Can't be there today but I will be keeping an eye on the score from the Ice Rink here in Helsinki.
Come on Vale.

Sadly Spunkers is right, Smith's game has regressed in the last couple of years and clearly Moore has seen that.  With a clean slate under Moore he contributed the Lincoln and Shrewsbury performances at home, those were as bad as I've seen from Vale defensively in 30 odd years as a fan.  If I saw that sort of effort from a relatively experienced pro I had no to little opinion of before, in crucial games in a relegation battle I wouldn't be particularly impressed.

Yes Debrah and Sang may have been as bad at times but they've evidently listened/had the ability to take on board and execute how Moore wants them to play this season and we've seen an improvement in both(albeit at a lower level). 

I'm not privy to what goes on in training but it would seem Smith either hasn't taken this on board or simply doesn't have the ability to? 

I can perhaps agree it's a tad harsh he's not been on the bench for some games as one thing Smith can be is a threat from set pieces at the other end but Moore is the manager and the surgery needed on our backline after last season I think most would agree was needed.

All that said it is looking like a sad end for a player who has given good service to the club over the last decade I remember there being talks of a relatively big transfer move for him after his first season or so at the club when he looked one of our better players in a limited-poor side at times. Evidently nothing ever materialised but I'm sure he could have moved on to other lower league clubs a time or two.

Edited October 12, 20241 yr by Shropshire_Valiant

Smith is a better defender than henengan, there is no reason he shouldn't be at least a bench option in L2. 

2 hours ago, MelbourneValiant said:

We were also relegated in 91-92 with away blue Kalamazoo kit.

but boy, did we look sexy parading round the bedroom with that hanging round our rippling torsos - Mrs Hoppers says it still brings tears to her eyes now when I mention that top 😍😍😍😍😍

I'd be amazed if we could pull off another result against a fancied team.

With their sad occasion, newish manager and our injuries to key personnel, it just seems that things are conspiring against us for this one.

Would love to be proved wrong though!

Matchday! Gwaaaaaarn Vale 💪🏻 show the fight like last week & we have a good chance of extending this good run. Let’s remain gritty, hard working & battle 💙

on coach 2 on rhe way !! 💪💪💪🍻🍻🍻🍻UTFV

14 minutes ago, Tim vlf said:

on coach 2 on rhe way !! 💪💪💪🍻🍻🍻🍻UTFV

Bring back another 3 points Tim! Have a great day 👊🏻 

The Smith argument is a no contest.  Numerous managers have picked him week after week, he’s been a consistently good defender in a promotion team and twice won player of the year.  If that’s “bang average” then I’m a monkeys uncle.  Whatever the reason he’s not in the side currently it isn’t because he’s a poor defender at this level.

The game itself has maybe come a couple of games too late, we’ve picked up injuries to key players and MK have had some new manager bounce.

Over 1k down there is superb. Truly awful away day. Done it once to tick it off but never again. 

Over 1k down there is superb. Truly awful away day. Done it once to tick it off but never again. 

Same as, never again.
Feel today, like others, is a tough call. Be phenomenal if we can keep the unbeaten run going. I'll settle for a draw, even a dull old 0/0er.
We showed last week we can be resilient, extremely hard working and disciplined and see out a game with high concentration levels. Big D won't accept any less and it seems the lads are giving it all for the gaffer . Let's go Vale [emoji123] [emoji120]

No idea what we do in terms of formation with the lack of recognised full backs/wing backs.

The most obvious I suppose is 3 centre halves with wing backs, Shorrock on the left and Cover on the right. I do feel though, like last week, that we are so susceptible to teams getting in behind us having two very young lads at wing back.

3-5-2: Ripley; Debrah, Heneghan, Hall; Cover, Croasdale, Garrity, Chislett Shorrock; Stockley, Paton

Bit left field, but I would be open to a flat back four. If we are going to go there and do something similar to Notts, then perhaps a back four of Sang on the right, Hall on the left and Debrah plus Smith (my preferred still) or Heneghan gives us balance and really limit the attacking output if the full backs. Then let the attackers play

4-2-3-1: Ripley; Sang, Debrah, Heneghan, Hall; Croasdale, Garrity; Curtis, Tolaj, Chislett; Stockley

My team

Ripley 

Cover Deborah Hennigan  Hall 

crosdale Garrity 

curis Tolaj Chislett 

Stockley 

I think MK are unbeaten under their manager? This will be a massive test for DM now we have Byers and John out for some time,it will show us how he can manage without 2 of out best performers so far this season

17 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

I think it’s pretty obvious Smith isn’t in Moores plans. And rightly so. 
Sentiment aside he’s bang average and if this football club is to progress then Nathan Smith will be gone in January. 

I dont agree with the statement of him being bang average,especially at this level but we all have opinions on players BUT i do agree that i think he will be off either in January or the summer and lets be honest that might be best for him and the club in the long run( and i really like Smith)

There is no doubt though that he has been a fantastic servant to the club and would always be welcomed back here