Match Thread: Port Vale v Stevenage

[TJHValiant]

Personally I see little difference between Guthrie and Robinson. Guthrie is a bit stronger, but although we have not seen in much in a Vale shirt, Robinson is a much better finisher. 

He also as it stands has another year at Vale. 

If it was me, I’d keep playing Robinson. Let him get match fit. Guthrie and Cullen will both be leaving come July as it is. 

When they leave we can keep Robinson as our third choice as Pope’s deal runs out too and I doubt we will be giving him another. 

That could leave Rodney and Robinson as our only signed strikers. 

 

[TJHValiant]

1 hour ago, robf said:

I think some people need to give players a bit of time. Guthrie's had six games after being out in the cold for some time at Bradford. For me, he's still finding match sharpness but that will only come through playing.

It's no hard and fast rule but I would judge someone ten games or so into their Vale career. If you look at Rodney for instance, ten games in he had just one goal. But he then scored four in his next ten appearances.

That's probably down to a load of things - match sharpness, getting to know his teammates better after playing games with them, confidence in being in the first XI etc. 

For me, I would start with Guthrie but I'd perhaps consider 20-30 mins as a sub for Swan as well.

 

Guthrie, based on his current deal will be leaving in July. I see little to warrant keeping in so far. When will he come good? April? May? 

[Breadwinner]

6 minutes ago, TJHValiant said:

Guthrie, based on his current deal will be leaving in July. I see little to warrant keeping in so far. When will he come good? April? May? 

I'd post this comment on the managers team talk hope the lad silences a lot of our fans ,he does a lot of good work ,teamwork ,anyone watching the games will see apart from Tranmrre away where the sloppy nature of goals conceded killed the morale of all the team all the other games he as performed quite well bar no goals .

I'd understand if we created enough ,we do not ,why that's for the manager sort out ,give the lad a break UTV 

[PV1973]

Be interesting to see what team we go with tonight. Given the managers comments about fitness I wonder if he will exercise a bit of caution with players like Rodney, Monty, Gibbo and manny?

[Fosse69]

3 minutes ago, PV1973 said:

Be interesting to see what team we go with tonight. Given the managers comments about fitness I wonder if he will exercise a bit of caution with players like Rodney, Monty, Gibbo and manny?

Strange times, between Tranmere and the Leyton game there were 13 days without a game and bad weather restricting outdoor training/practice,  during the 13 days from Leyton to Cheltenham 3 games will be played.  Thus careful management using the usual bounce  will be required for such a change in exertion.

[jjvale_03]

Be ace if the Dazzler makes something like 9 changes tonight, just to let the boys know that nobody is safe and everyone needs to be ready. The more he sees, the better informed the decisions in the summer can be ie. get rid of anyone over the age of 26 who's name isn't David Worrall.

I expect him to pick a team that gives us the best chance of success for Project Beat Stevenage. None of this sticking with a player because he put in a decent shift on a cabbage patch in East London 4 days ago nonsense.

[Vale1995]

4 hours ago, Iron Curtain said:

For all those calling for Guthrie to be dropped... can you let me know now who the boo boy will be that we all pile onto and blame when the ball fails to stick up front.

Yes I'm keen to see Swan have a run... but in a 2 up top Rodney needs a big man to win first contact. 

Guthrie and Rodney to play up top... Swan to come on for a cameo and Rodney to move out wide at that stage.

They dont know anything about football mate so dont bother with them. He is a focal point and brings others into play we look a lot better with him in the team than him out of it. And im sure the more he plays hes going to start picking up some goals aswel. People who cant see what he brings to the team genuinely havent got a clue about football because in this league where a lot of the play is in the air it is pivotal to have someone who can win flick ons and hold the ball up against 6ft + centre halves. 
 

maybe the fact we have had pope for so long and he has been a goalscorer and a hold the ball up player people who come in and dont hit the heights of tom pope they are therefore not good enough in some people eyes. But someone like guthrie if hes scoring 15-20 goals a season he isnt going to be a vale player because goals and his ability to bring people into play would see him playing at a higher level than vale. 
 

i see a player who is giving his all for the 90 minutes and not giving cbs an easy game and helping us to push us further up the pitch. Id actually go as far as saying he would probably be one of the first names on the team sheet. 

[JRC]

The wonder of being a Vale fan!!!

People want to replace Rodney (10 in 29) with Cullen (best season at Luton 14 in 47) because he is a better goal scorer. 

If people can't see what Guthrie adds to the team that Robinson doesn't I can only imagine that the internet overseas shows something different on Ifollow to the UK. On my stream Guthrie seems to occasionally win a header, chases defenders down and sometimes passes a ball to a Vale player. I'm assuming Robinson does all this on the UK internet, rather than walking around like a lost sheep, as he does on the Saudi internet.

[valiant_593]

Be a tough balancing act in terms of rotation tonight. I know we struggle against Stevenage but it’s a game we could really do with getting some from. So potentially pick our strongest side? Or would it make more sense to rotate if quite a few aren’t fully at. It will be an interesting selection 

[1]

2 hours ago, TJHValiant said:

Personally I see little difference between Guthrie and Robinson. Guthrie is a bit stronger, but although we have not seen in much in a Vale shirt, Robinson is a much better finisher. 

He also as it stands has another year at Vale. 

If it was me, I’d keep playing Robinson. Let him get match fit. Guthrie and Cullen will both be leaving come July as it is. 

When they leave we can keep Robinson as our third choice as Pope’s deal runs out too and I doubt we will be giving him another. 

That could leave Rodney and Robinson as our only signed strikers. 

 

We’ve got 6 odd strikers who are all as good as each other, and only good enough occasionally. Imagine the strike force we’d have if we had bought in 3 strikers and paid them the wages of those 6. Anyway.... we’ve got what we’ve got and we’re still looking for a potent strike force, so I imagine Clarke will be chopping and changing.

[Mellor!]

3 minutes ago, 1 said:

We’ve got 6 odd strikers who are all as good as each other, and only good enough occasionally. Imagine the strike force we’d have if we had bought in 3 strikers and paid them the wages of those 6. 

With what Flickers and Clarke have been saying, I think that will be the way forward next season. 

[werstayinup]

21 hours ago, Breadwinner said:

A very interesting press conference like how he answers questions can see why he is successful .

Looking forwards to this team selection .

Certainly hope they play as they did for the 90 the way they did for 55 mins v L Orient while playing 4-4-2  ,were committed and good the only thing missing was a goal which should have come from Hurst along with the goal what did come .

Judging by what he is saying there certain players who are not fit enough ,I felt that as the game went on v L Orient that was indeed the case with 4 of the 11 struggling keep up .

Going be really tough but I know we have a manager who is doing everything he can get us winning games and I hope he does .

Be changes i feel going by the interview ,its good keep everyone guessing.what the teams going be .

What i like is how Walsall fans said he wont let them know about injuries etc yet he explains why clearly here and it makes so much sense,i mean why would you let an opposing team know that Worrall or anyone else wont be fit for the game... i really like how he comes across during interviews tbh

[valiant_593]

10 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

What i like is how Walsall fans said he wont let them know about injuries etc yet he explains why clearly here and it makes so much sense,i mean why would you let an opposing team know that Worrall or anyone else wont be fit for the game... i really like how he comes across during interviews tbh

Makes sense. I have never understood why managers mention injuries or team selections in advance of the game. Keep them guessing, no doubt Stevenage will be planning to play against Worrall, whether he plays or not this could now be a good advantage for us just by keeping quiet

[WV]

Don't think Guthrie is anywhere near as bad as some are making out on here. 

 

Fancy 3 pts and a solid victory tonight. 2 or 3 goal win. 

[Guest Vale at home]

5 hours ago, robf said:

I think some people need to give players a bit of time. Guthrie's had six games after being out in the cold for some time at Bradford. For me, he's still finding match sharpness but that will only come through playing.

It's no hard and fast rule but I would judge someone ten games or so into their Vale career. If you look at Rodney for instance, ten games in he had just one goal. But he then scored four in his next ten appearances.

That's probably down to a load of things - match sharpness, getting to know his teammates better after playing games with them, confidence in being in the first XI etc. 

For me, I would start with Guthrie but I'd perhaps consider 20-30 mins as a sub for Swan as well.

 

I Do agree ..