Saturday 9th November

[OneDecentLester]

Stanley (H)

Know absolutely zilch about this lot but probably another side that’ll come and park it and time waste at every opportunity as has been the case in most of our home games so far this year. Fingers crossed it’s more open than that mind, but even if it’s not it’s up to us to be more clinical the same way we have been away from home.

Would be nice to see us win one as I’m getting a bit bored of the home draws now…

Not sure on our team news yet so I’ll wait till after Cooks presser on Friday before I try predicting an XI. But what I do know is that Tanton is back after the 60 mins he got vs Horsham in the cup, and Fleck too after his 25 minute spell but I think this will come one game too early for a start, so that’s positive! But Colclough has his court hearing on Thursday so that could be less so… we will see.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Yet another game against tough opposition. We seem to have very few games where we'd expect to get points.

Apparently Gillingham were defying the stats earlier in the season. Playing poorly but picking up points. Their form has taken a nosedive, so they'll be desperate to get back on the horse at home.

I don't know much about them, but the lad from Accrington was a decent player and Dieng had always been OK at this level.

They look strong in defence but look short up front. Hawkins is a bit of a stick on legs from memory and they have another guy from non league. Nevitt from Crewe must be injured.

It's a horrible place to go and one of the few places that makes Burslem look like Venice. Really awkward to get to from anywhere else in the country too.

 

[Cloudy]

Yet another game against tough opposition. We seem to have very few games where we'd expect to get points.

Apparently Gillingham were defying the stats earlier in the season. Playing poorly but picking up points. Their form has taken a nosedive, so they'll be desperate to get back on the horse at home.

I don't know much about them, but the lad from Accrington was a decent player and Dieng had always been OK at this level.

They look strong in defence but look short up front. Hawkins is a bit of a stick on legs from memory and they have another guy from non league. Nevitt from Crewe must be injured.

It's a horrible place to go and one of the few places that makes Burslem look like Venice. Really awkward to get to from anywhere else in the country too.

Train from St Pancras to Gillingham was easy on a Tuesday night, just make sure you get the fast train though

 

[lordofthepies]

Yet another game against tough opposition. We seem to have very few games where we'd expect to get points.

You should be expecting to get points from every game with the players you've signed

 

[leedsvaliant]

You should be expecting to get points from every game with the players you've signed

If only it was that easy. Potentially got our entire first choice midfield out, and it's the one area where the back up is nowhere near the first choice.

Really had to battle for the points in all our games really... no team has been a walkover. We always look likely to score, which is helping us in tight games.

I haven't turned up to a Vale game in many years expecting to get 3 points.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Train from St Pancras to Gillingham was easy on a Tuesday night, just make sure you get the fast train though

Yes, that's what we're going to do I think. I've driven before and it was hell. Probably drink in London for as long as possible.

 

[Cloudy]

Yes, that's what we're going to do I think. I've driven before and it was hell. Probably drink in London for as long as possible.

That’s what we did a few weeks ago. There aren’t really any decent pubs in Gillingham, so we had a few beers in and around Kings Cross and St Pancras then got the train which took around 40 minutes iirc

 

[Meadow]

Grimsby at home. Our 100% league record is intact although Brighton's yoof broke our overall record last week in the Mickey Mouse trophy.

I'd like to think that we're good enough to keep it going for a while.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

That’s what we did a few weeks ago. There aren’t really any decent pubs in Gillingham, so we had a few beers in and around Kings Cross and St Pancras then got the train which took around 40 minutes iirc

Otherwise, get off at Rochester and have a few.
Better town and better pubs.
Hop back on the train and you are 5 minutes from Gillingham.

 

[Cloudy]

Grimsby at home. Our 100% league record is intact although Brighton's yoof broke our overall record last week in the Mickey Mouse trophy.

I'd like to think that we're good enough to keep it going for a while.

I am sure you will have more than enough to take the 3 points this weekend.

I usually cringe when posters talk down their own team but I honestly believe Grimsby have more points than they deserve. We have been heavily beaten at home on a regular basis, and although, at first glance, our away wins look great, we could easily have been beaten at Salford, Gillingham yet won.
Conceded the most goals in the division bar Carlisle and don’t create much. Playing a little better football than previously but, for me, football is about what happens in and around both boxes and we aren’t great at either end

 

[valefan16]

You should be expecting to get points from every game with the players you've signed

We have had 2 promotions in 30 years, only even made the play offs the one time in that period (which we won 2 years ago).

No Vale fan will take it for granted or expect anything, you have to earn every single point. We've got lucky we have a great owner and lucky that she has come into mega money this year but its not something we are used to, just hopefully we can enjoy the ride and hopefully get the results but nothing is guaranteed, we've had some really bad times in the past 30 years mixed with the odd good year like 2022 and 2013 so we don't "expect" anything, we are not tuned to that and have been round the block too many times for that.

In context the club with probably the closest budget to ours is in the relegation zone.

Even then you need some luck with injuries... to have three superb midfielders for this level in one position and to have potentially lost all three to injury at the same time is bad luck and if at least one isn't back for a period of time it could be an issue (all be it we have gone and signed another but again need to get match fit).

 

[lordofthepies]

We have had 2 promotions in 30 years, only even made the play offs the one time in that period (which we won 2 years ago).

No Vale fan will take it for granted or expect anything, you have to earn every single point. We've got lucky we have a great owner and lucky that she has come into mega money this year but its not something we are used to, just hopefully we can enjoy the ride and hopefully get the results but nothing is guaranteed, we've had some really bad times in the past 30 years mixed with the odd good year like 2022 and 2013 so we don't "expect" anything, we are not tuned to that and have been round the block too many times for that.

In context the club with probably the closest budget to ours is in the relegation zone.

Even then you need some luck with injuries... to have three superb midfielders for this level in one position and to have potentially lost all three to injury at the same time is bad luck and if at least one isn't back for a period of time it could be an issue (all be it we have gone and signed another but again need to get match fit).

Nothing is guaranteed but also if you don't win the league this season, Moore has failed.

Yeah, the team with the next highest budget is in the relegation zone, but they haven't signed good players and you've signed loads of them.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

My first Carlisle league game I can get to for a long time, think Bradford away a couple of years ago was last one, maybe I can bring them much needed luck.

We should worry now though as Ryan Giggs is taking command

 

[valefan16]

Nothing is guaranteed but also if you don't win the league this season, Moore has failed.

Yeah, the team with the next highest budget is in the relegation zone, but they haven't signed good players and you've signed loads of them.

Moore has failed if he doesn't win automatic I would say, all be it I am sure if we went up via the Play Off's it would be fine of course but its not an easy league to get out from, some really good sides at the top end, sides more settled like Notts County, Doncaster who have been building up over a few years, MK, yourselves who have been building year on year since relegation, Walsall with their loan lads who've come in and fired them up there.

The one thing we have been clear on as a club is we take it a game at a time and consider all our opponents difficult and will work solidly as a team to try and get the result so don't take anyone lightly. Each game is a different challenge in its own right, Accrington bottom of the league when we faced them gave us arguably our toughest test in this run we've been on so no one is easy.

For all the money we have spent one of our best signings is Kyle John who we signed on a free after a trial and the loan lads like Brandon Cover and Rico Richards and has still seen the breakthrough of Jack Shorrock as a first team regular up from our youth set up.

 

[valefan16]

Ben Garrity out until New Year, that with Byers is a massive blow. Hope Harper is able to give us an hour and Croasdale is able to return for this one.

 

[F!RTHY]

Fleetwood Town (a) - tough, tough game.

Firstly, I fully expect us to lose. It’s that type of fixture. The City contingent on here will understand what I mean … plus, I don’t know what it is, but we just seem to always struggle between Nov-Jan.

Fleetwood are very hit and miss by the sounds of things, but they do have a game in hand. If they win that, they’re a point behind us.

I always consider them to be a decent footballing side, and we’ve had some good battles with them down the years. It’s against good footballing sides where we always seem to come up second best, too - despite the oppositions’ current standing.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Chieke Diabate
CB: Niall Bryne
CB: Jack Shepherd

RWB: Jay Benn
LWB: Tyreik Wright

CM: Corry Evans
CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Calum Kavanagh

I thought Corey Evans did very well against Aldershot. The only other player who might feel hard done by is Bobby Pointon, but we all know he’s more effective from the bench.

Hoping now Kav has his first goal, it’ll give him the added confidence to go on a goal scoring run (like I’ve predicted all season).

That being said …

Fleetwood Town 3-1 Bradford City (1100 City)

 

[leedsvaliant]

Ben Garrity out until New Year, that with Byers is a massive blow. Hope Harper is able to give us an hour and Croasdale is able to return for this one.

Bit of a disaster this BUT he has been playing as more of a deeper lying midfielder, so if we can get Sang or Harper to do a sufficient job in there and cross our fingers that Croasdale is alright, we should be ok.

It's not like Garrity is scoring loads but we need someone with his workrate. Byers is back on the grass I believe, which means I guess a couple more weeks or so. Just got to get through this period without too much damage.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Fleetwood Town (a) - tough, tough game.

Firstly, I fully expect us to lose. It’s that type of fixture. The City contingent on here will understand what I mean … plus, I don’t know what it is, but we just seem to always struggle between Nov-Jan.

Fleetwood are very hit and miss by the sounds of things, but they do have a game in hand. If they win that, they’re a point behind us.

I always consider them to be a decent footballing side, and we’ve had some good battles with them down the years. It’s against good footballing sides where we always seem to come up second best, too - despite the oppositions’ current standing.

GK: Sam Walker

CB: Chieke Diabate
CB: Niall Bryne
CB: Jack Shepherd

RWB: Jay Benn
LWB: Tyreik Wright

CM: Corry Evans
CM: Ritchie Smallwood
CM: Jamie Walker

ST: Andy Cook
ST: Calum Kavanagh

I thought Corey Evans did very well against Aldershot. The only other player who might feel hard done by is Bobby Pointon, but we all know he’s more effective from the bench.

Hoping now Kav has his first goal, it’ll give him the added confidence to go on a goal scoring run (like I’ve predicted all season).

That being said …

Fleetwood Town 3-1 Bradford City (1100 City)

I thought they looked decent when we played them the other week. A bit soft at the back perhaps but they had 2 or 3 decent footballers. We were just better on the day. Always seems a tough place to go and I expect them to be in the playoffs really.

 

[valefan16]

Bit of a disaster this BUT he has been playing as more of a deeper lying midfielder, so if we can get Sang or Harper to do a sufficient job in there and cross our fingers that Croasdale is alright, we should be ok.

It's not like Garrity is scoring loads but we need someone with his workrate. Byers is back on the grass I believe, which means I guess a couple more weeks or so. Just got to get through this period without too much damage.

Yeah as I said on OVF, lose two of them its survivable as Sang is a decent enough engine in there but to lose all three and not have Harper match fit yet would be difficult, Jason Lowe as smooth as he is as a fella I would rather only ever see him in the back line not the midfield!

Luckily only 3 games this month (no one cares about Wrexham game as through in that) so time for Byers to get closer and if we had to lose Croasdale another week.

Typical of our luck though, we always seem to get injuries in the same position!

 

[Jimmy Anderson]

Yeah as I said on OVF, lose two of them its survivable as Sang is a decent enough engine in there but to lose all three and not have Harper match fit yet would be difficult, Jason Lowe as smooth as he is as a fella I would rather only ever see him in the back line not the midfield!

Luckily only 3 games this month (no one cares about Wrexham game as through in that) so time for Byers to get closer and if we had to lose Croasdale another week.

Typical of our luck though, we always seem to get injuries in the same position!

We have 6 injuries,usually that wouldn't be a massive problem for a squad. 3 of them are wingbacks though hart, John and Clarke and the other 3 central midfielders garrity, Byers and croasdale. We have been here before with this as last couple of seasons we have had all 4 strikers at the club out injured at the same time and I think the other week Crewe had all there strikers injured at the same time also. Jason lowe is going end up playing these next few games which means we will lose the lot of them.

 

[valefan16]

We have 6 injuries,usually that wouldn't be a massive problem for a squad. 3 of them are wingbacks though hart, John and Clarke and the other 3 central midfielders garrity, Byers and croasdale. We have been here before with this as last couple of seasons we have had all 4 strikers at the club out injured at the same time and I think the other week Crewe had all there strikers injured at the same time also. Jason lowe is going end up playing these next few games which means we will lose the lot of them.

I think Croasdale will be ok, I’d be tempted to go with Cover or Grant there before getting to Lowe personally!