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The tribute to Town legend Ernie Moss offered an opportunity to note how small the Stoke outfit were. Plaudits to their followers for joining the appreciation of a true giant in every sense of the word - especially as it made a welcome change to see a starting eleven that couldn't necessarily outmuscle ours'.
Terrific to see another Town legend, Tommy Lee, make a welcome return from career threatening injury, too.
The exit of our only real left sided defender less than twenty four hours before kick-off told us what to expect - three right footers in a back three. Infact I was staggered the visitors didn't double-up down that wing and exploit the fact. Yet no, and the first half an hour turned into the same kinda forgettable exchange as witnessed at Meadow Lane the previous week. Then just as an incompetent ref intervened in Nottingham, Dennis and Sinnott - who'd also created the first - delivered two strikes that dictated the rest of the afternoon.
The son of the ex PV boss let the eight hundred-odd travelling fans know all about it (gotta be careful there, pal), whilst at the same time as celebrating his form the cynical may wonder if three in three will see a 'For Sale' sign attached to another successful 'KD'.
If we're gonna criticise Gary Caldwell when he gets it wrong let's also praise him for getting it right, and moving Wigan loanee Flores into a slightly tighter position did seem to bolster a previously porous midfield.
'Vale offered at least the hint of a fightback as the second half started, though our hugely experienced central defensive duo provided a non-stop succession of interceptions. It was also encouraging to see Wiseman making forays forward, as Town reasserted themselves even if it wasn't exactly what might be deemed convincing. Perhaps it's just the nature of football at this level or symptomatic of a squad finding confidence, but there seemed a lack of tempo, of sharpness, of pace, a performance punctuated by far too many wayward passes.
Weir caught my eye as, like the proven pair behind him, he demonstrated a genuine authority. Disappointments? Well whilst recognising we shouldn't allow his reported salary to influence thinking I expected a similar authority from O'Grady, something sadly missing thus far. I'd have subbed him quite some time before he actually was. Similarly Reid failed to impress, his stature and/or inexperience seeing him all too often lose possession.
However his possible replacement McCourt's lunging tackle only a few minutes after coming on and only a few minutes before the game was won was just plain daft.
The final whistle was met by loud protests from the remaining 'Vale fans who'd earlier sung 'Yer don't know what yer doing' after a substitution. Great way to inspire the bloke coming on, I thought, and why didn't they sing 'Yer do know what yer doing' after a change they approved? Seriously, though, their team could've played 'til midnight without really testing Tommy Lee.
So how good or bad are we? How good or bad have our opponents been? How good or bad is this division? It's certainly been a topsy-turvy start to the season with everyone pretty much beating everyone else. I mean, Grimsby? Three-one winners at the Proact on opening day? Went down to the same scoreline at Stevenage. That modest Notts outfit from last week? Bagged four away at Wycombe. Meanwhile a Lincoln that many expected to continue their momentum are struggling as unfancied Newport leave Coventry with the points.
Oh, and maybe we should mention that our own embarrassed and bankrupt club are only a point behind those self appointed champions-in-waiting that play in yellow...
I wonder if a little may go a long way this year, so given the half a mil' we supposedly received for Evans alongside cash to come from sell-on clauses the days preceding August 31st could be absolutely crucial.
This post has been edited by MDCCCLXVI: 20 August 2017 - 08:41 AM
