Swindon v Port Vale Match day thread

[valefan16]

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.

I think our lack of spending of that Man City money this window shows where we feel we are at in the journey, we could of spent it but get far better value in the summer for money and clearly a lot of targets even loan ones have been way over the odds. Fans kicking off that we’ve not spent it already need to get a grip; why spend it on one or two decent players now when we can probably get double for the same money in the summer or invest on higher wages when free agents are knocking about.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think our lack of spending of that Man City money this window shows where we feel we are at in the journey, we could of spent it but get far better value in the summer for money and clearly a lot of targets even loan ones have been way over the odds. Fans kicking off that we’ve not spent it already need to get a grip; why spend it on one or two decent players now when we can probably get double for the same money in the summer or invest on higher wages when free agents are knocking about.

100% my view. We're nowhere near good enough or close enough to get in the playoffs, even with reinforcements. Save it until the summer.

 

[JJ1532]

The way I see it, the Vale's problem is the same as it was last season, not enough goals. Not anywhere near as bad as last season, but still a problem. The issue comes from the system. As some of you have said, you need 2 upfront to get more strikers on the pitch, but to do that, you need to either switch to a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2. A 3-5-2 takes away Worrall and Amoo as they have to become wing backs, which they both aren't. A 4-4-2 means you'll probably get swamped in midfield. So 4-3-3 is the best option.

But in a 4-3-3, it relies on you spreading out the goals. You need your CF to score you about 15, your 2 wide men around 10 and spread the other 20-30 you will need for a good L2 attack around the rest of the team.

The issue the Vale have is, Pope is clearly past his best. Yes, he's had an excellent run in the FA Cup, but he's only managed 4 league goals. 2 of them were penalties and 2 of them were against a 10 man Morecambe side. So he's not an option. Bennett clearly was never going to be, his record at Carlisle and Morecambe showed as much. Cullen looks too injury prone and that's it for strikers.

As for your wide men, yes Worrall and Amoo are good players at this level, but they don't score enough. You need double figures from both in a 4-3-3 system, because if they don't, it relies on the CF to score 20+ and for a midfielder or 2 to step up and score 10+ as well. And of the midfield, aside from Jake Taylor, the fact Burgess, Joyce, Conlon and Atkinson have 4 combined isn't great.

I think in order to improve, the Vale need to ship several players out, even half decent ones, to get in some proven goalscoring quality. Cullen, Bennett, maybe a couple of the midfielders. Plus a back up wide option who can add some firepower as well.

You also seem to be lacking consistency. Wins against some of the better teams show the quality is there, but too many dropped points against strugglers show it clearly doesn't apply itself often enough.

 

[valefan16]

Pretty much spot on JJ.

We actually scored the most goals in the land in our promotion season with 1 up front 4-2-3-1 system so it is workable but Pope was a machine that year (33 goals) and you had the likes of Lee Hughes, Williamson got a few and from midfield Myrie-Williams and Dodds got a fair few.

The main improvement over the past few season is the goals are throughout the team more so you have plenty of our side chipping in with 5 or 6 so far and even centre halves getting 3 or 4 and although our options up front are better than last year Cullen is still getting up to speed and Bennett has tailed off after a very good start to the season.

I imagine in the summer we will try and find a good striker who is suited to the system (Cullen isnt really suited to it) and improving the depth.

Worry we do have is a lot are out of contract, losing Smith would be a huge blow for a start so immediate concerns are keeping the key men in the summer and then trying to add that quality.

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

Great points made there.
Cullen is shit.