Sunday 29th & Monday 30th December

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Alfie]

 

[Gladders]

A team above us in the table = loss enjoy the three points vale

 

[Scum.]

Crewe at home. Win or bust. Win.

 

[valefan16]

Out of form, massive injury crisis with no fit midfielder available and probably our best option out of position to cover suspended (unless we appeal).

1-0 defeat

 

[AlanPep]

In form, against a team below us = 4 wins away from safety please. Got to be 3 points for us

 

[kieran_vale]

Don’t know if Cass has been getting picked for them but if he has you just know he’s going to score. Need a win, it’s stunning we are still in 2nd spot but the other teams can’t keep losing forever also. Draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but another loss and we’re going into the new year with increasing numbers calling for Moores head (not that I agree for a couple of reasons).

 

[spireite]

This game is going to come way too soon for us, easiest game of Bradfords season you'd imagine.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Comfortable Grimsby win. We're horribly out of form and have 1 fit midfielder, who has the pace of asthmatic snail. Lacking confidence all over the pitch.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Don’t know if Cass has been getting picked for them but if he has you just know he’s going to score. Need a win, it’s stunning we are still in 2nd spot but the other teams can’t keep losing forever also. Draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but another loss and we’re going into the new year with increasing numbers calling for Moores head (not that I agree for a couple of reasons).

Some fans are calling for Moores head? It really is silly season. Clearly on a bad run but sat 2nd. Yup get rid some football fans are the worse.

 

[JJ1990]

We usually do ok against possession teams that don't try to bully us physically, but our stand off approach could be exploited if MK pass and move as effectively as they can do. Their current wobble gives me hope we can worry them defensively, but going forward they look decent. I'm in full pessimism mode, so I'll say 2-1 defeat.

 

[OneDecentLester]

So in terms of where we’re at going into this one, here’s our current injured XIV:

Tanton Dunkley Williams Gordon
Metcalfe Fleck
Jacobs Madden Colclough
Grigg

Daley-Campbell
Palmer
Jones
Mohuiddan

Bloody hell thats a keeper short of a promotion chasing side!!

Yeah Bradford fans this should be a stroll in park for you lot Sunday, enjoy. Our team will be anyone who’s remotely fit. One positive is that we’ll be backed by 2,500 away fans, so at least there’s that.

 

[Tallow]

Accrington Stanley at home.
Under pressure manager, frustrated fanbase, injury/sickness/suspended ravaged squad and bottom of the league.
I'd take a point now, given our circumstances.

 

[Kauto Star]

So in terms of where we’re at going into this one, here’s our current injured XIV:

Tanton Dunkley Williams Gordon
Metcalfe Fleck
Jacobs Madden Colclough
Grigg

Daley-Campbell
Palmer
Jones
Mohuiddan

Bloody hell thats a keeper short of a promotion chasing side!!

Yeah Bradford fans this should be a stroll in park for you lot Sunday, enjoy. Our team will be anyone who’s remotely fit. One positive is that we’ll be backed by 2,500 away fans, so at least there’s that.

Will Fleck, Colclough, Madden and Grigg definitely be out for Sunday then?

If so, a huge bonus for us.

That said, any side that manages to keep Cook quiet will get a result against us.

Two goals aside, Port Vale simply couldn't handle Cook yesterday. Contrast that to the previous game at Notts County, Cook was kept very quiet.

 

[Optipez]

Accrington Stanley at home.
Under pressure manager, frustrated fanbase, injury/sickness/suspended ravaged squad and bottom of the league.
I'd take a point now, given our circumstances.

You've got to be winning this I think, the gap goes to minimum 5pts, 6 with your goal difference if you lose, could be 7, effectively 8 with GD if Swindon win too.

 

[OneDecentLester]

Will Fleck, Colclough, Madden and Grigg definitely be out for Sunday then?

If so, a huge bonus for us.

That said, any side that manages to keep Cook quiet will get a result against us.

Two goals aside, Port Vale simply couldn't handle Cook yesterday. Contrast that to the previous game at Notts County, Cook was kept very quiet.

Yeah all out. Madden & Grigg won’t be around again until Feb / March time, the other two early Jan apparently, but this one will come too soon.

Our fit and available starting XI is actually pretty decent tbh despite the injury crisis, and we dominated the game at Fleetwood for about 75/80 mins or so, conceded a goal against the run of play in the first half but should have had 2/3 goals of our own but for some poor finishing/top class saves from the Fleetwood keeper, but as soon as Cook was forced to make some changes we went to shit and soon conceded again. My worry is this game coming just 3 days later and the same set of players having to go again, especially when it’s rumoured a few of them are nursing tight hamstrings & knocks (just what we need).

Our team will be this I reckon:

Thompson
Sheckleford Naylor Grimes Araujo
Oldaker Banks
Mandeville Dobra Berry
Markanday

We can’t play Drummond up top from the start IMO he just gets bullied, and I’ve seen snippets from Webb in the media saying we may try a ‘false 9’ in the next couple of games so that’s why I’m going Markanday up top who normally plays off the right. Would snap your hands off for a point and no injuries right now if offered.

 

[kieran_vale]

Some fans are calling for Moores head? It really is silly season. Clearly on a bad run but sat 2nd. Yup get rid some football fans are the worse.

Yep there’s an over 20 page thread on our forum at the moment debating it. As I say I come down on your side of things. If we sacked a manager when sat in 2nd it would make us a laughing stock, it’s the kind of thing Stoke would do. I’m sure it might have happened at some point in the past but that doesn’t make it less ridiculous. Also and this goes for any club looking for a change right now, there is nothing good certainly out of work who would look twice at L2. Just got to suck it up and look to turn things around but some won’t want to hear that.

 

[Kauto Star]

Yeah all out. Madden & Grigg won’t be around again until Feb / March time, the other two early Jan apparently, but this one will come too soon.

Our fit and available starting XI is actually pretty decent tbh despite the injury crisis, and we dominated the game at Fleetwood for about 75/80 mins or so, conceded a goal against the run of play in the first half but should have had 2/3 goals of our own but for some poor finishing/top class saves from the Fleetwood keeper, but as soon as Cook was forced to make some changes we went to shit and soon conceded again. My worry is this game coming just 3 days later and the same set of players having to go again, especially when it’s rumoured a few of them are nursing tight hamstrings & knocks (just what we need).

Our team will be this I reckon:

Thompson
Sheckleford Naylor Grimes Araujo
Oldaker Banks
Mandeville Dobra Berry
Markanday

We can’t play Drummond up top from the start IMO he just gets bullied, and I’ve seen snippets from Webb in the media saying we may try a ‘false 9’ in the next couple of games so that’s why I’m going Markanday up top who normally plays off the right. Would snap your hands off for a point and no injuries right now if offered.

Forgot you had Markanday, he looks a very good player from what I've seen of him.

Should be a good atmosphere on Sunday if you have sold 2500 tickets. Probably looking at an attendance of 19000.

Our home form has been very good this calendar year with only 1 defeat since March to Donny earlier this season.

Our away form is poor and holding us back though.

I predict a score draw on Sunday

 

[クレイグ]

2-0 Chesterfield.

 

[hellogregory]

Accrington Stanley at home.
Under pressure manager, frustrated fanbase, injury/sickness/suspended ravaged squad and bottom of the league.
I'd take a point now, given our circumstances.

I wouldn't. It has to be 3 points. Nothing less.

I said we needed 6 points from these 2 home games. Now we've lost the first one we need to win this one and then take 4 points from the following 2 away games to get in touch. We've give ourselves a mountain to climb.

 

[Son of Cod]

Don’t know if Cass has been getting picked for them but if he has you just know he’s going to score. Need a win, it’s stunning we are still in 2nd spot but the other teams can’t keep losing forever also. Draw wouldn’t be the end of the world but another loss and we’re going into the new year with increasing numbers calling for Moores head (not that I agree for a couple of reasons).

Can't remember if it was you or one of the other Vale fans that said Cass was superb for you at this level, but we've not really seen that. Been one of our more underwhelming additions and finds himself as second choice RB and 3rd/4th choice CB in the pecking order. Tyrell Warren is injured though so he'll likely start at RB tomorrow as he has for the last few matches.

Sounds like neither set of fans are confident going into this one. You lot because of your form and us because of our form against the better sides in the division. If you're playing a patched up midfield though that could help us as that's where we're strongest. A win would go someway to wiping out those disappointing defeats to Crewe and Swindon for us.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Rainy days and Sundays always get me down.

Another 'no show' at home against a top 6 side (playing poorly apparently by all Vale fans on here) will send 'The Fishy' into another melt down.

Only Walsall have won more games than us though, so we must be doing something right.

I'd take a second draw of the season to be honest.

 

[Grimsby Road]

Can't remember if it was you or one of the other Vale fans that said Cass was superb for you at this level, but we've not really seen that. Been one of our more underwhelming additions and finds himself as second choice RB and 3rd/4th choice CB in the pecking order. Tyrell Warren is injured though so he'll likely start at RB tomorrow as he has for the last few matches.

Sounds like neither set of fans are confident going into this one. You lot because of your form and us because of our form against the better sides in the division. If you're playing a patched up midfield though that could help us as that's where we're strongest. A win would go someway to wiping out those disappointing defeats to Crewe and Swindon for us.

Think he has been better lately- i think he's a solid league 2 RB on his day - he really linked up well with Luker at times yesterday , he needs a decent outlet in front of him as he is very slow and never overlaps so Luker seems ideal as he can just give him the ball; any winger with genuine pace/a bit of skill really troubles him though - have vale got a good/fast left winger ?

 

[kieran_vale]

Can't remember if it was you or one of the other Vale fans that said Cass was superb for you at this level, but we've not really seen that. Been one of our more underwhelming additions and finds himself as second choice RB and 3rd/4th choice CB in the pecking order. Tyrell Warren is injured though so he'll likely start at RB tomorrow as he has for the last few matches.

Sounds like neither set of fans are confident going into this one. You lot because of your form and us because of our form against the better sides in the division. If you're playing a patched up midfield though that could help us as that's where we're strongest. A win would go someway to wiping out those disappointing defeats to Crewe and Swindon for us.

Could have been me though as he was certainly very good for us when he was on loan from Newcastle. Sadly then he got a bad injury which sidelined him for the rest of the season around January and only in fits and starts did he look the same again when joining permanently. With that said I think sometimes people need to remember he is only 24 which is very young for a defender.

It’s just a hard watch with us. We’re a very dull and plodding side in possession. With that said we are very difficult to break down, the team nearly found a way to tough out beating Crewe when down to 10 men for 45 minutes so if we get in front it might be a different story. I guess it’s one of those anyone else from the outside will be saying “you’re 2nd what’s to complain about?” But when you’ve spent the whole season playing with fine margins it’s a matter of time before they go the other way.

 

[jacobncfc]

Don’t fancy us one bit here.

 

[Son of Cod]

Think he has been better lately- i think he's a solid league 2 RB on his day - he really linked up well with Luker at times yesterday , he needs a decent outlet in front of him as he is very slow and never overlaps so Luker seems ideal as he can just give him the ball; any winger with genuine pace/a bit of skill really troubles him though - have vale got a good/fast left winger ?

Yeah, I don't think he is a particularly bad player at all. Just a bit limited, hence my use of the word underwhelming. Agree that his recent performances (other than Carlisle) have been his best so far. As you say, he's more of a steady Eddie option which isn't a terrible thing when Warren contrasts to him.

Could have been me though as he was certainly very good for us when he was on loan from Newcastle. Sadly then he got a bad injury which sidelined him for the rest of the season around January and only in fits and starts did he look the same again when joining permanently. With that said I think sometimes people need to remember he is only 24 which is very young for a defender.

It’s just a hard watch with us. We’re a very dull and plodding side in possession. With that said we are very difficult to break down, the team nearly found a way to tough out beating Crewe when down to 10 men for 45 minutes so if we get in front it might be a different story. I guess it’s one of those anyone else from the outside will be saying “you’re 2nd what’s to complain about?” But when you’ve spent the whole season playing with fine margins it’s a matter of time before they go the other way.

Yep. We lived through that fine margins mentality with Paul Hurst's second stint, so know exactly what it's like to be doing well but not really playing exciting football. Very little wiggle room to paper over cracks when results go the other way, which they will inevitably do. The thing that I found particularly frustrating about being in this division under Hurst was that John McAtee was well and truly shackled. I'd have loved to see him at this level playing for a more offensively minded manager. I'm guessing there are a couple of players in your squad that you could also say the same about.

We're hopeless at breaking sides down once they go ahead btw so if you do go ahead I'd be amazed if it's anything but 3 points for you guys.

 

[Moonie]

Not again. Please, I can't take it anymore.

 

[CFC91]

A real shame we have so many injuries, a big away following over this period usually would equate to a good day out but we really will be scratching a team together by the looks of things. Can only see a defeat