I rambled a bit, where's the editor??:
1. Tell us a bit about yourself & history as a fan?
I'm "Batch". I think I have other names but they don't get used at football. Started following Town in the late 80's but missed most of the Premier League high being away at uni. Coming from 'Ciren' (Cirencester) I really only started coming to games regularly after passing my driving test.
2. How do you expect your team to do this season (including a forecast for a positional finish for the entire season)?
After the total rebuild and diametric change in styles I had no idea at the start of the season and still don't. We could finish anywhere from the top 3 to lower mid table. Best guess just inside or outside the playoffs!
3. What are your thoughts on your manager and his signings this season & who should we watch out for (danger players)?
Our manager (Flitcroft) seems an honest, no-nonsense straight talking type. Doesn't seem one for tippy-tappy football, which after the last two seasons is a breath of fresh air when we win, and a load of long ball rubbish when we lose. But there is pressure on him to deliver after being given supposedly a largish budget for the league.
Danger Players- Tough one. Norris has scored a few but is injured. I quite like the work ethic of Mullin, but he's often sub. Anderson is from the Premier League, but its Palace. Er....I think we have a team of no-nonsense grafters so picking a silky skilled tear em up twinkle toes is difficult. Preston in defence has made a big difference to how solid we look so I'm saying him. Cause he'll keep you t and we'll wear you down (possibly!)
4. What are your thoughts on your board & off field club activities?
The last few years have been a disastrous decline with a model of taking young premier league castoff failures and loand and converting them into league 1 failures (mostly) so we can flog them to anyone who walked past the ground. The chairman (Power) was never going to be popular under such a backdrop.
This year to be fair to him, he's employed a manager and let the manager get on with it. Its like having a proper club back, even if we "fail".
5. Can you tell us up to 3 quirky things opposing fans might not know about your team?
Nope!
Er, er,
We've never lost at brilliant old Wembley. We've never even scored at the rubbish new Wembley. And we used to be the only team in the football league without any letters from "mackerel" in it. Still might be. Something to keep you all amused if the game is rubbish.
6. Our fans love to read opposing team’s forums and blogs, any recommendations on these for your team?
Here on the TEF is quite unmoderated
"The Washbag" is/was quite good. Not seen much from them this season
7. How do you expect Vale to do this season?
Lower-upper mid table
8. What is your team's most memorable game with Vale (good or bad reasons)?
Son #1's first ever game: 19-April 2008: 6-0
Son #2's first ever game: 20-April 2012. 5-0
9. A score prediction (and potential scorers for both sides) and what do you expect the attendance to be / your away following to be?[/b]
Since son#3 will be traveling to his first game so.....no only joking, I'm out of sons now. I'm guessing a tight 1-0/2-1 win. Think you may edge it..
756 away fans