Match Thread - Grimsby Town v Port Vale

[Jacko51]

Did Aspin see him play for Dover, or can access DVDs of him? Someone was feeding him there or a style suited him, surely worth a look. Could Posh get him to score?

 

Before Ricky arrived at Vale he had scored two league goals, one for Luton and one on loan at Mansfield.

[Upfromnowhere]

I too am a fan of Miller's attributes and work ethic but how many strikers would get away with 1 in 13 (9 starts)?

 

Am guessing, in twelve league starts, Popey only has two, so what does that tell us?

Nothing at all really other than unfortunately we have no players who are scoring. A sad indictment shows that if any of our goal scorers this season had been on penalty duty, it is very likely they would currently be our top goalscorer and how absurd is that?

We have now averaged less than a goal a game and of those,two were direct from free kicks, two were penalties, counting Kanus header last week, a further three have come from free kicks/corners which means we have witnessed the grand total of four being scored from open play all bloody season, and some may blame Miller, but the answer to me is much clearer to see as in truth we aren't wasting glorious opportunities, we just aren't creating them.

I would imagine like all of us, I watched the videos of Millers goals last season (including two against Cambs which I assume must have been league or FA cup?) and a lot came from either outside the box or him getting behind the last defender, and those are the chances that we simply are not creating,and not just for him,Popey, Whitfield or anyone else for that matter, but for any of our players hence the pathetic return from open play.

I accept, only with hindsight, but unless NA changes his directness and total reliance on our now injured skipper, who can honestly see this pattern changing?

[MarkCh]

Am guessing, in twelve league starts, Popey only has two, so what does that tell us?

Nothing at all really other than unfortunately we have no players who are scoring. A sad indictment shows that if any of our goal scorers this season had been on penalty duty, it is very likely they would currently be our top goalscorer and how absurd is that?

We have now averaged less than a goal a game and of those,two were direct from free kicks, two were penalties, counting Kanus header last week, a further three have come from free kicks/corners which means we have witnessed the grand total of four being scored from open play all bloody season, and some may blame Miller, but the answer to me is much clearer to see as in truth we aren't wasting glorious opportunities, we just aren't creating them.

I would imagine like all of us, I watched the videos of Millers goals last season (including two against Cambs which I assume must have been league or FA cup?) and a lot came from either outside the box or him getting behind the last defender, and those are the chances that we simply are not creating,and not just for him,Popey, Whitfield or anyone else for that matter, but for any of our players hence the pathetic return from open play.

I accept, only with hindsight, but unless NA changes his directness and total reliance on our now injured skipper, who can honestly see this pattern changing?

 

And Miller won both the pens, too.

[Sandyford_Lion]

Am guessing, in twelve league starts, Popey only has two, so what does that tell us?

Nothing at all really other than unfortunately we have no players who are scoring. A sad indictment shows that if any of our goal scorers this season had been on penalty duty, it is very likely they would currently be our top goalscorer and how absurd is that?

We have now averaged less than a goal a game and of those,two were direct from free kicks, two were penalties, counting Kanus header last week, a further three have come from free kicks/corners which means we have witnessed the grand total of four being scored from open play all bloody season, and some may blame Miller, but the answer to me is much clearer to see as in truth we aren't wasting glorious opportunities, we just aren't creating them.

I would imagine like all of us, I watched the videos of Millers goals last season (including two against Cambs which I assume must have been league or FA cup?) and a lot came from either outside the box or him getting behind the last defender, and those are the chances that we simply are not creating,and not just for him,Popey, Whitfield or anyone else for that matter, but for any of our players hence the pathetic return from open play.

I accept, only with hindsight, but unless NA changes his directness and total reliance on our now injured skipper, who can honestly see this pattern changing?

 

These issue's were clear to see last season.

Hannant, Worrall, Whitfield - all players that will not score enough goals

but also create very few chances in a game

The same three players were also ' guaranteed ' to be in this seasons

first eleven.

So unless we signed a 20 goal a season forward to go with Pope 20 goals

we were doomed to struggle from the start.

Miller is not a 20 goal a season striker but both he and Pope need

much better service. Service our team will struggle to give them.

 

Unfortunately Aspin takes some of the blame here.

He has brought players in as cover and they appear to be nowhere near good enough for the first team.

Have said before I really wonder what sort of scouting system we have in place to look for players. Not sure if we have any system.

 

Aspin also came out pre season and talked of the need for goals this year.

Sorry Aspin but your judgement of goal scorers and creative players has

failed you, and us.

 

I really do see us failing in finding the net and with that am only hopeful of keeping out of the bottom four this season but that will prove

to be difficult, even with better players this season than last.

 

At least a keeper and center back have won us some points this season

while we struggle to score goals, last season we didn't have that.

[Rampant Zebra]

It is easy to blame Aspo but I think the fact that we have Conlon, Clark and Whitfield as regular starters, all of whom came in at the last minute, suggests that we are struggling to attract the sort of goalscorers Apso knew we needed.

[Sandyford_Lion]

It is easy to blame Aspo but I think the fact that we have Conlon, Clark and Whitfield as regular starters, all of whom came in at the last minute, suggests that we are struggling to attract the sort of goalscorers Apso knew we needed.

 

Although I did say Aspin has to take the blame, his biggest defence is the fact that goal scorers / creative players cost money.

 

Brown, Legge, Joyce, Miller had the majority of the budget for new signings this season and Miller has so far not shown enough to be

the prolific goal scorer we needed. He never looks composed when ready to shoot, he never seems to connect well enough and his team play is poor.

 

We would have had Whitfield last season if agreement had been reached then.

Conlon fell into our lap, we were lucky. I feel Conlon is the only player

who might develop into a midfielder making forward runs and getting into scoring positions. He looks a clever footballer.

 

Aspin signed :

Quigley

Dodds

Kanu

Daniels

Angus

? Turner

 

No goals from that list this season

 

His hands were tied with :

Kay

Pugh

Tonge

 

 

Manny is the real find but a full season from him would not give us all the goals or chances created we need

 

Joyce seems to struggle with our set up.

Perhaps he's better in a team full of ' pass and move ' players ?

 

The big failings are Worrall Hannant Whitfield.

Montano, as a forward, again failed to show enough last season to score

or create chances.

This is why I say we saw last season where we would struggle and we have not improved at all.

[Rampant Zebra]

I think Conlon is one of the best players we have signed this season.

[Santa]

Although I did say Aspin has to take the blame, his biggest defence is the fact that goal scorers / creative players cost money.

I'd broadly agree with that. Where Aspin has struggled is where Brown, Ribeiro and Page also stuggled.

 

Having said that I don't think Aspin has done himself many favours with some experimental/unbalanced team selections, I'm thinking particularly on the road at Carlisle, Tranmere and now Grimsby.

 

When Manny doesn't play we look a very poor side (and I'm worried that he's made of glass); we regress to the sort of football we had to put up with last season when we had the Pugh/Tonge axis of evil in the centre of midfield.

 

We don't have enough energy or quality to play the sort of football that draws opposition players out of their shape and forces them to go chasing the ball. How many times over the last few years have we seen opposition teams just sit two banks of four behind the ball and wait for us to run out of ideas?

 

Somehow we've got to solve this puzzle because it will be the key to opening up teams and making the sort of decent clearcut chances that Miller took by the bucketload when he was a Conference player.

[Sandyford_Lion]

I'd broadly agree with that. Where Aspin has struggled is where Brown, Ribeiro and Page also stuggled.

 

Having said that I don't think Aspin has done himself many favours with some experimental/unbalanced team selections, I'm thinking particularly on the road at Carlisle, Tranmere and now Grimsby.

 

When Manny doesn't play we look a very poor side (and I'm worried that he's made of glass); we regress to the sort of football we had to put up with last season when we had the Pugh/Tonge axis of evil in the centre of midfield.

 

We don't have enough energy or quality to play the sort of football that draws opposition players out of their shape and forces them to go chasing the ball. How many times over the last few years have we seen opposition teams just sit two banks of four behind the ball and wait for us to run out of ideas?

 

Somehow we've got to solve this puzzle because it will be the key to opening up teams and making the sort of decent clearcut chances that Miller took by the bucketload when he was a Conference player.

 

We have looked better and had results with Manny in the team but it says something when the more experienced, more expensive players fail to do their job with or without Manny.

I don't see a massive improvement in Hannant, Worrall, Whitfiels etc

when Manny does play. Manny himself improves the performance but still very few chances are created.

 

Manny himself may play through the middle but unless we have players

wide who can get to the bye line or cut in and create a telling pass to open up defences, we will struggle.

 

Need also to look at these players when they do not have the ball.

If they are standing and not looking for a space to run into its so easy to defend against and no wonder the man on the ball looks poor.

 

Football is simple if you can pass a ball and think when and where to run

for your team mate

 

M U scored their 3rd goal on Sat when Pogba made a pass and then actually ran into space for the return.

He spent the first half passing and standing still, he was terrible

[man in the pub]

I'd broadly agree with that. Where Aspin has struggled is where Brown, Ribeiro and Page also stuggled.

 

Having said that I don't think Aspin has done himself many favours with some experimental/unbalanced team selections, I'm thinking particularly on the road at Carlisle, Tranmere and now Grimsby.

 

When Manny doesn't play we look a very poor side (and I'm worried that he's made of glass); we regress to the sort of football we had to put up with last season when we had the Pugh/Tonge axis of evil in the centre of midfield.

 

We don't have enough energy or quality to play the sort of football that draws opposition players out of their shape and forces them to go chasing the ball. How many times over the last few years have we seen opposition teams just sit two banks of four behind the ball and wait for us to run out of ideas?

 

Somehow we've got to solve this puzzle because it will be the key to opening up teams and making the sort of decent clearcut chances that Miller took by the bucketload when he was a Conference player.

 

Agreed Santa, I would try Hannant in midfield with Conlon. Feel he would give us energy with Manny injured.

[Sandyford_Lion]

Agreed Santa, I would try Hannant in midfield with Conlon. Feel he would give us energy with Manny injured.

 

Hannant should have moved into the center towards the end of last season.

 

Aspin does not see him as that player though.

 

It's a pity because he does work hard, is a decent footballer, will score

the odd goal, dead ball specialist AND it then frees up space wide for a more creative player in the side.

[PV1973]

Hannant should have moved into the center towards the end of last season.

 

Aspin does not see him as that player though.

 

It's a pity because he does work hard, is a decent footballer, will score

the odd goal, dead ball specialist AND it then frees up space wide for a more creative player in the side.

If I remember correctly he had a decent game at Wycombe for us last season in the centre. I certainly don't think hes an out and out winger as such.

[valiant_593]

We need to start creating chances. That’s the issue. Pope scores goals in league 2 every season yet is struggling so it’s no coincidence that miller isn’t scoring either.

[Danish Valiant]

I think Conlon is one of the best players we have signed this season.

 

Agree! If he has a steady season, where he plays a lot, he's going to be a great player!

[SFBT]

Thanks for these discussions.

They have been reflective, thoughtful and constructive.

I've enjoyed reading them.

More please 🙂