Match Thread: Swindon Town v Port Vale

[TylerB]

Just got back, not sure why I bothered to read through the last few pages other than to catch up the usual trolls and critics who weren’t even there. Who is even putting the player ratings on here? Some of those are way off imo. Are thy based off the radio commentary?

 

Anyway there was very little between both sides today. As a neutral you wouldn’t have thought there was much of a gulf between us as the positions may indicate. But unfortunately yet again it came down to individual errors that have cost us. So my take on those were the first saw Montano switch off for a split second and give Taylor space to run off him, before Richards found space himself in the box whilst our centre halves were ball watching. Second is a complete calamity, poor clearance from Boot and a poor touch from Howkins and they were in one on one. Third looked like Montano got caught under the ball (maybe that’s harsh on him as I’ve not seen it back yet) and I’m not sure their striker meant the finish but it doesn’t matter as it went in. But certainly for the first 2 we can’t keep making errors like that, people will post on here and social media and slate the defence and they will get stick as a collective, but how can you possibly account for individuals going out and making mistakes like that or not doing their jobs properly? You just can’t legislate for it. Listening to Aspin on the way home and he said the same himself, it must be frustrating that it keeps happening. He drops players for bad mistakes and the ones that come in do the same. Howkins started off looking really nervous and Boots kicking was poor for him first half too, I also get the impression from players reactions that he isn’t much of a talker either?

 

Despite those mistakes I thought we looked much more up for it first half, we defended properly, just heading and kicking it away with no frills, midfield pressed better and we scored 2 good goals from set pieces. I thought Tonge and Pugh did well in there. My only criticism (mistakes aside) of that first half is that Gibbons didn’t push on much, although I’m not sure if that’s under orders from the management or maybe their formation dictated that he couldn’t get out. I suspect the latter based on them pushing 3 up front at times.

 

Second half I felt Aspins decision to push Gibbons up was a master stroke, as it not only took Matt Taylor out of the game but it also allowed him more license to push on and get crosses in and that’s exactly what he did. First half Worral and Harness didn’t have the disciple to cut out Taylor’s threat. I thought initially we had gone wing backs but as the half wore on it was definitely 4-4-2 with Hannant and Gibbons pushing up higher when necessary. I don’t think they created much at all second half, and I felt we had the better of it at times, so to concede so late was a killer. I actually thought Montano played well apart from that final goal, especially considering it’s not his natural position. Pope and Barnett battled well and won their fair share of headers. Hannant worked hard again, without as much quality this week and I thought he was lucky to stay on the pitch at the end after that challenge, when he got a bit of revenge on their lad.

 

Overall there’s more positives to take out of this week than last, but if you analyse the goals scored against us this week and last week then the majority come down to individual mistakes.

 

We’ve seen some of our more consistent players namely Smith and Gibbons come in for some over the top stick this week imo, yet we have far more pressing issues in other positions namely keeper and left back for starters. But get used to Smith and Gibbons, they along with Worrall, Hannant and Pope will probably be the players we build a squad around for the next couple of seasons. It’s going to be a huge job for Aspin.

 

Interesting seeing some of the posts on here calling for him to be sacked, which just shows how little understanding some people actually have of our situation and how we got into this mess. How can we be expected to build something if we changed manager again? We’ve already had 2 managers do 2 rebuilding jobs in the last 2 summers and now Aspin has to do the same come this summer. We need stability and time for someone to build it up again, it just isn’t going to happen over night, I think we’re in this league for a few more seasons.

 

I was there and I thought we were *****. Swindon were woeful on the day and yet still beat us and put three past us. Defending well enough for some of the game is absolutely pointless when you have players making mistakes left, right and centre and concede three goals. Not one single person here, perhaps other than yourself, would ever pick Tonge and Pugh together in the middle of the park and yet Aspin seems to love the idea of playing two of Tonge, Pugh and Kay there, meaning we get over-run in midfield time and again.

 

Not sure who has also been calling for him to be sacked either other than MickyFerns, so it seems you've completely made that part up! But Aspin's team selections and substitutes leave a lot to be desired, and have been progressively getting worse.

[Conrad]

I was there and I thought we were *****. Swindon were woeful on the day and yet still beat us and put three past us. Defending well enough for some of the game is absolutely pointless when you have players making mistakes left, right and centre and concede three goals. Not one single person here, perhaps other than yourself, would ever pick Tonge and Pugh together in the middle of the park and yet Aspin seems to love the idea of playing two of Tonge, Pugh and Kay there, meaning we get over-run in midfield time and again.

 

Not sure who has also been calling for him to be sacked either other than MickyFerns, so it seems you've completely made that part up! But Aspin's team selections and substitutes leave a lot to be desired, and have been progressively getting worse.

 

But Aspo can only choose from players at his disposal, he can’t play players we hav’nt got, and that all boils down to Smurthwaites penny pinching, and the only players we can afford are the ones we’re stuck with.

[londonvale]

Excellent post. We were desperate in Jan for a Keeper and a LB. it is absolutely criminal that we did not sign proven players for these positions

 

If Ryan McGovern is available I think he would be worth a contract to season end...just so we've got an actual left back..

[TylerB]

But Aspo can only choose from players at his disposal, he can’t play players we hav’nt got, and that all boils down to Smurthwaites penny pinching, and the only players we can afford are the ones we’re stuck with.

 

Agree to an extent, but nobody here was saying that our squad was as bad as they are now when Aspin first arrived and we had some decent results, or throughout December. It's up to the manager alone to select the right team and formation, and get the best out of the players he does have as his desposal. And personally speaking I don't think he's been doing that lately hence such as shocking run of results and some woeful performances.

[elav trop 1876]

I was there and I thought we were *****. Swindon were woeful on the day and yet still beat us and put three past us. Defending well enough for some of the game is absolutely pointless when you have players making mistakes left, right and centre and concede three goals. Not one single person here, perhaps other than yourself, would ever pick Tonge and Pugh together in the middle of the park and yet Aspin seems to love the idea of playing two of Tonge, Pugh and Kay there, meaning we get over-run in midfield time and again.

 

Not sure who has also been calling for him to be sacked either other than MickyFerns, so it seems you've completely made that part up! But Aspin's team selections and substitutes leave a lot to be desired, and have been progressively getting worse.

 

I didn't go yesterday so cant comment, but 2 goals away from home and in the game until the final few minutes against a promotion chasing team aint bad with the quality we have....Aspin had a settled team in December but January had it ripped apart, now he is trying to grind out results with different permutations and personnel as he tries to find a settled competitive formula .I will back Neil as this isn't his team - he inherited old legs and young lads and told he can only sign u23 non league players with a budget to suit lower non league teams...

 

I will judge Neil when he has a good budget (£1.3-£1.5 mil)to spend how he sees fit whether that's transfer fees or players wages only then will it be his team- I really feel for him and appreciated he is trying move forward whilst in chains with the owner tied to his back...

Neil keep up the good work you have my support

[TylerB]

I didn't go yesterday so cant comment, but 2 goals away from home and in the game until the final few minutes against a promotion chasing team aint bad with the quality we have....Aspin had a settled team in December but January had it ripped apart, now he is trying to grind out results with different permutations and personnel as he tries to find a settled competitive formula .I will back Neil as this isn't his team - he inherited old legs and young lads and told he can only sign u23 non league players with a budget to suit lower non league teams...

 

I will judge Neil when he has a good budget (£1.3-£1.5 mil)to spend how he sees fit whether that's transfer fees or players wages only then will it be his team- I really feel for him and appreciated he is trying move forward whilst in chains with the owner tied to his back...

Neil keep up the good work you have my support

 

Keep up the good work... Have you noticed our form since that home game against Luton?

 

I'm by no means saying he shouldn't be in the job, and you're right in that he has to be given next season no matter what. But he's done little so far to make me think that he's this saviour of the club as some people seem to. He's a bang average lower league manager which is what we're stuck with.

[sandyford_valiant]

What’s happened to Ben Whitfield? He had the good December period playing in behind Pope and looked a threat and now he can’t even get in the team at all.

 

Attitude? Or just a young lad who will have a few good games and then awful for the next 2 months?..

 

Either way he seemed our only creative spark and surprised he’s not playing after what seemed a big effort to get him to resign until the end of the season.

 

Strange along with everything else at the club.

[PV1973]

I was there and I thought we were *****. Swindon were woeful on the day and yet still beat us and put three past us. Defending well enough for some of the game is absolutely pointless when you have players making mistakes left, right and centre and concede three goals. Not one single person here, perhaps other than yourself, would ever pick Tonge and Pugh together in the middle of the park and yet Aspin seems to love the idea of playing two of Tonge, Pugh and Kay there, meaning we get over-run in midfield time and again.

 

Not sure who has also been calling for him to be sacked either other than MickyFerns, so it seems you've completely made that part up! But Aspin's team selections and substitutes leave a lot to be desired, and have been progressively getting worse.

What standard of football are people expecting here in league 2? It’s a battle in every game. There is very little between most of the teams. The difference for us has been stupid mistakes, you can’t legislate for that. Those that stand out like Luton and Mansfield for example have good centre midfielders and go through them and can mix up their play. Most sides don’t as there isn’t actually that much stand out quality in many of the sides.

 

So you dont think Tonge and Pugh played well yesterday? That’s fair enough. I did. But who else do we have to play there? Does Aspin change it up again and try Regis and Middleton? They can’t be doing enough in training and reserve games to impress.

 

I made nothing up either. When I got home last night I was noseying through here and the 2 Facebook groups and there were posts from idiots calling to sack the manager. We have to be realistic and realise this mess won’t be sorted by changing manager every season, someone needs time in the job and I think it’ll take more than next season to right us.

 

I agree on some of the selection choices and tactics recently. Look at the last 3 Home games where we didn’t start playing til the second half because for whatever reason our first half goal was too defensive minded or ponderous. When we push players on then we looked more threatening.

 

There was lots of criticism of yesterday’s subs, all enforced through injury though. Although listening to Aspins post match radio interview he hinted he was going to make the change at right midfield anyway, that one with Davis and Gibbons certainly worked well.

 

Following yesterday’s performance if players can cut individuals mistakes I think we’ll be ok. But look at the last 2 games there’s nothing the management can do about keepers having a bad game or players not doing the roles they’ve been given to track opposition danger men or players losing the ball on the edge of the box. All mistakes that we got punished for.

[TylerB]

What’s happened to Ben Whitfield? He had the good December period playing in behind Pope and looked a threat and now he can’t even get in the team at all.

 

Attitude? Or just a young lad who will have a few good games and then awful for the next 2 months?..

 

Either way he seemed our only creative spark and surprised he’s not playing after what seemed a big effort to get him to resign until the end of the season.

 

Strange along with everything else at the club.

 

Clearly the manager has not been using him correctly for whatever reason since his loan was extended. But he is a young lad and is obviously going to blow how and cold no matter where you play him.

[Conrad]

Agree to an extent, but nobody here was saying that our squad was as bad as they are now when Aspin first arrived and we had some decent results, or throughout December. It's up to the manager alone to select the right team and formation, and get the best out of the players he does have as his desposal. And personally speaking I don't think he's been doing that lately hence such as shocking run of results and some woeful performances.

 

But the squad Aspo had when he first arrived was stronger than it is now, I know Gunning isn’t a world beater but we hav’nt won since he left, coincidence? Also Anderson, who scored 2 for Donny yesterday, is better than we have now.

I realise Anderson was recalled by Burnley and we couldn’t do anything about that, but the fact remains it’s a weaker squad.

[TylerB]

But the squad Aspo had when he first arrived was stronger than it is now, I know Gunning isn’t a world beater but we hav’nt won since he left, coincidence? Also Anderson, who scored 2 for Donny yesterd, is better than we have now.

I realise Anderson was recalled by Burnley and we couldn’t do anything about that, but the fact remains it’s a weaker squad.

 

We probably miss Gunning more for his character than his footballing ability, but a miss if a miss all the same. I thought Anderson was bang average, and him being better than Nathan Smith is hardly an endorsement. If we had lost players like Worrall and/or Pope I would agree more. But the difference between how we were performing in December to what we've been stuck with for the last month or so isn't because of us losing Gunning and Anderson, in my opinion!

[soothsayer]

Just got back, not sure why I bothered to read through the last few pages other than to catch up the usual trolls and critics who weren’t even there. Who is even putting the player ratings on here? Some of those are way off imo. Are thy based off the radio commentary?

 

Anyway there was very little between both sides today. As a neutral you wouldn’t have thought there was much of a gulf between us as the positions may indicate. But unfortunately yet again it came down to individual errors that have cost us. So my take on those were the first saw Montano switch off for a split second and give Taylor space to run off him, before Richards found space himself in the box whilst our centre halves were ball watching. Second is a complete calamity, poor clearance from Boot and a poor touch from Howkins and they were in one on one. Third looked like Montano got caught under the ball (maybe that’s harsh on him as I’ve not seen it back yet) and I’m not sure their striker meant the finish but it doesn’t matter as it went in. But certainly for the first 2 we can’t keep making errors like that, people will post on here and social media and slate the defence and they will get stick as a collective, but how can you possibly account for individuals going out and making mistakes like that or not doing their jobs properly? You just can’t legislate for it. Listening to Aspin on the way home and he said the same himself, it must be frustrating that it keeps happening. He drops players for bad mistakes and the ones that come in do the same. Howkins started off looking really nervous and Boots kicking was poor for him first half too, I also get the impression from players reactions that he isn’t much of a talker either?

 

Despite those mistakes I thought we looked much more up for it first half, we defended properly, just heading and kicking it away with no frills, midfield pressed better and we scored 2 good goals from set pieces. I thought Tonge and Pugh did well in there. My only criticism (mistakes aside) of that first half is that Gibbons didn’t push on much, although I’m not sure if that’s under orders from the management or maybe their formation dictated that he couldn’t get out. I suspect the latter based on them pushing 3 up front at times.

 

Second half I felt Aspins decision to push Gibbons up was a master stroke, as it not only took Matt Taylor out of the game but it also allowed him more license to push on and get crosses in and that’s exactly what he did. First half Worral and Harness didn’t have the disciple to cut out Taylor’s threat. I thought initially we had gone wing backs but as the half wore on it was definitely 4-4-2 with Hannant and Gibbons pushing up higher when necessary. I don’t think they created much at all second half, and I felt we had the better of it at times, so to concede so late was a killer. I actually thought Montano played well apart from that final goal, especially considering it’s not his natural position. Pope and Barnett battled well and won their fair share of headers. Hannant worked hard again, without as much quality this week and I thought he was lucky to stay on the pitch at the end after that challenge, when he got a bit of revenge on their lad.

 

Overall there’s more positives to take out of this week than last, but if you analyse the goals scored against us this week and last week then the majority come down to individual mistakes.

 

We’ve seen some of our more consistent players namely Smith and Gibbons come in for some over the top stick this week imo, yet we have far more pressing issues in other positions namely keeper and left back for starters. But get used to Smith and Gibbons, they along with Worrall, Hannant and Pope will probably be the players we build a squad around for the next couple of seasons. It’s going to be a huge job for Aspin.

 

Interesting seeing some of the posts on here calling for him to be sacked, which just shows how little understanding some people actually have of our situation and how we got into this mess. How can we be expected to build something if we changed manager again? We’ve already had 2 managers do 2 rebuilding jobs in the last 2 summers and now Aspin has to do the same come this summer. We need stability and time for someone to build it up again, it just isn’t going to happen over night, I think we’re in this league for a few more seasons.

 

Great post. The time for recriminations is when the season's finished. Everyone needs to get behind the team until then and hope we have 5 more wins in us otherwise oblivion awaits.......

 

We all know what we need as does the Manager but we have what we have and need to make the best of it. 100% effort now required from the players - no more Cheltenhams!!!

 

 

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[Conrad]

Great post. The time for recriminations is when the season's finished. Everyone needs to get behind the team until then and hope we have 5 more wins in us otherwise oblivion awaits.......

 

We all know what we need as does the Manager but we have what we have and need to make the best of it. 100% effort now required from the players - no more Cheltenhams!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using the onevalefan mobile app

 

We hav’nt won this year yet the gap to the drop places still remains at 7 points, dare I say we could get away with just another 3 or 4 wins?

[soothsayer]

We hav’nt won this year yet the gap to the drop places still remains at 7 points, dare I say we could get away with just another 3 or 4 wins?

 

I hope you're right but we have the bottom two to play and lose against them and 3 wins will not be enough.

 

 

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[Rampant Zebra]

One win soon would be a start!

 

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