Port Vale 1 Gillingham 1, post match comments

[Warren]

Aside from my rant I thought the team were professional, good defensively and resilient. We need a bit more going forward although but for one superb bit of near post defending by Gillingham second half we would have got a second. Need to dig in at Swindon. They are creative but also vulnerable to conceding so tightest the back and hit with a speedy counter.

[Biddulph_PV]

There are a group of clubs in the South East who get on my wick. Crawley, Stevenage, Colchester, Gillingham et al. They are characterised by the professional foul every time there is a counter attack, fain injury, water bottle time, wasting time and generally being an arrogant unpleasant lot. Gillingham specialised in the cynical counter attack foul today and the way to stop that is for the referee to deem the hauling down offence as violent conduct. Do proper men come from these places?

 

I totally agree. I have to say that Swindle were by far the worst team for that last season, I really hope we give them a taste of their own medicine.

[Warren]

Agree with that. We are a goalkeeping howler sort of three clean sheets and we don't really look like conceding which is a massive improvement on last year. As is the fact we try to pass it to one another.

 

I think keeper was unwise to pick it up, but the pass back was actually a foot in poke away from the attacker and not a set up pass back to the keeper. It went in to a dangerous position and a defender would not normally put the keeper under pressure like that. That all said he should have booted it. A bit unlucky the player was good enough to find the roof of the net on this occasion as that is rarely achieved in those situations. I am very happy with our new keeper.His kicking and cross taking are better than Neal and he is about the same at shot stopping. He is able to kick the ball far and at a flat trajectory and Neal can't do that.

[Warren]

I totally agree. I have to say that Swindle were by far the worst team for that last season, I really hope we give them a taste of their own medicine.

 

Yes, them too.

[Hagrid]

Good first half, poor second.

 

Defense again solid, only goal we've conceded in 3 games is one Alnwick's put on a plate for them. Duffy again superb.

 

Grant ran the midfield, Foley quiet. Andoh very lively, Moore started well and faded badly.

 

Uche is fun to watch but won't be prolific. We still need to sort out the forward line.

 

Decent point.

[Jacko51]

There are a group of clubs in the South East who get on my wick. Crawley, Stevenage, Colchester, Gillingham et al. They are characterised by the professional foul every time there is a counter attack, fain injury, water bottle time, wasting time and generally being an arrogant unpleasant lot. Gillingham specialised in the cynical counter attack foul today and the way to stop that is for the referee to deem the hauling down offence as violent conduct. Do proper men come from these places?

 

Some of Gilingham's tactics today were very questionable. They will have to pay the price though £2.5k fine if you get six or more players booked.

[Black and white]

Sum that game up in 2 words. Rob Page. Hasn't got a clue. Use of subs dire. Get JJ on the bench not has beens. Thrown 4 points away already.

 

Couldn't agree more! We are at home and need to win the game and what does he do bring brown on. If we are winning I can understand that. Then what does he do bring Daniel on. Beggars belief. I'm sorry Norman but u need get rid of this clown. Tactically has not got a clue!

 

Cue the happy clappers!

[TheSage]

Defensively we were very good today. What a player Inniss is - and the other defenders backed him up wonderfully well, including Dicko who was doing the work of two players towards the end. Poor Sam Kelly looked completely out of his depth. It should have been Daniel down the left and AJ up front.

 

Horrible team Gillingham. All their fouls were cynical and professional. I'm surprised they kept 11 on the pitch as Moore and Endoh were fouled continually.

 

Grant also played very well and I can't wait to see him and O'Connor playing together.

 

Up front we do have a problem. Uche, for all his effort, clearly is not a goalscorer. And we never really looked like creating much after half time.

 

He might be hopeless (who knows?) but it was surely worth putting Mr Hooper on the bench for ten minutes. He can't do any worse than what we brought on.

 

They wouldn't let us play today and we came up against a really physically strong, determined team and were founding wanting in the final third.

[fuzzyvalefan]

Very disappointing not to win that. We had the chances; Grant forcing a good save late first half, smashing the underside of the crossbar. Daniel should have won it from Moore's pullback right at the end but got nowhere near the ball.

 

Shouldn't have conceded, the goal was a complete farce from Alnwick picking up a backpass. I remember this happening at home a few years ago to Oldham and the result was the same, only one outcome from a free kick taken 6 yards out. Deserves an absolute rollicking for being so stupid, there was no need to dather on the ball and pick it up.

 

Gillingham are a nasty, nasty side, hacking us down 6/7 times on the break. How they finished with 11 I'll never know.

 

Grant and Andoh were immense. That heel flick and run on goal from Andoh in the first half was sheer class, shame he was hacked down on the edge of the area. Arguable it was denying a clear goal scoring opportunity, the lad was in.

 

I hope the hamstring problem he went off wasn't too bad as Kelly's performance couldn't have been more different to Andoh's. I have high hopes for Kelly after pre-season but his performance today was one of the worst I've ever seen, not at all interested. Walking around ball watching and seriously p1ssing off Dicko who had to keep cleaning up after him.

 

Defence steady again, Inniss looked good and reassured.

 

Moore needs to stop dithering on the ball and getting knocked off so easily. I don't think he's playing with confidence just yet.

 

20 goal a season striker, a fit Andoh, and Grant/O'Connor in the middle and we would be up there.

 

 

Crewe were absolutely mental not to keep Grant.

 

 

 

Wouldn't disagree with much of that.

 

I think there is definitely something there to work with, just concerns me whether we will score enough goals. I said it before the season started and I've seen nothing to alter that viewpoint.

[pensioner]

What no mention of the Pacey Ben Williamson - how he ran through our defence and had shots and headers on target all match. What a pure footballing genius Gillingham have picked up for nothing. I'm sure it wont be long before some championship team are paying a 6 figure fee for him.

 

And if you believe all that 8ollocks you'll believe anything - what an absolute waste of space he was today! I always cringe when old players return to Vale but after 3 minutes all my worries about him disappeared

[George]

Couldn't agree more! We are at home and need to win the game and what does he do bring brown on. If we are winning I can understand that. Then what does he do bring Daniel on. Beggars belief. I'm sorry Norman but u need get rid of this clown. Tactically has not got a clue!

 

Cue the happy clappers!

 

You really are a complete and utter bell end, aren't you.

[Rampant Zebra]

First match of the season for me. Bar a stupid error by the goalie the game was ours. Still rather have Alnwick than Johnson any day. Defence looks sound. Duffy a different player from last year. Inniss a man mountain Purkiss a solid player whilst even Dicko looked defensively secure. Grant phenomenal until he tired near the end. Foley looks a tidy player. Andoh is exciting player I hope the injury is not too bad. Uche big disappointment making me realise how we miss Pope upfront. The less said about Kelly the better. On that showing simply inept. Overall an enjoyable experience. However our nemesis Swindon next. Can we get anything out of that game. Need a forward who can score methinks.

 

I think I said after the Crewe game that Kelly looked out of his depth, only his second league game ever I think so it might be a steep learning curve. I would like to see Ryan LLoyd given a go there.

[Black and white]

You really are a complete and utter bell end, aren't you.

 

That's no way to talk about yourself! Please tell me wen page has done something what may have won us a league game? What is his record in the league say in the last 15 games? Won't make a manager would be better as a scout!

[Samwelo]

Gills fans saying Andoh was fouled in the box, should've been a pen. I reference to Kelly he was poor today but give he lad a chance he's young and raw.

[Bert Llewellyn]

Have to say that I'm rather surprised at the lack of comments on the quality of our goal (perhaps I shouldn't be given who scored it). That finish was pure class and having just watched it again it looks better second time round.

 

I thought Dodds' link up play was superb today. It doesn't always come off but his quick lay offs created a number of openings.

 

Great to watch - now just going to get my tin hat on!