Sat 13 April fixtures

[Gassy]

Rumours abound that he may be looking for an out in the summer. The fan's forum on Thursday could be interesting.

As CTFCfan99 said earlier - he has to carry the can for the last couple of games. The formation change against Carlisle made sense because it was the same as we lined up for the second half against Exeter and we looked ok then. Today was nonsensical. We haven't played 4-4-2 for aeons and the players looked lost in the first half.

He wasn't the reason we lost, but the ref was an absolute joke today though. Poor George Lloyd was manhandled, hacked down, pushed-pulled, and got absolutely nothing from the clown. Kinsella and a Rovers player both go for the ball. Kinsella wins it and the Rovers player kicks the base of his foot - free-kick Rovers. I've genuinely never known a season where we have had such bad luck from referees. As I said though - he wasn't the reason we lost.

Our inability to create anything, our inability to defend, and our inability to keep any forwards fit were the reason.

Amazingly, survival is still in our own hands. That will change when we lose to Burton on Tuesday and relegation will be confirmed when we lose to Lincoln next week. We just ran out of puff in the end.

The ref wasn’t great, yeah. I can’t remember that specific point tbh, but there were a few errors for both sides in the game that were basics.

I wasn’t able to watch with as much detail as I wanted as I was showing my little one Rovers. Finally she got to see a goal after the last 5 attempts ffs. Chose a great time to intro her to iFollow

Going forward I didn’t think you looked bad tbh and once sercombe came on you looked a lot better. Not sure why he wasn’t starting? Although tbf, by that point we were definitely cycling bodies to our out of form players who been in the first team for our recent winless run, which you could definitely tell. But yeah at the back, you’re awful. If we can score 3 goals against you, I fear what an actually good team could do

 

[BRFC_Gas]

The ref wasn’t great, yeah. I can’t remember that specific point tbh, but there were a few errors for both sides in the game that were basics.

I wasn’t able to watch with as much detail as I wanted as I was showing my little one Rovers. Finally she got to see a goal after the last 5 attempts ffs. Chose a great time to intro her to iFollow

Going forward I didn’t think you looked bad tbh and once sercombe came on you looked a lot better. Not sure why he wasn’t starting? Although tbf, by that point we were definitely cycling bodies to our out of form players who been in the first team for our recent winless run, which you could definitely tell. But yeah at the back, you’re awful. If we can score 3 goals against you, I fear what an actually good team could do

"How shit must you be, you let us score three.... and fuck you Matteeee"

 

[denzel ecfc]

DC would have won us that game today. Moore has been appalling since he came. He's thick as fuck and it shows.

You've got 5 more years of this..

 

[K-Win]

Great resilience today. Bolton threw the kitchen sink at us, as they had to given their situation. However, it's a 46 game season, we've not lost to any of the top six and deserve to be Champions which I'm sure will be confirmed either Tuesday or Saturday.

On Tuesday, Fratton Park will be bouncing and it's difficult to see us not getting the one point needed for promotion and likely the three points needed for the title. Can't wait.

 

[valefan16]

You've got 5 more years of this..

like we had 5 years of DC… be plenty of get out clauses both ways.

That said he deserves the chance to recruit, Pep isn’t getting a tune from our weak as piss lot.

 

[leedsvaliant]

You've got 5 more years of this..

Tell me about it! You were below us at the beginning of the year. Your half arsed players tore us a new one second half. Virtually from kick off, Ripley made a good save....the entire crowd could see what was coming. Any other team 2-0 up at half time against a half arsed team would have seen that out easily but it seems to be written in the DNA of Vale...we simply love to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Happened so many times in the past 25 years, it's getting beyond ridiculous. Got no faith in our manager I'm afraid. Every interview he comes across as thick....I said the same on here about him when he was at Wednesday.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Not long got back from Bolton and they're definitely the best team we've played this season. A bit disappointing to go one up so early and invite them onto us, but they've got some really good players at this level and the equaliser was coming. I think we stabilised things in the second half and might have had a penalty at the death, but the ref was awful all game.

Ultimately, the difference between ourselves and Bolton this season is we can perform like we did at the Reebok and come away with a decent draw. Bolton played like that at Fratton Park and got turned over.

I can't wait for Tuesday night!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Not long got back from Bolton and they're definitely the best team we've played this season. A bit disappointing to go one up so early and invite them onto us, but they've got some really good players at this level and the equaliser was coming. I think we stabilised things in the second half and might have had a penalty at the death, but the ref was awful all game.

Ultimately, the difference between ourselves and Bolton this season is we can perform like we did at the Reebok and come away with a decent draw. Bolton played like that at Fratton Park and got turned over.

I can't wait for Tuesday night!

That's why you'll be champions. I didn't think you played particularly well in either of the games against us but you won both without too much trouble. It's the way champions are made! Man United were masters of it in the 90s. Consistency is key at this level.

 

[Pompeyblueboy]

How we haven’t won that in the end I’ll never know. Done that so many times this season. Can’t see Derby dropping points now

Just got back.

You didnt win because you scored one and so did we.

I thought you played well in the 1st half and we took the 2nd.

That lump Santos saved u in the 2nd half.

Looks like the play offs for you now

 

[leedsvaliant]

Just got back.

You didnt win because you scored one and so did we.

I thought you played well in the 1st half and we took the 2nd.

That lump Santos saved u in the 2nd half.

Looks like the play offs for you now

I wonder if Evatt will get tinned if they don't go up? Santos is fucking shite isn't he? Most overrated player in league one. He probably got in the way by accident.

I know we've had our differences but I've said many times that I like Portsmouth as a football club and wish them all the best in the Championship. It'll be a while before we meet again.

 

[Don Tonberry]

Santos got away with so much today, the ref was garbage.

In terms of the entire season I'd say the only team we've looked really good against in both games we've played against them is Northampton. We've ground out a fair few wins because our defence has been really solid away from home and we're clinical.

Just need to get the job finished now. Barnsley fans on social media reckon they're in for a thrashing but I'm sure it won't be as easy as that.

 

[Si Robin]

Going forward I didn’t think you looked bad tbh and once sercombe came on you looked a lot better. Not sure why he wasn’t starting? Although tbf, by that point we were definitely cycling bodies to our out of form players who been in the first team for our recent winless run, which you could definitely tell. But yeah at the back, you’re awful. If we can score 3 goals against you, I fear what an actually good team could do

Sercs looked out on his feet on Tuesday against Carlisle - he can't do two games in a week anymore. He's our only goal threat though apart from Taylor. We really need them both to be fit enough to start on Tuesday night.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Glad to see Exeter being so generous to you lot after getting away with murder when we played them

Apology accepted lol

 

[Bartonyellow]

Looks like the top two are up - Bolton should win the play offs as the best team of the rest by far.
Peterborough are such an unpredictable team however. Can’t work them out.

 

[Luke Imp]

What a strange game that was.

First 20 Wigan were passing it around nicely and scored a deserved goal, albeit via a deflection.

That woke us up and we were much better for the rest of the half and rightly got back into the game. Before that, Wigan started to frustrate as much as possible by time wasting.

Half time came at the wrong time and allowed Wigan to regroup and nullify us without creating anything themselves. Then the sucker punch, after slowing the game down as much as possible to then score with about their only chance 2nd half.

We weren't great today, but still somehow managed to have 3 goals ruled offside. I felt all the subs 2nd half unsettled us and there were maybe too many changes. We had to go for the win though. Just felt it was never going to go our way today.

Got to say well done to Oxford, to put them under pressure and they go and win 3 on the bounce and scoring a shit load, fair play. Of course we could win Tuesday and be 2 behind, and hope Stevenage beat them Friday, but feel that's us done for the season.

It's been an exciting few months, and worked wonders for season ticket sales too. I'm sure we'll give it a good go next season

Couldn't see from where I was but people who could, including Skubala, aren't having that linesman for one of the disallowed goal and reckon he guessed.

 

[YEO YEO YEO]

Couldn't see from where I was but people who could, including Skubala, aren't having that linesman for one of the disallowed goal and reckon he guessed.

I'm down the other end so no idea, but could see the assistant flag for all the goals.

Tough to take, but not as gutted as I thought I would be. Think that's because back when we got pummelled by Blackpool on NYD, I expected a relegation scrap, so being in and around the playoffs have been completely unexpected.

 

[folletto]

Hadn’t thought of it like that but now you mention it, it also looks like the Luton team he built and done well with.

He will make it work for you but a lot of work to do in the summer. Starting with a CB who can actually play. Lloyd Jones maybe…

Yeah definitely summer is major. NJ negotiated his deal so he has the main say in recruitment so it will be his team at least. The last few seasons we have recruited to play a style of football under a certain manager, sacked them after a couple of months and the brought in a manager who plays a totally different style.

The CB situation is a weird one. In Hector, Jones, Edmonds Green and Gillesphey you have 4 CBs who should be up the top end of league one but all of them are guilty of horrendous individual errors time and time again.

 

[HutchECFC]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779181765850005664

Seem Vale have taken the defeat well…

 

[valefan16]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1779181765850005664

Seem Vale have taken the defeat well…

Deserve everything they got.

Cowards.

 

[kieran_vale]

Meh that’s nothing. Seen and heard far worse this season. More taken in by the people clapping at the front. Some people really will applaud anything.

 

[BRFC_Gas]

Sercs looked out on his feet on Tuesday against Carlisle - he can't do two games in a week anymore. He's our only goal threat though apart from Taylor. We really need them both to be fit enough to start on Tuesday night.

We never should have let Sercs go really, he was my fave player and has always played well against us since. Another Ben Garner masterclass of a decision to release him.

 

[denzel ecfc]

We never should have let Sercs go really, he was my fave player and has always played well against us since. Another Ben Garner masterclass of a decision to release him.

We shouldn't have released him in the first place. #oneofourown

 

[dwightyorke]

You've got 5 more years of this..

Vale are 7.3m in debt and latest accounts show 3.4m in losses in the last 12 months so if that continues I doubt there will be a port vale to support in 5 years time.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Vale are 7.3m in debt and latest accounts show 3.4m in losses in the last 12 months so if that continues I doubt there will be a port vale to support in 5 years time.

Well especially if they giving out 5 year contracts to managers, yes

 

[dwightyorke]

Well especially if they giving out 5 year contracts to managers, yes

When he gets sacked about 3 months into next season then they will have to pay off him and all the new coaching staff that he brought in with him.

 

[valefan16]

Vale are 7.3m in debt and latest accounts show 3.4m in losses in the last 12 months so if that continues I doubt there will be a port vale to support in 5 years time.

Devil is in the detail on that. It’s almost all owed to Carol in interest free loans. (Think we only owe banks about 200k from Covid season).

And a large proportion of that debt is from infrastructure, which is largely designed to make us more financially stable long term (I.e the Robbie Williams suite, pitch improvements) and I believe it covers the last payment of the purchase of the club from Smurf. We have been moaning on her for months when the team has struggled about how much we’ve spent on infrastructure but won’t finance a decent striker and wing back!

The employment of over 300 plus staff that is absolutely bonkers though.

In essence we only owe money largely to Carol, who’s just had significant (180 million) investment into her business.

 

[leedsvaliant]

Yes. On the face of it, it isn't great reading, but as Valefan16 says, it's mainly the loans to Carol that we owe....she isn't likely to call in her debts and make her own business go under. Most clubs at this level make huge losses...some of them completely unsustainable long term and many teams smaller than us make bigger losses because they're gambling on getting promoted.

The plan was to spend on infrastructure and corporate stuff so that eventually we don't make losses. Unfortunately, Carol has not invested enough in the team to keep us sustainable at this level. It's an expensive mistake that's going to cost her.

 

[leedsvaliant]

When he gets sacked about 3 months into next season then they will have to pay off him and all the new coaching staff that he brought in with him.

Also, even we are not stupid enough to employ someone on that length of contract and pay it off in its entirety if things don't work out. There's breaks in it so we might have to pay off 1 year potentially at the most.

 

[valefan16]

Yes. On the face of it, it isn't great reading, but as Valefan16 says, it's mainly the loans to Carol that we owe....she isn't likely to call in her debts and make her own business go under. Most clubs at this level make huge losses...some of them completely unsustainable long term and many teams smaller than us make bigger losses because they're gambling on getting promoted.

The plan was to spend on infrastructure and corporate stuff so that eventually we don't make losses. Unfortunately, Carol has not invested enough in the team to keep us sustainable at this level. It's an expensive mistake that's going to cost her.

We lost around the same as Shrewsbury for example.

 

[Arbury]

Valuable point gained against Charlton who were very big and physical as you’d expect from a jones side, conditions didn’t really help either side but a draw was a fair result and you just know that will be bonnes only goal for us! He got some stick so I’m sure he liked scoring and giving some back, would have been interesting if Taylor played as well.

Saw fans scrapping after the game which is something I haven’t seen in a long time, luckily the kids weren’t with me as that sort of thing would definitely put them off coming.

Nearly there.

KTF.