The Meltdown Derby (Luton v Port Vale)

[Smurf]

Anything less than a solid win will raise serious questions and meltdowns for us...

Im not on a meltdown but Saturday was concerning in some areas.

 

[valefan16]

Couldn't care less to be honest, defeat would be the best outcome as surely then Brown would be gone... draw wouldn't improve the situation greatly and would buy Brown time.

Objectively defensively we've made some cock ups but only conceded 3 in 4 games and haven't really given opponents many chances but the issues are the other end. Fail to score and we will break a club record of 6 successive games without a goal. We've hit the woodwork four times in three league games and had four off the line so Lady Luck hasn't overly shined on us either but this is league two and we have gone from beating the likes of Sheff United and Wigan to expecting a pasting at Luton it's pretty grim for us at the moment.

Luton seem to have been stuttering for all their huge spending so it wouldn't surprise me if we did get a result and buy Brown time but have to say this is the first time ever i have kind of wanted us to lose. The long term and FL status is more important and covering the cracks would not help us long term.

Ideally of course Brown gets the boot today and we go and beat Luton tomorrow with a squad playing in their correct positions and knowing what they are doing in their roles.

Darkest days for us Valiants but the quality within the squad and a close end to Browns horrific tenure surely offers light at the end of the tunnel.

Probably a record low away following too? Can't recall the last sub 100 we have taken anywhere but imagine we will struggle to take that tomorrow considering 1000 less went to Coventry than 2 seasons back!

Hopefully worst case scenario sees Brown the Clown gone.

 

[kieran_vale]

As above genuinely couldn't give a fuck about this game. Not worth the effort.

All I will say is if (more like when) we lose I hope it's an absolute battering save Brown from having anymore of his hard luck stories.

 

[Buxton Vale]

We can't score or keep a clean sheet, and Brown will almost certainly play with one up front and as many centre backs as he can find. It's time Pope was dropped, but it won't happen.

2-0 home win or worse, but should be Browns last game which would be a good outcome

 

[valefan16]

We can't score or keep a clean sheet, and Brown will almost certainly play with one up front and as many centre backs as he can find. It's time Pope was dropped, but it won't happen.

2-0 home win or worse, but should be Browns last game which would be a good outcome

Playing one up front away isn't a bad idea if its someone like Barnett rather than Pope... its playing it against the likes of Crewe and Notts County at Vale Park that's disgraceful. Watch us do it against FGR at the weekend if Brown is somehow still in charge!

 

[leedsvaliant]

Luton will get their easiest 3 points of the season. They have players capable of creating chances and scoring goals. We currently are set up not to lose, but with four centre halves and no full backs and no central midfield and one cart horse up front, we will inevitably concede and then huff and puff a little bit but get nowhere near scoring a goal.

We've had this issue for the past 3 or 4 seasons. Once we go a goal down, we very rarely look like getting back into it. Morale is at an all time low, players getting on each others backs and they don't look like they want to play for this manager.

Hopefully the result will speed up the process of getting Brown out of the club.

 

[oakroader]

you lot are gonna be soooooo disappointed......

 

[valefan16]

you lot are gonna be soooooo disappointed......

Seems to be rumours that his departure will happen by the end of the week regardless and plans have been made for his replacement. (Horton and Adkins or Horton interim)

 

[Vanni]

^ In that case, a Luton win is a banker if it weren't already.

 

[valefan16]

Its a banker anyway regardless. We've won once since Victoria was on the throne there (all be it the last visit in 2008).

 

[Andy Proctor]

7 nil Luton 96 away fans

 

[Maple Hatter]

I think we'll bounce back after Saturdays performance purely based on the fact that we are so inconstant. Meaning one bad performance usually results in a good performance the following game. Very Luton and very NJ. Port Vale seem to have had a bad start and a long midweek journey with low confidence is not what they need. However this could be just the type of opponent we need. One could argue that Swindon were also at a low eb after their home defeats to Barnet and Crawley but they had a good away record and played against 10 men for 45+ minutes. NJ will need to rejuggle his team but that may mean a place for Justin at long last giving us some stability at the back. Would also like Pelly rested and Berry brought in to give us more options going forward. A win will see some confidence restored but a loss would be hard to take.

 

[Andy Proctor]

For what we have available I'd like us to put out the following side obviously we won't though.
Gk Sam Hornby
Rb Lawrie Wilson
Lb Taylor denton
Cb Gavin gunning
Cb Nathan Smith
Rm Ben Whitfield
Cm David Worrall
Cf Tyrone Barnett
Cf Dan Turner
Cm Anthony de freitas
Lm rekeil pyke
No chance he will select that as it's too attacking and doesn't include his favourites Tom pope Marcus harness Anthony Kay who have all been poor and no doubt he will continue with his 4 centre halves in defence bollocks.

 

[kieran_vale]

Putting actual fullbacks at fullback?? Bit revolutionary for Brown that I fear.

Wouldn't be against that side by the way, ADF should start for sure. He won't though just to be clear.

 

[valefan16]

If Brown is so obsessed by multiple center halves considering the quality Denton and Wilson have at this level surely a 3-5-2 system would be our strongest option?

GK Sam Hornby

CB: Nathan Smith
CB: Mad Gavin Gunning
CB: Joe Davis

LWB: Tyler Denton
RWB: Lawrie Wilson

CM: Anthony De Freitas
CM: David Worrall
CM: Ben Whitfield

CF: Tyrone Barnett
CF: Rakeil Pyke

That XI is strong enough to be top 10 at this level especially if you add in the players missing through injury or suspension and fits Denton and Wilson who on paper are two of our strongest and the divisions strongest full backs who are currently sat on the bench.

You'd think surely with Brown staring down the barrel that he would play it safe and go for a strong set up mainly in its correct positioning?

You cant set up every game regardless of home or away trying not to concede at the expense of not scoring and we need some attacking threat from the full backs to allow us to push teams further up. Its pointless restricting teams to 1 or 2 chances (but conceding 1 a game) if we cant then make our defensive solidarity count by scoring at the other end!

Notts County barely get a sniff all game win 1-0, Coventry again had one or two chances won 1-0, Luton took a good pasting so we need to be solid at frustrate them and get their fans against them and wouldn't surprise me if we do that based on recent performances but I have no confidence we will take the opportunity to get a lead and will likely gift them a goal and lost 1-0 again!

FGR Saturday is massive, arguably the biggest game in years and the thought of Brown being in charge setting us up to be negative at home to a side that has been pasted most weeks conceding left right and center, followed by an equally porous Yeovil fills me with worry. He cant take this club through those games where we need to be positive and go for the kill. Those games are our realistically best opportunity to stop the rot and start the climb. It needs a new manager to do that for me.

 

[kieran_vale]

ADF starting for Vale, that's good as is Kay being dropped. Should have dropped Pope too.

Still gone and named 4 centre backs with our two full-backs on the bench though FFS.

 

[valefan16]

ADF starting for Vale, that's good as is Kay being dropped. Should have dropped Pope too.

Still gone and named 4 centre backs with our two full-backs on the bench though FFS.

Seems names out of a hat almost! Better had he gone Wilson and Denton I'd have been modestly happy with that.

 

[kieran_vale]

Seems names out of a hat almost! Better had he gone Wilson and Denton I'd have been modestly happy with that.

Matches our recruitment policy I guess.

I just don't see what the aversion is to using specialist players in that position as opposed to this square pegs in round holes approach we have right now.

 

[oakroader]

I hope we have a shoot on site policy tonight...
if we don't win we shoot
Smelly mpanzy then cuthbert then jones!!

 

[valefan16]

I hope we have a shoot on site policy tonight...
if we don't win we shoot
Smelly mpanzy then cuthbert then jones!!

We won't close you down so may as well!

 

[valefan16]

Just so torn! I want brown gone so I'm worried by a win or draw but can I bear to want us to lose! Total mind fuck!

 

[valefan16]

Looks like a fan is streaming on wonder of Vale on fbook lads

 

[kieran_vale]

Is it true that ADF while being picked is on the wing?? This is actually beyond parody if so.

 

[valefan16]

Is it true that ADF while being picked is on the wing?? This is actually beyond parody if so.

Can't see he's not streaming now as got bollocked.

Wouldn't suprise me though!

 

[valefan16]

Gifted another team a head start. Least we've scored a goal!

 

[valefan16]

Sounds same all story as the previous three or four games, fairly comfortable but not really threatening enough but given a gift and dare say will now huff and puff and probably lose 1-0 again.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Watching this game on iFollow tonight - even with this shitty wifi you can tell who Pelly is even with a pixelated face with his stupid haircut.

Can't say we're playing much differently from the Swindon game. Nothing too exciting - not terrible, not fantastic. Pretty solid, if unspectacular. Dominated possession and the few chances there has been.

McCormack is a real bitch to play against.

Ref has been good - seems to have let a lot go so far.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Cracker of an o.g.

Agree with Kenny regarding the ref, best ref I've seen in ages at this level this far, only one we've had that lets the game flow as much as possible rather than constant stop start. Good stuff.

 

[kieran_vale]

2-0 Luton, it was game over after the first to be fair.

 

[valefan16]

Time to go Brown! Surely tonight will be the final straw!