Match Thread - Port Vale v Lincoln City

[Fosse69]

Tough bruising match to come, Pope needed, otherwise a rest would help him recover. So a change of tack in the attack may have to wait, maybe a bit more tuning against Boro. But one game at a time, maybe a change in the defence with Kay to bolster? Fingers crossed for a draw.

[valefan16]

Play like against Exeter we can get something, play like MK/Grimsby we will get a pasting. Lets hope for the former!

 

Hopefully Miller's confidence is restored.

[onestepatatime]

Would settle for a draw right now. Licoln will be one of the promoted teams so we need to be at our best to match them.

[Danish Valiant]

I actually think Theo Vassell did enough yesterday, to warrant a place in the team on Saturday. That way, we can also move Clark back to his preferred right back and release Rawlinson to play in the center again.

[philmpv]

Would settle for a draw right now. Licoln will be one of the promoted teams so we need to be at our best to match them.

 

That necessarily presumes that Lincoln will be at their best or at a level that is better than us. As proven most notably against Luton last season, on any given day anybody can beat anybody else, so as long as we turn up and fight, we have a decent chance of beating them. I certainly am not settling for a draw, although that may change once the match kicks off!

[philmpv]

I actually think Theo Vassell did enough yesterday, to warrant a place in the team on Saturday. That way, we can also move Clark back to his preferred right back and release Rawlinson to play in the center again.

 

Who would you drop? Legge or Smith? Smith all day for me, on current form.

[valiant_593]

Don’t agree that popes needed. I don’t see why we should play how they’ll want us to. Prefer us to go with pace and give time for pope to get fully fit, him being fit for th majority of the remaining season is more important than rushing him back again to start on Saturday.

 

I’d go

 

Brown

 

Vassell

Rawlinson

Legge

Clark

 

Kanu

Hannant

Hardcastle (manny it fit)

Worrall

 

Whitfield

Miller

 

I’d prefer us to suffer without for one/two games rather than have him struggling on at 50% fitness all season.

[philmpv]

Don’t agree that popes needed. I don’t see why we should play how they’ll want us to. Prefer us to go with pace and give time for pope to get fully fit, him being fit for th majority of the remaining season is more important than rushing him back again to start on Saturday.

 

I’d go

 

Brown

 

Vassell

Rawlinson

Legge

Clark

 

Kanu

Hannant

Hardcastle (manny it fit)

Worrall

 

Whitfield

Miller

 

I’d prefer us to suffer without for one/two games rather than have him struggling on at 50% fitness all season.

 

Agree re Pope, but don't agree with Worrall (he's been **** poor all season). I would move Hannant out to the left from your team, Kanu out to the right, with Conlon and Hardcastle in the centre.

[valiant_593]

Agree re Pope, but don't agree with Worrall (he's been **** poor all season). I would move Hannant out to the left from your team, Kanu out to the right, with Conlon and Hardcastle in the centre.

 

Agree. Completely forgot about Conlon. Yeah that’s what I would do, I thought when picking it I was missing someone. I do rate worral though, however as you say he’s been way off this season.

[beasty77]

Over 800 tickets Lincoln have sold already.

[Danish Valiant]

Over 800 tickets Lincoln have sold already.

 

Nice! Have we sold over 800 yet?

[For Us All]

Over 800 tickets Lincoln have sold already.

 

Let's do a Luton on them.

[Hagrid]

Go at them. If we sit back, the likes of Bostwick, Andrade, O'Connor, Frecklington, and Akinde will find a way through. Do a Luton, take the game toothem. Get some pace around the decrepit Shackell.

 

Brown

Clark Rawlinson Legge Vassell

Kanu Hannant Conlon Whitfield

Pope Miller

 

Two big lads to handle Akinde, pace out wide to feed Pope and a hopefully confident Miller, and some legs in the middle. Get Dodds off the bench if a lock needs unpicking.

[philmpv]

Get Dodds off the bench if a lock needs unpicking.

 

Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't intended, you haven't half made me chuckle with that comment! He couldn't pick his nose nowadays!

[Hagrid]

Although I'm pretty sure it wasn't intended, you haven't half made me chuckle with that comment! He couldn't pick his nose nowadays!

 

His flick through to Miller last night was lovely. Quintessential Dodds.

 

I'm not advocating he's play the 90 of every game, but he has the natural ability and vision to do things not many players at this level can do.

 

He needs fast wingers either side stretching defences to give him space to do things. I've never been his biggest fan but he is a useful, specialist tool which we'd be stupid not to use at certain times.