Port Vale 0 - Coventry 2

[Alan Baker]

One of the worrying sights was Glover being involved in discussions about the subs.

 

A very, very poor performance on the pitch.

 

Not so much a case of Pope being missed, more a case of would we miss any of them apart from Marshall?

[Santa]

One of the worrying sights was Glover being involved in discussions about the subs.

Hopefully Bede's still got the bAnNeR somewhere.

[TeenValiant]

You would yes. But remember that Nguessen spends half the time playing on the wing. Pope isnt a proven goalscorer at league 1 level.

 

Neither is N'guessan,

Pope has scored 17 goals in 58 league 1 games. Which is 1 every 3.4 For vale

N'guessan has scored 13 in 43 league 1 games. Which is 1 every 3.3

 

So N'guessan isn't really a more Proven league 1 striker.

 

17 of N'guessans 49 career goals came from his days at Lincoln in league 2.

And if we want a proven league 2 scorer, in 2 years at Lincoln he scored 16 goals in 91 games

 

Oh and during his time at Crewe, Pope managed 17 in 56 league 1 games

Which leaves us a grand total of 34 in 114 games 1 every 3.35 and he's played many more league 1 games than N'guessan

 

(Obviously these stats do not tell us where the players played, but if N'guessan was played on the wing surely he's best at scoring there,)

 

So Pope is proven :)

[valiant_593]

One of the worrying sights was Glover being involved in discussions about the subs.

 

A very, very poor performance on the pitch.

 

Not so much a case of Pope being missed, more a case of would we miss any of them apart from Marshall?

 

Today showed we miss O'connor and lines.

[pensioner]

Today was day when certain people could have made a name for themselves - Page included - all bar a couple missed a prime opportunity.

The only objective of todays team tactics was to pass the ball at all times .

NOt necessarily to a White shirt - just pass it about and make it look good - those magic triangles in the Vale penalty were magnificent - Coventry never got anywhere near the Vale players with the ball..... But hang on what did they do then..... Pass it to midfield who were then fell upon by Coventry players and made to fluff their lines . When they did make a FORWARD pass it went eoither to a space where no white shirt had been for about 2 minutes or went straight to a sky blue shirt. Passing is a fine way to get the ball into a shooting possition or to get the ball out to the wings but passing just for passings sake is boreing and ineffective.

And a couple of memos to Mr Page -

1 Please tell the players that a FORWARD pass is not illegal in football -

2 Tell Williamson to sling his hook and give up ambitions of ever becoming a football player - He was as inspiring as a pair of the wifes pants drying on a radiator today

[Conrad]

Says a lot for our midfielders when a LB is played midfield before Birchall or Dodds.

[Little_Al]

A poor display today but certainly not the worst of this season, never mind all time. Have you forgotten the Adams teams displays already? I feel we are making progress under Page but it will take time and there will be mistakes along the way. I do think the team selection and formation was wrong today but was perhaps worth a try in the circumstances. Stating that individual players are rubbish is extremely unhelpful, pointing out where their game can be improved is not. There were far too many high centres into the box where N'Guessan and Williamson were repeatedly out jumped. Daniel did manage to get his head on one very difficult chance - credit for having a go - but those who believe that Pope scores from every header, have clearly been watching on Radio Stoke. Dickinson is not suited to a central midfield role but still produced the best Vale pass of the day - a controlled ball into the space inside the full back - which was made to look bad because no player went for it.

[For Us All]

Today was day when certain people could have made a name for themselves - Page included - all bar a couple missed a prime opportunity.

The only objective of todays team tactics was to pass the ball at all times .

NOt necessarily to a White shirt - just pass it about and make it look good - those magic triangles in the Vale penalty were magnificent - Coventry never got anywhere near the Vale players with the ball..... But hang on what did they do then..... Pass it to midfield who were then fell upon by Coventry players and made to fluff their lines . When they did make a FORWARD pass it went eoither to a space where no white shirt had been for about 2 minutes or went straight to a sky blue shirt. Passing is a fine way to get the ball into a shooting possition or to get the ball out to the wings but passing just for passings sake is boreing and ineffective.

And a couple of memos to Mr Page -

1 Please tell the players that a FORWARD pass is not illegal in football -

2 Tell Williamson to sling his hook and give up ambitions of ever becoming a football player - He was as inspiring as a pair of the wifes pants drying on a radiator today

 

Be careful where you put your pants,there may be a health risk.:);)

 

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/drying-laundry-indoors-poses-a-health-risk-warn-experts-8276607.html

[Birches Head Fred]

Seemed to me that todays line up was engineered to get Vale at least a draw and hope for a goal to win the game. Totally the wrong team selection and tactics. Reminded me of the away game at Colchester last season.

Coventry were there for the taking and we should have gone after them from the start, however yet again Vale contrived to make a very poor side look good.

 

Far too many two-bit players and although I've always stood up for Ben it's time to admit that he really isn't upto the standard required......anything but.

If it's true that the players are in fact away on an Xmas binge then Page and Smurf should have cancelled it and have them training tomorrow all day!

 

Talking of training, just what have they been doing for the last two weeks?.......They've had 2 weeks rest and 2 weeks to practice set-plays, tactics, teamwork etc. Page knew we were weak in midfield therefore he should surely have had the team that started today playing behind closed doors on the training pitch in readiness?

 

Had my work colleagues been given 2 weeks to prepare for a job they are paid and trained to do and then turned in a performance like that then I'm sure some very harsh words would have been spoken.

 

All in all a very very poor game played by two very very poor teams yet one has waltzed off with the points without really having to work for them whilst we are now left looking anxiously at the fixture list and league table. The winterfest period is not one we traditionally do too well in and I can't see this one being any different.

 

All in all, a very depressing afternoon - and problems at the turnstiles coupled with a cold pie didn't really help.

[blackdog]

Hope the boys have a great time in Dublin tonight, :very_drunk: :very_drunk: Sure as hell ruined my weekend.

[Guppy 4 England]

I like Rob page but hea surrounding himself by the same idiots who have helped the club struggle for the last 5 years. Today's team selection and subs were horrendous and seemed to be pretty Dean Glover esque.

 

Sort it out Rob.

[onestepatatime]

I like Rob page but hea surrounding himself by the same idiots who have helped the club struggle for the last 5 years. Today's team selection and subs were horrendous and seemed to be pretty Dean Glover esque.

 

Sort it out Rob.

 

But Page is the gaffer so it's down to him that he got it so,so wrong.

[onestepatatime]

For me Williamson, Birchall, Dodds have to go ASAP:

 

100%.

[TheJoker]

What was the attendance ?

[Shropshire_Valiant]

Very depressing game today, which has been gone into enough already on the thread.

 

Birchall must have some compromising pictures of Page or something? As much as we are short of midfielders atm he seems to the first name in the 16 on matchdays despite offering very little. Having said that he'd have been a better option than Dickinson in CM today.

 

Campion must be wondering what he has to do to get some time on the pitch, how can anyone hope to judge the bloke unless he actually get's a proper chance?