On 30/12/2023 at 13:50, chickensteve said:

Same team starts as per Vs Blackpool. Same result 3 nil to vale uche, garrity, Wilson

We were very poor today against a side that wanted it more than us today and we looked toothless and they deserved to win and after last weeks win against a very average Blackpool I am still not convinced about Crosby and some of our signings and, not wishing to look too closely at it, we need to consider these signings an whether Crosby is the right man for the future 

Need to look at it again but my initial reaction is their player went over very easily and the ref bought it.

He did go over easy but as I stated above it was a quick football brain against a slow one. The challange from Smith was pathetic and any player is going to go down like a sack of after a challange like that

38 minutes ago, gags 64 said:

Lightweight throughout the team barring Uche who is not really a footballer. You could see it coming, time and again we do this. Get some strength and height in the midfield and defence. Our team on the pitch at the end of the match wouldn't win a game in this division

Sent from my XQ-CC54 using onevalefan mobile app
 

In fairness Uche was my MOTM. Held the ball up well and was clearly knackered from about 60 mins but still continued to hold it up as we had no other forwards on the bench. Couldn’t hit a barn door mind.

I thought Smith won the ball, but it was a stupid tackle to make from behind.

 

Usual stuff from AC after match speech.  However, he didn't come out with the usual we will watch the video and learn from this.

Yates sounds like he is as frustrated as the fans are now with AC and the team.

10 minutes ago, Playa Amodores said:

Does anyone else think that this dry January is dragging on a bit.?

Yea, just another 30 days to go till I have a shower.

I thought Smith won the ball, but it was a stupid tackle to make from behind.
 

He did winit, just, but their guy knew exactly what he was doing. It's the tackle from behind that's the issue Joe and the fact the player went down as if he'd put his foot on a landmine [emoji849]

We were very poor today against a side that wanted it more than us today and we looked toothless and they deserved to win and after last weeks win against a very average Blackpool I am still not convinced about Crosby and some of our signings and, not wishing to look too closely at it, we need to consider these signings an whether Crosby is the right man for the future 

Fair comments. Tbh I thought both sides looked toothless and someone was always going to win from a moment of ineptitude. Watching it on the stream I would of taken a draw. The foul for the penalty is poor, the defending for the winner is Sunday league. Garrity going off and we crumbled.

3 minutes ago, Bimbleabout said:

He did winit, just, but their guy knew exactly what he was doing. It's the tackle from behind that's the issue Joe and the fact the player went down as if he'd put his foot on a landmine

The ref couldn't wait to give them decisions all game & all their players knew it. He was a massive homer of a referee.

I don't think the ref is to blame that's clutching at.straws ,having a tactically inept manager was the main reason , imo 

If the ref was a massive homer, why on earth did Smith give him the chance to award that penalty?  Utterly stupid on his part.  I think other teams have rumbled him.  Instead of lionising him for his dark arts, we need to get him to shape up and defend properly, without the shoving, tripping, pinching, diving that he does.  Not exactly a role model as a captain for me.

 The word "liability" comes to mind too often when I think of Smith, and much as I admire his allegiance to the cause down the years, there comes a point in which we have to look elsewhere for football playing defenders.  Just play the percentages for pity's sake and don't give the oppo the chance to buy a penalty.  That was so utterly unprofessional. 

When I'm less frustrated, I might see it differently, but right now, I think we have to shore up the defence in this transfer window, since they give me palpitations when we are in front and having to defend a lead. And if that means Smith isn't in the team, then so be it. He's had long enough, and we need better. 

I don't think the ref is to blame that's clutching at.straws ,having a tactically inept manager was the main reason , imo 

Unfortunately this was the case today

Just now, Nippy Naylor said:

I don't think the ref is to blame that's clutching at.straws ,having a tactically inept manager was the main reason , imo 

No I agree the ref not to blame for the result today. Just commenting on the fact he couldn't wait blow for them all game.

1 minute ago, Lornelounger said:

If the ref was a massive homer, why on earth did Smith give him the chance to award that penalty?  Utterly stupid on his part.  I think other teams have rumbled him.  Instead of lionising him for his dark arts, we need to get him to shape up and defend properly, without the shoving, tripping, pinching, diving that he does.  Not exactly a role model as a captain for me.

 The word "liability" comes to mind too often when I think of Smith, and much as I admire his allegiance to the cause down the years, there comes a point in which we have to look elsewhere for football playing defenders.  Just play the percentages for pity's sake and don't give the oppo the chance to buy a penalty.  That was so utterly unprofessional. 

When I'm less frustrated, I might see it differently, but right now, I think we have to shore up the defence in this transfer window, since they give me palpitations when we are in front and having to defend a lead. And if that means Smith isn't in the team, then so be it. He's had long enough, and we need better. 

Because Smith is terrible at the moment. He's being played out of position & cannot cope.

Under every other manager he's had at vale, Smith has been the best player in the team, even Bruno. Crosby comes in and suddenly he's looking ropey, I wonder what the connection is?