Exeter v Vale

[leedsvaliant]

This is the sort of game that we could do without after just starting to pick up a bit of form but equally it gives us a test of where we stand. Most of our fans could see that we have potential and a few decent experienced players. Brown basically did not have a clue with tactics, motivation, game plan or setting up a team to win and so we've basically written off a quarter of the season.

We're back in touch with mid table now and so it would be nice to get a draw to keep the momentum going. Exeter are always strong at home and have started the season well. They got a bit of a pasting the other night but apparently they could have been 3 or 4 up at half time. They have an experienced manager who would probably count himself unfortunate not to have landed a job further up the tree.

We at least look like we are going to score. We must have had more shots in the last 3 games than the rest of the games combined. The good thing at the moment is that everyone sees our league position and how we have started and really underestimates us - we've got some good players for this level in Pope, Worral, Pugh, Smith, Whitfield and some of the long term injuries like Montano and Barnett are starting to feature.

Having said that, this will be a tough game and I would not be surprised to get beat. Exeter are clearly up there for a reason. Anything else is a bonus and we then need to get back on the horse for a home game next week.

You just never know, with Pope on fire at the moment.

 

[valefan16]

Back to the ground where the downfall begin, our shocking FA Cup performance which started the domino effect of Smurf's outburst on the fans coach and grilling Page pitch side which saw a top half league one side a couple of decent players needed from a play off side dismantled and Page forced out to try the ill fated foreign experiment and Michael Brown plan B which has seen us in this mess where we now go to Exeter expecting defeat almost.

Would be nice to lay some ghosts to rest here but will be a tough task.

Last two games we have been a completely different animal and Aspin has sorted most of the obvious issues, Pope being fed, Kay dropped and making the formation which keeps us solid work and dynamic. Cruised past in form Cheltenham and Morecambe and could of had six or seven on Tuesday looking at the highlights.

The pontiff has hit ominous form with 5 in 3 games and his second goal on Tuesday was ridiculous, Messi scores that everyone is jizzing.

Exeter are a good example for us to follow, sat 23rd this time last season, made the play off final and are now top so can look at them for inspiration that Aspin's revival can continue and at least push us to comfortable safety.

Whilst we were losing no one has battered us and were mugged by Notts County and pretty much gifted Luton three points with a crazy o.g. and a keeping error so we are capable of competing and with our improved form we can at least have some optimism that we can get a result.

As said it will give us a good benchmark of where we are under Aspo, if we perform as we have the last two games, get the crosses into the Pontiff and keep solid we may get something, but equally two long trips in 4 days may take its toll and we might not reach the levels we have.

Keep with the same XI as the last two I guess as its working, cant really drop anyone currently.

Either way at least we have decent hope now!

1-1 Pope

 

[Moomin]

Really unsure what to expect here to be honest. Apparently it’s going to be bloody windy in the South West so that could effect the game and it might not be pretty.

Tisdale confirmed that Moore-Taylor is back in training so he may feature which will be a huge boost and Boateng is a doubt so expect he may well miss out. I’d like to see us make a few changes and introduce some pace into the attack with Liam McAlinden and Kyle Edwards being preferable.

Vale have really improved and the likes of Montano and Pope are a threat at this level. I expect Aspin will get them moving up the table pretty sharpish.

Heart says win but think this may end 1-1.

 

[valefan16]

Monty despite his scoring two minute cameo likely will be sub as it was his first minutes since injury.

Whitfield is the stand out aside from Pope at the moment.

 

[denzel ecfc]

We'll probably be "superb" or whatever superlative is chosen this week and lose 5-0.
Not very optimistic unless JMT is somehow back.

 

[Trapdoor]

We need 3 points from this or we are rapidly going to fall out of contention.

 

[valefan16]

We need 3 points from this or we are rapidly going to fall out of contention.

Hardly! Luton will walk the league now as they should with their spending but it’s wide open after that.

 

[IanPVFC]

I'd be elated with a point here. Although we've hit a little bit of form I'm certainly under no illusions that everything is ok now and we'll just take the league at a canter. Regardless of previous tactics etc. I still think we'll struggle in more games than not. That's perhaps a little pessimistic but I'm trying to remain realistic regarding our current situation.

I think we can pull away from our current position, but I certainly won't be disheartened if we lose this one.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Really hope we can bounce back here. We played so well in the 1st half against Luton on Tuesday but threw the game away in the 10 minutes after half time. Vale have found form so they will be a tougher side than their league position suggests. The last few matches suggests Pope could still be the danger he was last time he was in this league.

A lot of calls from City fans at the moment to mix up the strikers with one of Stockley and Reid dropping out. Personally I'd keep them both in as although the latter hasn't scored for a while, they are still creating chances and the goals will surely fall for Reuben soon. Hopefully at least one of Boateng & JMT are fit but it sounds unlikely.

 

[denzel ecfc]

JMT and Boateng back for us. Great news.

 

[valefan16]

Anthony Kay in for Denton, like swapping a Ferrari for a battered old corsa. Poor decision that Neil.

If he’s at the back we will need two goals to get a point.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

Turns out Jordan Tillson broke his foot and played on against Luton. Will be out for a while. Gutted for him as he's worked so hard and waited for the opportunity to be a starting player for us. Think he's had a really good season so far and we will definitely miss him breaking up play in the midfield.

Good to have Boateng and JMT back, however.

 

[valefan16]

Sounds a decent first half and the the Pontiff has been fed and delivered again!

Still take a point but sounds like we could win this if we can keep it up!

 

[denzel ecfc]

0-1. Not over yet. We have a strong wind in our favour second half.

 

[valefan16]

I need a massive tug! What a fucking result and turn around!!!!

 

[IanPVFC]

Wow, I wasn't expecting that but that is massive! Sounds like we had to really dig in second half but keeping a clean sheet there will do wonders.

 

[valefan16]

Wow, I wasn't expecting that but that is massive! Sounds like we had to really dig in second half but keeping a clean sheet there will do wonders.

Huge especially with Denton out and trying Kay in midfield actually seemed to work! Him and Pugh are like combine harvesters at their age.

The Pope has been fed and now he’s having an all you can eat buffet.

Always target 25 points as a minimum after 23 games as that’s half to 50 and seemed impossible a week ago but three wins and two draws from 8 and we will be in a good position to start climbing that table.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Huge win, and 3 in a row. Is this really the same team?

 

[The Jovial Forester]

Bloody hell Vale, will you just stop it?

 

[valefan16]

Huge win, and 3 in a row. Is this really the same team?

Interesting questions to be asked...

Did they not play for Brown as rumoured? The Coventry fans views from behind the dug out suggested all wasn’t right.

Aspo playing a system that allows Whitfield and Harness to get forward to support Pope is working.

After hearing on P&G the likes or Artell, Davis, Brown and Page talk you can tell Aspo is a breath of fresh air, no bullshit, no getting carried away and seems to actually know what to do with the players he has.

Getting Wilson who’s not had the atitude and ditching Kay from the back has been a factor too.

 

[Andy Proctor]

Whitfield getting injured is a bastard. Good win though.

 

[valefan16]

Whitfield getting injured is a bastard. Good win though.

Chance for Stobbs who’s similar or the fit again Montano... hopefully it’s just a couple of weeks and tbh I’m not that arsed about the cup so if he only misses Swindon it’ll be ok.

Loving Mad Gavin Gunning too! The video of him pumping at the fans. He is completely bonkers!

Loving the new Rythm is a dancer song for Pope too! All these Vale fans writing him off and saying we should of got Porter instead etc look stupid now

 

[Moomin]

Awful. Abject. Shit.

Vale fully deserved the win and I think we only had one effort on goal all game. Just not good enough. Pope took his goal very well but we could still be playing now and it would be 1-0. Vale looked organised and coped with the conditions much better than we did.

Moxey was awful for some reason at left back and our tactic of long balls to Stockley and Reid just doesn’t work. The only player who came out with any real credit was Hiram Boateng otherwise we were all way below par.

Just shows how things can flip around in a few weeks. We’ve now become a team who can’t score and can’t keep clean sheets at home.

Great.

 

[Trapdoor]

feels bad man.

 

[valefan16]

A ghost we needed to lay to rest after December 2015. Hopefully this will be the start of the rise back from the hell we’ve been through as a consequence of that cup humiliation.