7 hours ago, Guitar Ray said:

You’ve said it in your last sentence, you don’t have a God-given right to win any game of football.  We actually played like we’d got some God-given right to win, so bad was the attitude of the players.  Irrespective of certain players being not up to the level of others, some of our best players were picked to start and were individually really bad first half but much better second.  That’s on those players rather than the manager.

I share the same view that we should always start the strongest 11, but Moore has quite often saved players and had them come off the bench to make an impact.  He’s gambled and lost tonight.  I thought the team selection was pretty disrespectful to a Barrow team who’ve been in decent form recently.  He talks about taking one game at a time but I can’t help but think he’s had the Crewe game in his thoughts. I still maintain though that whoever is picked should show a lot more energy and will to win than anybody showed first half in the game earlier this evening.

I get what you’re saying. Harper’s attitude, moping around like he’s Bellingham, was disgusting.

I’ve got to lay the blame on Moore though. He took a risk dropping Clark, Walters, Croasdale, and Tolaj – four players who, based on their recent form and the whole season, should’ve been starting in a must-win game.

Then he picked a system that, all season, has shown we struggle with just two men in the middle. He clearly didn’t do his homework on Barrow, because their lads were picking up the ball in the spaces left open by Harper and Garrity covering.

No matter how much effort was put in, an extra 5% wouldn’t have changed the first half last night. Starting those players would’ve definitely helped.

I’m still fuming, and I genuinely believe that loss will completely derail our season.

The first half was a stinker of a performance.

Was really surprised we didn't try and change shape in the first half as was clear we were getting bosses in midfield.

I was thinking about the harper performance and can only say that in his defence there was no one for him to pass too so he looked really slow and conservative with the ball.

Curtis was the opposite in that he tried the forward pass or clipped balls, but they were all difficult balls due to lack of options and movement.

So in conclusion I lay our general suckyness in the first half on the formation. We seem so much better with two up top and more in midfield so we can play through.

Also a shout out to ale and vale lads who highlighted John not trying crosses with his left foot. It makes us really defensive. Mitch came on and did it twice in 5 minutes and it gave barrow RB much more to think about.

8 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

Vale are 4th in the table, ask Carlisle and Morecambe fans if they would like some of DM's 'not learning ".

4th place does not guarantee promotion.  How many teams in 4th place have been knocked out of the play off stages.  

DM and Co would set up defensive for that game and no doubt pick the same starting 11 as of last night.  Then hope and pray we go in 0-0 and then in the 89th minute nick a goal.  

Like fans were creaming themselves saying we will win our games in hand.  No we didn't win them and god knows how we are still in 4th place.  More by luck that this league is so bad - no teams have really taken a grip of the league.

There’s some sheets being changed this morning 😂  

Edited March 26, 20251 yr by VTID-New

41 minutes ago, Biddulph_PV said:

What’s happened to Curtis recently?? Ok, scored a screamer but prior to that and for the time he was one yesterday he was absolutely dreadful. He seemed to be at his best when he played up front.

Curtis wasn't good last night for sure but I think his better performances have come when he's linking up with Stockley & Tolaj , Hackford simply isn't on the same wavelength & in my opinion hampered Curtis last night.

There are three things that really annoyed me last night:

1) First half we made Barrow look like a 70s Dutch side. They constantly had the extra man in midfield and we should have changed formation after 10 minutes because you could see a goal coming. 2nd half showed that Barrow were actually crap...we put them under a bit of pressure and they were just booting it anywhere. Their goal led a charmed life it has to be said. Play the 2nd half team in the 1st half and we're 2 or 3 up and then you can rotate.
2) Let's only ever use Hackford and Harper as subs. They shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11 at this stage. Harper is way too laboured and isn't as good as I think Moore thinks he is. Hackford is not a starting forward....he gives us no presence at all and doesn't appear to be up for the fight.
3) When are the powers that be going to act upon time wasting. I get that they have a lead to hold on to but last night was ridiculous. The keeper clearly faked an injury and then another guy did the same. I counted at least half a dozen times where the keeper held on to the ball for 15 seconds plus. He kept taking ridiculously unnecessary and long run ups for goal kicks too. The trouble was that the referee wasn't watching half the time. I kept shouting at him to watch the game. He should certainly have got his book out for the keeper. 4 minutes added time? Ha ha ha I'd love to see the officials justify that amount. The keeper alone probably wasted 4 minutes. It needs stamping out because we probably only saw 15-20 minutes actual football 2nd half.

Sent from my SM-A137F using onevalefan mobile app

Was that first half diabolical… Yes! Is last night on Moore… Most definitely! Are we out of the promotion race… Not at all & any suggestions we are is utterly ridiculous. Massive overreaction as per 🤦‍♂️ 

7 minutes ago, leedsvaliant said:

There are three things that really annoyed me last night:

1) First half we made Barrow look like a 70s Dutch side. They constantly had the extra man in midfield and we should have changed formation after 10 minutes because you could see a goal coming. 2nd half showed that Barrow were actually crap...we put them under a bit of pressure and they were just booting it anywhere. Their goal led a charmed life it has to be said. Play the 2nd half team in the 1st half and we're 2 or 3 up and then you can rotate.
2) Let's only ever use Hackford and Harper as subs. They shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11 at this stage. Harper is way too laboured and isn't as good as I think Moore thinks he is. Hackford is not a starting forward....he gives us no presence at all and doesn't appear to be up for the fight.
3) When are the powers that be going to act upon time wasting. I get that they have a lead to hold on to but last night was ridiculous. The keeper clearly faked an injury and then another guy did the same. I counted at least half a dozen times where the keeper held on to the ball for 15 seconds plus. He kept taking ridiculously unnecessary and long run ups for goal kicks too. The trouble was that the referee wasn't watching half the time. I kept shouting at him to watch the game. He should certainly have got his book out for the keeper. 4 minutes added time? Ha ha ha I'd love to see the officials justify that amount. The keeper alone probably wasted 4 minutes. It needs stamping out because we probably only saw 15-20 minutes actual football 2nd half.

Sent from my SM-A137F using onevalefan mobile app
 

I agree on the time wasting. Ruining the game.

Irritated me how Amos feigned injury first half so that Moore could call the entire team over.

If a keeper goes down and needs treatment, an outfielder should go off for 30 seconds in their place.

38 minutes ago, Hitcher said:

The first half was a stinker of a performance.

Was really surprised we didn't try and change shape in the first half as was clear we were getting bosses in midfield.

I was thinking about the harper performance and can only say that in his defence there was no one for him to pass too so he looked really slow and conservative with the ball.

Curtis was the opposite in that he tried the forward pass or clipped balls, but they were all difficult balls due to lack of options and movement.

So in conclusion I lay our general suckyness in the first half on the formation. We seem so much better with two up top and more in midfield so we can play through.

Also a shout out to ale and vale lads who highlighted John not trying crosses with his left foot. It makes us really defensive. Mitch came on and did it twice in 5 minutes and it gave barrow RB much more to think about.

The front 3 worked against MK. I don’t recall it working many other times this season, not sure why we decided to change from a front two that was really starting to work well. If it’s to accommodate Curtis, Stockley & Tolaj in order to get them all on the pitch I understand it but it’s not the way forward. Get back to Stockley or Curtis partnering Tolaj up top! Bringing the other on to replace whoever isn’t performing or is tiring 

14 minutes ago, leedsvaliant said:

There are three things that really annoyed me last night:

1) First half we made Barrow look like a 70s Dutch side. They constantly had the extra man in midfield and we should have changed formation after 10 minutes because you could see a goal coming. 2nd half showed that Barrow were actually crap...we put them under a bit of pressure and they were just booting it anywhere. Their goal led a charmed life it has to be said. Play the 2nd half team in the 1st half and we're 2 or 3 up and then you can rotate.
2) Let's only ever use Hackford and Harper as subs. They shouldn't be anywhere near the starting 11 at this stage. Harper is way too laboured and isn't as good as I think Moore thinks he is. Hackford is not a starting forward....he gives us no presence at all and doesn't appear to be up for the fight.
3) When are the powers that be going to act upon time wasting. I get that they have a lead to hold on to but last night was ridiculous. The keeper clearly faked an injury and then another guy did the same. I counted at least half a dozen times where the keeper held on to the ball for 15 seconds plus. He kept taking ridiculously unnecessary and long run ups for goal kicks too. The trouble was that the referee wasn't watching half the time. I kept shouting at him to watch the game. He should certainly have got his book out for the keeper. 4 minutes added time? Ha ha ha I'd love to see the officials justify that amount. The keeper alone probably wasted 4 minutes. It needs stamping out because we probably only saw 15-20 minutes actual football 2nd half.

Sent from my SM-A137F using onevalefan mobile app
 

If keepers were made to go off for 30 seconds after an ‘injury’ like outfield players it would put a stop to them faking ( and make it entertaining) 

42 minutes ago, Hitcher said:

The first half was a stinker of a performance.

Was really surprised we didn't try and change shape in the first half as was clear we were getting bosses in midfield.

I was thinking about the harper performance and can only say that in his defence there was no one for him to pass too so he looked really slow and conservative with the ball.

Curtis was the opposite in that he tried the forward pass or clipped balls, but they were all difficult balls due to lack of options and movement.

So in conclusion I lay our general suckyness in the first half on the formation. We seem so much better with two up top and more in midfield so we can play through.

Also a shout out to ale and vale lads who highlighted John not trying crosses with his left foot. It makes us really defensive. Mitch came on and did it twice in 5 minutes and it gave barrow RB much more to think about.

I wouldn’t defend Curtis, as bad as Harper and Deborah was yesterday and they were awful, Curtis was worse, he was useless, touch was awaful, passing was awful, no positional play but what got me was his attitude, he was angry with himself, angry with the ref, angry with his teammates, just looked ready for a fight. He was crap against Morecambe even though he scored a great goal, he was crap yesterday, worst player on the pitch, he needs to be dropped. Yes, he can win a game, but those are the type of players who need to be coming on if we need to try and get a goal. 

19 home games.

We've had 6 nils.

So pretty much 1 in 3 homes we have failed to score.

I'd imagine that's some achievement for a side in 4th.

The calibre of sides who have kept clean sheets at Vale Park is pretty disgusting including 3 of the bottom 4. 

28 minutes ago, TEXAS said:

Curtis wasn't good last night for sure but I think his better performances have come when he's linking up with Stockley & Tolaj , Hackford simply isn't on the same wavelength & in my opinion hampered Curtis last night.

Hackford should never have played, ain’t good enough and certainly wasn’t going to be his type of game. Saying that, he was better than Stockley in the first half and Curtis couldn’t pick a pass last night if he was given all the time in the world with all the space in the world to pass it in to.

Why did he revert to type last night and change a team that has been getting good results. I'm sorry but as far as I knew 3 points are available every game. Easy in hindsight but Curtis should have been rested last night Rico in his place and carry on. Worry about Crewe after the match.
If we end up in the playoffs then I think we're doomed. Powder puff in front of goal we don't have enough threat.
Stockley for all his honest effort doesn't score a lot of goals. Instead of creating chances we are looking for something to drop for us and last night it didn't. Can't complain about the effort though. On we go. UTV

5 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

19 home games.

We've had 6 nils.

So pretty much 1 in 3 homes we have failed to score.

I'd imagine that's some achievement for a side in 4th.

The calibre of sides who have kept clean sheets at Vale Park is pretty disgusting including 3 of the bottom 4. 

Moore does not know how to set up against poorer teams, he may add a couple of players who like to attack more but it’s generally the same set up and the same negative style of play.