Port Vale v Rochdale

[MJA]

It's been a solid start for a Vale squad that was supposed to spend the first 6 weeks of the season 'gelling' together. A good point at Bradford followed up on Saturday with what seemed like a comfortable 2-0 victory over Southend has left us in good shape. Always good to see a Vale side keeping clean sheets as well so hopefully we can continue to make it difficult for opponents to get through us. Sounds like we are potentially still lacking a bit of attacking creativity but hopefully a player of this type is at the top of our managers wish list.

As for Rochdale, an opening day defeat at home to Peterborough would seem harsh on paper as they lead twice before their keeper had a bit of a howler in the last minute. Made a good recover at the weekend though with a solid draw at Bramall Lane so I suspect they will offer another test of our credentials as we all continue to get used to what our new players and manager have to offer

 

[valefan16]

Seem to be improving game on game and looked decent second half, haven't looked like conceding in the league so solid at the back but average going forward.

Win here and we can call it an excellent start, draw/lose average.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Seems that Rochdale have started reasonably well, despite just getting 1 point from two games. Should have won by all accounts at Sheffield and were unlucky on the opening day. They always seem to field a competitive team for this division.

I expect that we will go with the team that played the majority of the game on Saturday, we need as much time as possible to gel together as we still look a bit disjointed at times and don't offer a massive threat going forward.

Wouldn't be surprised to see a defeat or draw here as I suspect we'll be up and down for a bit until we get settled.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Vale seem to have gone about things sensibly on the pitch. A solid spine (Alnwick/Streete/Grant/Hooper), and the foreign signings slotting in round them.

We've never won a league game at Vale, and got a tonking last season. It'll be tough, but I fancy us to do it this time. A hard fought 2-1 win, with Andy Cannon opening the scoring, then the two Calvins (Mac-Intosch and Andrew) trading goals.

 

[MJA]

Wouldn't be surprised to see a defeat or draw here as I suspect we'll be up and down for a bit until we get settled.

Are you an OVF regular by any chance?

 

[leedsvaliant]

Are you an OVF regular by any chance?

No, very positive on the whole but I think we'll be a bit up and down results wise until we get used to each others games.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Hoping for a win, but will be a close game.

1-0 Tavares

 

[markpvfc]

Hopefully Rochdale will be as bad as they were last season, can't see it though, that was one of the worst performances I've seen at Vale Park in a long time.

 

[valefan16]

If we can keep as tight at the back as we did at Bradford and Saturday we will give ourselves a chance in games, Bradford had one shot on target and Southend forced one decent save out of Jak (bar Smiths bizarre incident with the upright)

I thought we grew into the game Saturday as confidence built and we need to take that up another level now. Tavares looks a classy player who can take the tough and tumble of the league (Prem clubs looked at him a couple of years ago too). We have quality through the midfield bar maybe a rapid winger short and need to get Grant, Foley and Tavares used to each other.

Love his beard too!

Anton looks a handful too, was impressed with his power and strength on the ball, we are a work in progress but after being worried 30 minutes in Saturday I saw enough to think there's something workable with this new direction.

Tomorrow I just want to see us take it up a notch as a very winnable game if we are on it.

 

[valefan16]

Hopefully Rochdale will be as bad as they were last season, can't see it though, that was one of the worst performances I've seen at Vale Park in a long time.

Missed the game following my sons birth but surely can't of been as bad as Doncaster! We could of hit double figures had their keeper not been super human on the day to keep it to 3-0!

 

[markpvfc]

It was more how they self destructed. Their fullback made the pass of the match to set JJ Hooper through for a goal.

 

[Monkey]

An exciting 0-0 written all over this beauty of a match.

 

[MJA]

An exciting 0-0 written all over this beauty of a match.

Might not be far wrong

 

[valefan16]

Proper snooze fest against a physical Rochdale. Too stop start and need more presence in the box! Pointless dominating down the wing when no one in the middle to aim for!

Highlights are Forester missing a sitter and Rochdale fans screaming for a penalty when Streete smashed a clearance against their player to win a goal kick.

 

[MJA]

Pointless dominating down the wing when no one in the middle to aim for!

Thought it was the opposite of that we were struggling with?

 

[valefan16]

Thought it was the opposite of that we were struggling with?

Plenty of times winning the ball down our left when Forester or Thomas looks up there's no one there so have to hold it

 

[Monkey]

Get in!! Well done Smith!

 

[MJA]

Relegated Port Vale win again with the continental Nathan Smith getting the goal.

I just can't see us getting anywhere with all these no marks from Europe in our side

 

[Dale4ever]

What a dire 'spectacle' that was. Won with a deflected header from a set piece.

 

[Freakyteeth]

Well deserved win.

Could have been 3/4, Forrester miss first half, Hooper bottling a pen, Jones very unlucky to not quite catch the GK on the break in the 95th minute.

 

[valefan16]

Made harder work of that than necessary missing a penalty and an open goal with the keeper stranded. Rochdale were filthy how they only got two yellows is anyone's guess. Again never looked like conceding

 

[Freakyteeth]

What a dire 'spectacle' that was. Won with a deflected header from a set piece.

Always so bitter you are

 

[valefan16]

Always so bitter you are

Deserved that piece of luck considering we let them off the hook two or three times!

 

[RotherhamDale]

Ffs. Can't be arsed with football.

Well done Laura Trott. Although she just said "I'm literally over the moon"

You're not though are you Laura love?

 

[MJA]

Won

Out of everything you typed, that is the only bit that is important

 

[MJA]

Again never looked like conceding

Taken us a while but have we finally found a manager who is making us difficult to beat?

 

[Dale4ever]

Not bitter. Just honest. We were shit so were you. The team that was slightly less shit on the night won.

 

[Freakyteeth]

Not bitter.

Yes you are. Even Rochdale fans on here have told you to grow up, you can't handle defeat at all; there's always an excuse.

 

[Dale4ever]

Yes you are. Even Rochdale fans on here have told you to grow up, you can't handle defeat at all; there's always an excuse.

What's the excuse? You were better than us... In what I described a dour game. If you think it was a good game you need an eye test.

 

[Freakyteeth]

There's no need to be upset frienderino