Tuesday 22nd October

[RavenBish]

Positives - we didn’t lose

Negatives - everything else

Burchnall 2.0

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Felt we played well in an entertaining game, frustrating that a poor bit of keeping has ultimately cost us though.

 

[Alfie]

 

[1862]

Maybe a bit fortunate with the late penalty (again) but value for a point I think. Would have taken one before the game no doubt.

Burchnall 2.0

He gets the benefit of the doubt for now from me but it is feeling a bit that way. Burchnall would have lost that game though.

 

[jacobncfc]

Someone call 999. It improved after the break to be fair, but it had to. Harsh on Barrow who I reckon were the best team we’ve played this season but maybe guilty of sitting back a bit too early.

No idea what to make of us. We are routinely terrible in the first half, our manager is playing people in bizarre positions all the time, our attack seems totally confused by what they’re meant to be doing. But we’re solid and don’t give up many clear sights of goals, and we seem to have a real mentality this season, rescuing points from losing positions. Even down to scoring a last gasp equaliser for the second away game in a row, and both times barely celebrating to get back to the half way line and try and win. God knows.

 

[Gladders]

We had no midfield tonight, but despite all Tranmere's pressure they didn't trouble the goal much, apart from one cleared of the line in the first half, mostly just pot shots when they could.

Should have had a pen at the end but their player made a meal of what was a simple standing on his foot and dived like he'd been shot and was booked for simulation, if he just fell over it might have been given, but judging by the ref it probably wouldn't have.

Obikwu should have had a hat trick, missed two sitters in the six yard box and obviously Rose had his pen saved, which was a good save only for their keeper and defender to mess up a clearance for us to score.

 

[Alfie]

 

[CTFCfan99]

Entertaining game and a fair result I thought, with us on top first half and Bradford second. Certainly one of our better performances this season.

 

[Vale on Trent]

First Tuesday night league win since April 2022.

Absolutely dominated and should have been 3 or 4-0. Credit to Harrogate for staying in the game and being resolute.

We changed half of our team tonight and still looked like we were in 2nd gear. Conor Grant also started, who hasn’t been in one match day squad this season until tonight.

This run will end eventually and we’ll have tougher tests but I’m impressed at the minute.

 

[valefan16]

Finally after 30 months and 2 weeks Vale fans can enjoy three points on a Tuesday night.

We were outstanding tonight and at times it was all one way. Harrogate had a go at the end and nearly stole a point but to make the changes we did and still keep on improving was superb to see. Great night with results all but one going our way and a nice little gap opening up on third.

The positives are it feels like we are improving week on week and probably still have a couple of gears to go. If we get more clinical in front of goal then we will be laughing.

Chuffed for Ruari as well, great free kick and he’s been a breath of fresh air as a character since coming in.

No Byers, No Chislett, No John, No Clark, No Smith, No Hart and we are still able to make five changes and perform to a high level. Ridiculous. This is the best Vale squad ive seen in 20 years easily.

 

[Kauto Star]

Felt we played well in an entertaining game, frustrating that a poor bit of keeping has ultimately cost us though.

I think you have to also look at how and why the scorer had so much time and space to control the ball and hit a sweet strike like that, but yes, even so Walker should have saved that

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Dobra misses a chance my mum could put away there. Another home game we should be winning and haven't. We've got to start finding ways of turning these banter match stats into actual 3 points. Bored of it now.

But you dominated the game again right?

 

[Randolph Haggerty]

I’m rubbing my eyes in disbelief every time we play.
The turnaround from last season is incredible.
Looked like a decent following, and BBC radio York comms were really good aswell.
Even Grant looked ok.

 

[Wootball]

Great win away at Fleetwood, that I didn't see coming at all. Rode our luck in the first half with some mistakes and slow start gifting Fleetwood a few opportunities, but they weren't clinical and fluffed their lines. We made changes into the second half that completely turned the game around, and were piling the pressure on before being denied at least one absolute stone wall penalty, then being given another which could have gone either way in the 87th minute. Ryan 'hasn't scored in league football ever in his life' Cooney now has 2 goals in 2 games, and has become a real fan favourite.

The whole team worked hard and played well, were resolute and well drilled, but I've got to give a special mention to Marschall in goal. What a 'keeper he's turning out to be. He's one of the main reasons we're up into 6th, he's such a good shot-stopper and his reactions are nuts. Love him.

Injuries are still proving a challenge with captain Demetriou unavailable tonight, but we're still keeping up with the money teams at the top, although I don't think anyone is catching Port Vale this season especially with the money they've thrown at it, and the money teams below (Gills... ) so it's all positive for me tonight.

 

[Vale on Trent]

Finally after 30 months and 2 weeks Vale fans can enjoy three points on a Tuesday night.

We were outstanding tonight and at times it was all one way. Harrogate had a go at the end and nearly stole a point but to make the changes we did and still keep on improving was superb to see. Great night with results all but one going our way and a nice little gap opening up on third.

The positives are it feels like we are improving week on week and probably still have a couple of gears to go. If we get more clinical in front of goal then we will be laughing.

Chuffed for Ruari as well, great free kick and he’s been a breath of fresh air as a character since coming in.

No Byers, No Chislett, No John, No Clark, No Smith, No Hart and we are still able to make five changes and perform to a high level. Ridiculous. This is the best Vale squad ive seen in 20 years easily.

I think the best Vale squad in 20 years is slightly pushing it. Had some decent League One teams in that time and achieved nothing with this squad yet.

The strength in depth for this level is brilliant though. We are making 5 changes in some games and still winning games fairly comfortably.

I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. Only got ourselves to blame if we don’t do something this season though.

 

[BarraMatt]

Kick in the teeth to draw that late on with a penalty given what looked like our own stone waller turned down in the first couple of minutes (Notts could've have one earlier on the second half as well to be fair).

Much improved from us, especially without the ball. The main positive of the night was getting Canavan back on the pitch and Mahoney on the bench.

Notts pass the ball round nicely and have some great looking players but it looked overcomplicated at times where they should've been getting crosses in to Jatta and McGoldrick.

 

[pontoonlew]

We’ve got a great record against the dross of the league and a relatively shit record against the good ones. I’m presuming looking at the league table that Tranmere are in the former category but it feels as though our injury crisis is really taking its toll on the players available now. I predict a horrid 1-0 to either side.

To the letter

 

[loz]

Entertaining game and a fair result I thought, with us on top first half and Bradford second. Certainly one of our better performances this season.

Agree. We should have been able to break you in the second half but couldn't. Your defenders did their job magnificently.

 

[leedsvaliant]

For 75 minutes, it was like an attack v defence training match. Harrogate defended manfully to be fair to them. Last 15 I thought we got a bit too complacent because it had been so comfortable. They had a couple of half chances but Rippers hasn't made a save of note. The home side is always going to have to go for it at some point.

What's impressive is that this probably wasn't anywhere near our strongest 11 and yet we completely dominated and looked superior to the opposition.

Another tough game on Saturday against a team who seem excellent at home but perhaps not so good away. This run will end at some point but we will obviously be full of confidence.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Someone call 999. It improved after the break to be fair, but it had to. Harsh on Barrow who I reckon were the best team we’ve played this season but maybe guilty of sitting back a bit too early.

No idea what to make of us. We are routinely terrible in the first half, our manager is playing people in bizarre positions all the time, our attack seems totally confused by what they’re meant to be doing. But we’re solid and don’t give up many clear sights of goals, and we seem to have a real mentality this season, rescuing points from losing positions. Even down to scoring a last gasp equaliser for the second away game in a row, and both times barely celebrating to get back to the half way line and try and win. God knows.

That first half was bordering disgraceful. Couldn't do anything right, the passing inaccurate and sloppy, the first touches awful, rotating play between our defenders and twisting and turning Crowley and unadventurous Palmer all within 40 yards of our goal. Even Bass looked shaky which is the biggest surprise of all.

Thankfully Maynard did something Burchnall never would a very early substitution with the introduction of Brown who actually provided a spark and played well. Which says it all.

As Jacob said far better in second half but impossible not to be an improvement. Barrow should have finished us off but sounds like scoring has been there problem and whilst it's only 1-0......

No idea about the penalty decision ref clearly saw something as players tumbled to the deck, and feared the worst when McGoldrick had the ball in hand but he tucked it away.

It feels like most games we concede first and to our usual soft goal , but don't concede in second half and often score very late on.

Still unbeaten away, how I have no idea. Heart?

 

[Youpies]

As I said earlier.

3rd, but not at all convincing. I feel like lady luck or the league table will catch up with us at some point. Enjoy it whilst it lasts though

 

[Scum.]

Scott Lindsey’s first home win! We played shit but won 2-1 against an Accrington side that probably deserved a point tbf. All in all, they were on a 3 game winning run so a good 3 points - we showed the bottle to hold out we lacked under Williamson.

 

[Grimsby Road]

We had 5 clear cut chances to Tranmere's 1 so although the ref certainly wasn't a homer and Tranmere had the territory we probably deserved the win .

What the hells happened to Gillingham , is Bonner nearing being under pressure ?

 

[Flying fan]

Refs absolutely bottled a clear red card for Colchester there

….and he missed the fact the equalizer was off side!

 

[TheEndIsNigh]

Vale and Walsall look like they might be opening up a bit of a gap. Our game was too shit to comment on. The fact that we’re third means the rest of you should be too embarrassed to leave your homes.

 

[spireite]

But you dominated the game again right?

Ridiculously so this time!

….and he missed the fact the equalizer was off side!

Didn't look it on the telly, looked well on. Similar deal to County trying to claim he was off the other week, he's just good at hanging level.

 

[valefan16]

I think the best Vale squad in 20 years is slightly pushing it. Had some decent League One teams in that time and achieved nothing with this squad yet.

The strength in depth for this level is brilliant though. We are making 5 changes in some games and still winning games fairly comfortably.

I’ll enjoy it while it lasts. Only got ourselves to blame if we don’t do something this season though.

Since 2004 the season after missing the play offs on goal difference I don’t think we’ve had a better squad. Not just XI I mean squad. The depth is ridiculous we had our third choice wing backs pair on tonight one of whom won League One 18 months back.

If I’m right our best finish in the past 20 years involved Uche up front!

 

[lordofthepies]

Absolutely superb away win for the Alex. The first half was really tough but we stuck at it and I thought we were magnificent in the second half. Owen Lunt and Bogle made a huge difference when they came on, Bogle is a proper centre forward, I really hope we can keep him fit.

 

[jacobncfc]

Kick in the teeth to draw that late on with a penalty given what looked like our own stone waller turned down in the first couple of minutes (Notts could've have one earlier on the second half as well to be fair).

Much improved from us, especially without the ball. The main positive of the night was getting Canavan back on the pitch and Mahoney on the bench.

Notts pass the ball round nicely and have some great looking players but it looked overcomplicated at times where they should've been getting crosses in to Jatta and McGoldrick.

Watching the stream I thought your early shout was a corner with Platt getting the ball (although angle wasn’t great on the replay) and the shout for us on Tsaroulla was never a pen. McGoldrick was definitely fouled for the pen at the end if he was onside but you couldn’t really tell from that angle.

I thought you were great for 35 mins and should’ve been further ahead. Won every second ball and attacked us at pace with some sharp passing. We controlled the second half more and more the longer it went on, but never felt like we were going to score. You’re right that were massively overcomplicating it for no apparent reason.

 

[loz]

After what we all see week in week out, feel the ref deserves a mention. First league game for Jamie O'Connor and he did well.