10 minutes ago, SuperHuman said:

Whilst I’m on this subject - I am sick to death of the number of players that just go missing for weeks and months through the season over recent years. We hear nothing most of the time. 

Some might be genuinely injured or just rubbish but I’m sure some just go completely missing out of the picture too.

Jones and Cass (every single season), Conlon, Clark, Thomas. Whilst last season it happened to Benning, Politic, Mipo, Holden, McCarron, Robinson.

Counting the play offs 

Jones 21/22 49 games , 22 appearances. 

22/23 46 games , 25 appearances. 

23/24 , 24 games, 4 appearances. 

A grand total so far of 119 league and 51 appearances.

games.

Can the joker at the club who considered a 2 year deal value for money please stand in the corner with a dunces hat. 

5 minutes ago, Warren said:

I'm prepared to give Debrah more time. 

there all as bad as each other. No stand outs. Smith has struggled at league 1 level, jesse come from non league so it's a big step up ( i get your point about giving him time ), lowe is closing in on retirement his passing is so poor at times & he's too slow & can't win header, Balmer let's not go there, the yak is as clumsy as they come & as bad as smith on the ball, Jones has disappeared, Cass too lightweight & also gone missing. It's come to something when i actually feel Jones is our best centre half right now & we don't know where he is & he's not great either 😂 We've all been slamming the forwards recruitment but when you actually look at our defence & the signings it's no wonder we can't defend 

A few days after having the third best performance in League One of the weekend, some fans are saying Smith is "crap", "awful, "been found out" and "isn't good enough for this level".

8 minutes ago, Devine intervention said:

You enjoy your love in with him 

Years ago I decided stop going away games cause he was in  the team 

I can count 3 times today is non marking should have  resulted in goals for them .

He as no more than 5 good games a season 

Hoodwinked the lot of you 

Crosby OUT Smith Out 

UTV 

 

 

 

 

i like smith don't get me wrong but as i've said he's not league 1 standard but for people to say he's always been awful is just nonsense. Your hate to him is clear for all to see 👍🏻 all our defenders are league 2 level not just smithy 

The buck stops with the manager , imo 

Just now, Wrex said:

A few days after having the third best performance in League One of the weekend, some fans are saying Smith is "crap", "awful, "been found out" and "isn't good enough for this level".

Well, he wasn't this today was he?  The point I'm trying to make (perhaps clumsily) is that he is part of a defence that leaks lots of goals, and has been for a sizeable chunk of his Vale career alas.  I'm taking the long term view - he'll be good one day, poor the next, but we need consistent players who make fewer mistakes.  

And I'm not a Smith hater, but I think I'm allowed to ask the question as to whether he is the right man for the job - player and captain?

25 minutes ago, Wrex said:

A few days after having the third best performance in League One of the weekend, some fans are saying Smith is "crap", "awful, "been found out" and "isn't good enough for this level".

since we come back upto league 1 he's not been good enough tho that's a fact mate i'm afraid he's a great league 2 defender for me nothing more & i love the bloke 

Edited January 1, 20242 yr by Vtid

1 hour ago, darren1810 said:

The annoying thing is it was almost expected/ anticipated. 

Bit like Lincoln equaliser. Almost a sense of resignation once Carlisle had equalised.

A really damaging defeat .

Again, totally agree. Once they equalised it was inevitable. And that’s the…. was going to say annoying but I think infuriating is probably better… thing. We literally cannot see out a game so for Christ sake do not give them a way back in and hey presto, Smith makes a stupid challenge and then we all know what follows. Time and time and time again, and like you say, not just this season but over many seasons. Whoever decided to nickname us The Valiants must have (had?) a great sense of humour.

Just now, Vtid said:

since we come back out league 1 he's not been good enough tho that's a fact mate i'm afraid he's a great league 2 defender for me nothing more & i love the bloke 

I think I agree sadly.  And I don't like criticising players, not least ones who have put their bodies on the line again and again for us, but sometimes, we need more than just that to advance. Mind you, I wish Nathan could advise some of our players how to be available on match days - he keeps himself fit better than any other player we have.  If he was a better defender on top of his appearance record - we would probably have sold him....

3 minutes ago, Lornelounger said:

I think I agree sadly.  And I don't like criticising players, not least ones who have put their bodies on the line again and again for us, but sometimes, we need more than just that to advance. Mind you, I wish Nathan could advise some of our players how to be available on match days - he keeps himself fit better than any other player we have.  If he was a better defender on top of his appearance record - we would probably have sold him....

valid point mate 👍🏻 

5 minutes ago, Lornelounger said:

Well, he wasn't this today was he?  The point I'm trying to make (perhaps clumsily) is that he is part of a defence that leaks lots of goals, and has been for a sizeable chunk of his Vale career alas.  I'm taking the long term view - he'll be good one day, poor the next, but we need consistent players who make fewer mistakes.  

And I'm not a Smith hater, but I think I'm allowed to ask the question as to whether he is the right man for the job - player and captain?

I would say a settled defence, putting players in their strongest position, keeping it simple at the back, not making constant changes, and other such notions would be helpful from the manager to get the best out of the defenders we have.

And put your best player / guaranteed starter as captain. Smith was a fair choice in August, but Garrity or Ripley would make more sense at this stage.

30 minutes ago, NellyTheValiant said:

What dynamics?  Can you tell me that he isn't?

Hey Neil,

You have been a Vale fan for many decades. Can you ever remember a manager splitting a fanbase like this?

Its very much a strange situation

Crosby basically confirming Cass & Conlon on their way out. Looking like Jones i reckon too. With our defence so poor they must have a few lined up! And given his smug interview after such a poor performance today i'd say he knows he's got the rest of the season now regardless of where we finish which is a big concern 

19 minutes ago, Trumpingtonvale said:

Not as often as you would think (in the league) it’s twice - today and Lincoln, that’s 4 points dropped, tempered only by a 90+ winner at Oxford.

We lost today because Kofi Balmer didn’t compete well enough for a header in the 6 yard box. We needed the substitution but I’d question should he have come on instead of Walters or once on should he have been in midfield rather than pushing Lowe into there instead.

We lost today because we were not very good for 90 + minutes and Carlisle fully deserved their win

58 minutes ago, Sam Kelly's Left Boot said:

Pushed further out wide and is asked to play a role where he actually has to play football. Smith is an old fashioned CB who likes a tackle and wins a header, he's no ball playing defender.

Totally bloody obvious to anyone with eyes and intelligence!!