November 17th midweek bonanza (well one game!)

[valefan16]

After the heartbreaking conclusion of Saturdays mad 45 minutes Vale get a quick chance to make amends against struggling Scunthorpe.

Vale can take the positives that with 11 men they were well on course for a victory and actually managed to find scoring boots with a first 3 goal league haul since Colchester in February.

Joyce will be suspended but Oyeleke, McKirdy and Montano are all pushing to return as is Rodney who has scored twice in two sub apps the last week after suffering from Covid.

Whitehead and Fitzpatrick should also be available after isolating although Mills is now suffering from covid and not available.

Vale beat Scunthorpe away in the league cup in September and could go as high as third with the three point haul.

Scunthorpe ended a run of 9 losses with victory on Saturday (thank god we’d have been the first otherwise to end their run!) and seem to be getting bodies back and likely will pose a much bigger test than had the game gone ahead a fortnight ago.

Vale will hoping for a huge reaction from Saturday with the players hurting and this will be a huge test of character. Never generally do well against Scunthorpe so not convinced we will win. Big game though!

 

[BlackHaddock]

We are playing against The Mudrats in the Boycott Trophy this evening. Win and we go into the next bit, lose or draw and we are out as usual. Nothing else to do this evening, so I will be watching it. No idea what sort of side either club will put out, but as we didn't play on Saturday I think we may field a stronger team than we normally do in this comp.

 

[Bottega Don]

We were the better team for the first time this season against Oldham. It isn't saying much as they were bad.

I think we will play for a point tonight and play quite defensive, can't imagine we will look to foray forward much. A point here would be a great result considering our season so far and Vales position in the league.

 

[valefan16]

We were the better team for the first time this season against Oldham. It isn't saying much as they were bad.

I think we will play for a point tonight and play quite defensive, can't imagine we will look to foray forward much. A point here would be a great result considering our season so far and Vales position in the league.

Play for a point you’ll probably get it!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Van Veen is the danger man and he's only just returned typically. We need to get at them from the off like we did against Oldham. We rarely seem to get at teams early on.

 

[Bottega Don]

Van Veen is the danger man and he's only just returned typically. We need to get at them from the off like we did against Oldham. We rarely seem to get at teams early on.

He's very inconsistent. If he plays like he did against Oldham then you're in trouble but he could just as easily phone it in and play terribly.

His performance will completely determine how we do, we are very much a 1 man team.

 

[valefan16]

Manny in for Joyce, great to have him back in the team. Cullen for Pope which is how it should be at home as he’s probably the best finisher at the club!

 

[Soz]

I agree, Pope should have been starting tonight not on Saturday. And Cullen vice versa.

I hope we win but I'm still a bit dejected from Saturday.

 

[valefan16]

I agree, Pope should have been starting tonight not on Saturday. And Cullen vice versa.

I hope we win but I'm still a bit dejected from Saturday.

I know what you mean, we will either come up completely flat or like men possessed after that. Could go either way!

 

[masi51]

Playing the Geordie yoof in the micky mouse cup......just the 11 changes from Friday.....Billy the fish back in goal
Run outs for Darcy,Miller,White and Isgrove........Taft Greenidge and Comley also getting games after being dropped completly from the first team squad.
Starting to see competition for places at long last..

 

[kieran_vale]

Lively start from Vale, pushed them back for the most part. Couple of decent crosses into the box though not forced their keeper into doing any work yet.

 

[Bottega Don]

Loving this game of attack vs defense

 

[masi51]

Billy the fish plays a bad ball out from a goal kick straight to comley who cannot control it he loses the ball first shot, billy the fish beaten at his front post..................chuckle brothers at there best !!

 

[Bottega Don]

17 minutes in and Van Veen hasn't touched the ball, what a game

 

[kieran_vale]

So far the Vale midfield dominating the game with the extra man in there. The way Manny has started if I was Luke Joyce I wouldn’t be totally sure he walks back in the team.

Scunny need to find a way to get Eisa on the ball. Thought he was excellent against us in the League Cup game.

 

[Bottega Don]

Well that came out of nowhere.

Great goal though

 

[valefan16]

Bloody hell I don’t think they’ve had a touch in our box yet lead!

 

[kieran_vale]

Credit where it’s due that’s a great strike.

That might be the first time Brown has touched the ball picking it out of the net.

 

[valefan16]

Loft is a lucky boy so far!

 

[Bottega Don]

Considering the penalties we've conceded this season I can't work out how that's not a penalty on Van Veen

 

[Bottega Don]

Just seen it again and that's clear as day, so typical

 

[valefan16]

Totally lost our way now.

 

[BlackHaddock]

Lost 3-0 to Hull reserves, can't take much more of this; we were bloody awful again.

 

[masi51]

2-0 to the Geordie yoof.........8 of these need paying up or releasing

 

[Bottega Don]

Perfect first half for us really. Barely touched the ball until we scored but have looked comfortable since. Hope we don't rue that Van Veen penalty being somehow ignored

 

[valefan16]

Typical Vale performance against sides that sit in, loads of the ball, they’ve had one chance hit a worldly and now we are slow laboured.

Probably needs Pope to hold it up because long balls to Cullen is pointless.

Loft seems desperate to get a red card mind! Elbowed Smith, then Legge before finally getting booked!

 

[kieran_vale]

Think that’s the most possession we’ve had in a long time. Problem is it’s no good if it’s mainly been played between Smith, Legge and Crookes.

I’m not normally a fan of this formation but based on how they are lined up I’d be tempted switch to a 4-4-2. More than in this though, just got to not fall into the trap of trying to force things.

 

[valefan16]

Think that’s the most possession we’ve had in a long time. Problem is it’s no good if it’s mainly been played between Smith, Legge and Crookes.

I’m not normally a fan of this formation but based on how they are lined up I’d be tempted switch to a 4-4-2. More than in this though, just got to not fall into the trap of trying to force things.

Before their goal we were decent, playing some great stuff especially on that left side but since the goal we’ve just let heads drop.

Can still win this but need to up the tempo.

Might be time for McKirdy to show what he can do.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Scunthorpe have been poor but they've clearly studied us. Nick a goal and then sit back and watch us huff and puff whilst getting nowhere.

It was the same against Morecambe who were equally poor but knew that once they scored the game was over. We need somebody to break up the lines and offer some movement, as at the moment this is so comfortable for Scunthorpe.

 

[Bottega Don]

Van Veen injured after a completely accidentally fall, just sums up our season as a whole.

No luck at all this year