Hitcher

This is the worst type of relegation where it is based on mismanagement, malaise and overconfidence. If we were promoted as scrappy underdogs, had a much smaller budget and we fought hard but narrowly went down, you could accept it. The problem is we are left with a team of losers on lg1 contracts, who have nothing about them. The only players I want to keep will go, and I don't blame them. Garrity and Chislett both deserve a decent move to a mid table league one team. Aside from all that the only thing that gives me hope for next season is our youth team. Seems like we are beginning to get that pipeline of players and most I've seen have been decent. Also the plant, Shorrock, Lomax crop etc will all be a year older and hopefully a bit more physical.

Can anyone remember that mid season interview where they basically said they expected grant to have a season of double figure assists? He's been by far the biggest disappointment for me.

I think this might be the reason why we had a change of plan in last season's January transfer window. Also I remember carol saying that they had to spend an extra £1-2m earlier than expected as we got promoted a year earlier than hoped for. Maybe this is one of the reasons for the latest figures. Be interesting to see where we land next year. We've had 2-3 youth players sold for supposed decent figures. I guess if you can do that most years and they all have add ons then that is one way of becoming more sustainable.

Plant is good. Appreciate he got completely rinsed by the leagues best winger and leagues best left back last night, but also in many instances won the ball and actually got some decent crosses in when he had the chance. Apart from that garrity volley, the only other bits of quality in the entire game from us came from plant. We all dream of a team full of Garrity's but my second dream would be a team full of Plants.

There's a guy my brother and I refer to as 'mad bar steward' who has a bottomless pit of rage inside him. No idea how he does it but the guy always turns it up to 11. Could be the same guy

Peterborough could have played that weird skip head mascot thing they had in goal and they still would have won. Such a bleak performance. If I was one of our players I'd almost be less bothered by the 3-0 then the manner in which we got completely dominated. Its classic vale to spend so much of the first half admittedly doing 'the plan' only to screw it up in the last 30 seconds of the half. Anyway it's gone now. Just hope the players can get over it, and actually try and play football on Saturday. Would be tempted to start Dipepa as seems to be our only forward in a bit of form. Again loft tries hard but silly to so blatantly do a shirt pull in our box for their penalty. Uche is like an angry trampoline.

Your right. My memory is addled. Think we then went on a 6 game winning streak after that which is probably what I remember.

I like Moore and think he is a good manager. At the same time he did break a record for longest run without a win for a new port vale manager. In recent times I can only compare it to when we were at the bottom of L2 when DC came in and it felt like almost instantly we were more solid defensively and competitive. My recollection of Moores early games was that we were much more experimental, changed formations often, played a lot of players etc. You could argue that's part of the journey and the result is our current uptick in form. However points on the board earlier would have given us more breathing space to figure this out with less riding on it.

We are kind of playing the back to basics football that I expected a bit earlier in his tenure. As you say, credit to Moore for recent games, but also a shame it took so long to figure this out. I feel he underestimated how bad we were when he came in.

This is tenous, but Stevenage winning is good for us as keeps them in the playoff hunt with Burton and Cheltenham still in their final fixtures.

It is an odd one that's for sure. Why Manchester United youngster Dan Gore is not playing for Port Vale on loan - Manchester Evening News WWW.MANCHESTEREVENINGNEWS.CO.UK This article is a month old but seems to suggest he's been at vale. If that's the case, if we do see him then maybe he will be committed to the cause. Skimming back through a number of Mike Baggers articles the last two DM updates on gore have basically said that they are waiting on the medical team to provide an update. It reads like we will know more in this Thursdays presser.

If you look at Rovers twitter it looks like they have sold out and fans atleast are up for it. Also Matty Taylor desperately needs a performance. Rovers have gone 6 games without scoring and his stock is quite low with the fans.

January was so poor wasn't it... The Williams thing was a miss step --> Vales fault Lopata I actually quite like, but not a massive upgrade on any of our other CBs and unfortunately injured --> Not Vales fault Think we were hoping for Morecambe Weir but has been underwhelming in a Connor grant way --> Possibly Vales fault, maybe his Blackpool loan was a sign. Mighten not really given a run and then injured -> Not Vales fault but struck me like the 2nd politic loan where we recognised we were short and got an attacking player to sign, with little plan on how he fits team Will we ever know what's happening with Gore? He possibly is injured but I can't help wondering if there is a hint of the Williams situation in there. We've had a change of manager and DOF sacking --> Not entirely Vales fault but also it is a bit. Finally even if he does get fitness back he will have no connection to team having been at utd. Would you want to give him a role in last few games? Also I know Conlon wouldn't have been the answer long term league 1, but you would have guaranteed committed performances. Could have been another body in the mix to avoid putting lowe in midfield. Anyway such an important game tonight. If Carlisle can atleast draw with Cheltenham that will be great.

I agree with all of that. He's been lumped about all over midfield recently. He should have scored atleast 4 since Moore arrived though. Most of those could have been in that first half at Cheltenham. He seems to be one of those players if he has too much time it goes wrong, but if he hits on instinct it goes for him.

I like Chislett. He creates a lot of chances, 9 goals and 7 assists so far and generally passes forwards. Appreciate when times are tough he doesn't look like the hard grafting midfielder we find it easy to like. I do think he is a success especially on a free transfer. I could easily see a mid table league one team wanting him. Would half expect to see a team like Charlton go in for him.

Teams will come in for the following players: Garrity, Chislett, Plant, Shorrock, Dipepa I'd take the fee for Garrity and Chislett but want decent sell ons for Plant, Shorrock and Dipepa. If we go down I don't begrudge any of them going if the price is right. Plant and Shorrock could shine in league 2 though.

Bowers is a really good bloke, preps his games, builds a rapport with whoever is on co-comms and we are lucky to have him. Yes occasionally he does go down some niche cultural references, but nice to see someone being themselves and it has led to some classics i.e like a dangerous nuclear submarine etc On the recent Dipepa goal I think after he said the phrase twice, realised it worked and went with it. The fact that we are talking about proves it was memorable.

He's certainly got a swagger about him now. Speaks with a lot of confidence. Also interesting that he has his own cover the eye and point goal celebration thing. Noticed it in some of the England u17 pictures and is also his pic for twitter live feed goals. Did I read that he has scored about 14 in youth team this season too?

I was thinking about the concept of a new manager bounce and how part of it is new ideas, new tactics, new motivation etc but also part of it is to do with players getting a blank slate, new position in team, new chance to gain better contract etc. With recruitment and contracts basically being a DoF thing, we might have missed out on that part of the bounce with Moore. Hoping this proves to be true but now Flitcroft is gone, means that every player has that fresh start. At the moment all the power is with Moore so hopefully they are busting a gut for him and not burdened by any previous pecking order stuff with Flitcroft plans. It did kind of feel different in the Burton game. Hopefully it continues.

Was interesting how we won the 50/50 battles against Burton and wrestled control of the 2nd half. Stark contrast to a month earlier against Cheltenham away where in a similarly scrappy game we folded. However Bristol Rovers at home will be different as they will spray the ball around more. Whilst it's encouraging that we have a bit more fight in us, I don't think we have the balance right in midfield to compete with better passing teams. We got smashed by Derby and in the L.O home game also passed off the park. My hope is that as we have a bit more strength in depth now, we have a bit more about us to occupy other teams, instead of just lining up for a pummeling. With Rovers I think they are figuring out to score goals since Collins left. Admittedly he's not had a great season, but for the last 2/3 years they have been set up around him.

Conteh from Grimsby has hit the ground running for them. Also agreed on Martin. What a signing he has been for them. I don't think this will be an 'on the beach' rovers performance as their manager still trying to win over the fans. Putting personalities aside I get the sense that there is a rovers fan feeling that the football hasn't been an upgrade from Joey Bartons tenure.

DM hinted that Clark is going to be out for the season, as is Dan Gore Ah rubbish. We've had below average luck with injuries this season

We've got players coming back into fitness at just the right time. Thought plant was decent in this game despite being played out of position twice. Uche not far away and will be helpful as a last 30mins chaos sub. Clarke there or there abouts. Be interesting to see how much of a high Dipepa is on after his U17 exploits. We might actually have a stronger first 11 and more threat on the bench

The Yak looked like Jack Nicholson in the shining in that incident. Demented smile and went back for more haha

The only way forwards was for flitcroft to go. The rift with the fans had become untenable, and like others have said they both reluctantly knew it was the only choice. As for flitcroft I don't think he is a bad person, and probably in time we will reap the benefits of some of the 'club building' he has done in the background. Football is so results based. Our lack of options at wingback and striker were unforgivable and just mind boggling that we didn't do more to fix it in January. Anyway I wouldn't be opposed to another DoF, but would also take the time to get another 'football person' on the board or high up in our structure. There has to be a bit more constructive challenge instead of ultimate trust in one person.