Match Thread Port Vale v Wolverhampton Wanderers

[Class personified]

Pope is too important a player to lose especially at the beginning of the season. It would knock morale.

[Fosse69]

Also shows what we have to fill his shoes, as almost certain to miss some games during the season.

[valeparklife]

Who is the trialist that has come on for Worrall?

[valeparklife]

Also shows what we have to fill his shoes, as almost certain to miss some games during the season.

 

This is why I was hoping we were going to sign Harry Smith. Could have been a good understudy to Pope and at 6'5, someone to throw on for the last 10 mins of a game we're chasing. Pope could've mentored him too. Hopefully with Quigley being a big lad he can do that?

[PV1973]

Hopefully with Quigley being a big lad he can do that?

From what Quigley has shown so far he’s a player who’s got no jump on him and hardly uses his body to put himself about. His hold up play is nowhere that of Popes either.

[valiant steve]

I'm in sunny (scorching) Cornwall. What's the score?

[SourceOfTheTrent]

I'm in sunny (scorching) Cornwall. What's the score?

Jammy git! I love it down there. Do me a favour and have a pint of Proper Job, gorgeous!

BTW I'm not at the match but last I heard it was still 2-2

[SourceOfTheTrent]

Finished 2-2

[PV1973]

I think tonight showed again that we are susceptible to a ball over the top with Monty and Legg.

 

Monty was getting caught in front of his man, but his pace gets him out of trouble. Legg is not as mobile and can be turned with a ball over his head and he again put a tackle in that could have been a red card in a normal game.

 

I’m still not 100% sold on this new formation. If a team move the ball quickly enough when our attack’s break down we can get exposed down the flanks. We also need to move it quicker when we get the chance when the wing backs are in space.

 

I think of that starting 11 tonight I can see Gibbons, Monty, Worrall, Joyce, Hannant, Dodds and Conlon (if he signs) starting.

[Badgerspaws]

Thought we were really poor tonight. Only one chance created all night. Conlan was the best Vale player by a country mile and we must sign him, and quickly. Absolutely nothing up front, or wide on both sides of the pitch. I'm an optimist but it could be a long season.

[valiant_593]

Keep saying it but if we play montano where he currently is then we will struggle big time.

[Hagrid]

Keep saying it but if we play montano where he currently is then we will struggle big time.

 

Also not convinced. Latching onto the Kyle Walker thing always struck me as bizarre.

 

Call me old fashioned but I still think we need wingers. We got out of this division last time with two rapid wingers. We don't have any this time. Monty is now a centre half and Worrall is not the quickest wide player. The only other wide players are the unproven Kanu and Daniels, who will both need time to adapt.

[PV1973]

I think by playing with wing backs we aren’t actually getting much wing play from them. Not their fault, but the systems IMO. I think both Monty and Gibbons looked better last season as part of a back 4 and overlapping their winger instead.

[valefan16]

If we get Howkins then play him with Smith and Rawlinson or Legge that would make better sense with Monty even playing LWB in that formation and Gibbo on the RWB. Seems the most sensible solution to me if determined to go with the England style formation!

[Santa]

I think Monty needed that stint at full back to settle him in properly after a disrupted first few months at the club with injury, and get some games under his belt.

 

Now I think it's time to put him back into his strongest position and give the side some natural width.