I think we started nervy and were just growing into the game when a great cross and some slack defending put them ahead. Their second goal was a bit of a shocker and if you go down 2-0 to any side in this league you're going to have a long afternoon.

But the second half was genuinely brilliant. Full of fight, character and also with some quality, despite being a man down. Our subs bench looked strong on paper and they came on and proved it. 

I think we really need to play 3 in the middle. Croasdale, Byers and then one of Garrity, Shipley or Walters, depending on form and fitness. Headley will miss some games now and will have to lick his wounds. But John is a fantastic replacement, I'm guessing we just move Clark to left-back.

1 hour ago, TJHValiant said:

Yes, on a manager who can set up a team. 

Here we go,not unexpected from someone who wanted him gone for the majority of last season....... you did well though,you nearly got to half time

3 minutes ago, Paul6754 said:

Can't understand why DM started with a 3-4-3, Vale didn't do well with this formation last season from the beginning of a game.

Nope, I think there’s a lot of us with those same thoughts. If it was a rookie manager you’d put it down as very naive going away on the opening day in a higher league with two not-exactly-mobile CM’s. But he’s been round the block and aside from the mind-numbing performances last year when we tried it (think Walsall and home) should have known that we’d struggle in midfield.

3 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

Here we go,not unexpected from someone who wanted him gone for the majority of last season....... you did well though,you nearly got to half time

DM & Co did set the team up wrong at the start.  Most Vale fans would say that.  2nd half changes made Vale more attacking and easily could have come away with a point.

20 minutes ago, ValiantHan said:

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.

Apart from their main striker who has scored double figures most seasons 🤔

1 minute ago, Biddulph_PV said:

Nope, I think there’s a lot of us with those same thoughts. If it was a rookie manager you’d put it down as very naive going away on the opening day in a higher league with two not-exactly-mobile CM’s. But he’s been round the block and aside from the mind-numbing performances last year when we tried it (think Walsall and home) should have known that we’d struggle in midfield.

Yeah you touched on it at the end. The biggest problem with that formation is you’re so vulnerable to being overrun in midfield. And if you’re going to do it then it baffles me a runner like Croasdale wasn’t in. Not going to cry over spilt milk though. He changed it and we looked so much better.

My feeling is if we insist on 3 up top then it has to be in a 4-3-3. That feels like the best balance then.

1 hour ago, TJHValiant said:

Waine does look a good technical player but 3 goals in 45 appearances all when they were in league 2, tells you he is no league 1 player. 

Ahh right,maybe you should be chief scout if you can spot it from that

My mate says he saw Arblaster there today 

Overall: encouraging. Better than them at times with 10 v 11, subs made big difference + a change in shape.

Got to go with 352! 

Enjoyed the second half performance as much as I was horrified by the first half. No two ways about it formation and personna wrong from ko.

Desperately unlucky not to get a point out of it and am intrigued by Thursday night selection and performance now.

15 minutes ago, Lornelounger said:

Well, the club says "if we don't win, we learn". So I hope we learn today not to do that again first half. We were better than them even with 10 v 11 in the second half, and when we scored, you could see Rotherham getting very nervous. Such a one sided second half towards SVA - I thought we deserved a point. We have the players for this league, and need to play them in their right positions. And I thought Ojo did well - perhaps he has silenced a few critics.  The experience we had on the pitch when our subs came on was reassuring - and we need to play these players again next game.  Still not sure about Marosi in goal - he needs to save a couple of penalties to win me over. 

Marosi looks like a continental 'flapper' prone to punching on occasions instead of catching as a more competent keeper would!

1 minute ago, Guppys left peg said:

Yeah you touched on it at the end. The biggest problem with that formation is you’re so vulnerable to being overrun in midfield. And if you’re going to do it then it baffles me a runner like Croasdale wasn’t in. Not going to cry over spilt milk though. He changed it and we looked so much better.

My feeling is if we insist on 3 up top then it has to be in a 4-3-3. That feels like the best balance then.

Playing Gazza or Rico behind a front two might work but all the evidence from last season shows that keeping Stockley and Tolaj close in a two is the most effective way to go. Changing to three up front makes us less incisive as it separates our two top scorers. Tolaj is simply wasted playing wide.

Just hoping for Thursday that Dazza goes back to 352. 

26 minutes ago, PVFC764 said:

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.

Oddly, more positives than negatives for me in that performance. Great battling display in that second half. Hopefully that puts 343 to bed nice and early to. We changed shape second half and competed better with 10 men. 
 

Tolaj is a striker full stop. Play him up top or don’t play him it really is that simple. The other thing, and it’s controversial, but Stockley is a sub striker now in league one. Hes the battering ram to come on in games. We need someone that is a bit more mobile to play with Tolaj. Just my opinion. And not a slant on Stockley at all, he’s just at that stage in his career for me. Should be bringing Stockley into that game late on instead of Henegan. Like he was used against us for Fleetwood a few seasons ago. 

Ultimately, one game and means nothing other than lessons learned. But well done for making sure we weren’t disgraced in Yorkshire again. More of the second half please and we will certainly make a fist of staying in League one. 

Just now, Bycarsbill said:

Marosi looks like a continental 'flapper' prone to punching on occasions instead of catching as a more competent keeper would!

Yes, I felt much more confident having Amos there last season. Early days, so I'll give him a few games, but I do wish he would catch the ball a bit more and be a dominant presence. For the second goal, he was feeble, though the defence didn't help him. Hopefully he will improve - he has the experience.

 

 

8 minutes ago, Bycarsbill said:

Marosi looks like a continental 'flapper' prone to punching on occasions instead of catching as a more competent keeper would!

 

I don't think he could catch that one. But he certainly could have got a stronger fist on it. Don't think it was a howler, but certainly he could and should have done better.

Edited August 2, 2025Aug 2 by Valiiant