Swindon v Port Vale Match day thread

[valefan16]

Simply outclassed. Credit to Swindon and good luck with promotion. We really have to hope Smith going off was just a precaution, otherwise maybe bring in Crookes if he is good to return alongside Legge.

And to think some were saying they’d drop like a stone without Doyle and Yates. Think they managed pretty well without them.

Helped a bit by some awful defending so hard to say completely but certainly full of quality in midfield beyond what anyone else has at this level in Grant and Doughty. They’ll win the league.

 

[Agombar stool]

Simply outclassed. Credit to Swindon and good luck with promotion. We really have to hope Smith going off was just a precaution, otherwise maybe bring in Crookes if he is good to return alongside Legge.

And to think some were saying they’d drop like a stone without Doyle and Yates. Think they managed pretty well without them.

Cheers Kieran, very happy today. We took a while to get going but sounds like we deserved it in the end.

Good luck to you guys for the rest of the season, building for next season I suspect but at least you guys are on the way back under new ownership. All the best.

 

[Agombar stool]

I know the Bradford fans think I’m talking shite but for me Grant has been my player of the season, he simply makes us tick. Another monster performance from him today. Sheer class.

 

[Indian Dan]

Very poor from Vale - I was expecting a tough test based on their results against the top teams. Don’t think they had a shot let alone one on target.

Bit of a turn round from the defeat at Vale Park.

 

[valefan16]

I know the Bradford fans think I’m talking shite but for me Grant has been my player of the season, he simply makes us tick. Another monster performance from him today. Sheer class.

You mean Firthy?! He hasn’t a clue about football. Grant would waltz into their midfield.

 

[kieran_vale]

Cheers Kieran, very happy today. We took a while to get going but sounds like we deserved it in the end.

Good luck to you guys for the rest of the season, building for next season I suspect but at least you guys are on the way back under new ownership. All the best.

Cheers Agombar, I agree that we are still in the early stages of a rebuilding job. More than happy with where we are overall, always seen this season in those terms and anything else is a pleasant surprise. God knows how many weeks in a row it is now we've finished the day in 10th place. Pretty much got it locked down.

That midfield of Swindons is really high calibre. If we had Jake Taylor and Manny Oyeleke maybe we could have competed better but even so Grant in all honesty is playing a division too low and Doughty also.

 

[Indian Dan]

In other good news today Rotherham brought on Yates in the 92nd minute so he can now only play for us or them!

Doyle must be spitting feathers

 

[Vale on Trent]

Probably the easiest 3 points Swindon will gain all season. We’re just so boring and lacklustre away from home. At home we try and play on the front foot and make the opposition at least think. Today we were never going to score in a million years and it’s as if the players thought that too.

All 3 of our strikers are not good enough and offer little. Also we basically only have two wingers who seem to offer no creativity in away games.

 

[Agombar stool]

You mean Firthy?! He hasn’t a clue about football. Grant would waltz into their midfield.

No BantamLS I think it was. I think everyone realises Flirty is just a parody human being.

 

[Big Bird]

Was shaping up to be a tricky game until the lucky deflected goal. Nothing in it, then we get a break and from there Grant and Doughty pretty much ran the game. Grant is quicky becoming an all time fave for me. Just a complete tank of a player but classy on the ball as well.

Vale looked alright but very powderpuff. Next to no threat going forward. Big win because Colchester have beaten us twice already this season and we go there on Tuesday.

Busy week ahead in terms of incomings. Expecting a fair bit of movement.

 

[valefan16]

Smith our for 3-4 weeks, that is bad

 

[Buxton Vale]

Very poor from Vale - I was expecting a tough test based on their results against the top teams. Don’t think they had a shot let alone one on target.

Bit of a turn round from the defeat at Vale Park.

The stats say 2 shots with one on target. We just aren't the same team away as we are at home. Our improvement this season has mainly been in home games.

 

[hellogregory]

How did Hallam play?

 

[Indian Dan]

Quiet - apart from his goal. Had a couple of other shots. Couple of niggly fouls.

 

[darren gregory]

Didn't go so can't offer any thoughts on the game
Grant, quite simply with O'Connor the best midfielder in the last decade at Vale. His game management was second to none. Sold by our greedy ex owner in January and relegated in May .
Rumours and I stress rumours of some sort of theft allegations at Shrews , whatever the reason he is easily the best midfield player in this decision.
Finally a few people clamouring for Pope , why ?
I went to Stevenage a couple of weeks ago, hoofball and can't remember him holding the ball up much at all or winning any headers.
The striking situation is the reason we aren't up there , we haven't any !!

 

[valefan16]

Didn't go so can't offer any thoughts on the game
Grant, quite simply with O'Connor the best midfielder in the last decade at Vale. His game management was second to none. Sold by our greedy ex owner in January and relegated in May .
Rumours and I stress rumours of some sort of theft allegations at Shrews , whatever the reason he is easily the best midfield player in this decision.
Finally a few people clamouring for Pope , why ?
I went to Stevenage a couple of weeks ago, hoofball and can't remember him holding the ball up much at all or winning any headers.
The striking situation is the reason we aren't up there , we haven't any !!

We need two up front to cause problems and have someone to a) pick up his knock downs and b) occupy one of the centre halves that are usually strapped to him... but the issue then is the midfield can be over run without Manny.

Maybe an option when Manny is back? Him and Taylor when both are back would be a huge upgrade!

The meltdown on social media and OVF over the performance seems a bit harsh, people calling for Askeys head in some cases! It was a horror show but the bigger picture is the progress made overall.

 

[kieran_vale]

I genuinely don’t get the clamour for using 4-4-2. It is way past it’s sell by date and especially at home we’d get overrun in midfield every game. In addition to that would people seriously drop Luke Joyce who has been one of our most consistent performers for the sake of trying to shoehorn an ineffective Pope into the lineup.

The current formation has given us one of our best home records in recent times, not perfect away but our record would be better there if we didn’t keep conceding last minute equalisers etc.

 

[valefan16]

I genuinely don’t get the clamour for using 4-4-2. It is way past it’s sell by date and especially at home we’d get overrun in midfield every game. In addition to that would people seriously drop Luke Joyce who has been one of our most consistent performers for the sake of trying to shoehorn an ineffective Pope into the lineup.

The current formation has given us one of our best home records in recent times, not perfect away but our record would be better there if we didn’t keep conceding last minute equalisers etc.

Doesn’t have to be 4-4-2 maybe 3-5-2 considering Monty is a winger at left back and Gibbons likes to get forward? An option to switch it especially against the weaker sides?

We need to give the striker more support regardless.

 

[kieran_vale]

Doesn’t have to be 4-4-2 maybe 3-5-2 considering Monty is a winger at left back and Gibbons likes to get forward? An option to switch it especially against the weaker sides?

We need to give the striker more support regardless.

The problem with doing that is where do you put Worrall and Amoo without taking away what they are best at? As an in game change up option sure but not convinced otherwise.

The 4-3-3 gives us the best option as with Taylor and Oyeleke they will get forward and provide that support knowing Joyce has them covered.

The real problem is who we have as our three strikers. Pope is just not a good player anymore, people keep talking about service with him but Worrall is one of the best crossers in the division statistically, Gibbo is no mug at that and Amoo has his moments too. The excuse making for him is something no other Vale player would be afforded. Bennett for a big lad doesn’t play to his size let’s put it like that and Cullen we’ll see after a run of games.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

What a wonderful first away game that was for me!
Cullen looked like he’d got lead in his boots, but it’s unfair to single him out, they were all toss.
Losing their loan strikers has made no difference to Swindon, different gravy to us.
Although I thought they played better at vale park.
We need some fresh blood, Taylor and manny will definitely improve our midfield, Cullen and Bennett aren’t fit to lace Popeys boots.
Losing smith is a blow.
Swindon will go up comfortably, easily the best team we’ve faced.

 

[Andy Proctor]

As soon as smith went off we fell apart and were pretty much torn to pieces. If it wasnt for brown making 2 or 3 decent saves and some woeful finishing it could have been 8. Apparently we had 1 shot on target but I cant remember that all I can remember is Cullen skying a shot over the bar in the 2nd half. Absolutely abysmal should give the vale fans that travelled there money back some of them didnt even bother trying. Since man city away we have won 1 at stevenage and lost 3 away at Swindon salford and morecambe and all 4 away games we were toss so we have got to change our approach to away games as it clearly isn't working.

 

[Andy Proctor]

That's probably the easiest 3 points Swindon have had this season and we must be the worst side they have played this season at home we were that bad. Our record is toss at Swindon now stands as 2 draws and 7 defeats in our last 9 meetings there so will be glad to see them going up

 

[valefan16]

As soon as smith went off we fell apart and were pretty much torn to pieces. If it wasnt for brown making 2 or 3 decent saves and some woeful finishing it could have been 8. Apparently we had 1 shot on target but I cant remember that all I can remember is Cullen skying a shot over the bar in the 2nd half. Absolutely abysmal should give the vale fans that travelled there money back some of them didnt even bother trying. Since man city away we have won 1 at stevenage and lost 3 away at Swindon salford and morecambe and all 4 away games we were toss so we have got to change our approach to away games as it clearly isn't working.

Maybe Legges OG counts as our shot on target!

Cullen should be scoring really which changes the game maybe but summed up the performance really.

 

[Andy Proctor]

Cullen missed good chances in both of the 2 matches he has started for us this past week so perhaps he isn't the goalscorer fox in the box type of striker people think he is.

 

[Big Bird]

How long has Montano been playing full back for you guys? Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Never had him down as a defender when he was here on loan, admittedly that must be close to 10 years ago now though.

 

[kieran_vale]

How long has Montano been playing full back for you guys? Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Never had him down as a defender when he was here on loan, admittedly that must be close to 10 years ago now though.

He’s done it in 2 spells for us. Initially he did it when Aspin took over before going back to his natural position under Askey. This season he’s been covering pretty much since Adam Crookes was injured. Overall he’s not actually done that bad at it albeit his positioning at some times is questionable. One thing I will say he is rarely gets beaten outright by the opposing winger. Was outstanding in the City game for us there.

 

[valefan16]

How long has Montano been playing full back for you guys? Couldn't believe what I was seeing. Never had him down as a defender when he was here on loan, admittedly that must be close to 10 years ago now though.

He’s covering Crookes who is injured, we played him there a couple of years ago too when Aspin moved him there and he generally been decent there as he’s pacey and can push forward.

Some fans feel left back isn’t a priority now he’s there although a natural one would be more ideal.

He was the man of the match in the reverse fixture at Vale Park.

 

[Big Bird]

Didn't look too bad yesterday was just annoyed (ocd) when I saw you a had number 11 at left back and then shocked when I saw his was him. Shackled Isgrove relatively well I thought and put himself about a bit.

 

[valefan16]

Didn't look too bad yesterday was just annoyed (ocd) when I saw you a had number 11 at left back and then shocked when I saw his was him. Shackled Isgrove relatively well I thought and put himself about a bit.

It was one of the only good things Aspin did really, hes pacey and generally can deal with fast tricky wingers as he is one, just gets caught out at times positionally as mentioned.

That said he was second top scorer last season I think and is the only outfield regular not to score this so we’ve lost his goal input.

If Mitch Clark returns as rumoured then I guess he will be moved forward as an option (possibly moving Wozza centrally to cover Taylor’s loss as an attacking midfielder) or as an option to the very hot and cold Amoo who again had a shocker despite being unplayable at times last week! (Then saying we need to be more consistent in the build up to the game!)

 

[leedsvaliant]

Let's face it, Swindon are way ahead of us in terms of their development. To have that midfield takes a while to come about finance wise as I'd imagine they're both on double our midfield.

They had pace and power all over the pitch and we looked exactly what we are, an average side, as reflected in our league position.

I suspect it will take 2 or 3 more transfer windows to get rid of our dead wood and bring in the right players. Some of our fans have got ahead of themselves. We're nowhere near a top 7 side. Outside of our first choice 11 (which is nowhere near what we played on Saturday) , we're actually a pretty poor and ragged outfit at times.

The money that we have earnt this season will be reinvested wisely and in the next season or so hopefully we will be able to bring in quality of the likes of Grant.

Well done to Swindon, cut above yesterday and easily going up.