Northampton fan: I’d settle for consolidation…
21 year-old Northampton fan Adam is happy for his side to finish mid-table this season…
Thanks to REP for posing the questions
About the fan…
“My first game was at home to Mansfield in 2003. I started going regularly in around 2009. Even in a relatively short time supporting the club you’d probably be surprised with the ups and downs that come with following the Cobblers…”
About the opposition…
How do you expect your team to do this season?
To be honest I’d be happy with consolidation this season. Some supporters seem to think we should be performing a lot better than we are but we really are a team that runs on form. If we can build a little run then I think there’s potential for us to sneak into the final play-off spot. If I had to put a position down I’d say 12th.
What are your thoughts on the manager?
A manager Vale fans will know well… Page promised not to make wide scale changes and support the team which won the league so comfortably last season. However, our starting line up in recent weeks has only really had two or three members of that winning team; Richards, Hoskins and Buchanan.
The players to watch?
Page has brought in a large number of new signings. Replacing Holmes was always going to be difficult however this gap still hasn’t quite been filled.
Watch out for Matty Taylor’s free kicks and Sam Hoskins has begun to show some promise that he could be the man to step up as a match winner.
Your thoughts on the board?
Off-field activities are looking a lot better. Kelvin Thomas has settled the club and made a lot of small changes to build revenues. He’s also very responsive to supporters suggestions and questions.
The club are running a survey on safe standing. It’s the type of supporter engagement that we all deserve. However the stand still isn’t built, but with a criminal investigation taking place to work out exactly what happened no blame can be placed on Thomas.
A score prediction and predicted away following?
I’d like to say we could nick a win but at the minute I’d take a point to stop this run of defeats. I’ll go with 1-1 – Richards scoring for Town (former club syndrome) and Cicilia for Vale (from what I know, he’s scored a few recently). I’m expecting around 600 to travel but that really is a guess.
Where do you think Vale will finish this season?
Mid-table, I think there’s teams with a lot more quality than Vale, but you seem to have a fairly solid yet unspectacular squad. In a similar way to us, a couple of good additions could easily see a push for the play-offs. But fail to add any quality and it’d be just as likely for you to drop down the table
A guide for Vale fans…
Any quirky facts?
Between 1960-65 we had three promotions and reached the top-flight in the 1965-66 season before being relegated back down to the bottom division by 1969-70. It was the fastest rise and fall from bottom to top divisions in English football history.
What about a recommended blog or forum?
I know there’s a few guys who do Vlogs and previews, but the Northampton Chronicle will probably give the most insight into the team.