The last 30 minutes was all us. A draw was certainly the fair result but if only those tactics had been different at the start. 

Think it was in the bingo to say "we'd have lost that last season". I'd slightly change that to "we'd have lost that upwards of 7-0 two seasons ago". I'll be very interested in DM's post-match interview, and more importantly, the starting team on Thursday...

1 minute ago, ValiantHan said:

If Rotherham play like they did in the 2nd half I can see them finishing in the bottom 5. 

That's what they'll be saying about us 1st half.

Much improved 2nd half and unlucky to come away with nothing.

Curtis and Croasdale were immense. 

Yes we lost.  Yes DM and Co got the starting 11 wrong and Rotherham showed where the weaknesses were and ripped into the team. 

But the 2nd half will give us positives that Vale will cope with this league.

Still unsure on the GK position.  Is he going to be what Vale need.  Hopefully Amos will be back to push him.

Just now, 1 said:

Curtis and Croasdale were immense. 

Crazy not to start Croasdale after what he did last season. Nothing against Shipley but Croasdale has to start 

Eagerly awaiting news on the injured lot. That looked like a brand new formation first half, and I don’t like it. Back to basics, best players on the pitch in their best position and what happens? we dominate.

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by 1

We gifted them that by being so poor from the start, mainly down to team selection & formation.

Rotherham look a nothing team on that 2nd half showing, just as many have predicted them to be.

Can see their manager being sacked before the season is out.

 

3 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

Crazy not to start Croasdale after what he did last season. Nothing against Shipley but Croasdale has to start 

Yeah I don’t want to hear any more “Croasdale is only a L2 midfielder”. He was a major reason we switched the momentum in the game.

So 2 upfront works , I thought that was a lesson we learnt last season, eventually. I genuinely feel that preseason games should ultimately end with you playing your intended starting 11. It gives them time to gel. We didn't do that and I feel suffered for that in the first half.

Rotherham Utd 2-1 Port Vale – a game of two halves as Port Vale suffer a losing start - onevalefan.co.uk

WWW.ONEVALEFAN.CO.UK

 

Sounded a more encouraging 2nd half, was genuinely fearing the worst at HT of another 7-0. 

I hope that - once and for all - Moore learns that 3-4-3 just doesn’t work in lower league football. You need prime Yaya Toure / Patrick Vieira plus Zinedine Zidane as your CM’s with Roberto Carlos style WBs before you even consider it. An absolute nonsense formation for everyone other than Man City & PSG. 

When we matched them up second half in midfield we were the better team

 

I'm putting this one down to DM sorry big man but you got it wrong first half.

 

Great team spirit shown second half curtis made a huge difference tolaj came alive second half and clarke was superb. 

 

Apart from the first half when we gave them too much time and space in midfield we were more than a match for rotherham which just goes to show that we have nothing to fear in league one with this squad. We still have plenty of decent players to come in so a couple of additions, especially a keeper because marosi was poor, mid table easy.

4 minutes ago, The Kalamazoo Kid said:

Rotherham look a nothing team on that 2nd half showing, just as many have predicted them to be.

The fact that they struggled when we had 10 men and when we changed formation does not bode well for their season. I honestly think they will be one of the teams occupying a relegation spot come the end of the season as I don't rate the defence and they have a distinct lack of goals in their team as none of the strikers they have got score many goals.

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by ValiantHan

Got to find a way to get Curtis in formation from start. He plays as though if he loses he will be shot.