Port Vale fans panel on the Wigan game – “you may as well go for it rather than sit back and lose…”
We ask three Port Vale supporters for their views on the next Port Vale games. This week it’s the turn of Pete, Steve and Brian for their thoughts on the match against Wigan Athletic…
The Fans
This week we have:
- Pete from Packmoor, a Vale fan since 1975
- Steve from Clayton, a Port Vale fan since the early 80’s
- Brian an exiled Vale fan, supporting the side since the mid-80’s
The questions
What do you think went wrong for the Valiants during the game against Northampton Town?
Pete: I didn’t travel but listened to the game. It seems that we reverted to ‘type’, offering very little threat in the final third. I’m not sure that Chislett is being utilised as he should be ‘attacking’ wise. We are not a great side let’s be honest, huffing and puffing is just that. We need to score first as I can’t see us recovering once we go a goal down, sadly.
Steve: I suppose should the Great Escape happen it’s never going to be a straight line. Is Northampton a blip or a reality check? Perhaps Wigan might point us in the right direction. As regards the game itself I didn’t go but the fans’ player scores tell the story, not enough 7/8s and too many 5s. The late second goal I discount as you may as well go for it rather than sit back and lose 1-0.
Brian: We didn’t take our chances. If we put those first-half chances (or even Uche’s in the second-half) then we have a chance of a point or even more. However, with the squad we’ve got, it’s difficult to see what could have been done that differently. One bone of contention for me was the half-time withdrawal of Chislett, one of our more creative players for the off-song Weir. I didn’t get that switch at all.
What does Darren Moore have to change for the Wigan game?
Pete: For the Wigan game we must take the game to them from the off and try to get the first goal. We don’t have much to change in all honesty, perhaps starting both Uche and Loft? But he won’t, he’ll go Dipeppa. We need Chislett to cause more threat. Can we get Plant in a more attacking position? Do we play Massey and hope he has a decent game?
Steve: Was it the wrong side or, in my opinion, a below par performance by the majority of the team? I’m not sure if we can field a stronger side. Perhaps it was asking too much of Dipepa to start and maybe he is better coming on for the last thirty minutes as an impact player?
Brian: I’m not sure there’s much Darren Moore can do other than to push his players to give it everything. However, there are key positions where I’m sure he’d love to have options. One is upfront where Wilson is out, Ikpeazu only fit enough for half an hour or so, so he’s forced to soldier on with rookie Baylee Dipepa. To Dipepa’s credit, he’s not looked out of place but I’m sure Moore would love to have an experienced and fit option to bring on.
What do you think the score for the Wigan game will be?
Pete: If we score first we win 1-0. If we concede first then we lose 2-0.
Steve: Wigan is another must win game. That doesn’t mean we will win but surely now we have to go for it. Go down fighting – a 1-0 Vale win.
Brian: Well, obviously I’d love to see the Vale win but I have a feeling we may have to settle for a draw.
Any other business?
Pete: Do the club actually respond to any feedback they receive? I have sent three feedback reviews of late with no response (they were negative and rightly so in respect of the Paddock portaloos and queuing in the club shop due to people wanting tickets on the day, etc. They are losing lost customers as merchandise cannot be accessed nor purchased. It all appears a bit ‘quiet’ following the Flitcroft exit, are we just limping through to season end off the pitch? I’d be interesting to hear fans’ thoughts in regards to Darren Moore? I think the outcome would be mixed.
Steve: Perhaps the club could do a deal for the remaining home games, £10 a ticket to get the fans in and create an intimidating atmosphere.
Brian: It would be interesting to know if the club are going to persist with the director of football model after Flitcroft’s departure or whether there’s been a change in the structure of the football side of the club.
Take Part
Want to share your views? We welcome volunteers for the fans panel. Contact us here
Marco polo
4th April 2024 @ 12:16 pm
Like soooo many comments , we have to play 2 up and maybe a few More Ripley long kicks, Route 1 and more like a struggling League 1 club should play , than the fancy getting us nowhere ⚽️ so called sexy football.
RON
4th April 2024 @ 3:31 pm
Yeah if we are going to go down let’s go down fighting it’s still in the balance so give it a proper go UTV
Pete Morgan
4th April 2024 @ 5:23 pm
It would make sense to me to start with Loft and Uche upfront with Chislett just behind them and bring Dipepa on for the last 30 minutes as an impact. We are missing specialist full backs – Benning and Cass shouldn’t have been released
Phil (Cambridge)
4th April 2024 @ 8:21 pm
I live in Cambridge so see the Vale much more away than at home. I was at Northampton on Saturday…& yes we are not a great team but I thought we were unlucky to come away with nothing on the balance of play. I’ll be at Peterborough next Wednesday & anything at London Rd will be a bonus. But Wigan is a BIG BIG game. If we can get anything from these two away games & still be in the mix going into the last 4 games I think we will escape. 3 of those last 4 games are at home…Exeter Wycombe & on the last day Cambridge. I honestly believe we will be playing League 1 football next season & 3 points at Wigan will be a massive step to safety.
Ken from North Wales
5th April 2024 @ 11:53 am
3 points is now vital tomorrow, it is no point on relying on home wins and also bringing the goal difference looking better. UPTV.
Dave biddulph
5th April 2024 @ 9:05 pm
Start with dipepa bring him on last 30 mins that’s negative talk could be losing the game by then
Ian Mountford
6th April 2024 @ 12:12 am
Vale should definitely have got something from Northampton, we had four decent chances compared to their two. Our lack of cover in wide positions is costing us week in week out, in defence of Sang twice I saw the lad screaming for help down the right as our entire team got sucked over to the left, leaving Sang with half the pitch to cover by himself. With Moore being a defender one would have thought this would have been rectified. Having had the chance to watch Vale train today it was disappointing to see them spend so much time practicing Smith taking short goal kicks time and time again, and playing through the middle. Another strange moment was for the last 20 minutes the defence was set up to mark an in coming set piece and not one ball was crossed into the box. Everyone just stood there while Moore and his assistant walked around with clipboards telling players where to stand.