League 2 General Chat Thread

[valefan16]

Never ever forget Rudgey in our 73/74 season. Scored some invaluable goals.

One at Old Trafford didn't he which he likes to mention!

 

[valefan16]

 

[Coalite]

How long was Fred Dibnah at Vale for?

Nice touch tbf

 

[spireite]

Did he help them climb the leagues?

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

View attachment 20912

Very classy and rightly so.

 

[LS Bantam]

“Howwwwwzaaaaatt?” “He’s given it”

 

[valefan16]

Did he help them climb the leagues?

Rudge took us from a struggling 4th division side to challenging for a place in the Premier League, multiple giant killings, promotions, Wembley trips and then 6-7 glorious years in the second tier.

The 90s are the halcyon days for us and the likes of Steve Guppy, Gareth Ainsworth, Foyle, Naylor etc etc.

Not to mention regular derby victories and for a period the dominant side in the city, in 98 our win v Huddersfield kept us up as Stoke and Man City went down.

JR is to us what say Clough, Ferguson, Shankley would be to their clubs. 16 mostly glorious years and we’ve not looked like repeating them since.

 

[valefan16]

“Howwwwwzaaaaatt?” “He’s given it”

Famous for his flat cap! But does make him look like an umpire I guess!

 

[spireite]

Rudge took us from a struggling 4th division side to challenging for a place in the Premier League, multiple giant killings, promotions, Wembley trips and then 6-7 glorious years in the second tier.

The 90s are the halcyon days for us and the likes of Steve Guppy, Gareth Ainsworth, Foyle, Naylor etc etc.

Not to mention regular derby victories and for a period the dominant side in the city, in 98 our win v Huddersfield kept us up as Stoke and Man City went down.

JR is to us what say Clough, Ferguson, Shankley would be to their clubs. 16 mostly glorious years and we’ve not looked like repeating them since.

Sorry mate it was just a shit joke around the post above saying it's Fred Dibnah. Great touch though for a club legend.

 

[valefan16]

Sorry mate it was just a shit joke around the post above saying it's Fred Dibnah. Great touch though for a club legend.

There’s the history behind it I guess for anyone interested.

Monumental effort as paid for by the supporters who’ve clubbed together to raise the 100k and a few grand by Reading supporters who’ve donated after their fans got our game at their place abandoned last season after 15 minutes for their protest as a thank you for the understanding and support shown.

Good to see it finally in place.

 

[EnglishRed]

It's early to start discussing the make up of League Two for 25-26, but are we ready for Shrewsbury coming back down? Them, Crawley, Cambridge and Burton look in big trouble early doors.

Every time I've seen Shrewsbury this season they look awful. In their match against Exeter the other day they had improved but still had nothing up front. Id be shocked if they stay up. Cambridge too. No idea why Burton are so bad as they are financially backed now.

If Lindsay had stayed at Crawley I'd think they would be ok (and they looked decent when we played them in September) but now I don't know. They also seem to be doing dodgy transfer things- they apparently spent 6 figures on a Nigerian international from the Tanzanian league who appears to have been 22 for some time. All very odd.

 

[Wootball]

It's early to start discussing the make up of League Two for 25-26, but are we ready for Shrewsbury coming back down? Them, Crawley, Cambridge and Burton look in big trouble early doors.

Burton and Shrews would be good to have down just for locality. With Vale getting promoted (to nobody's surprise given lower Championship spending in League Two) we need more local games back.

 

[valefan16]

Burton and Shrews would be good to have down just for locality. With Vale getting promoted (to nobody's surprise given lower Championship spending in League Two) we need more local games back.

You don't get promoted in October!

 

[Conker]

Shrewsbury are a bog standard L2 side already, good at holding their shape and that’s about it.

Burton are really dangerous going forward but defensively remind me of Notts County last season. They signed a ridiculous amount of players so that’s probably why.

Edit - Burton just sacked the manager!

 

[Wootball]

You don't get promoted in October!

It's as good as nailed on though, let's be realistic. It is the way it is.

 

[AdamStag]

Every time I've seen Shrewsbury this season they look awful. In their match against Exeter the other day they had improved but still had nothing up front. Id be shocked if they stay up. Cambridge too. No idea why Burton are so bad as they are financially backed now.

If Lindsay had stayed at Crawley I'd think they would be ok (and they looked decent when we played them in September) but now I don't know. They also seem to be doing dodgy transfer things- they apparently spent 6 figures on a Nigerian international from the Tanzanian league who appears to have been 22 for some time. All very odd.

I think wrexham and mansfield have opted out for the 25/26 league 2 edition

Shrewsbury were the worst side i’ve seen at FM this season by some distance, but still better than most we’ve played in L2 last season - cambridge have won their last 2.

Burton just don’t have any decent players, and any they did have we’ve nicked, oh and they can’t defend.

 

[kieran_vale]

It's as good as nailed on though, let's be realistic. It is the way it is.

We’ve yet to negotiate the clubs greatest enemy though - the January transfer window! Too many times I’ve seen things blow up in our faces during and after that.

Regards coming down Shrewsbury it seems have been treading water for some time. Only so long you can do it. Might do them good to go down and have a reset. Looks like Orient and Northampton having a bit of a case of second season syndrome up there so maybe one of them will be in the mix at the end as well.

 

[valefan16]

We’ve yet to negotiate the clubs greatest enemy though - the January transfer window! Too many times I’ve seen things blow up in our faces during and after that.

Regards coming down Shrewsbury it seems have been treading water for some time. Only so long you can do it. Might do them good to go down and have a reset. Looks like Orient and Northampton having a bit of a case of second season syndrome up there so maybe one of them will be in the mix at the end as well.

We'd have to really mess up January! One good thing is we are not reliant on loans which killed us last season, suppose that's the risk Walsall for example face as we found out to our cost last season.

In theory by January we should get so many injuries back it will be like a new team with Byers, Clark and Hart.

Might see Smith leave, maybe Shorrock if big money offers come in like with Dipepa but imagine the only risk is BBB and Cover but we have more than adequate players there with Clark coming back.

With Shrewsbury notice Funso has started moaning!

 

[valefan16]

It's as good as nailed on though, let's be realistic. It is the way it is.

Nothing is nailed on with Vale! All looks great at the moment and hopefully if needed with have the finance to push on in January but even if we are 30 points clear with 11 to play i'd still not consider it done!

 

[AdamStag]

Nothing is nailed on with Vale! All looks great at the moment and hopefully if needed with have the finance to push on in January but even if we are 30 points clear with 11 to play i'd still not consider it done!

What’s the difference between this season and last in terms of both you, but what you’re up against?

Good to see you doing well mind, you’ve almost somehow became a footballing brother.

 

[valefan16]

What’s the difference between this season and last in terms of both you, but what you’re up against?

Good to see you doing well mind, you’ve almost somehow became a footballing brother.

We have a league one squad this season but had a league two one last year!

In all seriousness we've just spent big largely, we had Ryan Loft and Uche as our strike force last season which was useless so addressed that.

The owners business which they started as a family business was invested for something like £180 million but it seemed to come through just after the window shut so we've invested heavily and have massive depth to choose from.

We've also seen the fruits of the investment Flitcroft put into the youth team paying off with Dipepa going Southampton and a few of the younger groups going for big money to Prem/Champ clubs.

I imagine our budget is highest, if not top 2-3 in the league, George Byers hasn't turned down top end L1 and lower Championship clubs without a very good offer.

We've spent years being skint or "cash strapped" so its nice and I trust Carol with it though, shes investing all over the club and the community and despite our big spending the Dipepa sale will probably break that even.

Put it this way, the current Vale squad is far superior to the sides we had in L1 so hopefully we can get back and make a far better fist of it this time as it felt a total waste in how we let January's bypass us twice without addressing the obvious issues we had.

In terms of opponents there is clearly a big gulf from L1 to L2, players who did struggle like Tom Sang and Jessie Debrah have been outstanding for us this season despite fans worried pre season about them, the punishment you get in L1 you can more often get away with in L2.

That said L2 is still a decent technical league these days.

All that said as great is it is at the moment Vale fans will never take anything for granted so take it a game at a time.

Great to see you guys doing well too, we've rooted for you since the Play Off Final and the class you shown towards us and DC in particular, hopefully in 12 months we can meet again in L1.

 

[AdamStag]

We have a league one squad this season but had a league two one last year!

In all seriousness we've just spent big largely, we had Ryan Loft and Uche as our strike force last season which was useless so addressed that.

The owners business which they started as a family business was invested for something like £180 million but it seemed to come through just after the window shut so we've invested heavily and have massive depth to choose from.

We've also seen the fruits of the investment Flitcroft put into the youth team paying off with Dipepa going Southampton and a few of the younger groups going for big money to Prem/Champ clubs.

I imagine our budget is highest, if not top 2-3 in the league, George Byers hasn't turned down top end L1 and lower Championship clubs without a very good offer.

We've spent years being skint or "cash strapped" so its nice and I trust Carol with it though, shes investing all over the club and the community and despite our big spending the Dipepa sale will probably break that even.

Put it this way, the current Vale squad is far superior to the sides we had in L1 so hopefully we can get back and make a far better fist of it this time as it felt a total waste in how we let January's bypass us twice without addressing the obvious issues we had.

In terms of opponents there is clearly a big gulf from L1 to L2, players who did struggle like Tom Sang and Jessie Debrah have been outstanding for us this season despite fans worried pre season about them, the punishment you get in L1 you can more often get away with in L2.

That said L2 is still a decent technical league these days.

All that said as great is it is at the moment Vale fans will never take anything for granted so take it a game at a time.

Great to see you guys doing well too, we've rooted for you since the Play Off Final and the class you shown towards us and DC in particular, hopefully in 12 months we can meet again in L1.

That’s good to see then, obviously money helps in any league but if you didn’t have the resources last season league 1 appears a bit of a monster, hopefully you go back up straight away.

We’d always be like that for DC anyway, he’s a mansfield lad and hopefully one day he joins, he was afforded a standing ovation at barnsley opening game of the season.

As for the difference, despite our start it’s mainly pace and players being far more clinical - still living a bit of a dream currently, but it’s never easy - amazing win at wigan last night then all of a sudden you’re getting ready for Birmingham! tougher times will come but it’s nice to have points early,

Certainly would be nice to be playing you guys next season.

 

[GTFCfish]

Is it April 1st already?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1848845804431143100

 

[gary]

Unbelievable we now have Tomlinson the MK player claiming that MK are the biggest club in league 2 and possibly league 1 . Parroting what Scott Lindsey said. Apparently Tomlinson reckons they have loads of potential. You have to laugh !!!

 

[Meadow]

Unbelievable we now have Tomlinson the MK player claiming that MK are the biggest club in league 2 and possibly league 1 . Parroting what Scott Lindsey said. Apparently Tomlinson reckons they have loads of potential. You have to laugh !!!

The problem is that as AFC Wimbledon supporters, our opinion is dismissed as irrelevant, despite having bigger attendances than them. A failed experiment. A Wimbledon/AFC Wimbledon supporter since 1987.

 

[Scum.]

The problem is that as AFC Wimbledon supporters, our opinion is dismissed as irrelevant, despite having bigger attendances than them. A failed experiment. A Wimbledon/AFC Wimbledon supporter since 1987.

Your opinions cannot be dismissed, because you block anyone with a different opinion. I’d love to dismiss your opinion but you won’t let me

As for bigger attendances, fair enough you’re enjoying your new stadium bounce, the same as we did - we were getting 9,500 in L2 in 2007/2008 in our first year in the stadium. Your attendances will fall and rise and fall like ours have, you just haven’t given it long enough.

As for the biggest club stuff, I’m guessing that’s just kidology from Lindsey to change the losing mindset that set in over recent years. Based on our history we are an average L1 club in size that can flirt with L2 or the Championship in any given year. Perhaps that will change with our new Kuwaiti overlords but that’s years in the making.

 

[iWomble]

Absolutely no long-term trends here.

 

[Scum.]

View attachment 20939

Absolutely no long-term trends here.

So basically apart from two seasons, we have averaged far more than you every year of our existence and your attendances doubled when you moved to your stadium?

 

[gary]

Unbelievable we now have Tomlinson the MK player claiming that MK are the biggest club in league 2 and possibly league 1 . Parroting what Scott Lindsey said. Apparently Tomlinson reckons they have loads of potential. You have to laugh !!!

So basically apart from two seasons, we have averaged far more than you every year of our existence and your attendances doubled when you moved to your stadium?

You need to accept the fact we have a larger supporter base and a growing one at that. Yours is stagnant and diminishing as is demonstrated by your current owner's reducing ticket prices !!

 

[Scum.]

You need to accept the fact we have a larger supporter base and a growing one at that. Yours is stagnant and diminishing as is demonstrated by your current owner's reducing ticket prices !!

You definitely have a growing fanbase and ours has stagnated for sure in the last 2 years (our worst ever 2 years though), agreed. Ours will rise again if we do well on the pitch (as is the same with every club ever) and get out of this league back to our spiritual home in L1. As for reduced ticket prices, our prices were one of the most expensive in L1 and L2 so long overdue and should be celebrated as it applies to away fans too.

What is the evidence of you having a larger supporter base?