Gillingham 3 Port Vale 2, Post match chat

[fraggle]

For goodness sake guys give Jones a rest the guy has been out injured for an age and you slate him for having an off game - Mickys picks the team and it's his fault if he's off the pace for putting straight back in!

[Bogie Boogie]

By now we should have a settled 11 but that are used to playing together - the fact that we haven't has cost us again.

[Fosse69]

From Roker Report (Development Squad)

 

Meanwhile, Billy Knott came on as substitute to make his Port Vale debut. Vale were 3-0 down away to Gillingham at the time but inspired by Knott made a late come back attempt but just fell short as they lost 3-2, with Knott getting an assist for the first from a corner

[andy jones]

we should have signed Akinfenwa years ago - not to pick him, just to make sure he couldn't play against us.

 

16 stone of lard and he scores against us for fun.

[andy jones]

didnt go yesterday - so wont join in the debate on individual players, some of which seems a bit OTT, particularly as many of the posters probably weren't at the match.

[journal]

Agree the defence shocking we need proper defenders in build the team from the back

[George is here]

Our defence is our defence. There are no magic cures in the months a head and matches to come.

 

That said, there are things we can do at basic level which can help. As said yesterday, at least for a while, we should have players on both posts at corner's at least. It is not fashionable today to have any on posts but some of the goals you see conceded such as their 1st goal yesterday, are easily stopped with a player on the post.

[Bycarsbill]

Akinfenwa can hardly lift one leg in front of the other, and is a L2 striker at best, yet he managed to plunder 2 goals yesterday.

We need a good spine in the team right now.

 

Tom Pope was apparently given the job of marking him at set-pieces. Having now seen footage of the game, Tom was as useless at this task as any of our defenders--he was too easily out-muscled. It's all right suggesting that Akinfenwa is L2 striker quality at best, but unfortunately he all too often scores against us--so what does that say about the standard of our defenders?

[Howjy04]

Tom Pope was apparently given the job of marking him at set-pieces. Having now seen footage of the game, Tom was as useless at this task as any of our defenders--he was too easily out-muscled. It's all right suggesting that Akinfenwa is L2 striker quality at best, but unfortunately he all too often scores against us--so what does that say about the standard of our defenders?

 

I appreciate Tom was given the job but why wasn't Robbo? Bigger,stronger,taller than Tom? Then Tom is supposed to smack them in at the other end.Does Micky think Popey is Roy Race or the new Duncan Edwards?

[tommytunstall]

Agree with your comments. It was painful watching the highlights. Hope the players felt the same, mind you they have watched similar games this season, we need to improve, all teams will now target us at set pieces.

Our defence is our defence. There are no magic cures in the months a head and matches to come.

 

That said, there are things we can do at basic level which can help. As said yesterday, at least for a while, we should have players on both posts at corner's at least. It is not fashionable today to have any on posts but some of the goals you see conceded such as their 1st goal yesterday, are easily stopped with a player on the post.

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

I appreciate Tom was given the job but why wasn't Robbo? Bigger,stronger,taller than Tom? Then Tom is supposed to smack them in at the other end.Does Micky think Popey is Roy Race or the new Duncan Edwards?

 

Because they had other players who were a threat too, namely the centre halves who marked Pope out of the game. To be fair he didn't score or create chances and didn't defend so well either. Whilst we shouldn't be looking to castigate individuals he has failed to do most of his jobs on Saturday so to compare him to Roy of the Rovers is a tad dramatic :)

[geosname]

to compare him to Roy of the Rovers is a tad dramatic :)

 

But thats what he was last season, the guy who popped up at the end of crosses, was in the right place for a rebound, found space in a crowd and created his own chances from next to nothing... perhaps its Rovers who have changed not Roy?

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

But thats what he was last season, the guy who popped up at the end of crosses, was in the right place for a rebound, found space in a crowd and created his own chances from next to nothing... perhaps its Rovers who have changed not Roy?

 

Even his own comments state he's been average.

 

I'd say you can see that he's clearly not as fit as he was last season. He's playing at a noticably higher standard of football to which everyone has had to adapt and he's struggling somewhat.

 

I think like the rest of the squad over the season he's done great (i looked back at pre-season predictions and couldn't find one serious one that thought we would be on the edge of the play offs) but at times Neal and Loft aside players have needed breaks to focus and channel themselves. For me he looks like he needs a rest as although we are scoring regularly he doesn't look like he can at the moment and there is little power to his play.