6 hours ago, Warren said:

This isn't bad after 4 pints of 'Oakham Citrus'. I'm on a bottle of 'Ringwood Razor Back' now. Spotify for ever!

 

👍

17 hours ago, Trumpingtonvale said:

Alfie May possibly a doubt (and being played out of position on the wing when he does play apparently ) and Blackett-Taylor’s had his head turned/performances affected negatively by transfer talk according to one of the guys off their podcast.  They’re on a bad run (for them), away form like Blackpool’s and want their manager gone - it’ll be a 3 point banker for them then🥴

Yep, they’ve got really poor away form apparently. But don’t worry Charlton fans, the ever-giving Vale will no doubt conjure up a nice surprise for you. 

So how many fit players do we have?

Ripley

Smith Lowe Lacovitti 

Massey Walters Devine Grant

Chislett Wilson

Uche

Bench Lomax Shorrock Balmer Loft Leutwiler Conlon or McDermott Dipepa 

If Garrity or Debrah are fit they would come straight in.

Please play Smith in the center and Lowe at RWB if playing them 2.

36 minutes ago, JRC said:

So how many fit players do we have?

Ripley

Smith Lowe Lacovitti 

Massey Walters Devine Grant

Chislett Wilson

Uche

Bench Lomax Shorrock Balmer Loft Leutwiler Conlon or McDermott Dipepa 

If Garrity or Debrah are fit they would come straight in.

I think this is as good as it's going to get!

I feel a repeat of Blackpool if we start well. I certainly think the standard of play improved through December and Carlisle, despite the result was nothing like the awful October/November period. I don’t see a loss. 
 

1-1 at worst. Hoping it will be 3-1. 

1 hour ago, JRC said:

So how many fit players do we have?

Ripley

Smith Lowe Lacovitti 

Massey Walters Devine Grant

Chislett Wilson

Uche

Bench Lomax Shorrock Balmer Loft Leutwiler Conlon or McDermott Dipepa 

If Garrity or Debrah are fit they would come straight in.

If Walters is going down the road I would not play him today.  We need people 100% committed to the Vale cause, not dreaming of red and white riches and worrying about getting tackled. 

35 minutes ago, TJHValiant said:

I feel a repeat of Blackpool if we start well. I certainly think the standard of play improved through December and Carlisle, despite the result was nothing like the awful October/November period. I don’t see a loss. 
 

1-1 at worst. Hoping it will be 3-1. 

We'll struggle today because of the players probably missing. I had hoped there would be at least one player in this week. Sadly not happened. With the players fit for this one I'd be very pleased with a draw. Still football is a funny old game and there's always hope.

Yes, the only thing that might work in our favour is that I don’t think Appleton’s teams are traditionally the rough & ready, get in your face & kick lumps out of you-type teams (I might be wrong on this) which we have, for the vast majority of the last 40 years, always seemed to struggle against (see Carlisle as the most recent example). But we do seem to be down to the bare bones and I’d guess we’ll again throw the game away in the latter stages as fatigue sets in, the pressure increases and concentration levels drop. But, football is as you point out, a funny old game.

Crosby needs to find a way today. It's time he stepped up adapting the formation and the tactics to get the best result. I guess that's true for every game, but particularly so when the squad is stretched. 

38 minutes ago, The French Connection said:

If Walters is going down the road I would not play him today.  We need people 100% committed to the Vale cause, not dreaming of red and white riches and worrying about getting tackled. 

Good point.  Midfield would then have to be Lowe, Devine & Chis. Defence: Balmer, Smith, Yak. 
 

Can't see AC playing Conlon or Cass - for the same reason as Walters. 
 

IMO it certainly wouldn't be our strongest 11 but hopefully they would be competitive, although I'm a bit pessimistic about today. That said, I predicted a 3-0 Blackpool win the other day!

So, 3-0 Charlton.

47 minutes ago, Biddulph_PV said:

Yes, the only thing that might work in our favour is that I don’t think Appleton’s teams are traditionally the rough & ready, get in your face & kick lumps out of you-type teams (I might be wrong on this) which we have, for the vast majority of the last 40 years, always seemed to struggle against (see Carlisle as the most recent example). But we do seem to be down to the bare bones and I’d guess we’ll again throw the game away in the latter stages as fatigue sets in, the pressure increases and concentration levels drop. But, football is as you point out, a funny old game.

Have you always been such an optimist? 😊

Just now, The French Connection said:

Have you always been such an optimist? 😊

On the basis that I’ve been following Vale most of my life, I’d call myself more of a realist.

Feel like we will struggle today but will refrain from spamming the match thread with Crosby out should Charlton dare to score past us. 

First game for a few weeks for me! After Cheltenham I have my grief councillor on speed dial ! I hope it’s not needed .