4 hours ago, MBE said:

Shows how brilliant Rhys has played. Even when he was crap at Carlisle he was still one of our better players.

I really like Byers - he looks a class act on the ball. I think in L1 with more emphasis on technique and a few better players around him he will be a huge asset. Saturday however will be a battle in close quarters which is not Byers game.

For me Curtis is must to start against these - he will be extra motivated as the crowd will give him stick but I expect DM will go with a midfield 3 of Harper, Walters and Croz.

Byers , Rhys & Croasdale makes more sense 👍

4 hours ago, Tamworth said:

 

Depends where he plays him and if he is properly fit - I think some of the stick he gets on here is a bit unfair.

Just don't  play him the guy is orate as a sub but if he starts on sat then I'm not singing Moore more Moore more anymore 🙄😬

1 hour ago, andy jones said:

I'd pick Harper on the basis no-one can play that badly two games running !!

I wouldn't bet against it buddy 🙈

The case for 4 at the back for me was loud and clear in last 20 on sat, we flew at Grimsby from everywhere ,you don't need 3 centre half's as it limits us especially if want to get on front foot ,1 extra in that midfield ,and with the movement, and the speed of our players we are a fantastic watch .

3 at the back on the back of 5 goals conceded in last 2 to me doesn't make any sense ,,can always go 3 big centre half's last 10 if want hang on for a 1 -0 win ,but otherwise if your getting Croasdale/Rico /Walters and Curtis coming at you eventually Tolaj and Stockley ,are either going be in on goal ,or one of them mentioned players is going wallop one in .

Change it .

Be front foot Vale not cagey let's have a look at you Vale .

Edited April 23, 20251 yr by Dipepa delight

4 hours ago, Tamworth said:

 

Depends where he plays him and if he is properly fit - I think some of the stick he gets on here is a bit unfair.

I agree. Noticed on Monday he burst through leaving a couple of Grimsby defenders floundering. Then looked to the right wing to lay it off. In the McCarthy/ Jennison Myrie Williams days that would have been a great option. No criticism of Mitch Clarke as he was our best player and cannot be in two places at once.The game has evolved now, and the days of two raiding wingers in our team are no more.

4 hours ago, Tamworth said:

 

Depends where he plays him and if he is properly fit - I think some of the stick he gets on here is a bit unfair.

 

I think Harper is getting over battered as at times first half I thought he was decent on the ball and powering forwards, his touch is clearly way above L2 level, the thing that seems to let him down a bit is the energy as L2 is a lot more hectic than say the Championship or Premier League where he found himself so comes across as lazy.

Problem is swapping Garrity or Walters, the all action midfielder for Harper it's completely different in terms of style.

GK     Amos

DEF   Smith

DEF   Hall

MID   Clarke (Debra if Clarke not fit)

MID   Walters

MID   Croasdale

MID   Hart

FOR   Curtis

FOR   Tolaj

FOR   Stockley

FOR   Richards

 

Wombles 8 v Port Vale 9

47 minutes ago, Nippy Naylor said:

I think that Croasdale gives us more of a balanced midfield if he's playing further up the pitch and have Byers & Rhys sitting in 

We don't need two players sitting in. Byers playing off the back 3 and crozzer playing behind the front 2 and Rhys central for me

Just now, mbycars said:

We don't need two players sitting in. Byers playing off the back 3 and crozzer playing behind the front 2 and Rhys central for me

Byers and Rhys could rotate 

5 minutes ago, Nippy Naylor said:

Byers and Rhys could rotate 

fair enough 👍

20 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

I think Harper is getting over battered as at times first half I thought he was decent on the ball and powering forwards, his touch is clearly way above L2 level, the thing that seems to let him down a bit is the energy as L2 is a lot more hectic than say the Championship or Premier League where he found himself so comes across as lazy.

Problem is swapping Garrity or Walters, the all action midfielder for Harper it's completely different in terms of style.

Can’t agree, he was <ovf censored>. His touch and passing were abysmal. Even when he found his man, it was blasted at them at knee height.

On the goal as well, I can somewhat forgive his atrocious pass out of play. What I cannot forgive is the huge hole he’s left where he’s not been bothered to get back in, which is where they score from.

I’d be amazed if he got a league 2 club next year.

5 hours ago, werstayinup said:

If let loose i actually think Walters could play in an advanced role,he has the trickery to get past players

I do think he will start with 3 natural midfielders probably Byers,Croasdale and Walters with either Byers or Walters a bit more advanced 

I like that idea. If DM sticks with Byers, Croas’ and Rhys (rather than starting with Curtis or Rico as the AM) then Rhys showed on Monday, when he played further forward when he came on,  how dangerous his skill to side step players was when he does it in/just outside the opposition’s penalty area.

Edited April 23, 20251 yr by Trumpingtonvale

56 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

I think Harper is getting over battered as at times first half I thought he was decent on the ball and powering forwards, his touch is clearly way above L2 level, the thing that seems to let him down a bit is the energy as L2 is a lot more hectic than say the Championship or Premier League where he found himself so comes across as lazy.

Problem is swapping Garrity or Walters, the all action midfielder for Harper it's completely different in terms of style.

I have to agree, Harper isn't half as bad as some ppl make out. He made some promising runs on Monday. Everybody is hammering him for his wayward pass that leads to their first goal.

The one thing he is majorly lacking, is match fitness. He was blowing after 10 mins. He didn't throw it in though & he was working hard. I do feel a bit for him. I think there is a player in there, just needs to get himself really fit & match sharp.

If we could get him really fit & confident he could be a good player for us. I'm not sure the fans will give him that time though. He's become the easy scapegoat after the Barrow home game.

I think in this we need to grind out a result by hook or by crook, even if its a point, we don't want to go into the final game in 4th and out our hands, if we can get a win then there is probably a 75% chance we will be promoted on the day but we have to be careful not to lose it as well if at all possible.

In an ideal world at worst we finish the day 2 points clear still of Bradford (which if they lose will be the case) forcing them to win the final game at home to Fleetwood but of course that means us winning against Gills unbeaten in 10 so a draw and making that gap 3 for instance means we could take a point on the final day potentially (unless Walsall lose at home to Accrington which is possible in which case we are up anyway).

So many permutations from being top and promoted come Saturday evening to being 4th and having it out our hands, we have to lose to have it guaranteed to be out our hands so at this stage is probably a must not lose than must win and may require patience in that aspect rather than going to gung ho for the win to get it done, real decision for Moore to make on how we approach this one.

44 minutes ago, ValeForever. said:

I have to agree, Harper isn't half as bad as some ppl make out. He made some promising runs on Monday. Everybody is hammering him for his wayward pass that leads to their first goal.

The one thing he is majorly lacking, is match fitness. He was blowing after 10 mins. He didn't throw it in though & he was working hard. I do feel a bit for him. I think there is a player in there, just needs to get himself really fit & match sharp.

If we could get him really fit & confident he could be a good player for us. I'm not sure the fans will give him that time though. He's become the easy scapegoat after the Barrow home game.

Why is Moore starting a player who's that unfit in such a key game for automatic promotion?

We haven't got the luxury to carry those who aren't raring to go.