Match Thread: Port Vale v Crawley Town.

[Erniemossrules]

A win at home on Saturday and we're safe I reckon. I would personally go with:

 

4-3-2-1: Hornby; Gibbons, Smith, Howkins, Montano; Worrall, Kay, Hannant; Whitfield, Turner; Pope

 

The typical 'Christmas tree' formation. I've thought for a while that it would suit the players we have. Whitfield and Turner to support Pope but drop back when required. Worrall and Hannant tuck in but help the wing backs. Kay protects the back 4, and drops in when one of the full backs pushes on.

 

Hopefully once we're safe we'll see more of players like Turner, Howe etc. to bed them in for next year, and leave out players who aren't in future plans (Barnett, Tonge?)

 

Turner isn’t ready for league football.Tamworth sent him back because he wasn’t good enough at their level.Better to play Tonge and if necessary bring Turner on later in the match.

Crewe would,not have scored their second goal if Tonge was still on.

[Erniemossrules]

Cleaning lady or even Pope could play in the goal.

 

Give one of the many young goalies we have at the club a chance with the first team if Boot and Lainton are injured and unable to be on the bench. It will give them some experience of being with the first team and show them what they could achieve with a bit of work.

 

Problem is both Hornby and Lainton are on 2 year deals so need to freeze Lainton out then he might get the message and leave.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Turner isn’t ready for league football.Tamworth sent him back because he wasn’t good enough at their level.

 

Do you know that was the reason or is it just your opinion? I agree he isn't ready to be a first choice striker but seeing as he scored three goals at the start of the season in L2 and has shown some good skills and workrate in his time on the pitch for us I'd think he certainly has the ability to become a regular first teamer as he gains body strength and experience. I could be wrong but that's my opinion at this moment in time.

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Problem is both Hornby and Lainton are on 2 year deals so need to freeze Lainton out then he might get the message and leave.

 

I wouldn't hold your breath, for Lainton to leave he'll have to get fixed up somewhere else unless Gorm pays him up and who'd want him? His injury record reads like a study from The Lancet.

[PV1973]

Tamworth sent him back because he wasn’t good enough at their level.

Completely untrue. He only went on a month long deal and they sacked their manager 3 weeks in to that.

[mbycars]

Turner isn’t ready for league football.Tamworth sent him back because he wasn’t good enough at their level.Better to play Tonge and if necessary bring Turner on later in the match.

Crewe would,not have scored their second goal if Tonge was still on.

 

They wouldn't have scored the 1st if Hornby had been on.

[ollyandpatch]

A real 'after the Lord mayor's show' game after the roller coaster Easter weekend. Crawley always score so need to be at it today.

[Guest]

I have read Popey comments in sentinel about Chesterfield game and he delivered along with the team .

Then i have read Kays comment Catch us if you can ,a rather arrogant misguided comment .

Today is no different than last fri its a massive game with hopefully a bare minumum 5000 Vale fans there ,the advertising may mean less as i dont think the two for one as reached the people it needs reach (the unknown the folk we have to attract to the club to keep it healthy ).

UTV im expecting every player be at full tilt today as the club cannot afford sloppiness on the pitch as a few defeats changes everything .

[valiant_593]

Hornby

 

Gibbons

Howkins

Smith

Montano

 

Worrall

Hannant

Kay

Harness

 

Whitfield

 

Pope

[SourceOfTheTrent]

This is our 'get over the line' chance and we need to take it. Let's hope the players are up for it both mentally and physically.

[SFBT]

Pretty sure Tonge will start, alongside Kay. I'm resigned to this. It seems to be Aspos preference to have experience in the team and these two provide it.

It's catch 22 as we only have youth or experience in centre mid.

Hannant is the best option in left midfield as he is defensively aware.

Ideally, we would also have his legs in the middle, but he can't play both positions.

Although he made a good effort at doing both against Chesterfield.

I sincerely hope that we have more players in their prime next season.

I generally consider Whitfield to be most effective as an impact sub, coming on when the game is stretched and players tire.

[valefan16]

Big game as probably our best chance on paper to get the win and virtually seal the requirement needed.

 

If we can win oddly a Barnet and Chesterfield win may suit us as keeps Grimsby 7 behind and FGR 6 with us having virtually another point with our GD on top of that.

[Shropshire_Valiant]

Turner's a strange one was arguably one of the better players albeit in the disaster under Brown yet Aspin for whatever reason clearly doesn't fancy him. Lainton should never have been signed with his injury record, I'd get rid but it's another costly mistake for the club, then it's between Hornby and Boot for 2nd choice behind hopefully a solid new keeper for next season!

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

Turner's a strange one was arguably one of the better players albeit in the disaster under Brown yet Aspin for whatever reason clearly doesn't fancy him.

 

Reckon Turner will be released as he's clearly only the 4th choice striker at the moment & seemingly not rated by Aspin.

[The Kalamazoo Kid]

Lainton should never have been signed with his injury record, I'd get rid but it's another costly mistake for the club, then it's between Hornby and Boot for 2nd choice behind hopefully a solid new keeper for next season!

 

Agree with all that. Lainton is a liability & we desperately need a proper keeper (as we have for the last 15 months!)

 

As for 2nd choice keeper, that should be a simple decision, with Hornby having another 12 months on his contract while Boot's expires this Summer.

 

Release Boot, retain Hornby, attempt to reach a settlement with Lainton & (finally!) bring in a decent 1st choice keeper.