Post-Match Thread and Ratings Port Vale FC 2 - 0 Southend United

[AndyT]

Good report 'Rattus'

Doesn't sound half as bad as I thought and plenty of commitment but a lack of confidence and players finding their feet with each other.

Just sounds like a couple of wins would change things quite quickly.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

It was working fine (too well in fact) on this side of the Pyrénées .:sherlock:

Barna, have now understood what happened. I get ****ed off when I telephone Marie-Ge from the Allées and she starts setting the commentary up whilst I hang on. On Saturday I asked to tune it in early, which she dutifully did. Unfortunately, when you leave the connection and come back, if you don't advance the cursor it picks up the commentary where you left it earlier! That's why my commentary ended up lagging three quarters of an hour behind.

 

[Sandbach Shrimper]

Utter rubbish. I don't think the Vale keeper had a save to make. The most worrying thing is that Vale did not even play that well, and I doubt we'll play many weaker teams this season, yet they still beat us pretty comfortably. We're too easy to defend against, there's no creativity, no spark, everything's dinked into the box and hope for the best. Something's not right - players like Coker and Leonard were shadows of their usual selves. Their first goal came during our best spell of the match and it just seemed to knock the belief out of the players.

Won't bother doing individual ratings as no one really deserves more than a 6, Sokolik and Atkinson probably the pick of a bad bunch. None of the subs made any impact. Demetriou was poor. First time I've seen Oxley and he didn't fill me with confidence. Can't really be blamed for either goal but he seems reluctant to come off his line and was quite quiet. The morons at the back chanting 'Oxley make a save' won't exactly help though (in between singing songs about the IRA and German bombers). On that note, was surprised at how low our turnout was - less than 300 for the first away game of the season. Maybe says something about the fans feelings at the moment.

 

[Mark2907]

Have to agree with that, Barrett is not the answer now (sadly). I'd give a Thompson/Sokolik duo a go next game, can't be any worse surely :unsure:.

I would agree; Barratt probably deserved another 1 year contract based upon last seasons performances, however he should be a squad player not in the starting 11. And yet the idiot PB gives him the captains armband and so he has to be first on the temsheet every game. PB decision making regarding the captaincy (remember this is not the first mistake as we previously had the quietiest player on the pitch as captain) and player recuitment is abysmal.

Back to the CB pairing, it has to be Sokolik and Tommo on Tuesday. Tommo was arguably our best player in the Gills league game and gets dropped! Sokoloik has been dependable, although I think (as did Jason D) that he was at fault for the first goal. Also, whoever plays alongside AB has to think about their own game and covering for AB's mistakes and complete lack of pace/mobility.

In any case, watching the game from the dugout/stands will help AB prepare for his next role when PB is (hopefully) sacked in the next 2 weeks.

 

[KiwiRob]

I agree with Mark2907 and rayleigh dan. Thompson and Sokolik should start together in the next game. I do not buy the argument that two-righted players cannot be the two centre-backs. Thompson was certainly very unlucky to be dropped after the first game of the season.

 

[OldBlueLady]

I would agree; Barratt probably deserved another 1 year contract based upon last seasons performances, however he should be a squad player not in the starting 11. And yet the idiot PB gives him the captains armband and so he has to be first on the temsheet every game. PB decision making regarding the captaincy (remember this is not the first mistake as we previously had the quietiest player on the pitch as captain) and player recuitment is abysmal.

Back to the CB pairing, it has to be Sokolik and Tommo on Tuesday. Tommo was arguably our best player in the Gills league game and gets dropped! Sokoloik has been dependable, although I think (as did Jason D) that he was at fault for the first goal. Also, whoever plays alongside AB has to think about their own game and covering for AB's mistakes and complete lack of pace/mobility.

In any case, watching the game from the dugout/stands will help AB prepare for his next role when PB is (hopefully) sacked in the next 2 weeks.

Please, no! :nope: Tommo is a nice young man, but he's not first choice CB for me at all. White and Sokolik did just fine against Gillingham until JET came on, we're not going to be facing him every week (thankfully) so let's give them another go.

I'm just hoping that, once the touchline ban is over (he's back, isn't he, for Sheffield?) it might make a difference - clutching at straws, perhaps?

Also the captaincy, isn't Barrett club captain, but White still officially team captain?

 

[Timlin1]

Firstly why are you awake at 5am worrying about Southend. Thought Phil got 4 match ban which means he had 1 more to do. Could be wrong, but think it's had an effect him not being in touch line.

 

[rigsby]

Firstly why are you awake at 5am worrying about Southend. Thought Phil got 4 match ban which means he had 1 more to do. Could be wrong, but think it's had an effect him not being in touch line.

True, I don't think this losing run really counts until the manager is on the touchline.

 

[A Century United]

True, I don't think this losing run really counts until the manager is on the touchline.

:omg::smile::smile::smile::smile: Nice to see that your admirable devotion to defending yourself - errr Phil hasn't robbed you of your sense of humour, Riggers old boy. :thumbsup:

 

[ace]

Thompson is not a starter. Nice fella, but bench player. Tries hard, but lacks strength/height and tactical awareness, and his distribution out of defence is woeful. Blues desperately need someone commanding alongside Sokolik.

 

[Tommy2holes]

Thompson is not a starter. Nice fella, but bench player. Tries hard, but lacks strength/height and tactical awareness, and his distribution out of defence is woeful. Blues desperately need someone commanding alongside Sokolik.

Agreed. Get a beast in alongside Sokolik and we will be much better defensively. But where does that leave our great choice for captain?

 

[FarmdogSUFC]

True, I don't think this losing run really counts until the manager is on the touchline.

Fishing right?

 

[Ayrshire Blue]

True, I don't think this losing run really counts until the manager is on the touchline.

Please tell me thats a wind up

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

True, I don't think this losing run really counts until the manager is on the touchline.

Very true, how can the players be expected to perform without the radiating glow from El Tango inspiring them; and causing consternation and stunned lethargy for the oppos?

 

[Benfleet Blue]

Please tell me thats a wind up

It didn't make any difference at the end of last year.

 

[Greebosan]

I haven't read this article, because using social media as 'news' never fails to annoy me, but I imagine it's all fairly positive.

 

[Mick]

I haven't read this article, because using social media as 'news' never fails to annoy me, but I imagine it's all fairly positive.

Cheap non-journalism ..... beats working for a living I suppose.

 

[Napster]

Cheap non-journalism ..... beats working for a living I suppose.

Anything beats working for a living.