Portsmouth (A) match thread 7th Oct

[Fosse69]

A daunting trip to Pompey. Will we see Uche? We will not see Poole and Robinson both suspended after yellow cards against Wycombe  according to their manager.

[Conrad]

7th October Fosse.

[valefan16]

They’ve got loads out injured or banned… but so had Bristol Rovers and Bolton!

22 unbeaten so tricky one but we’ve won at Oxford and got the result at Plymouth last year so isn’t beyond the realms.

A draw here would do to take into the likely international break and give us something to build on.

They do like to get crosses in though so will need our defence to man up to that but hopefully Uche is in a good enough position fitness wise to give us even half an hour.

[Granville]

Interesting that we ended with a back four on Tuesday because we are "down to four fit centre backs"

If that happens again I could see a back four of Sang, Balmer, Smith and Grant.

Although given our persistence with a back three it wouldn't be a surprise to see Lowe drafted in, Balmer in the middle and Smith on the left.

Devine can't start for me, offers little in the way of goals, key passes or aggression in the final third, and we'd be much better playing Garrity in behind a front two of Wilson/Thomas and Uche. 

I would hope AC sets us up like this:

Ripley

Sang, Balmer, Smith, Grant

Ojo, Lowe, Arblaster 

Garrity 

Wilson/Thomas, Uche

I think he'll do this:

Ripley

Lowe, Balmer, Smith 

Sang, Ojo, Arblaster, Grant

Massey, Wilson, Devine.

[1]

                Ripley

     Balmer Smith Jones

Cass Ojo Arblaster Plant

       Garrity Wilson

               Uche

Assuming no Clark, Chizzy, Yak: in which case they go straight back in

Whoever plays CB, they have to play in their right position. Can't be swapping them around from RCB to LCB etc. we've tried it and the result is goals against and confusion every time.

*but you've put Cass out at RWB! asdoifjsoidgjspdgjapdsfj*

*Yes and that's not a CB position is it*

[Playa Amodores]

The only positions that are certain for me are Ripley,Smith(at CB),Arblaster and Garrity(midfield). I would have said Ojo but only seems affective when allowed to play unchallenged at his own pace. For me the rest are about the same, Devine has too many expectations placed on him, because he’s at Spurs and was invited to train with the full England team. I admit he’s not probably been playing at his best but is that down to him or his he following instructions. He’ll be gone in January if we continue to knock the lad, he’s obviously got talent. 

[Warren]

Ikpeazu could solve obvious problems we have had the last few games. Lack of presence up front. Lack of someone to hold the ball up. Potentially a very good signing. Need to make sure he is properly fit and ready to go. We have a lot of players who are good forwards and can play just behind him to their benefit. 

I know Portsmouth are top of the league. But this doesn't mean they are loads better than us. If we turn up resilient and well organised, we have a chance to win this game. 

[ian foster]

8 hours ago, Granville said:

Interesting that we ended with a back four on Tuesday because we are "down to four fit centre backs"

If that happens again I could see a back four of Sang, Balmer, Smith and Grant.

Although given our persistence with a back three it wouldn't be a surprise to see Lowe drafted in, Balmer in the middle and Smith on the left.

Devine can't start for me, offers little in the way of goals, key passes or aggression in the final third, and we'd be much better playing Garrity in behind a front two of Wilson/Thomas and Uche. 

I would hope AC sets us up like this:

Ripley

Sang, Balmer, Smith, Grant

Ojo, Lowe, Arblaster 

Garrity 

Wilson/Thomas, Uche

I think he'll do this:

Ripley

Lowe, Balmer, Smith 

Sang, Ojo, Arblaster, Grant

Massey, Wilson, Devine.

I would go similar 

4-4-1-1

                           Ripley

Sang/Cass Balmer Smith Grant

Massey/Sang Ojo blaster Plant

                    Garrity

                    Thomas

Starr like this and evolve if needed during game

 

 

 

[The French Connection]

I think a lot depends on our approach.  Are we going there looking to win the game?  Or are we going there looking to avoid defeat, if possible, which is how we set up on Tuesday.  If we are going to lose I want to go down fighting.  But I want us to win! And so will all the fans going all that way to support the lads.  Give them something to cheer about. 

[Guest]

Looking forwards to my first selected away game of season .

First of all changing my shift at work till 18.00 to 02.00 a.m sat morning few hrs kip then my ladies driving down to Farringdon Hampshire when arrive there driving me to Petersfield to catch train to Fratton Park .

As first visit there really looking forwards to atmosphere (there top of the league and they should be bouncing and rightly so ).

Vale team well after last game where it turned out Debrah was not ready, and I believed he was so I think I will opt out of who I choose at the back so here's the rest of my team fitness permitting. 

        Ripley 

Defence 3 people who can work as a one.

Clark                                          Grant 

                Ojo Arblaster 

                  Garrity

                    Chislett 

                      Uche .

Something like that .

Massey obviously plays better from the bench, and Wilson for how good a player he is rarely shows it ,Plant looked what he is the other night a  young pro learning about how difficult league 1 is   Devine ok at premier league football reserves or whatever its called will find league 1 players to be hardened more than Premier league kids,  for all the talent they have they will find out  the lower leagues of English football are very uncompromising .     Constantly have to do your job whether that's defending or attacking if not then the price will be paid .

As for others well did Balmer really do anything wrong v Bolton ,I think not .

Big game we have everything to gain so lets hope we can score and give Pompey lots to think about .

We need to really as 1 point in 12 is slippery slope football team behaviour .

Conceded 3 in 2 of them games also so theres a lot wrong at the moment and once again season after season we have started well and are fading badly (thats a very Vale thing do )so tomorrow is important as damaging your fans morale is not on .

So hopefully we can get a draw anything else I'd be elated but how we defend when it really matters more often than not you gotta be honest and say and I hate saying it home win however even if thats the case as long as I see 90 minutes full hearted committment then thats acceptable if I see people having free shots or headers I will not be happy there's being too much of that lately .

Bristol Rovers first goal was ridiculous and all 3 Burtons goal should have being dealt with by defence the fact they were not leads me to believe that maybe we are not quite strong enough in that area.

Tomorrow and every game on from now on will prove my point to be right or wrong I don't see other teams letting players run off them for a free header into the goal in fact we have work damn hard score a goal I don't think majority of the time other teams have to .

Unless we improve ten fold we will be staring up at a lot of clubs come season end  

There's work do and we need do it better 

UTV 

      

[andy jones]

Vale to win this.

And that's from one of the more pessimistic posters.

We are better than recent results. They are unbeaten in 28?  It has Vale win written all over it.

 

[Warren]

20 minutes ago, andy jones said:

Vale to win this.

And that's from one of the more pessimistic posters.

We are better than recent results. They are unbeaten in 28?  It has Vale win written all over it.

 

Our best striker Own Goal will come up trumps again and get us the win.

[MBE]

Short of CB’s so interesting to see if we continue with 3 at the back.

Look forward to this fixture as never been to Fratton Park

Fingers crossed we play with at least 1 striker.

[valefan16]

34 minutes ago, MBE said:

Short of CB’s so interesting to see if we continue with 3 at the back.

Look forward to this fixture as never been to Fratton Park

Fingers crossed we play with at least 1 striker.

We have Cass, Balmer, Smith and Grant and Lowe can play there I guess? Wonder where Jones is fitness wise now? Played an hour or so in the Sutton game and not seen since?

[robf]

"Decimated" - local media say Port Vale's next opponents have major selection issues - onevalefan.co.uk

WWW.ONEVALEFAN.CO.UK