No Vale games for months then 5 in 15 days,  now for Tranmere smarting after their  cup defeat by Harrogate.  carry on building confidence , match fitness,  and cohesion.    Snatching wins in injury time installs a strive to the end culture  in the team,   and excitement for the fans,  but the league game on Saturday is the priority,  avoiding injury is  a must.  There is still Wigan and Liverpool u21s to come,, but £10,000 for a win is not to be sniffed at,  go for it Vale.

I expect Pope will play in this, to help keep his match fitness up.

I would bring in Visser, Brisley, Cookes, Montano, Whitehead and Pope.

Is it absolutely certain that Pope is free to play in this game?

With Manny back in training I’d like see him in the squad

On 06/09/2020 at 12:52, Conrad said:

I expect Pope will play in this, to help keep his match fitness up.

Think I’d probably prefer to give Robinson or Rodney some minutes. We need to get them up to speed first. Pope doesn’t really need match fitness seeing as he is still a month away from being considered. 

Would it not be worth considering loaning Pope out to a top Conference club during this time, so he will be fully up to scratch when he is ready to return for us ??

 

Would it not be worth considering loaning Pope out to a top Conference club during this time, so he will be fully up to scratch when he is ready to return for us ??
 

He’d still be banned wouldn’t he?

2 hours ago, Boslem's Brazil said:

Think I’d probably prefer to give Robinson or Rodney some minutes. We need to get them up to speed first. Pope doesn’t really need match fitness seeing as he is still a month away from being considered. 

That was my point, he won’t play in any league or carabau cup games for a month, so play him in this one so he gets some match fitness.

55 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

He’d still be banned wouldn’t he?

yes

 

3 hours ago, Conrad said:

That was my point, he won’t play in any league or carabau cup games for a month, so play him in this one so he gets some match fitness.

My point is that I don’t think one game now will have a bearing on his match fitness in a month’s time. Also, from a tactical point of view, better to see how Robinson or Rodney are in a competitive game. We know what Pope can do, so I think it’s pointless playing him from the start when we have other options that need to gel. By all means give him 20 mins at the end.  

9 hours ago, Boslem's Brazil said:

Think I’d probably prefer to give Robinson or Rodney some minutes. We need to get them up to speed first. Pope doesn’t really need match fitness seeing as he is still a month away from being considered. 

I'd agree he won't be match fit regardless of whether he plays in this one. I'm sure he'll play the Wigan game which is at the end of his ban.

On 06/09/2020 at 11:52, Conrad said:

I expect Pope will play in this, to help keep his match fitness up.

Thought he was banned from all matches for 6 games?

I know we all think this is a tinpot competition, but sure EFL think this is the best competition in the world, as they bank the money from the Premier clubs in their back pockets, so it would count this towards his banned games.  

Gives the other strikers the emphasis to go on a good run, as they know Pope will be trying his hardest to get back in the side once he is off the naughty step.

Whatever happened to Tom Pope’s appeal?

7 minutes ago, PVFC764 said:

Thought he was banned from all matches for 6 games?

I know we all think this is a tinpot competition, but sure EFL think this is the best competition in the world, as they bank the money from the Premier clubs in their back pockets, so it would count this towards his banned games.  

Gives the other strikers the emphasis to go on a good run, as they know Pope will be trying his hardest to get back in the side once he is off the naughty step.

His ban doesn’t apply to EFL Trophy games.