Credit to the opposition – Rob Fielding shares some thoughts after Port Vale lost to Tranmere Rovers on Saturday afternoon.
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Credit to relentless Rovers
What a contrast in the quality of opposition. Vale easily swept aside a desperately poor Southend side last weekend but this was a real step up in class. Keith Hill’s side were deserved winners on the day. If it hadn’t been for a string of saves from Scott Brown then arguably the score could have been even higher. Veterans Jay Spearings and Vale nemesis James Vaughan were excellent while the pacy Kaiyne Woolery caused the Vale defence all sorts of problems. It’s no consolation for Vale fans, but Tranmere look a force to be reckoned with in League Two.
Brown back to his best
One of the few positives of this performance was that, after a bit of a blip, Scott Brown looks to have returned to his best form. The goalkeeper couldn’t save the game for Vale on his own but he had damn good try at keeping the score down. On this form, there are few better League Two keepers around than the Vale veteran. The longer term problem for the Valiants is – who will eventually replace him and when?
Vale’s defence has the shakes again
This wasn’t the finest game at the back for Zak Mills and Adam Crookes. I felt both struggled a bit with their defensive duties. It was unfortunate that the Vale were missing James Gibbons, so influential in the last game, but Vale clearly need more strength in depth. If it hadn’t been for some missed chances from the Rovers players and some good keeping from Scott Brown the Valiants back four could have conceded more than the three goals. Tranmere players found it too easy to get the ball into the box and too easy to find space inside it. James Vaughan’s first goal – when Vale’s defence allowed the ball to be crossed in from the right and the striker was allowed to turn to score showed Vale’s leaky defensive qualities in stark detail.
And at the other end – a lack of chances
Like a broken record, we’ve mentioned lapses at the back and now we have to come on to the lack of service to Vale’s central striker. Kurtis Guthrie once again battled away but had one, perhaps two chances in the game. There was plenty of possession by Vale, some of it in dangerous positions, but it’s that final killer pass that is too often missing in Vale’s play. At least Jake Taylor looked sharp again as he found the target – it could be that Vale need goals from him and the likes of influential skipper Tom Conlon if they are not going to come from the man in the centre.
What’s in a name?
In these Covid times, we should be grateful for any football and if that means listening to the “home” commentary team due to travel restrictions then so be it. The Tranmere duo were certainly excitably entertaining but I do wish professional broadcasters would do the basics. It’s a minor point, but surely learning the correct pronunciation of player’s names is a basic and shows some respect to the player and the team. If you’re unsure, how difficult would it be to ask the club or phone the local radio team to check? So, just for the record, Tranmere commentators it’s Devante (Dee-Van-Tee) Rodney, not Devant (Dee-Vant).
Agree or disagree? Post a comment on this article below.
Give Muzzy a try in central defence perhaps?
Five thoughts crap crap crap crap crap sixth thought useless
Owners must act quickly and bring in new manager. Smith must be dropped always ball watching, useless. Last 4 years shows. Need a decent left back if Montanno out. Manager needs experience and not cheap option.
What a 90 minutes that was, easily beaten on the field of play and forced to listen to the 2 Scouse commentators, I’m sure the vale fans who watched the game on ifollow will agree that Dave (eh eh eh) was even more infuriating than the Vale’s defence. What a difference a week makes, even though we played arguably the worst team in the league last week yesterday was a stark reminder of how poor we are. Tranmere Rovers were simply too good for Vale, their spine of Clarke, Spearing and Vaughan made it all happen while the Vale players looked on helplessly. So let’s move on, get the new manager in, stop playing a lone striker and never let Mills play for Vale again. Thank goodness for Grimsby and Southend.
Yeh, agree with everything you mention Rob, defence dont close down crosses enough, bit lazy TBF. The 2 clowns from radio Tranmere were so annoying, i had to turn the sound down. Think TRFC the best side ive seen, or did we make them look that good?
Generally over the past months the back four has been awful I know Gibbons was not 100% but Mills is awful and again for the first goal one straight ball which wasn’t even a pass takes out a flat central defence surely the newly signed centre back has to be given a chance. The 3 -1 defeat could have been more but for Scotts fine performance. A new manager hopefully is not to far away to at least correct some of the training ground failings.
I haven’t got much to say apart from the fact it was the usual performance when we play a half decent side. I would have thought that the problems highlighted on the pitch during a match must also be evident in training so why are we still putting out the same sides when they have previously shown that some of them are not good enough – certainly in the positions they are picked to play.
Newport County will be no push over so start thinking lads about how you are going to play them. We must know that we are giving away preventable goals so lets close the gaps. Also, we have got to start scoring more goals against the better sides so have at least two people in the team who can score goals and others who can provide the passes.
Well done Scott Brown – he often saves us considerable embarrassment.