Opposing views: Tranmere Rovers
Rovers fan Anthony wants an end to Rovers’ off-field problems, admires midfielder Chris Lines and will settle for a point on Saturday…
Bio
Anthony is aged 23 from Tranmere. He was born and raised on the Wirral and has been following Tranmere for twenty years. He’s been a season ticket holder for ten years and has been through the good times (“our trips to Wembley”) and the bad (“relegation and the past 18 months”). He’s pleased that Tranmere “have a real good fan base at Prenton Park which is hard when you have Liverpool and Everton across the water!”
How are your team doing?
Well, what can I say about our form over the past 18 months? It has been dreadful…
Well, what can I say about our form over the past 18 months? It has been dreadful. We were on form last year riding high at the top and fans were at least hoping for a play-off place come the end of the 2012/13 season. Unfortunately, that did not happen. This season like every year, we were expected to avoid relegation with one of the smallest budgets in the football league. However, with the off field problems we haven’t struck back to back wins all season and although we’re fighting, without Ryan Lowe we would be gone!
Who should we watch out for?
The main danger for Port Vale this weekend would be Ryan Lowe, one of the league’s leading goalscorers. If he’s fit for the weekend another danger man would be Jason Koumas. He had been retired for two years before he rejoined us and has been brilliant. He’s somebody who can make things happen for Rovers. There’s also Jake Cassidy and if you haven’t watched the highlights from our game last week Steve Jennings can hit them (watch one on YouTube here)
What are your thoughts on your manager?
My thoughts on our manager, well which one do I start with? Let’s go with John McMahon, I cannot praise him enough for the effort he is putting in with all the off-field problems but he is not a manager. He’s a very good coach, one of the best in this league, but for me not a manager. However, he looks to be in til the end of the season and I think he will keep us in this league… JUST!
What are your thoughts on your board and off-field club activities?
There have been takeover talks collapsing, new signings passing medicals whilst injured then retiring, fans having arguments with players. It’s been awful for 18 months…
Off-field problems… where do I start? Ronnie Moore; for the Vale fans who aren’t aware Ronnie was being investigated for betting against Tranmere this lead to him being suspended by the club. Then two of our players Akpo Sodje & Ian Goodison were both arrested for spot fixing… There have been takeover talks collapsing, new signings (Stephen Foster) passing medicals whilst injured then retiring, fans having arguments with players. It’s been awful for 18 months. Luckily enough we’re due to be sold to a new owner in the next two weeks which will see us have the funds to progress, Hopefully we’ll move on although Peter Johnson has been brilliant for Rovers. Tranmere fans simply want an end to it all.
Any views on Port Vale?
I’ve been very impressed with Port Vale, this year. To come up to League One and be mid-table means Micky Adams has done a good job. The players who worry me are – Tom Pope of course as he knows where the goal is, but for me the man of the match at Prenton Park earlier on was Chris Lines: he dominated the midfield right from the off and topped it off with a fantastic free kick that won it . Vale are a good, solid side.
Any views and memories of players/managers that have been involved with both teams?
Jennison Myrie-Williams was a quick player who played for Tranmere in the 2007/08 season. He chipped in with a couple of goals and always gets a round of applause whenever we see him. Chris Shuker was a great player for Rovers, and in his first season he was named in the PFA team of the year. However, after we missed out on the play-offs and Ronnie Moore was sacked, John Barnes didn’t really settle for Chris and he was eventually released. But he is another ex-player who is respected by us.
A score prediction?
We won last week and as we haven’t put back to back wins all season surely it is a home banker?
I’ll be there on Saturday and I will settle for a point. Our form on the road has been excellent (wins at Mk Dons, Oldham and Bradford) but we won last week and as we haven’t put back to back wins all season surely it is a home banker? I’m going with Port Vale 1 (Jennison Myrie-Williams) Tranmere Rovers 1 (Ryan Lowe).