Birches Head Fred

Unfortunately Hilts (Steve McQueen) was recaptured so didn't really escape, let's hope Vale get a more positive ending.

Bernie handballed his 3rd in.

Assuming its NOT DF, i see the problem will be with future recruitment: A large number of the current crop will be under contract next season whichever league we are in, therefore we will need to move players on before bringing new in (assuming whoever is in charge of recruitment thinks they aren't up to the job). The wage budget The transfer kitty Actually attracting better players to the club Time. In my view Time is the critical factor, any new players will need time to bed in, whether or not they get a full preseason the chances are early results next season may not start well. Any new players (and existing) will be scrutinised each and every minute on the pitch and it won't take long for fans that "never wanted him in the first place" to vent their feelings.

He wouldn't have lasted that long with Social Media.

I've never understood it neither : 2 Vale players on the half way line equates to at least 3 defenders back covering, as you say, along with the keeper and corner kick taker, that's 5 players who are unlikely to score. If we manage to head/kick the ball clear then the two attackers have a chance to get the ball and attack, or at least prevent the other team from simply launching the ball back into our box. Assuming Ripley catches the ball he can now quickly start a counter attack - personally, I would have 3 players forward, one on the left, one right and one in the centre circle. If Ripley kicks the ball down the left channel the forward in the centre circle goes near post and the right sided forward goes back post ready for a cross. Also, If I were a goalkeeper I would want as few players in front of me as possible for a corner, that way I can command the area. It's not rocket science so why is it that everyone does it, especially us. I can possibly understand it if we are protecting a lead, but when we need goals it's downright stupidity in my view. It reminds me of an interview I once saw with Clive Allen, he was asked why he never went back into his own area to help defend a corner - his response was something like this : "I don't defend corners because I'm a liability in my own box, chairmen don't pay what they do for me to stand inside my own 18 yard box, they pay me to stand in the opposition 18 yard box and score goals, that's what I do."

I'm not sure if you're exactly aware of this Valiiant, but this thread is indeed for the "Happy Clapper clique" - I'm fairly sure the thread title is a bit of a givaway. Also, you don't need to name us, we know who we are thanks. I think you will also find there were over 5000 fans there today, some were Happy Clappers, some weren't but they all have been "accepting utter crap" for the majority of this season and last - are those that aren't Happy Clappers also to blame (in many ways) ?

You seem agitated bud, you need to chill.

I think we have, but he's out on loan.

I think you will find Wickham lives in a 'close' [emoji6]

It may well be that DF's hands were tied for various financial reasons, wage structure, signing on fees, agents fees etc. That, along with actually getting players interested in joining Vale and moving to this area could well be stumbling blocks for many a signing. I'm not trying to defend DF but we are all pretty guilty of "assuming" and yes, the last 3 transfer windows go a long way to adding to what we percive to be failure on his part. Maybe now that Carol and the top brass are possibly looking at things from a different perspective as discussed at the meeting, aligned with perhaps new investment and the new managers wishes, DF may find another role within the club, or have a better base to work from when trying to attract players - Carol obviously sets a great deal of store with DF and maybe he's not entirely to blame. Let's hope that whether or not DF is involved in recruitment going forward to next season, its for League One players we are chasing. UTV

Now now children, Happy thoughts only please. We need everyone fully behind the team, no matter what we think the future holds, 3 points on Saturday may well go a long way to securing our League One status. If not, it's not the end of the World, as Doris (and we fans) sing...."Que Sera Sera".

It seems apparent to me that whatever the club say or do now will not be enough for a fair proportion on the people on here, and possibly the fan base in general. Derision follows everything they say or do. However it's not a question of what they say or do that counts for the foreseeable, it's what happens once the 11 picked players do in the remaining 12 league games. It's good that the fans have called for a meeting and it's clear that supporters concerns were put forward, whether or not the concerns are acted upon remains to be seen. I'm not really too concerned with the details of the meeting, I'm rather more concerned with 3.00pm on Saturday.

We need a scapegoat in case it goes T's up [emoji6]

Quite possibly, but I suspect a new poster "Alas Smith and Jones" will suggest the following lineup: 4-2-4 Ripley Smith Lopata Iacovetti Plant Weir Ojo Loft Garrity Wilson Dipepa 3-0 Vale.

Woohoo

Damn

Cheltenham losing already

Cheltenham do not have 2 games in hand over us, in fact after tonight we will have a game in hand over them. Charlton at home tonight then Oxford away on Saturday. Come Saturday evening we could well be on the same points with a game in hand (Well hopefully).

things could be worse then.

Never mind Tom, even Francis (with his obvious connections) couldn't save us now.

I doubt any would be tempted, it's all relative isn't it. Do you really think I want relegation ?, I want us to be winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup on a regular basis but it's a bit like asking for World Peace, an end to Famine and Free Health Care for all. And to be 'realistic', there may be quite a number of teams above us, but there are far more 'numerous' teams below us.

Ask a fan of, say, Hereford, Chester, Torquay or Oldham if they would swap places right now, I wonder what they would say.

Looking at their recent results, they certainly aren't running away with things, conversely, looking at our results then you would expect Derby to be looking at this game as a pretty much guaranteed 3 points. We all know of course that there are NO guarantees in football and the law of averages says we will win a game at some point - and it would be typical of Vale to somehow manage to do that tomorrow. To be honest, I don't hold out any hope but as someone rightly said "it's a funny old game" and he was prone to the odd incorrect prediction as we well know. Heart says 1-1, head says 3-0.

Not true, I have it on good authority that the Icelandic Striker Gunnar Skoorsoonsson is joining on a 3 year contract.