Stags Vs Vale

[AdamStag]

So back to league action for both after both hosted league 1 clubs in the FA Cup over the weekend.

Hoping for another slight increase on the crowd for this one from the home fans, and expecting a good 500 from Vale, surely?

Vale's league form has improved of late, with their defence tight with Mansfield seemingly going through a series of win/draw/win/draw so should be a good game.

Had a good chat and laugh with the Vale fans in the Railway last season, so hopefully more of the same

 

[valefan16]

Get this out the way and we have a decent set of fixtures.

We've lost 1 in 7 I believe in all competitions and the away form has finally turned for us, Mansfield seem to be hitting form so this will be a real tough test of our improvements.

Few ex Valiants at the Stags in Tyler Walker, Will Atkinson, Craig Davies and Krystian Pearce (assume Pearce is away for this?)

Would take a point into a kinder run of fixtures.

First time in months we have all our key players available so hopefully that keeps us in the right trajectory with the crucial Manny Oyeleke set to make his first start in 6 weeks after his super cameo on Sunday.

 

[Davidimp]

Get this out the way and we have a decent set of fixtures.

We've lost 1 in 7 I believe in all competitions and the away form has finally turned for us, Mansfield seem to be hitting form so this will be a real tough test of our improvements.

Few ex Valiants at the Stags in Tyler Walker, Will Atkinson, Craig Davies and Krystian Pearce (assume Pearce is away for this?)

Would take a point into a kinder run of fixtures.

First time in months we have all our key players available so hopefully that keeps us in the right trajectory with the crucial Manny Oyeleke set to make his first start in 6 weeks after his super cameo on Sunday.

Mansfield do like a draw

 

[valefan16]

Mansfield do like a draw

We don't generally... only 4 in all competitions this season. Happy to make it 5!

 

[AdamStag]

If you include that stupid cup thing and the FA cup our last 10 games are DWDWDWDWDW

So on that basis a D comes next, then a W next week at Lincoln

 

[Conker]

Is Pearce on international duty? He’s our best defender and captain so a big loss if so.

Omari Sterling is away but he’s not playing anyway. It’s a shame he’s been away for the checkatrade game though I think he’s got potential we are missing out on.

Anyway, I think our next loss (and only second of the season) is going to come by surprise hopefully it’s not on Saturday.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Yeah we’re without Pearce. Still happy with White, Preston and Sweeney in the back 3 although Pearce is a loss.

Be nice to get our first back to back wins of the season here. Should be a decent crowd if Vale are going to bring 4/500 or so. Might even be our highest of the season.

 

[Conker]

I much prefer White at RWB but he’s okay at CB.

Otis Khan is somebody I forgot about, he’s probably our best player at creating chances although it doesn’t feel like we have missed him much it will be nice to have him back.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Agreed, Also should think Khan would make the bench at least for this one as he was close last Sunday.

 

[AdamStag]

Yeah we’re without Pearce. Still happy with White, Preston and Sweeney in the back 3 although Pearce is a loss.

Be nice to get our first back to back wins of the season here. Should be a decent crowd if Vale are going to bring 4/500 or so. Might even be our highest of the season.

Certainly hoping we can have an effort towards 4,700 or so for this, will be the biggest gate of the season until our clown friends from down the a60 roll into town

 

[valefan16]

Hard to say how many will travel. Chesterfield and Notts County we usually take over 1000 but our dismal away form in 2018 has seen them take a knock... that said we’ve won 3 and drew 2 of our last six on the road and seems to be a positive atmosphere around the club in recent weeks with the upturn in results and the performance on Sunday so hopefully nearer what we would normally expect to take. Not had many weekend away days in the last couple of months to be honest so may get a few out although assume it’s on iFollow being an international weekend.

Fans who went last year were drinking in the pub with Miller pre game! Maybe that’s what secured the move!

 

[Richard Cranium]

Is he currently in the team? Nailed on to score if so just because how much I didn’t want us to sign him.

 

[valefan16]

Is he currently in the team? Nailed on to score if so just because how much I didn’t want us to sign him.

No. Fallen out of favour but generally comes off the bench. Fans love him for his effort and passion but his decision making massively let’s him down.

 

[AdamStag]

If you can take 1,000 to chesterfield in league 2 (not now obviously haha) there’s no reason you can’t do that to Mansfield, cracking pubs in the town centre - it’s not amazing - but nor is port vale. Would be good to see a good following, Northampton had a low number as they’re on a bad run, Grimsby was on a Tuesday night.

 

[leedsvaliant]

It just shows how mismanaged our club is when Mansfield, with no disrespect, have yet to hit 4700 attendance for the season yet their budget is probably double ours.
I think we'll lose on Saturday, Mansfield are strong at home and I still don't feel confident that we have enough. Get this one over with and we have a favourable run up to Christmas.

 

[AdamStag]

It just shows how mismanaged our club is when Mansfield, with no disrespect, have yet to hit 4700 attendance for the season yet their budget is probably double ours.
I think we'll lose on Saturday, Mansfield are strong at home and I still don't feel confident that we have enough. Get this one over with and we have a favourable run up to Christmas.

It’s because we’re a baby club in terms of football hierarchy which is why it’s so amusing when clubs who did something famous or interesting in the past (not aimed at you) but are now shit as times move on kick off about mundane things or have a mindset which is out of kilter to reality.

Whereas there is no hiding radford subsidises us, were much better off the field in terms of revenue from an array of methods, the marketing for the club is brilliant and once again the town and the club are moving together (not at a massive speed).

 

[leedsvaliant]

It’s because we’re a baby club in terms of football hierarchy which is why it’s so amusing when clubs who did something famous or interesting in the past (not aimed at you) but are now shit as times move on kick off about mundane things or have a mindset which is out of kilter to reality.

Whereas there is no hiding radford subsidises us, were much better off the field in terms of revenue from an array of methods, the marketing for the club is brilliant and once again the town and the club are moving together (not at a massive speed).

Please don't take this as a slight on Mansfield because it is not. It just frustrates me that we are a slightly bigger club with slightly bigger attendances, yet our player budget is world's apart. Yet our owner is worth 80 million and we have just made nearly 2.5 million in transfer fees. Our club is run like a working men's club. I own a marketing consultancy and quite frankly I would be embarrassed if I was involved in the marketing at Vale. I have heard however that our owner is a control freak and won't allow people to do their jobs.
Lots of smaller clubs are maximising everything they have. We have a huge ground and loads of exec boxes that are barely used. Two stands have no sponsor, we do not communicate with fans at all and we have no serious plan to attract new fans. We should be looking at ways of using our ground 7 days per week.

 

[valefan16]

We’ve made shit loads in the last year or two so is frustrating:

Grant 100k
Alnwick 250k
Hugill sell on fee 1.8 million
Three youth players sold to prem clubs for ‘substantial fees’
Morsy sell on

Seemed so promising when he splashed the cash that first January on Lee Hughes, Jones, Purse etc to ensure we got over the line! Been tight as since! Won’t sell either so assume he is doing ok out of the club to want to keep ownership of it.

In terms of the game and how it may pan out... depends a lot from our POV which Vale turn up. We’ve won two league games with barely two shots on target and kept a clean sheet for 7 hours after conceding six in comical fashion... then we’ve started creating loads all of a sudden but been wasteful. Should of had five or six v County and had Sunderland clinging on.

Defensively we seem to be quite good, our goals against isn’t too bad and take out the six in one game it looks even better. In theory Manny being back should see us even further improved as he has been outstanding for us when fit, six of our seven league losses have occurred when he had been injured or gone off early.

Attacking wise we still rely on the holy one too much. If we sorted the attacking side out we’d be play off contenders IMO but can’t complain about the improvements made such was the mess we were in heading into the close season. Tweaks now in the summer and we can look to challenge rather than full overhaul.

Be a real tough game, not expecting to win it, Mansfield have only won the same amount of games as us mind so a draw is possible.
We will need to put in a decent performance to get anything though but Sunday proves on our day we can compete with a side far superior to any in this league (and most of the above)... not that football works that way though!

Some fans after the last couple of weeks feel we should now target the play offs, certainly after the Sunderland performance, if we did manage to beat Mansfield then maybe I’d start to believe... usually when we get positivity at the club though we go and put a shitter in and lose two or three games!

 

[darren gregory]

Surely got to be 600/700 Vale. 8 of us going Nottingham first on the pop.
Hopefully Miller won't be in the boozer this time around !

Very difficult game against a side with lots of quality.
Had Tyler Walker not got injured early in his loan spell who knows if things had turned out differently for us. Looked a decent prospect.
Lost all respect for Craig Davies after the mardarse penalty incident at Bury a few years ago.
Still a good player though and bound to score.

Would be more than happy with a point, but i'd actually like us to give them something to worry about rather than the usual cacking it approach and getting to half time 0-0 .

Grimsby, Lincoln and Sunderland have all scored within the first 90 seconds so perhaps we ought to go on the front foot for a change Mr Aspin.

3-1 ( 683 Vale )

 

[Conker]

Expect Mansfield to miss a mass of really good, sometimes easy goal scoring opportunities.

Get ya sen in a boozer in Mansfield if you have the time, it’s decent enough for a few swift pints.

 

[Hamez]

No. Fallen out of favour but generally comes off the bench. Fans love him for his effort and passion but his decision making massively let’s him down.

Our fans loved him for the same reason. Baffling really because he was shite.

 

[darren gregory]

Expect Mansfield to miss a mass of really good, sometimes easy goal scoring opportunities.

Get ya sen in a boozer in Mansfield if you have the time, it’s decent enough for a few swift pints.

Last time in April the one right by the station was rammed so we went walkies.
Only about 6 or 7 of us and just out for alcohol to numb the 90 minutes .
Old bill stopped us and were absolutely great, directed us to the one where Mr Miller was supping.
Bit of a beer garden and it was a nice day.
Good chats with Mansfield fans and an ok boozer, no idea of the name of it so we may well pop in again this weekend as no hint of any mither and pretty welcoming.

 

[Hamez]

Understand why people would go to Notts but Mansfield town centre is actually decent for a drink before games. Couple of Wetherspoons in town, plus the Stag & Pheasant, Swan is a nice pub now, Railway close to the station is good. About a 10 minute walk to the ground, so not far either, especially compared to some grounds.

 

[AdamStag]

Last time in April the one right by the station was rammed so we went walkies.
Only about 6 or 7 of us and just out for alcohol to numb the 90 minutes .
Old bill stopped us and were absolutely great, directed us to the one where Mr Miller was supping.
Bit of a beer garden and it was a nice day.
Good chats with Mansfield fans and an ok boozer, no idea of the name of it so we may well pop in again this weekend as no hint of any mither and pretty welcoming.

It was the railway you were in, remember chatting to you about it last time, it’s about a few minutes walk from the station .

Looks sunny again on Saturday, though the beer garden might not be so warm

 

[Conker]

If it was the railway it’s more like a ‘bit of a pub’ and a beer garden.

It’s good to go in though and see somebody peeling the spuds.

 

[valefan16]

Our fans loved him for the same reason. Baffling really because he was shite.

Works hard though doesn't he... always gets fans onside that. I like him, he just lacks the decision making to be decent but he occupies defenders which helps Popey but Whitfield is in relatively good form the last couple of days and fits more into the 3-4-3 system and links up better with Pope.

 

[Conker]

So Pearce is not even on international duty this weekend, it's just Omari so we have pretty much full strength I think bar maybe Khan.

 

[valefan16]

Manny in for Vassell so reverting to the change done half hour in against Sunderland which saw us perform much better.

Strongest XI we’ve had in a couple of months, fear this may be a game to far though.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Hoping for a point from this one if our defence performs as it has in the last few games. 1-1

 

[valefan16]

Frustrating, sounds like we are playing well enough and giving it a go but conceded just before half time. Doubt we will recover now.