Port vale match thread sponsored by lightning striking twice

[yorkstag]

He played a big part in Clarke going there in the first place, so the fact they’ve made a good start with Clarke as manager I think it a pretty decent impact, don’t you?

Flitcroft was only appointed a week before, it was Carol Shanahan who brought him in. Next answer

Read the interview with the Chief Exec

I have. So what else has he done? You’re struggling aren’t you

Was that not good enough for you?

Dan you have a blind spot here.

Compared to what has followed DF did not fail.

You got your head on a platter and you now need to put up with the consequences. Does anyone really believe if DF had stayed we would be where we are now?

Look where they are in the league, think what a director of football is involved in, and there’s your answer.

As I said earlier, you won’t hear a good word so there’s not much point me keep replying.

[kevin kents tasce]

Musings, haven’t you learned yet?

Dan doesn’t want an answer really. No matter what you say or how logical you present it Dan’s position it too firmly established. He will constantly obfuscate any response you give him.

I would guess that in any personality assessment, Dan’s openness traits would be scored really low.

I know this for sure. I wish it was October 2018 again and Flickers stags team were playing the best football I had ever witnessed at the mill!

Best football ever witnessed not been a fan for long then?!

You’ve still not answered the question I asked you on another thread either. But then that’s hardly surprising really.

Just answered that one Dan.

I’ve been going for 35 years. Tell me a team who played better football than Flitcrofts in the first half of the 18-19 season.

The next best was the Curle team. Also playoff “failures”

Remember that the best football to watch, doesn’t mean the same thing as most successful team

[arsene wengers coat]

My point, the one, is that Keaton Ward allegedly said 'tonight could be cloughs last game in charge', according to Spartacus. Well I don't see why that is so abhorrent. It could be. Anyone could predict that given our form. That wasn't my opinion.

My opinion was that Keaton Ward shouldn't.be.hung out to dry if he has said that this 'could' be cloughs last game. Yeah, it might or it might not. So what.

[Captain Cunno]

The only way this will be Cloughs last game will be if he walks....he ain't getting sacked not a chance...

He wont walk either knowing how many players are missing etc...

If he had his full team and we went on a run like this he would probably do the honourable thing and walk anyway.....

I dont see how hard it is for people to see that JR will NEVER sack Clough...

[old ram stag]

My point, the one, is that Keaton Ward allegedly said 'tonight could be cloughs last game in charge', according to Spartacus. Well I don't see why that is so abhorrent. It could be. Anyone could predict that given our form. That wasn't my opinion.

My opinion was that Keaton Ward shouldn't.be.hung out to dry if he has said that this 'could' be cloughs last game. Yeah, it might or it might not. So what.

Totally agree, KW is the future of this club and just starting to show us what he's capable of, I heard on the market square this morning the same story. It was from a lad who says he knows people running the club, and it was also spoken about in the pub last night so this is not a player exclusive I'm afraid it's a rumour going around and only time will tell if correct, but in the meantime let's get behind everyone at the club tonight and give players, manager and staff our full backing.

[Sneag]

Every game could be a manager's last, that's the nature of football. Saying it about a manager that hasn't won a game in 12 is pretty much a given.

If we were Watford we'd already be on our 3rd manager.

[I am Spartacus]

My point, the one, is that Keaton Ward allegedly said 'tonight could be cloughs last game in charge', according to Spartacus. Well I don't see why that is so abhorrent. It could be. Anyone could predict that given our form. That wasn't my opinion.

My opinion was that Keaton Ward shouldn't.be.hung out to dry if he has said that this 'could' be cloughs last game. Yeah, it might or it might not. So what.

I am not asking for anyone to be hung out to dry. Far from it I am wanting for a public show of determination.

When asked about Cloughs position there are two ways to answer; Firstly ‘we are giving it all we can as a group to make sure we are all there next week’ or secondly ‘this is Clough’s last game as a manager should we lose’. Two statements with the same answer but phrased so differently. One gets 3,000 people behind him and one gets 3,000 on edge every game. One answer and he is a hero and one is he is the villain. I want him to be the first and not the latter and have the type of game that he had against Sheff Weds and he can have.

[Martin Shaw]

I removed a few posts quoting the post of a user, at that user's request.

[old ram stag]

Now let's get behind our team guys 2.1 stags

[Tippy Tappy Football]

Port Vale are on a good run of form. Ton Conlan and David Worrall are very good creative players and big Jamie Proctor is probably in his best run of form for a long time scoring 6 goals up front and 2 assists. Ben Garrity can strike a ball in midfield and has scored 3 goals. Dennis Politic on loan from Bolton has also chipped in with 2 goals. Dan Jones has a very big long throw which will put our defence under pressure. Goalscoring Brazilian keeper, Lucas Kovalan, can aim big long kicks dow the pitch to Proctor but has been caught in possession a few times.

If Mal Benning is playing then we need to get the ball into the space behind him and put Hawkins and Bowery on him at the back post from crosses and set pieces.

Port Vale
Under Contract: James Gibbons, Nathan Smith, Leon Legge, Tom Conlon, Alex Hurst, Jake Taylor, David Worrall, David Amoo, Devante Rodney
Signed: Brad Walker (Shrewsbury Town), Ben Garrity (Blackpool), James Wilson (Salford City), Aaron Martin (Hamilton Academicals), Dan Jones (Salford City), Lucas Covolan (Torquay United), Aidan Stone (Mansfield Town), Mal Benning (Mansfield Town), Tom Pett (Stevenage), Ryan Johnson (Hartlepool), Jamie Proctor (Rotherham United), Lewis Cass (Newcastle United-Loan), Dennis Politic (Bolton Wanderers-Loan), George Lloyd (Cheltenham Town-Loan), Danny Amos (Doncaster Rovers)

Transfer Listed: Theo Robinson (Bradford City), Scott Burgess, Danny Whitehead
Released: Cristian Montano (Livingston), Scott Brown (Exeter City), Luke Joyce (AFC Fylde), Zak Mills (Walsall), Shaun Brisley (Wrexham), Adam Crookes (Grimsby Town), Tom Pope (Congleton Town), Mark Cullen (Hartlepool United), Harry McKirdy (Swindon Town), David Fitzpatrick (Altrincham), Dino Visser, Tom Scott, Ryan Campbell-Gordon, Daniel Trickett-Smith, Kurtis Guthrie, Amar Dyer, Michael Lennon

[MTFCMusings]

Looks like 3-5-2, unless the team sheet is playing mind games.

[Sandy Pate Best Stag]

Looks like 3-5-2, unless the team sheet is playing mind games.

What’s the line up please

[MTFCMusings]

[gazza1988]

Back 3 or Charsley at left back.

[MTFCMusings]

Team sheet teams to me 3-5-2. Could easily be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 though.

[Parkinsons Perm]

Work that one out

[wink68]

Round pegs, square holes.

[Sandy Pate Best Stag]

4-4-2 with Hawkins at centre half, Hewitt and McLaughlin at full back.

[bobbystagsfan]

Bamboozler from Clough

I thought Oates had a chest infection?

[MTFCMusings]

I think could be mind games. Clough made a point of the Macca/Quinn link up, that isn’t happening in a 3-5-2.

[BH_Stag]

Surely means Hawkins back in defence?

Don’t know how Charsley keeps his place in the side, but surely he isn’t at right wing back or full back? Would be absurd. Interested to see how we line up.

[Parkinsons Perm]

I thought he'd give Sinclair a run instead of Bowery, flip knows what his role was in the last few games

[broomo]

4-4-2 with Hawkins at centre half, Hewitt and McLaughlin at full back.

I'd say that's spot on.

Can't see him disrupting the left side of Quinn and Macca.

Clarke can count himself unlucky to miss out to Hewitt.

Can't explain why but I'm really looking forward to the game and fancy us to surprise one or two people.

[Cleveland_Stag]

Can’t believe I’ve got to watch Charsley start again. Be nice if we had some normal wingers for a change wouldn’t it.

[Parkinsons Perm]

Can’t believe I’ve got to watch Charsley start again.