Port Vale v Swindon pre match chat and matchday thread

[RobertT]

For a bad performance, that wasn't that bad, if that makes sense.  Essentially played the last 10 minutes with 10 men, players out of position, injuries, but we were in the game for the most part.

Their second goal, didn't we concede one similar to that at the CG earlier this season?  Colchester maybe.  Players switched off and created an overlap inside for them.

The injuries are a worry, hopefully Fryers returns and we move Zakuani across one, Hunt carries on at left back.  I'd be tempted to go with Grant and Lyden to start next game, give Anderson the day off if he's carrying something and push Doughty forward with Isgrove coming in.

See, even though we lost today, and we have been ravaged by injuries, the fill in players can still create a good starting XI.  A challenge, no doubt, but so much better than recent seasons where the wheels would fall off here.  This  loss doesn't feel like some in recent years, we weren't brushed aside, we stayed in a game despite the adversity and had Anderson scored before half time it could have been very different.

[@mwooly63]

Not good that.
Disjointed performance after the 2 injuries.

Still top so not all bad, great result between Exeter and colchester,
the rest not so.

Be a shuffle around for NYD that's for sure.

Back to not knowing what day it is and more 

[Flashheart]

2 points clear at the top.
6 points clear from 4th.
9 points clear from 8th.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

We’re currently on a run of 13 consecutive matches where we have scored and we’ve scored in every away game.

When I posted this I just knew it would come back to bite me in the arse.

[Red Frog]

Despite appearances, Vale weren't dirty. We just couldn't unlock them, and constantly tried to play through their ranks rather than unlocking them with good passing. It looked like understandably tired football, with Yates and Doyle getting very little space or service. Woolery saw loads of ball on the edge of their area, but never once did anything with it.  We've got to start doing something different with our corners and free-kicks. Positives? Grant and Zakuani were solid, and Isgrove looked lively.

So now we're likely to be down Iandolo, Baudry, Anderson for Plymouth. I hope Fryers is back. Is Broadbent close to fitness?

[swindonmaniac]

We always lose when I bet W/L/D with Town. Especially on a favourable outcome for Town 

Ban me from betting on match outcomes with Town!

Learnt my lesson years ago,   never back the Town !!.   (Do have a bet pre-season but not on individual games).
Maybe it would be a good idea if you backed Plymouth to beat us.

[magicroundaboutred]

After Plymouth only 2 of the top 12 to play away.

[hefty toe]

Hopefully we'll be able to strengthen at centre back in January. Baudry and Fryers can't seem to manage double game weeks without getting injured.

[Batch]

Hopefully Fryers is back for Muff.  Fryers for Bauldry, Hunt for Iandolo, Isgrove for Anderson.

nope. Wellens just confirmed not.

baudry out 2-3 weeks

[RobertT]

Despite appearances, Vale weren't dirty. We just couldn't unlock them, and constantly tried to play through their ranks rather than unlocking them with good passing. It looked like understandably tired football, with Yates and Doyle getting very little space or service. Woolery saw loads of ball on the edge of their area, but never once did anything with it.  We've got to start doing something different with our corners and free-kicks. Positives? Grant and Zakuani were solid, and Isgrove looked lively.

So now we're likely to be down Iandolo, Baudry, Anderson for Plymouth. I hope Fryers is back. Is Broadbent close to fitness?

Vale were clever, they let Zakuani have space and pressed everyone else.  They had an outlet in Pope they could use when under pressure and needing to clear.  They had two men on Doyle as a result.  They blocked the passes into him, which meant we didn't have that option for most of the game.  They also had two decent wingers that kept our full backs honest.  All in all, they set-up perfectly to play us and then got the rub of the green with our injuries disrupting us.  Even after all that we had 67% possession, 14 shots vs 9 and 6 corners vs 1.  That's why I can come away from this one with positives.  Very few teams have a Pope, very few games you get three players injured, very few games does the keeper get the Anderson shot.  On another day, it goes in your favour.

[Batch]

Anderson suspected pulled quad

[Red Frog]

Wellens: Ellis is a serious ankle injury. We'll know more after a scan. Zeki won't be fit for Plymouth. Baudry 2-3 weeks. Broadbent's pulled his calf. We're going to have to move pretty quick for a centre-half after New Year. Keshi thinks he's pulled his quad.

 

[sir windon]

Vale are 10th in the table. We STILL haven’t beaten a top ten team. Well, we’ve got a chance to prove ourselves now as, of the next 7 games, 6 are against top ten teams, plus Newport, who we’ve lost to. Are we confident?

[RobertT]

It's the risk we took with some of the players we signed, so far it has paid off as we sit top of the league.  We might need to suck up a couple of tough games, get people back fit and get back to where we were, we may even get lucky and have enough quality to ride out the injuries.  Either way, over 22 games, the squad we have (if held together) will be in the hunt for those top three spaces, fell very confident about that.

[RobertT]

Vale are 10th in the table. We STILL haven’t beaten a top ten team. Well, we’ve got a chance to prove ourselves now as the next 7 games 6 against top ten teams, plus Newport, who we’ve lost to. Are we confident?

Yes, most of the return fixtures against top teams are at home and we are a much better team than the bottom 14.  We'll win more than we lose from here, that alone would have us battling for third, mix in more wins than losses and we should be OK, the ground work has been done.