Matchday Thread: Port Vale v Bradford City

[TheSage]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - if we go down (which is looking more and more likely with each game that passes) it will be in large part because we didn't strengthen the team in the January window and now have a worse XI than we did in December.

Had we signed the 2-3 key players we needed we'd probably have had enough to survive but we don't have strength in depth and we don't have enough quality in both boxes.

 

It was a good, open game yesterday and in the second half after a bit of tinkering we looked more organised and the better team for long spells.

 

I've not been a fan at all of Eagles but you can see he's getting fitter and better each week. It is just a shame he'll be 100% ready in April! But he played well yesterday and in possession he was as good as anyone. He doesn't track back but that's maybe a fitness issue. I wonder if he'd be better in the number ten role and just let him wander around where he likes, trying to support the front two.

 

Both full backs were good. Both put in a real shift and both got stuck in and roused the crowd. Great stuff from them. Well done, Guy and Kiko.

 

We need a lot more from Thomas who was disappointing and not at his best. Foley too needs to grab a goal or create a bit more. He runs and runs but he has to produce something tangible as an end product.

 

What a shame it is that we've got 3-4 lads injured. With the likes of Streete, Cecilia, Walker, etc in the squad I feel we might have won that game. Brown still has the players on board and they had a real go yesterday. Encouraging to see, even if the result wasn't what we wanted. They need to keep going.

[Jacky Noff]

In fairness, I thought there would be a bleep after the w

 

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I really feel for Brown, I think he couldn't get the players he wanted in January and had to settle for those he could attract and he now finds himself right up against it. That said I do think he's getting the team to compete better and we were unfortunate yesterday, the woeful first goal being the killer blow because their winner shouldn't have stood, a Bradford fan admitted to me after the match it was handball.

 

With the classic relegation side problems of not being able to keep a clean sheet and struggling to score ourselves things look grim, however, it isn't over until the female version of Smurf sings and we still have games in hand. Am I the optimist or what?

[MBE]

Just seen their first on TV. Couldn't see it properly from where I was but what on earth was purkiss doing?! He had his back to the ball and just seemed to be trying to take out his man! This from our captain! Idiot

 

Watch the goals we have conceded this season with crosses in the box and tell me how many are because Purkis cannot mark his man? Nearly everyone in the games he played.

It was one of the few things Bruno got right not playing him. The guy is a liability and he is supposed to be the captain and leader - absolute joke.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using the onevalefan mobile app

[bycarspete]

Football all ifs and buts. The effort was there yesterday, we are down to the bare bones. At the game Thought purkiss had reasonable one,but watching hi-lights both goals came from his defending. If Sreete had been available could result have been different, all ifs and buts, the door is still open for the great escape, keeping faith till the door closes

[endonbaz]

Vale fans are not doubt upset that we lost 2-1 as it could have been 2-1 Vale. They battled and showed what they could do as a patched up side today. Before the match it was a certain loss, but they battled and it could have been a draw or a win to the Vale.

 

I had written this game off before kick off, but began to think it could go our way.

 

Yes plenty of effort, but the usual shortcomings comeback to haunt us - mistakes at the back and a real lack of cutting edge up front. Also,why did Michael Brown persist in moaning at the fourth official throughout the match? I know some of the officials are useless but best he focuses on encouraging and organising the team from the touchline.

[rsb]

Yes plenty of effort, but the usual shortcomings comeback to haunt us - mistakes at the back and a real lack of cutting edge up front. Also,why did Michael Brown persist in moaning at the fourth official throughout the match? I know some of the officials are useless but best he focuses on encouraging and organising the team from the touchline.

 

The trouble is it's a contact sport but the rules have changed that much if you so much as blow on a player and he goes down the ref will blow for a foul the first goal Thomas touch the player in the back he went down and they scored we where give a foul at there end right by there penalty box but the ref made us take it three yard further back from there line and a poor cross was put in also why do we stand off the player with the ball when we had it they had three players around him to try and stop hm making a pass you don't have to tackle just get closer to them. all so what is this the player falls over and grabs the ball and the reffs a ward a foul to them as most of the time it's not a foul and they should be given a yellow card for hand ball.

[Aussie Rules]

The trouble is it's a contact sport but the rules have changed that much if you so much as blow on a player and he goes down the ref will blow for a foul the first goal Thomas touch the player in the back he went down and they scored we where give a foul at there end right by there penalty box but the ref made us take it three yard further back from there line and a poor cross was put in also why do we stand off the player with the ball when we had it they had three players around him to try and stop hm making a pass you don't have to tackle just get closer to them. all so what is this the player falls over and grabs the ball and the reffs a ward a foul to them as most of the time it's not a foul and they should be given a yellow card for hand ball.

 

Yes, it would seem more so in the PL. I watched the Chelsea / Swansea game and some of the Chelsea players have turned it into an art form.

[Supper swanny]

Not read all of the posts as too many but just watched the goals back from Saturday and once again captain fantastic at fault for both. Every game he gives give ball away or get caught out and it leads to a goal against. I know we should lot single out individuals but surely if we had more fit players he should not even be in the squad! Been woeful all season.

 

Midfield - I think the 4 we are playing is as good as we can put out but they do tire as the game goes on, and don't have the engines to get up with play and get back hence all the gaps between the strikers. but once again takes Eagles off and we concede straight away, when he was our best player. Why change it when we are in the game and on top? 2nd week running Brown has done this and cost us.

[valeparklife]

The problem is we don't score more than 1 goal per game and conceding at least 1 is an inevitability.

 

We've only scored more than 1 goal 11 times this season (league and cup) out of 39 games so far. That says it all really.

[Worcs White]

The problem is we don't score more than 1 goal per game and conceding at least 1 is an inevitability.

 

We've only scored more than 1 goal 11 times this season (league and cup) out of 39 games so far. That says it all really.

 

Completely agree and said as much in pre-season when we created precious little in games against part timers. Even at that stage we looked totally devoid of any decent offence. We were totally shot shy before a ball was kicked in earnest.

 

I see there is plenty of people happy to have a pop at Purkiss for his mistakes but not giving the same for Hooper's woeful miss at the end of the first half. The goal he did score he gave the keeper a chance to save despite being a yard or two out. I agree with others on here, the team put loads of effort in yesterday and fair play to them but we need more quality to keep us in this division.

[For Us All]

The problem is we don't score more than 1 goal per game and conceding at least 1 is an inevitability.

 

We've only scored more than 1 goal 11 times this season (league and cup) out of 39 games so far. That says it all really.

 

I think the writing was on the wall in pre-season when we failed to score in three of the friendlies.

Jones'y came in and scored goals but when we failed to retain him we went into freefall.We've not looked the same team since.

[Supper swanny]

Completely agree and said as much in pre-season when we created precious little in games against part timers. Even at that stage we looked totally devoid of any decent offence. We were totally shot shy before a ball was kicked in earnest.

 

I see there is plenty of people happy to have a pop at Purkiss for his mistakes but not giving the same for Hooper's woeful miss at the end of the first half. The goal he did score he gave the keeper a chance to save despite being a yard or two out. I agree with others on here, the team put loads of effort in yesterday and fair play to them but we need more quality to keep us in this division.

 

But Purkis does it every single game, you can expect a one off or a few times a season, but look back to goals we concede every week and he is involved some how, a missed tackle, header, not picking up his man. Check You Tube for the goals if you don't believe me.

[valeparklife]

I think the writing was on the wall in pre-season when we failed to score in three of the friendlies.

Jones'y came in and scored goals but when we failed to retain him we went into freefall.We've not looked the same team since.

 

Clinical strikers like Jones are hard to find, but it still leaves me with frustration over the initial deal.

 

Birmingham were keen to get rid of Jones as he was on the verge of going to New Zealand until that fell through. Why did we only sign him for 6 months? Why didn't we sign him on a years loan? Then if he is a success, we have him for the full season, and if he doesn't do well then we can terminate the loan (as we did with Sam Hart)? Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

I don't blame Jones at all for choosing Bradford. It's a no brainer. A higher wage, 19,000 gates and going for promotion vs 4,500 gates, fighting relegation on a lower wage?

[For Us All]

Clinical strikers like Jones are hard to find, but it still leaves me with frustration over the initial deal.

 

Birmingham were keen to get rid of Jones as he was on the verge of going to New Zealand until that fell through. Why did we only sign him for 6 months? Why didn't we sign him on a years loan? Then if he is a success, we have him for the full season, and if he doesn't do well then we can terminate the loan (as we did with Sam Hart)? Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

I don't blame Jones at all for choosing Bradford. It's a no brainer. A higher wage, 19,000 gates and going for promotion vs 4,500 gates, fighting relegation on a lower wage?

 

Alex wanted to keep his options open and only signed until the January transfer window.We can't compete with clubs like Bradford,who have taken Knott and Marshall as well.