Matchday Thread: Port Vale v Crewe Alex

[Lady_Vale]

I actually think the second half performance was encouraging. Hopefully Brown can see the reason we were better was because we had two central strikers on the pitch. When we went up from L2 we had Pope and Hughes central and that's what required. I actually think we have a few decent footballers now but the we needed them 2 months ago. We are doing our preseason during the season.

 

 

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I think this game proves what a poor manager brown is.

 

He takes credit for himself in saying that he was brave.....yeah! AFTER the sending off! Only circumstances forced him to be 'brave'.

[melv]

Artell is a disgrace he called Vale fans uneducated during his interview on Radio Stoke and just as disgusting was that he wasn't even pulled up for his comment

[Hagrid]

Didn't even mention subbing Harness and giving the only lad who's scoring for us 2 minutes at the end.

 

"But he needs time". I'd give him as long as he gave our top scorer today whilst 1-0 down.

[Martino Knockavelli]

Who is to blame? The players? Brown? Or Norman Smurthwaite?

[Erniemossrules]

If we lose will you go?

 

Bye,bye Howjy04.

[Portvale4]

Genuinely gutted after that, in my opinion we didn't deserve it. Played well second half after an OK first half. Pope was showing signs of his old self, winning everything in the air and holding the ball up well. However, in the first half that came to no good due no one offering him any support. Then he brings on Pyke up front with him and the game changes and we look better. Whitfield looked pure class today, didn't stop running all game. Special mention to Worrall who also looked good considering he's only played one game this season. Poor result but a promising performance.

 

 

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[beasty77]

Who is to blame? The players? Brown? Or Norman Smurthwaite?

 

Smurf 100%..If Brown goes , Kelly or Morgan will get the job..its always the cheap option every ******* time. And were just sinking deeper and deeper every single week.

[bar1]

Played as well as I've seen us play with 10 in the 2nd half and desperate unlucky not get something. However... Brown lost us that game (along with Tongue's stupidity) with his first half team selection and tactics. It's evident we have the players but Brown doesn't know how to utilise them. Two tough looking games ahead as well

 

 

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[bar1]

The only solace I have this evening, as we slip down to 21st in the basement tier, on the back of 4 league defeats including one against our rivals, is that once again, I've been proven right.

 

We've ended today with a centre half at right back, and a horrendous mess in front of that. If anyone can tell me what our plan was today I'll give them a fiver.

 

Pope isolated first half; bring on Pyke, suddenly Pope looks twice the player. It isn't hard is it? Brown tells us we had a front 3 first half...

 

Smith and Kay isn't working. Free header for Dagnall's goal, free header for Porter just before which he put wide, free header second half that necessitated a good save from Hornby. Smith doesn't look the same player.

 

Browny comes on the radio and tells us he was brave by lobbing Pyke on at half time. Why didn't he be brave at the start and start with him then? Everyone in the ground knew having Pope flanked by two wingers wouldn't work. But nah, not Browny. But he's brave, which he felt the need to tell us.

 

We huffed and puffed, as Artell accurately and frustratingly put it, but bar Pope's header down on the line there wasn't many 'clear-cut' chances. Our approach for all season has been to 'get it to t' flanks, whip it in t' Popey'.

 

I'm not having the spiel about 'he needs time to settle it'. 30 games he's had now and he still doesn't know the basics of football management. Swindon have had a new manager and a lot of new players, and they're 9th, not 22nd. Brown survived his first 6 months through 'Its Bruno's squad', and now its his squad, 'he needs till Christmas'. How long can he survive off of these technicalities, and not his own achievements?

 

Fair play to Crewe, created 3 good chances first half (are people forgetting they hit the bar after 30 seconds) and bar 2 good saves from Hornby 2nd half could have wrapped it up. Their 15 year olds who sneak flares in and think they're at a Russian derby are always good for a chuckle.

 

Keep telling yourself Brown needs time. Won 6, drawn 7, lost 16. Time's running out.

 

Agreed on Kay, looking a real weak link at the back right now. Davis at right back as well, ******* madness.

 

 

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[Erniemossrules]

He's the worst manager we've ever had.

 

And we've had Glover.

 

Just let that sink in.

 

He HAS to go.

Be careful what you wish for on previous form Chris Morgan will be appointed caretaker manager if Brown goes.

Why can't Norman and his puppets Fradley and Garlick realise that we need an experienced Manager like Steve Cotterill to stop the rot.

[jeffers]

As the saying goes we huffed and puffed but couldn't break them down. I really held Smurf responsible for our demise but after his team selection and substitutions I have got to wonder where we are going with Brown. We are a one trick pony, long ball to Pope then pick up the knock-on..... pity we had to wait until second half to give him the support. We apparently have a seasoned centre half as coach....really. Smith has gone backwards and Kay is garbage. Why play Davis at full back when in Gibbons we have someone equally inexperienced but a natural full back. Sort the defence out and maybe we can make progress. But what do I know.

[Vital Spark]

Artell is a disgrace he called Vale fans uneducated during his interview on Radio Stoke and just as disgusting was that he wasn't even pulled up for his comment

 

He shouldn't even be in football. Whilst at Rhyl he was involved in match-fixing - he should be banned from the game.

I've no respect for the numb-skull for how he jumped ship on us a few years back. As it happens we did just fine without him.

 

 

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[Erniemossrules]

Brown seriously thinks he played an attacking line up with Pope up front being fed by the midfielders breaking out from midfield to support him. To me it seemed like players pumping high balls to Tom Pope who was 40 yards in front of them.

The marking for Crewe,s goal was atrocious to give Dagnall a free header.Davis,s poor pass out to Crewe cost us the first goal and I was surprised they weren't 3 up by halftime.

[melv]

He shouldn't even be in football. Whilst at Rhyl he was involved in match-fixing - he should be banned from the game.

I've no respect for the numb-skull for how he jumped ship on us a few years back. As it happens we did just fine without him.

 

 

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He will deserve all the still that he will get next time we play Crewe.

[Guest TommyMac]

Smith doesn't look the same player.

 

Smith's drop in form has coincided with the appointment of Chris Morgan who has failed miserably in all his coaching roles. But then he's Brown's mate.