Tue 11th & Thu 13th February

[leedsvaliant]

It was a game lacking in quality in the forward areas. Notts had most of the play first half but didn't make it pay. As good as they kept the ball first half, they were very poor with possession in the 2nd half. We turned the ball over countless times, to the point where they very rarely got near our box in the 2nd half. Thought we outmuscled them a bit because we were more aggressive. We looked poorer because of injuries in our wide areas and it showed at times.


It must be incredibly frustrating to be still knocking it from side to side in the 95th minute when 1-0 down. By the time the ball eventually came in, the defence was set.

As others have said, not a single team will say we're any good this season. I guarantee nobody will say we're the best team they've played. Our style is often to keep it tight and try and nick it 2nd half, especially against the better teams. I thought our subs made a difference but I don't think Notts did. We remind me a lot of Derby and Sheffield Wednesday in the league above. You'd come away scratching your head as to how on earth they were up there. Yet they kept winning.

Notts are a decent team, who I think will be in the top 3 come the end of the season. This game was always going to be decided by the odd goal. It probably warranted a 0-0 to be honest but we probably needed the 3 points more than them. We need to improve our goal difference though!

 

[Soz]

Port Vale will be pleased to get the victory there but I'd make a strong bet Notts will finish quite comfortably higher out of the two sides. Thought Notts looked the better side on the night and that was without their two key forward players.

We have had more than our fair share of key injuries. More than our fair share of refereeing mistakes and have taken 6 points off them. Don't let 600 passes between their centre halves on the half way line fool you.

 

[leedsvaliant]

First time I've seen Jatta, is he usually better?

I must confess, I've seen him 3 or 4 times now and he's been pretty dreadful. However, he clearly is able to stick the ball in the net.

 

[Meadow]

Curtis is a good player. He did it for us at Wimbledon last season. He's always likely to produce a moment like that.

That goal against MK. Absolute scenes. Unfortunately I can't find the footage on Sky Sport. I'll look tomorrow.

 

[Limerick Mariner]

We just cannot seem to get a result against the teams around us, even when we play alright. Hopefully won’t matter if we just keep beating everyone else.

Or more succinctly, using cricketing parlance, "we are flat track bullies".

 

[1862]

We have had more than our fair share of key injuries. More than our fair share of refereeing mistakes and have taken 6 points off them. Don't let 600 passes between their centre halves on the half way line fool you.

Weird that no one's mentioned that before

 

[leedsvaliant]

Thought the referee was pretty decent tonight. There were a couple of marginal penalty calls for both sides but neither were stonewall. He let the game flow, didn't keep blowing up for physical comings together and didn't waft yellow cards around like confetti. Thought he was fair to both sides, so credit where it's due.

 

[jacobncfc]

Or more succinctly, using cricketing parlance, "we are flat track bullies".

Kind of, but we don’t really play any worse against the teams around us. We didn’t play any better than we did tonight against Morecambe and Carlisle really, just took a couple of chances.

 

[Son of Cod]

I think we can probably sit and say we could’ve won and maybe would’ve won if one of Didzy, Jones or Whitaker were fit

Had to just Google this Whitaker that's such massive loss. Is it the same 21 year old loanee that's played a total of four times in the EFL, or has Fotmob got that wrong?

 

[jacobncfc]

Had to just Google this Whitaker that's such massive loss. Is it the same 21 year old loanee that's played a total of four times in the EFL, or has Fotmob got that wrong?

21 year old permanent signing who’s played a total of four times in the EFL, thank you very much.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think though that once again, it shows that I don't think possession based football necessarily works against the better teams in this league. The 1st half, although we let Notts have lots of the ball (way too much really), there was lots of that side to side shit that gets you nowhere. They created a couple of chances but there was a lot of possession for possession's sake. It can dazzle some of the poorer teams but once we started closing down much more effectively and aggressively in the 2nd half, it became an even less effective tactic. Jatta barely touched the ball in the 2nd half.

As I said, the tactic continued, even into injury time and when you've got a big guy up front it just seems crazy to not throw some balls in and see what happens. It felt a bit like the possession game is Notts plan A and there's no diversion from that. You simply had to play more direct 2nd half as we kept turning the ball over. I get this philosophy that you want to stick to but it's about getting out of this hellhole division by any means possible. The footballers simply aren't good enough to play out, as shown 2nd half where you really struggled to get anywhere upfield.

I'm sure you won't agree with me, but there's some good footballers there combined with strength and aggression.

 

[RavenBish]

Had to just Google this Whitaker that's such massive loss. Is it the same 21 year old loanee that's played a total of four times in the EFL, or has Fotmob got that wrong?

Is this meant to be some sort of evidence he’s not good at football or something?

 

[valefan16]

DM got it spot on at half time (again), we moved the two central midfielders further up the field and pressed higher and that changed the game as then we had all the play and don’t recall Notts creating a single thing second half until the scramble off the bar at the end.

Not sure why we played so negatively first half with the players they had out but there we are. Moore has a habit of tactical master strokes at half time but to caveat that often that is to undo his initial mistakes tactically in the first half!

Smudge was a colossus tonight, did an interview despite his tooth piercing through his lip, proper warrior, no coincidence their chance at the end was when he had to change his top and was off the field.

Stockley clearly wasn’t fit and was way off it but Curtis was superb when he came on, probably showed the edge we have in the fact we can bring that quality on and his goal despite the defending was a classy finish, before the defender or keeper can react he’s took the touch and finished it in one move.

Notts are decent footballers no doubting that but do seem fairly 1D from the two games, they’ll beat the strugglers and mid table sides more often than not with that but can see why the better sides generally stop them but that’s a massive result for us tonight, keeps us in the hunt for the autos and we are bang in form, big game again next Saturday at home to Salford then a run of 6-7 fixtures against sides in the bottom half before Crewe at the end of March so if we can beat Salford it’s up to us then to put a winning run together to really cement our challenge.

Could be a case of not being the last meeting this season with Notts County though as you’d expect both to be top 7 minimum come May, although hopefully not and the next meeting is in L1 next season! Lot of time for Notts as I’ve said before I see them as a very similar club to us so hopefully we can both get up and out this division.

 

[Soz]

Weird that no one's mentioned that before

Can't get a word in edge ways with your 3 person injury crisis dominating world news.

 

[Soz]

Had to just Google this Whitaker that's such massive loss. Is it the same 21 year old loanee that's played a total of four times in the EFL, or has Fotmob got that wrong?

That is mad, I knew they were being right dodgy bastards with this injury crap.

 

[jacobncfc]

I think though that once again, it shows that I don't think possession based football necessarily works against the better teams in this league. The 1st half, although we let Notts have lots of the ball (way too much really), there was lots of that side to side shit that gets you nowhere. They created a couple of chances but there was a lot of possession for possession's sake. It can dazzle some of the poorer teams but once we started closing down much more effectively and aggressively in the 2nd half, it became an even less effective tactic. Jatta barely touched the ball in the 2nd half.

As I said, the tactic continued, even into injury time and when you've got a big guy up front it just seems crazy to not throw some balls in and see what happens. It felt a bit like the possession game is Notts plan A and there's no diversion from that. You simply had to play more direct 2nd half as we kept turning the ball over. I get this philosophy that you want to stick to but it's about getting out of this hellhole division by any means possible. The footballers simply aren't good enough to play out, as shown 2nd half where you really struggled to get anywhere upfield.

I'm sure you won't agree with me, but there's some good footballers there combined with strength and aggression.

I think this is a bit wise after the event. I agree with some of it, but ultimately tonight we lost the game (and didn’t win it, to be honest) because we missed three or four absolute clear chances to score while the opposition scored with their one. That’s part of the game, but I’m not sure it’s anything to do with the style of football.

 

[leedsvaliant]

I think this is a bit wise after the event. I agree with some of it, but ultimately tonight we lost the game (and didn’t win it, to be honest) because we missed three or four absolute clear chances to score while the opposition scored with their one. That’s part of the game, but I’m not sure it’s anything to do with the style of football.

I've been pretty consistently talking about this for a while on here. I just don't think it works against the better sides. It may well be enough that you beat most of the middle to lower teams like that but we'll have to see whether that's enough at the end of the season. We would have been outplayed by most teams in the division in that first half. Way too passive and not aggressive enough but like I said, once we actually played with some intent, that style is very inert.

 

[jacobncfc]

I've been pretty consistently talking about this for a while on here. I just don't think it works against the better sides. It may well be enough that you beat most of the middle to lower teams like that but we'll have to see whether that's enough at the end of the season. We would have been outplayed by most teams in the division in that first half. Way too passive and not aggressive enough but like I said, once we actually played with some intent, that style is very inert.

It’s weird because we haven’t actually been playing like that much recently (since selling Crowley, basically), but the first half was so easy to keep the ball that we just fell into it and didn’t seem able to react once you upped the tempo and started pressing. I still felt we were pretty comfortable defensively in the second half until a total misjudgment by the young lad in his first start for the goal.

Ultimately it can be a simple game, though. Both games against Vale we’ve had more than enough chances at 0-0 to get the games won, not taken them and ended up losing both. That’s what happens if you’re not ruthless against decent teams.

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Would obviously have taken a 0-0 after seeing the team sheet, but our continuing inability to get anything at all out of games like that is arse meltingly frustrating. Just keep the clean sheet lads, they were doing nothing at that point. Jatta doesn’t half pick his games to not turn up in.

First visit to Vale Park, lovely ground, bit of a disappointing atmosphere given how lively their away support is, but cans of Titanic stout in the bars more than made up for that.

 

[mozzavale]

Would obviously have taken a 0-0 after seeing the team sheet, but our continuing inability to get anything at all out of games like that is arse meltingly frustrating. Just keep the clean sheet lads, they were doing nothing at that point. Jatta doesn’t half pick his games to not turn up in.

First visit to Vale Park, lovely ground, bit of a disappointing atmosphere given how lively their away support is, but cans of Titanic stout in the bars more than made up for that.

First half the atmosphere was dead, genuinely atrocious support from us. Notts support was loud, but most of the songs were about how shit our support was, rather than supporting their own side.

2nd half a different story. Atnosphere really improved once the team picked the tempo up. Whereas Notts support was quiet most of the 2nd half. The atmosphere from both sets of supporters was very much influenced by the performance each side put in each half.

 

[GTFCfish]

Hearing rumours that the ref for Vale v Notts was decent and fair.

Did he not get the memo then?

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

First time I've seen Jatta, is he usually better?

Don't fall into the trap. Use the stats.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

From a Notts perspective it felt like a game where we were missing key creative attacking players and lacked the clinical ability of said absent players.

Surprised we bossed the first half to that extent and made Vale look poor we have to be one up as a minimum.

Very poor second half, surprisingly decent first half. Unlucky to lose but that has been the theme this season versus Vale in both games.

We've rarely produced two good halves of football all season, one has usually been good enough. Maynard had one hand tied behind his back last night but expect the usual comments from the usual suspects when we don't win.

Away at in form Vale is always going to be a tricky game even with a nearly fully fit squad. So last night was always likely to be a non stater which is a shame especially when we created enough.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Would obviously have taken a 0-0 after seeing the team sheet, but our continuing inability to get anything at all out of games like that is arse meltingly frustrating. Just keep the clean sheet lads, they were doing nothing at that point. Jatta doesn’t half pick his games to not turn up in.

First visit to Vale Park, lovely ground, bit of a disappointing atmosphere given how lively their away support is, but cans of Titanic stout in the bars more than made up for that.

It can be very flat at times but in fairness if you go to most grounds in this league, the home support is virtually silent.

Atmosphere got better 2nd half. As always influenced by what was going on on the pitch.

 

[leedsvaliant]

From a Notts perspective it felt like a game where we were missing key creative attacking players and lacked the clinical ability of said absent players.

Surprised we bossed the first half to that extent and made Vale look poor we have to be one up as a minimum.

Very poor second half, surprisingly decent first half. Unlucky to lose but that has been the theme this season versus Vale in both games.

We've rarely produced two good halves of football all season, one has usually been good enough. Maynard had one hand tied behind his back last night but expect the usual comments from the usual suspects when we don't win.

Away at in form Vale is always going to be a tricky game even with a nearly fully fit squad. So last night was always likely to be a non stater which is a shame especially when we created enough.

You definitely missed someone to link things together. Jatta was very isolated.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Hearing rumours that the ref for Vale v Notts was decent and fair.

Did he not get the memo then?

Give it a rest mate. Literally every post you make refers to us and referees. It wasn't funny the first time.

He was the best we've had this season (which is admittedly a low bar)

 

[mozzavale]

Give it a rest mate. Literally every post you make refers to us and referees. It wasn't funny the first time.

He was the best we've had this season (which is admittedly a low bar)

Comes across like one of those kids that keeps making a joke, isn't getting the reaction he's craving, so puts it down to no one hearing him...so just keeps repeating it. Yeah we heard you mate, you're a funny guy.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Comes across like one of those kids that keeps making a joke, isn't getting the reaction he's craving, so puts it down to no one hearing him...so just keeps repeating it. Yeah we heard you mate, you're a funny guy.

The absolute definition of a 'try hard'. You would think a fellow Town fan would have a quiet word but alas...

 

[kieran_vale]

From a Notts perspective it felt like a game where we were missing key creative attacking players and lacked the clinical ability of said absent players.

Surprised we bossed the first half to that extent and made Vale look poor we have to be one up as a minimum.

Very poor second half, surprisingly decent first half. Unlucky to lose but that has been the theme this season versus Vale in both games.

We've rarely produced two good halves of football all season, one has usually been good enough. Maynard had one hand tied behind his back last night but expect the usual comments from the usual suspects when we don't win.

Away at in form Vale is always going to be a tricky game even with a nearly fully fit squad. So last night was always likely to be a non stater which is a shame especially when we created enough.

I’d say that’s fair. One factor that I don’t think helped Notts was our pitch which in fairness has usually been very good seemed to be quite heavy on the legs of the players last night. Certainly from our perspective the 9 day rest and let the others in the league fight things out at the weekend will be welcome now. Am sure if Jatta had buried that one first half or Amos didn’t play so well first half in goal for us the whole thing is a different conversation this morning.

 

[Agombar stool]

Watched most of the game last night from about 15 minutes flicking between the Darts every now and then. So i missed the golden opportunity Jatta chance. First half Notts were the better side and played some good football, however didn't really create very much. Vale were less impressive on the ball but oddly I always felt they were probably going to be threatening if they ever got into the final third.

Second half was much more even. The Curtis -> Stockley change seemed to give Vale more impetus and Notts looked unsure what to do. The goal was criminally bad from a Notts perspective but a lovely touch and finish by Curtis. Notts then applied a bit of pressure and were unlucky to hit the bar towards the end.

Obviously there is more than 1 way to skin a cat but the 2 different styles are evident. I guess the conclusion here is that Vale were more efficient with the ball. Notts seemed to miss McGoldrick and Jatta to me looked a frustrated figure well marshalled. There is only 1 point between the sides and Notts are many people's favourites to finish above Vale, but given how league 2 is, I wouldn't fall off my armchair if Vale were to finish above Notts.

Finally, is there any concern about Stockley? He went off injured against us and went off injured again last night. Clearly Curtis is a totally different player but given the big pitch, his running into the channels seems a good/better option than Stockley anyway?