Chester v The Mighty Whites, SVA Pre-season ???

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

My fear is that Brown is sacrificing skill, technical ability and creativity for a bunch of blokes that he likes who'll run around a lot and kick people, much like he used to.

 

I was up in Leeds over the weekend with a few Leeds fans who couldn't help but notice the ex Leeds/Sheff Utd players that we've signed and feared for us. I'm not expecting this season to be pretty or have a sniff of promotion.

 

My fear too along with the muscle injuries we consistently seem to be picking up.

 

 

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[Santa]

What is also worrying Santa is that they may be hard working and a great bunch of lads but they're also 30+ so how much running around are they going to be doing 10 games into a hectic season?

I worry about the central midfield pairing if it's Tonge and Pugh.

 

Are they just going to 'sit in' and let the wingers and Pyke do all the running?

[NellyTheValiant]

I worry about the central midfield pairing if it's Tonge and Pugh.

 

Are they just going to 'sit in' and let the wingers and Pyke do all the running?

 

Can't see any other plan at the moment, issue is that we only have 1 winger, oh and 1 of the pair in the middle I don't rate and is 34 the other is 34 should it be Tonge. He may go with De Freitas and surprise us and get another CM in before Saturday. He can then use one from 2 and I'm praying that Tonge is better than Pugh.

[MBE]

I worry about the central midfield pairing if it's Tonge and Pugh.

 

Are they just going to 'sit in' and let the wingers and Pyke do all the running?

 

Yes!

 

 

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[Tomo]

Can't see any other plan at the moment, issue is that we only have 1 winger, oh and 1 of the pair in the middle I don't rate and is 34 the other is 34 should it be Tonge. He may go with De Freitas and surprise us and get another CM in before Saturday. He can then use one from 2 and I'm praying that Tonge is better than Pugh.

 

If Montano isn't in then ADF on the wing & those 2 to stay in the centre probably (unless we sign someone). An ideal midfield for me would be one of ADF/Guy (if we can get him) alongside Tonge, with Montano & Harness on the wings.

[Santa]

Tonge hasn't signed yet officially, has he? Although I notice he's in the team photo.

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

Tonge hasn't signed yet officially, has he? Although I notice he's in the team photo.

 

Is he? Well, it's been a certainty for weeks now, with how Brown has been praising him up. You'd almost think they were old mates or something!

 

Suppose Yates is on the team photo too?

 

I assume that Eardley has now left, not heard anything on him since the last friendly before the Spain trip?

[werstayinup]

Is he? Well, it's been a certainty for weeks now, with how Brown has been praising him up. You'd almost think they were old mates or something!

 

Suppose Yates is on the team photo too?

 

I assume that Eardley has now left, not heard anything on him since the last friendly before the Spain trip?

 

Yates is on the pic,Eardley has left and Brown says Tonge will be pay as you play related and wants to get him help on the coaching side more

[NellyTheValiant]

If Montano isn't in then ADF on the wing & those 2 to stay in the centre probably (unless we sign someone). An ideal midfield for me would be one of ADF/Guy (if we can get him) alongside Tonge, with Montano & Harness on the wings.

 

Guy won't be fit for a while yet and TBH I'd like to get someone bigger in the middle to give us a bit more height something that we're lacking all over the park. Oh to get another Robbie Earle or Ian Taylor.

[mr.hobblesworth]

Oh to get another Robbie Earle or Ian Taylor.

 

I'd be grateful for a George O'Callaghan or Andreas Lipa the way things stand. :(

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

Guy won't be fit for a while yet...

 

Exactly. Isn't he still recovering from the injury that he picked up with us, in what, March? So, he won't have played a single minute since that time and has probably not done much, if any, proper pre-season work.

 

My concern is that Brown is pinning all of his hopes for filling the desperately-needed central midfield role on getting Guy back, but if the above assumptions are correct then he'll be way off being match-fit and ready, and that's if Brown manages to sign him on loan again anyway.

 

The other concern is that his back-up plan (while waiting for Guy to sign and/or be fit) is to pair Pugh and Tonge in the centre of midfield. I would say that we'd get overrun with those two in there, but the opposition probably wouldn't even need to run that much......a brisk walking pace would be enough!

[Shropshire_Valiant]

Saturday was the first time I'd seen us. Certainly a good workout against a lively Chester side who have some good young talent themselves.

 

I thought we played OK in fits and starts, obviously pre-season is generally just a fitness exercise and getting used to team mates for new players so you'll rarely see players going gung ho. However I still worry where goals outside of the the front 2 will come from so if they have a baron spell we could be up **** creak(midfield mainly I honestly don't see anyone scoring many in there at all). Smith and Kay may well weigh in with a few off set pieces but otherwise we're relying heavily on Pope and Pyke. That said I thought both looked capable, Popey had 2 or 3 headed chances which were unlucky not to go in and Pyke took his goal well(although it was a complete gift!).

 

Of the wingers Montano didn't have much impact, I thought Harness grew into the game well and 2nd half had some good runs. You'd hope the bigger pitch at VP will give both a chance to stretch their legs and get some service to the strikers? Hope Montano isn't too bad with the injury?

I thought Tonge actually looked the most composed player in terms of passing but agree with the consensus having two players 33+ in there may not be the best of ideas against any side with a bit of pace in there we'll get overrun.

Pugh I honestly thought was anonymous and forgot he was on the pitch a time or two. We need a younger lad with a bit of energy and a few goals in there(easy said that done I know but oh for a Van der Laan, Ian Taylor or even Bridgey or Cummins type player right now!)

 

Defence was pretty solid Smith and Kay I'm hopeful will compliment each other well, I thought Gunning didn't do too bad considering he isn't a left back but a specialist player there too would be helpful.

 

Overall still a few questions to be answered and I'm sort of sitting on the fence a bit if anyone asks me how will Vale will do this season, but we shall see at Crawley on Saturday!