Match Thread Away v Port Vale Sat 13th November @ 12.00pm

I understand your point and agree to an extent, however I wasn’t suggesting a draw would suit them period, nor that they would be happy with it, I was saying I believe it would suit them from a standings perspective more than it would suit us given both our league positions.

Take for example Man City are 10 points clear at the top of the EPL. Their nearest rival are Chelsea. Who would be happier with the draw - City, who are preserving a 10 point lead in the process, or Chelsea, who are aiming to close the gap and fail to do so with a point?

 

It’s not the same though as Chelsea in that hypothetical won’t be 10 places lower, it’s more like comparing Leicester to Man City.

 

It’s not though because Man City and Leicester’s goals and ambitions for the season (title and top 4 respectively) aren’t the same, whereas Vale’s and ours (top 3/promotion) are. Point taken with places in the table though ultimately it’s the end target which is the prominent variable.

To put it another way, ask yourself who needs the 3 points more at this current stage of the season, when considering our overall objective.

 

I think objectives are flexible and also need to be realistic, we are 12th atm so our aim should be 7th where as Port Vale are 2nd. The goalposts change over a season, if those we are fighting for 7th with get a point away at 2nd they’ll be more than happy. It’s other games where we have thrown away silly points but that can’t be changed. If we go on a run and get quickly into the top 7 then we can talk about autos, for now it’s a pipe dream.

 

Suppose it depends whether you look at it from pre-season objectives, or objectives from current standings (even if current standings replicate a failure from pre-season objectives).

 

A draw for Vale against us on Saturday would be 2 points dropped for the home team due to our respective positions in the table. Depends to some extent how the game goes, we might outplay them on the day and as such a point in the circumstance would be a positive for them. No hard and fast rule with this one.

 

You could be right Tony.
I think they would be a good fit in that formation we played against Swindon. ( I’m not knocking Cook or Lavery but as they are both crocked, we have little option. I said right from the first time I saw Angol against Avenue he may be a surprise package. Time will tell but his fitness is critical.

 

In reality it's two wins in 15 as last nights game was a draw in all reality. Vales form is excellent with 6 wins from 8, though we have only lost 1 in 6.

In honesty, its a much of a muchness again with City in that we are failing again under Rupp.

Going to Vale hoping for a point, just feels very uninspiring.

 

Taking a point away to Port Vale in League Two however you want to dress it up just isn't good enough.

We should be going into any game against any team in this division with the expectation and hope of 3 points.

 

Of course respective form means a point may be good. It ain't our home form that's failing us, it's, yet again the failure of our leaders running the club.

 

We have to win some games otherwise all them games when everyone said "on the whole that was a good point" mean nothing if we keep on drawing!!

 

We've said that too often - "a draw would be a good result" - we're only saying that because we're 12th and therefore "a draw would be a good result" against 8 of the teams who happen to be above us now because on 10 other matches prior to this we've said "a draw would be a good result"

It's a self fulfilling prophecy!

When will we say - it's tough but we can win or, on OUR recent form, we back ourselves to win.

 

Fine retort

 

Splitting hairs there mate, when I talk with someone about the cup run in 12-13 I always say we beat Wigan and Arsenal as well as Villa pens still count

I’m all seriousness though I’m not a big fan of counting pizza trophy games on a record considering how often the sides playing are different from the first 11, but I get the point.

It’s certainly uninspiring but doesn’t it feel like the club has been like that for years?

 

Yes, August 93!!!!
18 in 4 games, of which 2 were Cup games.
1-5, 1-1, 6-0, 6-0.

 

Impressive!

Strong research Pablo, thank you!