yes, not sure how they are going to fit 34 more games in with Covid and the weather!

Jesus didn’t realise Barnet and Yeovil were so poor this season.

It could get to the point that the National League does get paused or finished as the EFL has the testing so wouldn’t be a huge shock if it is scrapped in which case then no relegation from league two.

 

[Son of Cod]

It could get to the point that the National League does get paused or finished as the EFL has the testing so wouldn’t be a huge shock if it is scrapped in which case then no relegation from league two.

 

[valefan16]

Barnet’s game is off again tonight as well!

Looks like a few are isolating (KL and Chesterfield) and assume the FA Trophy is still going on?

Right mess and they are having concerns about the money side.

 

[shoddycollins]

We're looking in much better shape than we were when the first game was played, much to Harrogate's annoyance.

Mellish and Riley are back from slight knocks; Anderton and Toure are back after self-isolating, Dickenson has returned from the injury that kept him out since we signed him we also have Zanzala now.

 

[hellogregory]

Tough game. We didn’t seem to be capable of handling them very well at all in that 10 minutes a couple of weeks back, all be it on a frozen pitch.

 

[hellogregory]

Looks like our match at Harrogate is in doubt due to the floodlights not working.

 

[Vanni]

Err, come on Harrogate!

The Gate were leading 1-0 weren't they when the game was called off? Carlisle should do the decent thing and let them score straight from the kick off is what I think. I'm all for fairness and integrity in the beautiful game.

HG Yellow&Black I don't think we've had the pleasure of your company yet. I wasn't aware you liked BT2F that much as to keep posting on the NL forum Anyway, I'm only letting you know you're more than welcome to post on here as well.

 

[Bottega Don]

Two debutants for us tonight, still gonna lose.

2-0 Salford

 

[masi51]

Monday morning 9am training Evatt had the perfect two wingbacks to play his formation......Kioso rwb and John lwb both on loan.........10am Kioso is on his way back to Luton 11am Jones does his hamstring.

Tonight it looks like we may be going 4 at the back for the first time........I fancy us to turn Exeter over tonight
Young lad Thomason can feel unlucky to have lost his place, but in Lee we proberbly have the best midfielder in the league

 

[shoddycollins]

This is tinpot from Harrogate.

 

[hellogregory]

15 minutes to kick off. Still no electricity at Harrogate’s stadium.

 

[hellogregory]

This will be the second time in two weeks that our squad have travelled to Harrogate only for them to fail to get the match on.

Tinpot beyond belief. They should have to play their remaining home fixtures at neutral venues.