Walsall vs Vale

[Saddlerrad]

So a Staffordshire derby, of sorts anyway. Can't make the game due to work sadly, but it should be decent enough. We haven't beaten Vale in what feels like ages, with them doing a number on us at home frequently in recent seasons. It's another game in the 'could be anything' bracket really, as we seem to score but concede for fun at home. If Vale come and go for it, it would suit us. We tend to normally do better against teams that attack us, than those that play with different tactics.

Forde, who is rapidly becoming my favourite player is likely to miss out with a Groin and Bradshaw will miss the game with another hamstring injury, very frustrating as that's our 2 more consistent attacking outlets so far this season gone, but we have scored 5 in 2 games vs two in form teams without Bradshaw now. How many are the Vale likely to bring? Not even going to bother predicting a scoreline, as it could be anything from 3-0 Walsall to 4-2 Vale etc.

We never win 3 games in a week, ever, do we. So I can't see us winning for that reason alone. Vale aren't in great form and we are iffy at home. I'll just predict 'goals' for either team here I think.

5,017.

Could be as high as 5th with a win, or as low as 15th with defeat. Weird league.

 

[valefan16]

We wont come out attacking it is not Page's philosophy but we really need a result against an inform Walsall and have only one league win (last season) at the Bescott in 65 years.

Should be at least 1000 going possibly more. Oddly our win there in November last season was followed by only 3 away wins since!

Walsall are in form but seem very inconsistent at home with some hammerings either side of some really good results so not sure what to expect really. Hopefully the shuffled up defence will help us to a result.

 

[saddler_andy]

6-0 Grimes double hattrick in the last 10 mins.

 

[Vale on Trent]

I'd usually go this but I can't be bothered anymore.

 

[valefan16]

I'd usually go this but I can't be bothered anymore.

Must admit I have found it harder to motivate myself on a Saturday morning since Chesterfield Away!

 

[markpvfc]

Will be there but certainly not looking forward to it, going is just a chore these days thanks to Page and his boring tactics.

 

[AnotherSaddler]

I'm not optimistic, looks like or entire first choice forward line of Forde, Cook and Bradshaw will me out, add to that James Chambers injury and the fact that Sam Mantom, last seasons player of the season is still out, we'll be struggling for players.
We'll have a very young and inexperienced bench!

 

[Saddlerrad]

I'm not optimistic, looks like or entire first choice forward line of Forde, Cook and Bradshaw will me out, add to that James Chambers injury and the fact that Sam Mantom, last seasons player of the season is still out, we'll be struggling for players.
We'll have a very young and inexperienced bench!

What's the issue with Cook? Jesus fucking christ. Baxendale and Grimes on the wings!!!!!!

Hand Vale the game before kick off to save whatever team that plays some confidence for the remainder of the season. That's our worst XI of the season to play tommorrow, by some distance.

O'Donnell

Purkiss
O'Connor
Downing
Taylor

Baxendale
Cain
Chambers
Grimes

Sawyers
Hiwula

Forde, Cook and Bradshaw missing with no Chambers at CB.

Forde and Cook have been massively impressive in recent weeks, Forde being our best player for weeks now, Bradshaw our top scorer and Cook probably one of our most influential players. If ever there was a chance for Vale to win at the Bescot, it's tommorrow!

 

[Jonny12]

Rather play Henry at LM than Baxo to be honest, he's been dire for a while now which is a damn shame.

Cook is 50/50, so I expect him to play but Forde to miss out.

Cook on the left and Grimes on the right is bad but better than not having Cook at all.

 

[Steven Simcock]

I'll be they as i always am but another defeat is on the cards, The Saddlers are in good form and we don't keep clean sheets.

2-1 Saddlers

 

[Crewelad87]

2-0 Walsall and Crewe to be above the Vale by the end of play.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Not sure if people clocked it, but Forde, Bradshaw, Chambers and Cook are all likely to miss out, the first three definetely. We are going to struggle to score if that's the case and we have been conceding goals big time at home. 4 to Swindon and Scunthorpe, 2 to Coventry and Dale.

 

[Vale on Trent]

You WILL score, that is a guarantee my friend!

 

[valefan16]

Only a dour Rochdale attack led by Calvin Andrew failed to score past us with 11 men on their team! You'll score. Even if we batter you (unlikely) you'll get a goal.

 

[markpvfc]

Not sure if people clocked it, but Forde, Bradshaw, Chambers and Cook are all likely to miss out, the first three definetely. We are going to struggle to score if that's the case and we have been conceding goals big time at home. 4 to Swindon and Scunthorpe, 2 to Coventry and Dale.

Don't worry our players will do their best to help you to score.

 

[valefan16]

I'd like Yates - Veseli - Inniss - McGivern as the back four today. That might actually do ok!

 

[valefan16]

Happier with the line up than I have been with two out and out wingers and renewal of the Willo and Pope partnership. Duffy is out the side which is positive lets see how this giant lad from Palace does, McGivern should have started though.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Cook starts, with Bax in place of Forde. Big blow. No Chambers or Bradshaw again either.

 

[Saddlerrad]

1-0 Vale, no surprise. Tends to get worse when we are behind.

Forde has been vital for us in the last few weeks and Baxendale is a waste of a shirt.

 

[valefan16]

Decent so far but getting way too deep. Good finish by Pope seconds after we missed a one on one. Long way to go. Byron has been superb so far.

Must be careful though as Sawyerrs is going down like a sack of spuds in the box and luckily the referee has been strong to it. Although how he missed the elbow moments before they won a free kick right on the edge of the box!

 

[Saddlerrad]

Good win for the Vale, expected it when Forde went off the other evening. 2 good wins in a week, then in the easiest looking fixture of the week, we don't score against a side who haven't kept a cleansheet away from home all season, sums us well and truly up. We looked much the better side statistically but that means nothing if you don't put the ball in the net. Hiwula missing a 1 on 1, us having a stone wall penalty turned down a 0-0 and Sawyers hitting the post according to various reports and sources.

Pope always scores against us and we NEVER beat the Vale, EVER. 723 Valiants, perhaps Page's tactics are putting you all off as that's below the normal par, quite considerably.

Congrats on the points.

 

[Vale on Trent]

Good win. I still think he's a crap manager though.

 

[Jonny12]

Should of had a penalty, absolutely stone wall.

Also, how is this not a foul.

 

[valefan16]

Your guys making a back for him and no attempt to win the ball so wouldn't say that's a foul at all.

Good win, comfortable in the main and credit where it's due to the defence who did a superb job to get a result. Neal has the most relaxed away game he will have all season and that's testiment to the back four.

Inniss looked a beast at the back and won everything and despite rightfully being maligned this season Dickinson had his best game all season. Not sure if there right wingers were just awful but they made Dicko look like Roberto Carlos which takes some doing!

Referee was awful, unless Sawyers has the strength of a ten year old boy he was going down all game (getting a lot of the decisions) under minimal contact. Should of been booked for a dive in the box first half and glad he ended up kicking the hoardings in frustration in front of the Vale fans at the end showing it didn't prosper his team.

Walsall played some nice football but it was all in their half generally and was so slow and rarely forwards which gave us time to reorganise. They are a young side though so expect them to be inconsistent and if they stick with them they will only get better with experience. They looked very dodgy at the back with the ball off the deck, every ball in or corner seemed to cause mass panic.

700 odd is poor but we've won three times away since beating Walsall last season at their place and since the Chesterfield debacle most of lost enthusiasm for the side. Shame as those who didn't go missed a decent performance.

 

[Jonny12]

How can he attempt to win the ball with a elbow in his face?

 

[valefan16]

He's got to attempt a jump which he hasn't and both feet are grounded. You'd be disappointed if you had that ruled out against you. The referee let your lad elbow ours a few minutes later going for a header so il take it. We had a similar incident with Bradfords second last week which stood.

 

[Jonny12]

Again, look at how far up Pope is on his back.

You can't jump for a ball when there is 14 stone of man on your back elbowing you in the face. Look at how low Pope is as well, leaning over him.

D'urso needs to go. If he isn't good enough for PL he isn't good enough for the FL.

 

[markpvfc]

The still photo shows nothing really. If Pope has held the guy down as he's jumped then it's a foul, but if he's jumped first and then gone into the defender then no foul.
As for the game a better performance than in recent weeks and a deserved win.

 

[Steven Simcock]

The Saddler player didn't even protest, i've seen other teams players do what Pope did on us this season and in the prem. As ValeFan16 said above, he didn't even attempt to jump for the ball and Pope did. The whole team played really well and all put a shift in, Williamson does my head in with his fannying around on the ball.

 

[valefan16]

The Saddler player didn't even protest, i've seen other teams players do what Pope did on us this season and in the prem. As ValeFan16 said above, he didn't even attempt to jump for the ball and Pope did. The whole team played really well and all put a shift in, Williamson does my head in with his fannying around on the ball.

I wish Willo had shot when the keeper miskicked a clearance rather than walk into the defender with the ball!