Port Vale v Gillingham

[ColB]

Could be this seasons Armstrong. 5 goals in 6 apps now and seems a natural finisher. 2nd in scoring charts for league one but played far less minutes than Morris.

I wonder how many he'd get if actually played as a striker. But then again maybe it's part of Bruno's plan to play him in a position where he's not getting battered by two thuggish centre-backs that resemble Sloth from The Goonies from the first minute, and stick him in his favoured position if we're chasing goals in the 2nd half. It's been working so for whatever the reason. I'll be glad to see Forrester back in the team though.

 

[IanPVFC]

Literally a game of 2 halves. Gillingham were on top first half and did have a few chances. We were simply too slow to react with their goal. The short corner took everyone by surprise and we were just didn't react, culminating in no one picking up the unmarked man on the line!

Second half we were much better and yet again changes from Bruno helped turn the game on it's head. I can't remember having such a proactive manager when it comes to tactics/subs, certainly a massive improvement on last year. In the end we could have easily won by more!

Special mention for the obvious targeting of Thomas in the opening exchanges where he was getting hacked down from the off resulting in the 2 Gills players on that side picking up yellows and one being subbed at half time before he was sent off.

 

[valefan16]

See Edinburgh is getting slaughtered by the press up Boslem, as did Alexander for similar comments so we are doing something right to cause this ideal that our 5000 fans cause referees to be 'intimidated'.

Teams hate the width Vale Park offers and when we have good wingers (as per the promo season with JMW/Vincent and last season before Andoh got crocked) teams seem to resort to desperate measures to try and stop them.

Our clubs most successful seasons have seen us have great wingers so if Shalaj and Thomas can get fully up to speed we may just do something this season.

 

[ColB]

If we have our best 11 out, something we haven't been able to do this season much at all yet, we're a match for anybody in the league. We also have some very solid back up players, though I still think we're one light up front because I just don't rate Patersen, and Cicilia very much a work in progress. I appreciate Patersen's effort but he's not a goal-scorer, never has been and never will be. At Vale Park -

Alnwick

Purkiss
Streete
Smith
Knops

Thomas
Grant
Foley
Shalaj

Jones
Forrester

Subs:

Santos
Kiko
Brown
Tavares
Amoros
De Freitas or Pereira
Cicilia

I honestly can't remember the last time we have looked so strong as a team and squad.

 

[MJA]

Our clubs most successful seasons have seen us have great wingers so if Shalaj and Thomas can get fully up to speed we may just do something this season.

I hate the fact that good old fashioned wing play seems to be turning into a dying art when it has always been such an effective tactic. I am sure whilst laughing out tits off at Stoke yesterday we all noticed the effectiveness of Townsend for Palace

 

[valefan16]

If we have our best 11 out, something we haven't been able to do this season much at all yet, we're a match for anybody in the league. We also have some very solid back up players, though I still think we're one light up front because I just don't rate Patersen, and Cicilia very much a work in progress. I appreciate Patersen's effort but he's not a goal-scorer, never has been and never will be. At Vale Park -

Alnwick

Purkiss
Streete
Smith
Knops

Thomas
Grant
Foley
Shalaj

Jones
Forrester

Subs:

Santos
Kiko
Brown
Tavares
Amoros
De Freitas or Pereira
Cicilia

I honestly can't remember the last time we have looked so strong as a team and squad.

Nice debate I'd say Tavares and Amoros could be in the best XI for instance plus Mac-Intosch looks ok not a bad problem to have!