1 hour ago, Diego Maradona said:

Talk from Moore about going back to basics. Interesting and up to interpretation. For me:

Play players in their best position.

Play experienced players

Start to create 'a style/system' that allows for us to attack (352 - for me) and stick to it. Give it a chance to develop and improve.

352 against Cheltenham for whom I believe is available:

                       Ripley

            Smith   Heneghan Hall

                       Croasdale

Mitch                          Grant.            John

                       Chissy

                    Paton.   Tolaj

Got to admit though - this doesn't look very pretty on paper, nevermind on the park.

                               

That teams looks a bit too attack minded for Darren's liking , mate 

Just now, Alfie1962 said:

Other than Sang is suspended, John and Clarke to short for CB, Tolaj and Cover down in confidence and Edwards not good enough it's a decent side.

John and Clark are there to tear up the field ,we at home the emphasis should be on attacking creating angles moving through the field with that much speed that we pull a team who have just conceded 5 at home all over the place .

Tolaj confidence will be down if not used he needs play himself back into form that Edwards has something about him he as been training at the club for weeks he scored lots of goals for Southampton academy it's about time he scored some in league 2 , ok Chislett for Sang forgot about him to be honest .

UTV 

31 minutes ago, dantheman said:

Strange to be where we are in the league and the atmosphere being close to toxic but that’s because we all saw this last season too. New Year’s Day is crucial for me now and not necessarily for the result. The performance will be a huge indicator of where we are and if we are up for a fight or not but mainly if he players want to play for Darren Moore. Another performance like the last few particularly the weekend and I think the writing is on the wall. 

Yeah spot on it's a massive game 

Lose on weds and it should be

good night Vienna for Darren Moore 

Edited December 30, 20241 yr by Nippy Naylor

Desperate times require desperate measures. It is Grand Reserve not the standard Plum Porter in the Bulls Head on Wednesday before the game. 

I’m usually not right for days after we lose  but the last few years have made me wonder , so I hope we put up a good fight against Cheltenham and try to get 3 points to start the New Year off good.  I’m sure Darren Moore knows it’s a huge game for him . So no excuses then, up and at ‘em . Happy New Year to all Vale fans. 
 

A massive reaction is needed…will we get one or whimper while licking our own wounds. The way Vale have made me feel is it will be the latter. Belief in this manager is on empty both from the fans and the players imo. Prove us wrong Vale ffs, for once just prove us all wrong! 

One win in the last 34 years on New Years Day getting 3points on Wednesday is like plaiting snot !! We are absolutely dog [emoji90] at the minute. Happy New Year Valients !!

If Amos doesn't get a chance now he never will.

Call me captain obvious. But I think this is a must win to stop it turning toxic tomorrow. 

I can't get myself excited for this one. I'll be there as I always am, but there's no pattern to our play, most of the players seem very lacking in confidence, as most people are saying, the tactics (if we have any) by DM are dreadful.  I can't see past a boring 1-1 or a 1--2 loss and that's coming from an Ex happy clapper. 

So sad. 😔😔

Happy 2025 upfront. 

2 hours ago, rob1983 said:

If Amos doesn't get a chance now he never will.

Ripley was definitely at fault for two of Sunday's goals, so it's the right time to 'rest' him!

24 minutes ago, barny61 said:

I can't get myself excited for this one. I'll be there as I always am, but there's no pattern to our play, most of the players seem very lacking in confidence, as most people are saying, the tactics (if we have any) by DM are dreadful.  I can't see past a boring 1-1 or a 1--2 loss and that's coming from an Ex happy clapper. 

So sad. 😔😔

Happy 2025 upfront. 

Come on Barny remain optimistic. 

Lacking in confidence for sure need to drop prices and get as many folk as possible in even if just for hamil and then encourage the players. 

As a follower /supporter that's all you can do .

Good teams get momentum over Xmas and New year .

5th now with a win maybe we move up with Notts County beating Walsall ,thats what I think will occur .

They conceded 5 at home what's there be afraid of .

 

In response to Sandyford_Lions' request - here goes :

The team I have picked is based on everyone being fit and available (not suspended), and is MY interpretation of our best 11 that should be given the next 5/6 games (all barring injuries/suspensions etc.) to try and achieve some stability and more importantly - some points!.

It's a 442/4132 formation with Byers playing in front of the back 4 and Garrity further up field.

GK - Ripley

RB - Clark

CB - Smith 

CB - Hall

LB - Hart

RW - Sang 

CM (D) - Byers

CM (F) - Garrity

LW - Curtis

FWD - Stockley

FWD - Tolay

Subs Amos, Cover, Heneghan, John, Richards, Paton, Croasdale

 

Good choice of experienced players but nor 442 for me. We'll get over-run in midfield.

7 minutes ago, Birches Head Fred said:

In response to Sandyford_Lions' request - here goes :

The team I have picked is based on everyone being fit and available (not suspended), and is MY interpretation of our best 11 that should be given the next 5/6 games (all barring injuries/suspensions etc.) to try and achieve some stability and more importantly - some points!.

It's a 442/4132 formation with Byers playing in front of the back 4 and Garrity further up field.

GK - Ripley

RB - Clark

CB - Smith 

CB - Hall

LB - Hart

RW - Sang 

CM (D) - Byers

CM (F) - Garrity

LW - Curtis

FWD - Stockley

FWD - Tolay

Subs Amos, Cover, Heneghan, John, Richards, Paton, Croasdale

 

On 30/12/2024 at 09:52, PV1993 said:

It’s getting into strange territory because we are calling for a settled side but then probably picking something DM wouldn’t.

So do we stick with his side from the last match and let them gel?

For me, I wouldn’t be playing Debrah, Heneghan and Hall as a back three. Without Sang we’re just not good enough on the ball there.

Hart was on the bench so hopefully he will be fit enough for a start. Shame there’s still no Sang though.

A back four of John, Debrah, Hall, Hart gives you the four out of possession whereas in possession if one of the full backs pushes up the others can form into a three. That would be my starting point. Debrah has been poor but has the pace, but I’d be tempted to swap him for Smithy.

Keep Chislett deeper in a two with. Croasdale and let them gel.

Tolaj back in the 10 (where he has played his best football) flanked by Richards and Curtis. Encourage Curtis to cut in and shoot whenever possible, because he’s good at it and we haven’t let him to do it enough.

Paton up top. Give him a run and if we are hitting it long (which we shouldn’t in that side) at least aim it at his chest and not his head. But preferably keep it in the ground.

Time for Amos to get a run or do we stick with Ripley. He has been decent apart from Grimsby which was a stinker. I’d be tempted to stick

Team in full

4-2-3-1: Ripley; John, Debrah, Hall, Hart; Croasdale, Chislett; Richards, Tolaj, Curtis; Paton

I think this is quite a sensible line-up and similar to the way I'd like to see us go. We need to improve moving the ball out of defence with pace, and I'm not convinced Croasdale can do this, which leaves Chislett the only candidate from those available. If he plays deep and takes a marker with him, we push the wing backs up and go long to Stockley/Curtis, since there should be more space for their distribution. I would also have Smith in for Debrah in the back 4. 

If we stick with 3-5-2 (I don't really see how it makes sense to do that given we are shortest in the area that needs three players, though I also think we probably will), I would say we have to have at least two ball-players in the back three: potentially John-Hall-Hart? But we probably need Hart on the left wing with our current availability. I would end up with more of a 3-4-3 I think: Ripley/Amos; John, Smith, Hall; Clark/Cover, Croasdale, Chislett, Hart; Tolaj; Stockley/Paton, Curtis. Richards on the bench for a bit more finesse if that front three doesn't come up with the goods by 55 minutes.

That lineup looks a bit susceptible to set-pieces, especially if Stockley is unavailable, but I want Hall and John to provide forward movement and I think that leaves Hennigan very exposed against any pace if we turn the ball over in midfield. If we play this formation again, it needs to press much higher up the pitch than it has been, especially in midfield. This risks weakness against balls over the top, but we need the back three to deal with this specific situation in a much more no-nonsense way.

We also have to have more faith in one of the shapes we actually play if we're pushing for late goals. Sticking all the attacking players on just looks clueless and very seldom works.

As for Moore, I feel I've been patient enough already, like most people. We have a big squad to deal with unavailability, so that cannot excuse the last six weeks of poor performances. But I also don't see him being jettisoned now. The more likely scenario is even more backing in January. I would hope the minimum board expectation is promotion if that's the case, and they are prepared to act if it's not achieved.