Srg

Legit. Did we play last night or what?

Don't think there's been a clamour for starts, but for involvement? Sure. If you're 4-0 up and you're bringing on Collins instead of Brown, it is a little puzzling. I think we see some attributes the established players lack, and wonder why some of the younger players aren't being used more to help fill those gaps - pace, athleticism etc. Maybe if JJ can stay fit and be used, Fornah keeps his place and Wilson plays more, it won't be quite as desperate of a situation.

0.7xG dontcha know

My view is that the team does seem to be together, and when our biggest threat, NML, is on form, it comes together more. There's no denying it though, there's significant caps on what we can and can't do with the personnel we currently have. So, in summary, I'd say the vibes within the team do seem to be good at the moment - 4 wins will do that!

Very sad case. Not sure what they're getting at though with regards to the amount she was paid for football and having another job, it's like most semi-pro footballers... it's very very common in non-league everywhere. Financial pressure is certainly a problem, it's got worse for everyone over the last few years, but not sure this makes complete sense yet.

Problem last night, from what I could see, is that Fornah and Bird were pushed high and onto the toes of their defenders. This meant we were matched5 v 5 across their back line when we had the ball with Wilson, NML and Collins also there. Hourihane then split the centre backs by dropping deep which left a gaping chasm for much of the middle of the pitch. If Hourihane is doing that, we are missing a link player in that huge gap, or, we needed someone with far more mobility than Hourihane to be able to bring the ball forward at his feet to create the passing angles. This was more of a first half issue than second, we did change a bit in the second half.

Striker, left winger and a Hourihane replacement. If we can do that, we have a proper chance.

ATG 1Wildsmith 6 24Nyambe 6 7Barkhuizen 6 35Nelson 7 6Cashin 7 3Forsyth 6 4Hourihane 4 17Sibley 6 2Wilson 6.5 22Fornah 7 8Bird 6 11Méndez-Laing 6.5 5Bradley 5.5 9Collins 4 19John-Jules 6.5

God what a tedious last couple of pages. xG useless without context, shots on target useless without context. It’s almost like any stat is useless without context. Mad.

Young Vale fan doing some interviews with our lads who are being top lads with him. NML said he remembered him from last year when he asked Didzy about his song.

Random things I noticed at the end… Warne really did a comedic screech in joy half way down the tunnel whilst giving someone a big hug. Same bloke also really gave TJJ a huge cuddle too. Wildsmith really appreciative of the applause. Barkhuizen left the pitch earlier than the others but did go way out his way to shake the refs hand.

Final from the posh seats… Credit to Warne for trying to win the game with his changes. He could’ve easily have copped out and taken Wilson off, for example, but he didn’t. He made positive changes and shape changes to try and win. Hourihane and Collins continue to be millstone around the team’s neck. Keep TJJ fit and he’s your striker, he possesses actual quality. Fornah showed another quality what we were missing with Smith. He was everywhere. He covered an incredible amount of ground.

Not a coincidence we scored when a striker with quality comes on.

With the space he has, if he could take it and stride forward to draw out defenders to meet him it would change the game. But he can’t do that. It’s tough because they’re are so compact and not giving us space in any forward area, so we’ve found it tough on the wings too. Maybe TJJ or Sibley to help us centrally would do wonders.

Thoughts from the posh seats… Theyre dropping to a narrow back 5 whenever we get the ball and giving us acres of room at the back. Problem is we are pushing Wilson, NML, Bird, Fornah and Collins to stand on them so there’s no options to pass to. Bird has been weak as water on the ball and off it. Hourihane is anonymous and his lack of mobility is showing up badly with how much room he has that he could be using and isn’t.

Big Tommy Markhuizen on the bench.

Dont think you’ll get Weston, with Waghorn, Collins and JJ I doubt there’s room unfortunately for another in the squad.

I get what you’re trying to do but I’d have probably picked the Barnsley result before the Bristol one 😂

Rather Abject Most Seasons

And in your plan, you want to actively make the game which generates all that money actively worse and less attractive to those spending the money to support it. So what’s the point?

Can’t disagree any more. Having a decision viewed once in real time being made incorrectly is annoying but human. We can all have a go at the ref, move on and hope to get the better end of the stick next time. Having it viewed hundreds of times from multiple views and slowed down til all context is removed, meanwhile 5 minutes has passed and all joy of a goal has been sucked away, for a decision to still be made incorrectly is not good and never will be.

One of those insults is homophobic… just warning you before someone is offended by it.

Bit of a soft penalty. Wasn’t really a dive but not sure it was a penalty either. Goal either way.

Much the better team, the second really made it a bit more representative of the game. Been a few more chances and many nearly moments, so it was bordering on a tad wasteful. Good showing though!

I was a huge fan of McAndrew last round so interested to see how he does.