15 hours ago, Valiiant said:

 

Smith couldn't pass more than 5 yards anyway. It's not his game. There's a reason he's still playing for a League Two club.

That's all fine saying that BUT you cannot avoid the fact that, last time we were in EFL1, Smudger and Debs could be seen begging for someone to show for the ball when we were trying to get out from defence and quite often there was nothing. 

 

Both players got pelters on here and people were regularly saying they were <ovf censored>. Which was wrong. 

2 hours ago, Granville said:

 

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I agree...gggranville

 

Edited July 27, 2025Jul 27 by Splodger

6 hours ago, Alan Vit said:

Roll on the season proper starting to settle us down a bit ... 🙂

That's b&*(^$£ks Alan we should be 442

9 hours ago, Granville said:

Because it frequently veers from one direction to another massively. Being balanced is a good trait, but the problem is here on on social media, it will lead to a bunch of people jumping on either side with such vehemence that it then causes a problem. 

Social media has made people very polarised with their views. Its like an echo chamber, and when a differing view intrudes on that, its like a massive shock to the system, and human nature is to respond to it in kind.

Ojo, for me, IS a good League One player, BUT, his attitude is questionable. He's not the best thing since sliced bread, but similarly he's not the second coming of Idi Amin.

Paton is the reverse example - plenty of people think he's absolutely brilliant and will undoubtedly thrive when given a chance in a certain system of play, but he's never really threatened to make good on those promises. So again, he's not the best thing since sliced bread, BUT similarly he's not a world beater either.

In the end the only one we can trust to make a call on any player is the manager, because ultimately, its his opinion that has consequence, and none of ours 

Freedom of thought, Criticism, trolling, banter etc, thats to be expected, thats normal, thats the purpose of this forum, what isnt normal is a having a meltdown over an opinion that you want total censorship or lack of conversation as a grown man etc. That's what annoys me.

Part of being a professional in a competitive sport athlete is to handle all that and do your job; no one is saying not to allow the manager to do his job. You give your own opinion here for example, as i said some people are so soft it's unreal, as many hardcore whiners as there is in the fanbase theres equally another equal number who can't look at the other side of the coin without having a cry or meltdown, maybe its years of vale trauma.

23 hours ago, valeparklife said:

Vale fans ALWAYS need a scapegoat.

Someone to moan about pre match, "Oh god, why is he starting?"

Someone to lay blame on, regardless of how they actually played. "It's like playing with 10 men with him in the side".

There has NEVER been a period in history without one. Written off before every game. Booed on and off the pitch. Abused while warming up.

It's seems this years winner is Ojo, with Marosi gaining popularity too.

Sent from my SM-G981B using onevalefan mobile app
 

Disagree. I never buy this scapegoat argument. Was loft a scapegoat? Uche? Zak mills? Stevens? Etc etc. 

There is no scapegoating. The player gets criticised because they aren’t very good and half the time don’t even try. 

I rate Ojo. But you cannot say critism isn’t warranted after downing tools twice. 

Maroni, some like me probably didn’t think he was the best option for us to sign. That’s not scapegoating or writing him off, it’s a just an opinion. 

The only player I’ve seen booed whilst warming up is Ryan loft and he’s probably the worst ‘footballer’ I’ve seen in a vale top. 

Has a good player ever been ‘scapegoated’? Or is it just a coincidence that those criticised aren’t very good? it’s the same at every football club. But some always love to get an early dig in at the fans. People say ‘why is he starting’ when they see Loft up top by himself or a starting midfield of Pugh and Tongue or Jason Lowe. 
 

It’s not scapegoating. Players get criticised when they aren’t very good. The same at every club. 

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by valiant_593

 

39 minutes ago, VantaaVale said:

 

That's from 2016/17 season your 9 years to late 🤣🤣🤣

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by Splodger

Unfortunately, the young lad seems to have missed both goals ... 🙂

But good try, youth, keep at it.

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by Alan Vit

Highlights from the Birmingham game

 

1 hour ago, VantaaVale said:

 

Thanks for the nostalgia,  could of picked a win though .

2 hours ago, VantaaVale said:

 

Loved the home shirt, not so much the squad, manager and chairman.

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by MBE

Try this vlog although not picked up the 1st goal.

 

Edited July 28, 2025Jul 28 by MBE

5 hours ago, valiant_593 said:

Disagree. I never buy this scapegoat argument. Was loft a scapegoat? Uche? Zak mills? Stevens? Etc etc. 

There is no scapegoating. The player gets criticised because they aren’t very good and half the time don’t even try. 

I rate Ojo. But you cannot say critism isn’t warranted after downing tools twice. 

Maroni, some like me probably didn’t think he was the best option for us to sign. That’s not scapegoating or writing him off, it’s a just an opinion. 

The only player I’ve seen booed whilst warming up is Ryan loft and he’s probably the worst ‘footballer’ I’ve seen in a vale top. 

Has a good player ever been ‘scapegoated’? Or is it just a coincidence that those criticised aren’t very good? it’s the same at every football club. But some always love to get an early dig in at the fans. People say ‘why is he starting’ when they see Loft up top by himself or a starting midfield of Pugh and Tongue or Jason Lowe. 
 

It’s not scapegoating. Players get criticised when they aren’t very good. The same at every club. 

Saying Ojo was crap after Crosby left is fair criticism. Saying Ojo is the reason we went down would be scapegoating,

2 hours ago, Brian Johnson said:

Highlights from the Birmingham game

 

Was at that game .

Lee Mills Tony Naylor 

Those were the days 

Great performance 

Great goals 

 

In totally objective terms, not the most earth-shattering of pre-season warm-ups.  I know people will argue that they're only practice matches which of course, they are and that we scored a load of goals against the lower league opposition.  However the lack of a goals against the higher league clubs, signals to me a warning flag that we may once more be in for more of our tight, attritional and generally defensive style of play rather than looking forward to some of the free-flowing attractive football most of us long for.

I accept that, as always, it's results that count and despite some pretty dire games endured last season, ultimately we won loads more than we lost so I guess I've just got to accept that we shall in all probability, be seeing more of the one-dimensional and pragmatic performances rather than the expansive and entertaining football I should like. Whatever various set-ups and styles of play evolve, I like all Vale fans will be cheering the lads on and hoping for a solid return points-wise.  UTV!