NW9Valiant

So Talksport pay a few nobodies at the FL72 clubs to do a pod for each club but won't put on commentary for the matches? That is piss poor.

Ha, not by choice. But reconnecting with a mate as well and Good Friday didn't work out. Until I've sorted the new home situation it's a real faff sorting out getting to home games just yet. Currently based in South Staffs until I've bought somewhere in Stoke/Castle (looking in the summer).

TV, Bill.

I've ordered now -- and got the tickets. But really should have been able to get in at the accessibility stand so I'll be having it out with them over the phone. Seems pretty stupid for me. Only games I've been to in recent years are away from VP, haven't been a home game since I last lived in SOT.

Hmm, no, online is working fine for me. They need to have a word with whoever is telling me porkies in the ticket office

Well it looks like I'm at home for this one because the club refuse to sell me a ticket as they are 'expecting trouble' and I haven't bothered to buy a ticket previously this season. Not sure why they think I'm a threat from the Accessibility Stand but there we go. I'm just wondering though, who are they expecting trouble from?

Club option to extend by a year, is fairly common.

Really hope Dipepa is retained and kept on, for me would be something to get excited about if he is leading the line next year as I'd give it a go. I hope we can look towards Plant and Shorrock as well and build the team around them so they can play in their natural positions. If we are getting rid of all our young players though, plus Garrity, it sucks the life out of the team for me and the new signings are going to have to be good. Loft has a part to play, albeit not a very big one but if he is in the squad I would rather look at using the money to make sure we bring in other players than paying the ones we don't want, off.

It’s like a game of Takeshi’s Castle when you consider it’s Flitcroft’s crap they are having to manage with.

It's wild that one of these are definitely true. 😆

And that in itself, came from somewhere else. The 'Little Port Vale' or 'Little old Stoke-on-Trent' are phrases I've heard referred to the club or area for years. The other way of looking at it is a form of local pride. So I don't begrudge her for using the term that she probably thought was endearing. I definitely don't though. Lots of reasons I think that, not just Port Vale's owners or previous owners talking us down.

Agreed - but not everybody is Flitcroft. The years of going back to the well of who knows the Vale went well for us with Foyle, Glover and Aspin, didn’t they. Heaven forbid we start listening to gobshite Pope as well and bring in Richard Duffy when DM gets gone.

FTFY Please, no. Carol's been in football long enough to know people outside the circle that is Port Vale that have a bit more lived experience (and isn't an agent either). I've no got no wish or time for her to listen to people with a 'connection' to the Vale, least of all because I want the club to actually progress and go somewhere, rather than think small time which is why we struggled for so long in League 2 in the past.

Yeah I don’t understand this mentality either really. If it can be explained; ie. “I know because of X but I can’t say because Y”, then that’s clear enough for me. But then also if you can’t say for whatever reason, it’s probably better/more helpful for others to just leave it. It others reflects quite poorly, as though practically saying you’re ITK is a bit attention seeking. I have no investment in CG, except for me the timing of his departure can be seen as an indication of when it all started to go wrong. So the ‘why’ is more a bit curious.

I feel pretty deflated. Got myself up for the game given the faintest of hopes. I'll be at the final game unless my mate bails now we are officially down. Lots for the club to do to encourage ST sales.

well, nice to go into HT not having conceded 😆 Other than that we should really be a couple goals down. Some brief bright spots of forward play but the gulf in class is clear. We are League 2.

Jesus Christ.

Even if we have a right go, all guns blazing, how many do people think we can score? I just can’t see it. I think they will try their hearts out though, they are playing for their football league futures, but I’ll go 3-1 Bolton.

League Cup semis still two legs, that can't last long. Or the League Cup either for that matter. Time to revamp the FL Trophy and kick out the youth teams.

Can't exactly give players a growth spurt or the agility to jump. We do need more aerial presence. But you're right, both our managers defenders and we are one of the worst sides defensively. So many times trying to play football in defence instead of just hoofing it, does my nut in when these players are not equipped for that style of play. And a tackler in the midfield. Griff couldn't pass at all but as long as he kept it simple I thought he was fantastic for us in the middle winning the ball. He'd walk into this side. I'd rather 30% possession most games if it meant we made the most of the ball instead of just sideways and backwards play. We don't even have the creativity to unlock a defence half the time so I don't know what it achieves.

I can't remember which ex-pro said it once but they said the thing that separates footballers most from a league above is their character and mental application to their game. I think we've all seen it with a number of our players over the years, flashes of brilliance and good play a level above what we are at, but they often don't kick on. Ojo's poor attitude is probably a factor, agreed.

Urgh. I can't think of anything more pathetic than the honours system.

I won’t be feigning praise for individuals at the club over this. To be fair if awards like this are a person’s priorities then maybe they should be running a charity or social enterprise, not a football club. It’s good work for sure, but not the most appropriate or effective approach. There are countless organisations to choose from for these particular endeavours and it would be more fitting and impactful to raise awareness for those causes and support them which they are set up for, not to compete against. This is really a case of caring more about feeling good than doing good IMO. Let’s actually focus on getting our priorities in order on the pitch. It’s what PVFC is for. My suggestion would be, if championing causes because you care about them and not the awards, then the appropriate thing would be partnerships and sponsorships with food banks and local or even national charities. Donate a matchday shirt sponsorship, or matchday sponsor. Why the need to go for these things for the plaudits? The club shouldn’t be trying to do the work others are already doing. We’re supposed to be a football club.

I love a bit of Bing Crosby!! Oh... I see what you mean. 😄

Or you can look at it and say, as a club we are bigger than any one manager. I don't mind it personally, managers come and go but the club doesn't. I think he will do better (how much remains to be seen) with his own squad and more competent recruitment.