[Tha Knows...]

Stokespireite, on 08 April 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

Think you will find there is 6 towns not 5..........

Ok but BurSLUM is still bottom 😆

[moondog]

Stokespireite, on 08 April 2017 - 09:36 PM, said:

Think you will find there is 6 towns not 5..........

Hanley, Burslem, Fenton, Longton, Stoke-upon-Trent, and Tunstal

[AllTownArentWe]

Spire-Power, on 08 April 2017 - 05:45 PM, said:

Agree with the exception of dimaio. Slow to make challenges in midfie and some poor passing

I agree. He is like a ghost in midfield, he has no physical present and just runs around like a headless chicken making the occasional half assed challenged.
...and although he had a good pass to Dennis for the goal, the rest of his passing was summed up when he attempted a half yard pass to Hird but put the ball out of play.

[spireitetoo]

Benno Spire, on 08 April 2017 - 08:55 PM, said:

My thoughts and observations today
First half was clearly 2 struggling sides lacking confidence although it was nice to see us have some attempts on goal. Second half pretty much the same and it was clear whoever got the first goal would win. Stuckman class reflex save to keep us level and a good follow up from Joe Rowley and we scored first.
Joe Rowley looks promising but needs to be wary of some heavies who might try and kick him. Gardner was very good at times and possibly worth a 1 year contract for league 2. We looked more confident at the back. Dennis was very heavy footed at times especially in the first half but improved after the break. Simons runs around like a headless chicken and will be gone at the end of the season. Jones was better today
Poor officials again but bad for both sides.
No AC today, he must be on a cooking course or cleaning under the carpet.
Faupala sat in front of me and was more interested in playing games on his phone that watching the game, didn't appear for the second half till 5 mins from end. Saw Paul Lemon in reception but didn't get chance to talk.

Overall a much nicer Saturday evening on the back of 3 home points but the reality hits home when you look at the league table

Hearing Ched is fit, if so why not playing?

.

This post has been edited by spireitetoo: 09 April 2017 - 06:31 AM

[The Earl of Chesterfield]

Benno Spire, on 08 April 2017 - 08:55 PM, said:

My thoughts and observations today
First half was clearly 2 struggling sides lacking confidence although it was nice to see us have some attempts on goal. Second half pretty much the same and it was clear whoever got the first goal would win. Stuckman class reflex save to keep us level and a good follow up from Joe Rowley and we scored first.
Joe Rowley looks promising but needs to be wary of some heavies who might try and kick him. Gardner was very good at times and possibly worth a 1 year contract for league 2. We looked more confident at the back. Dennis was very heavy footed at times especially in the first half but improved after the break. Simons runs around like a headless chicken and will be gone at the end of the season. Jones was better today
Poor officials again but bad for both sides.
No AC today, he must be on a cooking course or cleaning under the carpet.
Faupala sat in front of me and was more interested in playing games on his phone that watching the game, didn't appear for the second half till 5 mins from end. Saw Paul Lemon in reception but didn't get chance to talk.

Overall a much nicer Saturday evening on the back of 3 home points but the reality hits home when you look at the league table

Hearing Ched is fit, if so why not playing?

Agree with much of that, my friend, though DG would still be off in the Summer for me.

Too little, too late.

Noticeable that of Caldwell's signings only Stuckman started whilst our own youngsters (can we include Dimaio in that?) impressed the most.

It was good not to feel like walking out long before the final whistle for a change - infact I made a point of staying to offer deserved applause at the end - though as you quite rightly point out the league table is like a cold shower on a warm day.

Meanwhile instead of celebrating Rowley's emerging talent all we can do is wonder how much he'll be sold for.

How have we come to this (yeah, I think we know, don't we...).

Finally a message to any passing 'Vale fan: it's not a good idea to spend half the game taunting opponents when your own side is even worse. We've been racked by scandal, mismanagement and a mass talent exit - what's your excuse? I guess the couple of dozen, what; eight year olds? sitting in the West Stand summed it up best when they responded with falsetto choruses of 'Who are ya!'.

This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 09 April 2017 - 08:08 AM

[Siberian Spireite]

Benno Spire, on 08 April 2017 - 08:55 PM, said:

My thoughts and observations today
Faupala sat in front of me and was more interested in playing games on his phone that watching the game, didn't appear for the second half till 5 mins from end.

When we signed a load of unproven youngsters from clubs higher up the league, many feared they would lack commitment to the cause. The above is very telling.

[dim view]

Benno Spire, on 08 April 2017 - 08:55 PM, said:

Faupala sat in front of me and was more interested in playing games on his phone that watching the game, didn't appear for the second half till 5 mins from end.

With a girlfriend like that, I too would be finding other things to do. What a stunner.

[ELTON 2020]

Siberian Spireite, on 09 April 2017 - 08:30 AM, said:

When we signed a load of unproven youngsters from clubs higher up the league, many feared they would lack commitment to the cause. The above is very telling.

Bizarre really - I wonder if it was a kind of "arranged marriage" sorted out nicely gift wrapped for Gary (or at least I hope it was). I'll give Caldwell credit - and its been a long time coming , to quote Crosby Stills and Nash, He saw the lads in goal weren't ready and put Stuckman in and also Rowley. I'll give him credit but it must be one of the most bizarre set of loan signings in the club's history.

[dim view]

Elton John 1866, on 09 April 2017 - 10:45 AM, said:

Bizarre really - I wonder if it was a kind of "arranged marriage" sorted out nicely gift wrapped for Gary (or at least I hope it was). I'll give Caldwell credit - and its been a long time coming , to quote Crosby Stills and Nash, He saw the lads in goal weren't ready and put Stuckman in and also Rowley. I'll give him credit but it must be one of the most bizarre set of loan signings in the club's history.

you are right, it is bizarre.

My best guess is that the signings came from a list of players lodged in Ashley's head as a result of previous conversations with Mitchell and Wilson.

[DIFH]

azul, on 08 April 2017 - 06:32 PM, said:

I expect to see Stuckmann here next year with Anderson.

And I'm even coming around to the view the Gardner deserves another contract as he seems more involved these days. He actually looks to go hunting for the ball rather than let things drift after a flashy 10 minutes Without those stupid showboat passes he sometimes does, he'd be a shoo-in for another contract

At least you can justify another deal bearing in mind it will be L2 next season, I'm still not sure what his best position is.

[clarevoyant.]

whittman, on 08 April 2017 - 06:21 PM, said:

Did Morgan get any stick from the crowd around their bench today?

After all he got plenty when he was in the home dugout

The crowd around the "bench" are above "stick" but he definitely (along with brown) got a lot of verbals, which was probably beyound their limited comprehension

[60s 70s Spireite]

clarevoyant., on 09 April 2017 - 08:00 PM, said:

The crowd around the "bench" are above "stick" but he definitely (along with brown) got a lot of verbals, which was probably beyound their limited comprehension

Have we ever seen more non playing staff in the away technical area?
Does anyone know who the guy was with silver hair. Seem to recognise him, but couldn't put a name to him.

[clarevoyant.]

60s 70s Spireite, on 09 April 2017 - 08:04 PM, said:

Have we ever seen more non playing staff in the away technical area?
Does anyone know who the guy was with silver hair. Seem to recognise him, but couldn't put a name to him.

He was obviously one of a triumvirate of tactical geniuses who conversed a lot but couldn't come up with a plan B and resorted to (as we've unfortunately seen on many occasions from one of them) to bo.....g the 4th official/linesman with a view of pressuring said official to conversing with the ref and gaining an advantage from a dodgy decision

[Tha Knows...]

dim view, on 09 April 2017 - 08:40 AM, said:

With a girlfriend like that, I too would be finding other things to do. What a stunner.

Have you never had a stunner DV?? 😆

[Siberian Spireite]

Elton John 1866, on 09 April 2017 - 10:45 AM, said:

Bizarre really - I wonder if it was a kind of "arranged marriage" sorted out nicely gift wrapped for Gary (or at least I hope it was). I'll give Caldwell credit - and its been a long time coming , to quote Crosby Stills and Nash, He saw the lads in goal weren't ready and put Stuckman in and also Rowley. I'll give him credit but it must be one of the most bizarre set of loan signings in the club's history.

I didn't find it strange- the club saw the January window as an opportunity to cut costs and did so by selling/letting go four first-teamers. Meanwhile there was a need to field a team and pacify the fans. Cheap recruits were needed, and not from non-league (too obvious) so young loanees were chosen. I don't buy the 'Faupala cost a few quid' line as it would have been pennies in relation to whatever wage costs were saved. I also didn't buy the line that 'O'Shea had to go as for him to have stayed would have meant offering a new contract on more money'- we could've kept him on the same contract until it expired but it seems the club wanted to save on his wages even though he was top scorer and take what sounds like a very meagre promotion bonus from Sheff U.

This post has been edited by Siberian Spireite: 09 April 2017 - 09:44 PM

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

azul, on 08 April 2017 - 06:32 PM, said:

I expect to see Stuckmann here next year with Anderson.

And I'm even coming around to the view the Gardner deserves another contract as he seems more involved these days. He actually looks to go hunting for the ball rather than let things drift after a flashy 10 minutes Without those stupid showboat passes he sometimes does, he'd be a shoo-in for another contract

Every time Gardner gets on the ball he slows things down. Get rid asap

[Tha Knows...]

Don't be mean, he can be creative. Give him a year

[Andy Spireite]

Spire-Power, on 09 April 2017 - 10:58 PM, said:

Don't be mean, he can be creative. Give him a year

No chance. The guy is a liability. He has the potential for the occasional good shot from distance but that's about it.

[spireitetoo]

Spire-Power, on 09 April 2017 - 10:58 PM, said:

Don't be mean, he can be creative. Give him a year

Hes had 3 yrs!

[Lincs Spireite]

I call him Gardner one good pass one bad pass. Not what we want really is it.