Sat 14th December 2013, Port Vale v Stevenage, Pre Match, Match itself.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Leave Griff alone!! Why do some of us feel the need to pick out players for focussed criticism? Any of our players can be criticised at virtually any time and although I acknowledge that Griff hasn't been at his best for a few games he's still a key player for us and will get back to form. I strongly suspect he isn't 100% but Adams needs him because Lofty's knackered.

 

Anyway, as regards Stevenage, I noticed they've beaten both Peterborough and Brentford in their last 10 games which makes me wonder if they have the ability to pull the odd good performance out of the hat? Let's hope they don't do it against us and they turn up in relegation form on Saturday.

[Edge81]

Hope they have improved from the time wasting ,cheating bunch, that came here a few seasons ago:mad:

 

I still hold a grudge for that. Most unsporting team I can remember

[soothsayer]

JMW has a little bit of something to prove to them too.

 

He has something to prove to me after that shocker on Friday. People go on about Griff but JMW hardly beat his man once versus Salisbury and gave the ball away at least half a dozern times when under no pressure.

 

Let's hope it was a one off.

[valiant_593]

Lines, our most gifted player, is a better player when alongside Griffith, or that type of player at least. We all know Griffith is limited in his ability but he's the type of grinder every side needs to have the right balance.

 

Team for Stevenage -

 

Neal

 

Yates

Duffy

Robertson

Dickinson

 

Myrie-Williams

Griffith

Lines

Loft (if fit)

 

Dodds

Pope

 

:)

 

Dodds dosent deserve to start ahead of Tomlin, Williamson or hugill up top. Loft won't be fit I don't think, personally I'd play rob taylor on the left, won us the game the other night and deserves a chance.

[Andyregs]

Lines, our most gifted player, is a better player when alongside Griffith, or that type of player at least. We all know Griffith is limited in his ability but he's the type of grinder every side needs to have the right balance.

 

Team for Stevenage -

 

Neal

 

Yates

Duffy

Robertson

Dickinson

 

Myrie-Williams

Griffith

Lines

Loft (if fit)

 

Dodds

Pope

 

:)

 

Second chance number 566 for dodds.

[fairportnick]

Doubt it seeing as Westley is back there now.

 

I wonder if they will have an 'injured' player in or around the 24th minute.

 

JMW has a little bit of something to prove to them too.

 

It was always the 63 rd minute wasnt it?

 

We all know Griffs strengths and weaknesses . His strengths are his tackling and his defensive heading (Why his heading is never used from attacking corners is beyond understanding and needs sorting, he should be on the near post and either Birchall or Loft in the position he usually takes from our corners).

Unfortunately he tackling has been almost non existent in the last few home games. So he is offering very little to the team at present. I can hardly remember a tackle at all in the last 2 home games, in fact against Salisbury I cant remeber him touching the ball in the first 35 minutes!

[Rampant Zebra]

Any news on Chris Neal?

[TheJoker]

Lines, our most gifted player, is a better player when alongside Griffith, or that type of player at least. We all know Griffith is limited in his ability but he's the type of grinder every side needs to have the right balance.

 

Team for Stevenage -

 

Neal

 

Yates

Duffy

Robertson

Dickinson

 

Myrie-Williams

Griffith

Lines

Loft (if fit)

 

Dodds

Pope

 

:)

 

Only someone who doesn't attend games could pick Dodds up front or are you vale fan in alsager in disguise??

[onestepatatime]

There are really some crazy thinking fans on here who still want Dodds included from the start!!!!!!

 

Come on you can't be suffering from too much Xmas alcohol yet? He will hardly make the bench with all the other more competent/able/in form players we now have.

[Fred Flinstone]

If Dodds starts, I'm going back to the pub.

[IanW]

I think I've read somewhere Stevenage do still have a mid first half team talk, usually around the 25th minute. Look for a player to mysteriously get injured.

[PV1993]

Lines, our most gifted player, is a better player when alongside Griffith, or that type of player at least. We all know Griffith is limited in his ability but he's the type of grinder every side needs to have the right balance.

 

Team for Stevenage -

 

Neal

 

Yates

Duffy

Robertson

Dickinson

 

Myrie-Williams

Griffith

Lines

Loft (if fit)

 

Dodds

Pope

 

:)

 

I'd go with something similar - if playing Dodds with Pope then I'd go with Myrie-Williams on the right and Taylor/Tomlin on the left (Or Tomlin wide right JMW left) - basically 2 out and out wingers.

 

However if we went with Pope and Williamson/Hughes upfront I would go with Loft on the left (if fit) and Birchall on the right and balance the midfield. Personally I'd start with this line up and throw JMW and Taylor on around 60/65 minutes.

[mickyferns]

Nobody mentions Hughes anymore, I gather he's finished at vale.

[Fosse69]

Nobody mentions Hughes anymore, I gather he's finished at vale.

Must be a cert on Saturday then.

[Angel of Burslem]

Just got a feeling that this game could end up being a frustrating disappointment. Be it increased expectation levels, complacency, rub of the green or a combination of all 3.

Obviously hope im wrong and we smash them.

My team would be:

 

Johnson

 

Yates

Duffy

Robertson

Dicko

 

Birchall

Griffith

Lines

Jeno

 

Pope

Tomlin