58 days....

[TylerB]

Also I'm not saying for a moment that we should be sacking Aspin. He deserves more time, obviously, and it would also be madness. What I am saying is that despite the circumstances, he and the team have been well below par for a couple of months now, and he's not this savior that shouldn't ever be criticized as some try to make him out to be. Stop blaming Smurf, the tea lady or your next door neighbor for us under-performing and not winning games (such as at home to Newport) that we really should be winning and performing a hell of a lot better in.

[Heatwave]

I totally see your point and if we were safe I wud totally agree but things are getting serious now, wud the best option be to accept we are relegated and let Aspo build from non league or take a gamble that a new manager may come in a just possibly cause an instant reaction to pick up just about enough points? Tough one.

 

But non league isn't a given. We have a five point cushion and a game in hand.

 

OK, performances haven't been of the best and the reason for that is obvious - the wrong players for the job, lack of confidence. But we still have to play the bottom 2 as well as some of the other 'contenders' so there's still hope in my book. Until the league table shows us as down I refuse to accept that it's all over.

[Guest]

That's how many days it was when we put high flyers Luton to the sword at Vale Park, and many were thinking that we could storm up the league and perhaps make a genuine late play-off push. Myself included, I'll hold my hands up. Absolutely no one on this site that's now complaining that our squad is woeful, and refusing to put any blame on the manager, were saying the same thing then. Not one.

 

So what the hell has happened in such a short space of time? Awful tactics. Bad team selections. A horrid January window in which we didn't bring in what we needed. Now I'm sure the blame for that goes to one person alone, the chairman, who we all know is a bit of a parasite when it comes to being a chairman. But we only lost a couple of players, including Gavin Gunning, and I'm not having it for a moment that he was the difference between that performance than the absolute dross we've had to endure since. Both the players and the manager have been failing miserably of late, that much is clear, and yet because Aspin is a club legend and one of the best defenders the club has ever had to some he's beyond criticism, which is just ridiculous. Some of the performances of late have been every bit as bad as the one's we had to tolerate under Gannon, Bruno and Brown, which is extremely worrying.

I do agree with all your post .

Its being ridiculous with the level of performance or non , mainly what i have witnessed below our opponents .

I want someone come out and tell the truth is it because the players do not get a win bonus for example as they should do if they win and win as well as what they did v Cov /Luton /Carlisle .

If thats the case i see there gripe however you do not take it out on the folk who work all week to watch you and the person who was turning your career into a successful one .

UTV

[mickyferns]

But non league isn't a given. We have a five point cushion and a game in hand.

 

OK, performances haven't been of the best and the reason for that is obvious - the wrong players for the job, lack of confidence. But we still have to play the bottom 2 as well as some of the other 'contenders' so there's still hope in my book. Until the league table shows us as down I refuse to accept that it's all over.

It's not a given but these players will not play for Neil Aspin, once that relationship is gone how can he get them back?

[Heatwave]

It's not a given but these players will not play for Neil Aspin, once that relationship is gone how can he get them back?

 

You've no proof of that. They had no problem in playing for Aspin in December.

[mikey]

What a surprise......the chuckle brothers spreading doom and misery again.

 

We lost 3 players around the transfer window, Denton, Anderson and Gunning which hasn't helped. Give Aspin a break.

[mickyferns]

You've no proof of that. They had no problem in playing for Aspin in December.

That is exactly my point that reaction when a new manager comes in...

[mickyferns]

What a surprise......the chuckle brothers spreading doom and misery again.

 

We lost 3 players around the transfer window, Denton, Anderson and Gunning which hasn't helped. Give Aspin a break.

Settled on non league football I gather? How can it not be doom and gloom with what we are facing? Give us some positives in your eyes then?

[Fosse69]

We lost two players, Gavin ******* Gunning being one of them! He did alright but by no means was ever the difference for us, and is more than likely missed more for his character than anything he could do on a football pitch. The other was Tom Anderson who again did alright but was never someone who makes a real difference for us. Our best players were and are Worrall, Whitfield and Pope, and we still have all of them at out football club.

 

Aspin started well with us but how many times have we seen that at various football clubs over the years, the 'new manager' effect that boosts a side for a handful of games. It happens all the time at clubs up and down the country. He's obviously handicapped by the chairman but Aspin and Aspin alone is responsible for the teams performances of late.

Difference between 11 players and a team is often a character, the core of a successful team is often around characters, usually defenders, not the stars who don't always twinkle. A team, like any total, is the sum of the parts, my view was what has changed. Trouble is Gunning is doing alright at FGR, Anderson playing in L1 and has scored goals, we are surely weaker without them, water under the bridge though, oh for a Andy Porter.

[Paul6754]

Granted Saturday vale were awful but the previous games this year vale have played ok and been a match for their opponents. Even vs cheltnam vale were the better team for 60 mins but goalkeeping errors cost us, against achy when they got back to 2-2 we had a glorious chance to get back in the lead, against fgr one swing of a foot from 25 yds flew in the top corner for them.

 

It’s not all down to luck but we haven’t had a fair run of the ball coupled with the abysmal jan transfer window and we find ourselves in the doo.

 

If I were aspo I would try and settle on one team, one set of tactics and go for it , vale are still in the driving seat.

 

So we change the manager, for who, we may get the new manager bounce, we may not. If we are gonna take any risks I would prefer we signed one or two out of contract players who could step straight into the team and do a job, an experienced goalkeeper for one.

[Rampant Zebra]

Granted Saturday vale were awful but the previous games this year vale have played ok and been a match for their opponents. Even vs cheltnam vale were the better team for 60 mins but goalkeeping errors cost us, against achy when they got back to 2-2 we had a glorious chance to get back in the lead, against fgr one swing of a foot from 25 yds flew in the top corner for them.

 

It’s not all down to luck but we haven’t had a fair run of the ball coupled with the abysmal jan transfer window and we find ourselves in the doo.

 

If I were aspo I would try and settle on one team, one set of tactics and go for it , vale are still in the driving seat.

 

So we change the manager, for who, we may get the new manager bounce, we may not. If we are gonna take any risks I would prefer we signed one or two out of contract players who could step straight into the team and do a job, an experienced goalkeeper for one.

 

Sounds simple enough! Lucky all the out of contract players are match fit and willing to play for peanuts

[Davebrad]

It's not a given but these players will not play for Neil Aspin, once that relationship is gone how can he get them back?

 

If and its a big if this is the case, how would a relegation, and reports on their performances on their cv's help in getting another club... ns wont pay full time wages in non league can any of them clean windows or hang a stripe of paper?

[SuperValiant1876]

Gavin 'Lionel Ronaldo, Gunning left. We were doomed from that moment.

[Port Vale Paul]

All you Aspin moaners I challenge you to pick a half decent starting 11 out of what we have in current squad. Taking into account who's carrying an injury and who is out injured.

At the end of the day you can dress a t**d up as much as you want, but it will still remain a t**d. The quality is not there. What he (Aspin) has achieved with what he has at his disposal is why we are where we are.

 

Current Squad

Adam Yates

Anthony Kay

Anton Forrester

Ben Whitfield loanee

Billy Reeves

Callum Howe

Charlie Raglan loanee

Charlie Walford

Chris Regis

Cristian Montano

Dan Turner

Danny Pugh

David Worrall

Dior Angus

Donovan Wilson loanee

Graham Kelly loaned out

Harry Middleton

James Gibbons

Joe Davis

Joe Slinn

Kjell Knops

Kyle Howkins loanee

Luke Dennis loaned out

Luke Hannant

Marcus Harness loanee

Michael Tonge

Mike Calveley

Nathan Smith

Rob Lainton

Ryan Boot

Sam Hornby

Tyrone Barnett

Zac Jules loanee

[mr.hobblesworth]

It's Aspin who is choosing to play Tonge and Pugh, and Aspin who is leaving Whitfield and Harness on the bench. It's also Aspin who has ostracised certain players. But, hey, doesn't matter, at least none of our players wear ******* gloves any more.

 

People keep going on about how we had 5 points when he took over but I'm more concerned (and very concerned) about the here and now. I desperately want Aspin and Rudgie to succeed and ram these words (along with the doubts I expressed before he joined us) down my throat but I just don't see it happening.