andy jones

The team got great support throughout the game today, Nippy. That gave them the confidence to play well. You have a great ability to post the negative aspects but after going 1-2 down we could have collapsed but didn't. Their were a number of occasions where the ball could have fell for us but didn't. The save late on from Lowe in particular was excruciating but the players didn't give up because the fans didn't give up and we got our just rewards. Did you look at our bench when Funjo scored they were going crazy. Even the Polish lad who hasn't been here 5 minutes was dancing on crutches. This group of players genuinely care. The only thing we need the fans to do between now and season end is to vocally support the players through thick and thin and stay together. That's what will keep us up. If you want to vocally protest then do us, fans and players, a favour and stay at home to do it. The club has a great owner and we deserve to stay up for what she has given this club since buying it. Any vocal protest at a time when the window is closed can only be counter productive. We as a club need to stay together and fight to stay in this league. UTV

What was Darrell's record after Christmas that led to his sacking. A repeat of that form would certainly see us down.

Got to say that with the injury list we have and the abysmal window i would today abandon, for one game at least, 3-5-2 and change to any alternative system that would catch Stevenage by surprise. Go out there with inferior players playing what they expect us to play (3-5-2) and its not going to be worth leaving the pub. Another game gone but no more points on the board.

No owner would go public on the financial performance of the club. Can you imagine any retail company going public on such matters If you are really concerned just read the company annual accounts when published.

I reckon we need to play the match as we don't want to increase the complacency at the club n that with so many games in hand we have nothing to worry about as Flitcroft's dismissal of a supporters concern of relegation when voiced at the fans meeting suggested.

Listening to Ale & Vale podcast and Jonny is totally right ... Go four at the back with 4 actual defenders and stop conceding. Agree completely.

Spoke to Rudgie a while ago and he said he used to travel and travel to see players in action. He said everyone these days watches videos of potential signings and even when at Stoke and being asked to watch videos of players he insisted on seeing players in the flesh to see what they were doing off the ball and see what their character was like. Strangely I have just reached the chapter in his excellent book titled 'Managing to Survive' where he is talking about formations and tactics. I would heartily suggest Mr Flitcroft reads pages 211-213 it's enlightening. His core formation was 4-4-2 'an attractive way to play' 'I liked to put the onus more on the players themselves, instead of using robots, giving the player in possession the choice of which ball was on. The better the player, the more freedom you can give him' How much 'freedom to play' are our players given these days. None they are like bloody robots particularly under Flitcroft's tippy-tappy at the back 3-5-2. P.s. if you haven't got the book it's a great read and I am sure the 'statue fund' team would be most appreciative as the £100K target is in sight of being reached.

Because, unlike foresaid owners and potential buyers, she is the only one who has invested money into the football club for unselfish reasons I.e. for the good of the club beyond her custodianship.

Brian that will be welcomed by some posters as they will have even more opportunity to moan we haven't signed a striker.

V2001? Blue Sky? Mo Choudry? The guy who disappeared like Shergar? Smurthwaite? etc etc An attractive proposition,,, losing a £million a year? Yes there would be lots of interest from those who want the real estate not the football club. Jesus you clearly were not part of the fans groups who were lied to by so called saviours whllst working tirelessly to fight the tossers off Brilliant let's piss off the only decent owner we have ever had who has already put £10M of her own money into the club.

Bill Bell to be trusted? Bratt to be trusted !!!!! Bratt a life-long Vale fan? We are one of the biggest in the league from a fan base and financial point of view?

Brian It's the other way round isn't it? It was, and remains, us that needed and still need her money to keep the club out of another administration. According to Mike Baggaley's updates she is putting in a million a year isn't she?

So you would both prefer someone who lays the law down to fans support groups saying I am the owner and you can <ovf censored> off? Bloody short memories !!

He persuaded Carol to invest in infrastructure at a time when he was being out-bid for a new striker? !! Think about what you have just said !!

No, I personally want him gone but I am an advocate of Row Z (ball and man!)

Joe We live in a very violent world. RW is famous and no doubt has to be protected. Don't blame the club for taking these security measures. A nutter in New York robbed the world of one of the very best surely you wouldn't want a repetition of that. For what it's worth mate I chose my usual pre-match pint with mates in the Bulls Head.

Rudgie worked in a different world .. pre Bosman, pre prima donna footballers on immense salaries (try comparing Foyley's salary to what even a league 2 striker gets today), the Vale Park pitch of even recent times that quality players wouldn't dream of signing up to these days. Basically we are 2 years into a at least 5 year project. Unfortunately we are suffering team wise with 'second season syndrome'

The RW suite et al actually operates as a revenue earner for the club. Part of that profit is going to pay for you to have a pot to piss in! Having supported the Vale since 1957/58 I do understand, believe you me, how poor the facilities in Bycars, Railway and now even Hamil are. The ironic thing is Carol is being criticised for spending too much money on improving the infrastructure. I am just wanting to point out that we are all Vale fans and just because we sit in a hospitality area (for which we pay approx £1,000 and more for a ST) doesn't mean we don't 'hurt' just like all other fans.

Absolutely no idea, other than Fleetwood is a small, tidy and quite modern ground and not a ramshackle 'Wembley of the North, requiring £millions to be spent on it in a relatively short period of time just to try and bring it into the 21st century. With unforseen further failure of that old infrastructure adding to the cost.

Brilliant post mate.

I do, but i suspect the finance being generated is insufficient to pay the going rate for a striker after all the other overheads.

Excellent post Warren.

And where would that be?

He is not a fraud though if you are looking at the finance he has generated from sales. What you are right to point out is the very poor quality of first team performance at the minute and the failure to bring a striker in. However it could just be that the playing budget available to him isn't big enough to buy one. Plus we have lost our only goal scorer to long term injury.

Why on earth do you separate fans paying for hospitality and fans who don't? Have you ever been in the hospitality sections? We are all Vale fans. It's not Old Trafford or the Ethiad it's Vale Park, FGS.