Port Vale Forum Pre Match Interview / Report vrs Blades

[Robbie Earle's Perm]

To REP, I am genuinely sorry as my post was sent in drink, after a few after works pints. Sorry!

It was not meant as a slight, however I can see how it looks in the cold sore light of day and I apologise.

My point is that I am really upset at some of the decision making that United have made (and obviously what the cheating CC did to us). Clearly, that isnt your fault and yes we do deserve to be wherever we are in the League. However, having been down to Division 4 with United and then seeing us in the Premiership so recently, it is so frustrating to be back down the leagues again.

And that is our fault, we have the support, infrastructure, Academy etc to be in a better position and yet cant seem to translate that to a higher position. In fact, we cant even push forward in this League. I repeat that is where we are and our fault and no body elses.

I do however stand by the fact that watching Sheffield FC on Boxing Day with a pint of Jaipur in my hand on the touchline will be a better way than struggling to get to Burslem, to watch us fail to score more than one goal and only have the delights of your canteen for refeshment at half time That is no slight on Vale it is more a reflection on United currently and of course, the alternative joys of Jaipur and being trusted to watch football with an ale in your hand. At Eight quid to get in I reckon I will have enough left over, compared with travel and entrance at Vale, to have a pretty good session, oh and hopefully abuse some pigs who may come to see Stocksbridge Park Steel!

Sorry once again, other than Ainsworth, no beef with Vale at all...

No offence taken, I love a bit of banter. You should see me on OVF! Enjoy your Boxing Day

 

[diplomat]

1. Tell us a bit about yourself & history as a fan?
38 years young. First game attended was when we were in the 4th division as a nipper. First attended regularly in the 1988/89 season when Vale ran us close for second spot behind a rampant Steve Bull's Wolves.

2. How do you expect your team to do this season (including a forecast for a positional finish for the entire season)?
Regardless of pressure exerted or shots attempted I fail to have confidence in us scoring more than one goal at the moment. Therefore, unless this changes, I think the best we'll muster is 5th.

3. Who should we watch out for (one or more danger player/s)?
As stated, Murphy is probably our most noticeable threat.

4. What are your thoughts on your manager and his signings this season?
I like Clough but some of his choices in terms of formation (e.g. playing a tiny right back and an 18 year old novice together at CH in the opening game v Bristol City) can be bizarre. He's made us resolute and we try and play football the "right way". He's building a team and I would love to know what he thinks the team will look like when he's nearer the end product.

5. What are your thoughts on your board & off field club activities?
Our board could be a lot worse. Sometimes we lurch from one inept decision to another but at least we've not had crooks or lunatics like some midlands or welsh teams could point out. Certain annexing of the football club land for the McCabe family portfolio does irk me though.

6. Which one Vale player would you take past or present to add value to your squad?
I'm afraid I can't tell you who might be good for you at the moment. I remember the Earle/Beckford team and those two being prominent figures so I'll say them.

7. How do you expect Vale to do this season?
Neither in danger of relegation nor threatening the promotion pack.

8. What is your team's most memorable game with Vale (good or bad reasons)?
A really boring 2-1 win at the Lane in the 1989/90 season. I'd been on a school trip for the week and got back at half one, popped on the bus to the Lane (child fare) paid to get on to the Kop (adult ticket - the get), was largely bored until Deano poked one in from four yards in the last minute.

9. A score prediction (and potential scorers for both sides)?

I hear rumours of McNulty and O'Grady starting as a pair. If so, I'm going to stick my neck out and say we'll score more than one - 2-1 Blades

..........Good luck for the rest of the season and thanks for saying hello.

 

[WorkingtonBlade]

No disrespect and then you totally disrespect me and my club, classy!

I'm sooooooo sorry we are so much smaller than you and and for everytime we have insulted you by having the audacity to play you in the cup let alone the league which is of course despicable of us

I'm also equally sorry for Vale's role in signing Tevez and Mascherano which automatically lead to your team being relegated not just one league from your buddies at Old Trafford but an entire two leagues, surely we owe you £60 million a year since you left the promised land back in 2007. Who do I make the cheque payable to?

I'm also equally sorry you can't remember any of the cracking games we have played against each other in the last 20-30 years, maybe you choose to blank from your mind as of course of playing such tiny clubs is a blight on your rightful place as champions of England, Europe and of course the World. The World Club Championship was not the same without you this year

I'm not offended you can't remember any of our past of present players, they hardly roll off the tongue do they, those insignificant players such as the 'promised lands' very own Robbie Earle, Steve Guppy, Lee Mills, Robin Van Der Laan, Darren Beckford, Ian Taylor, Keith Houchen, Bernie Slaven, Anthony Gardner, Ian Brightwell, the evil Gareth Ainsworth and not forgetting the crap that was Ray Walker, Neil Aspin, Roy Sproson, Wilf Kirkham, Ray King, Dean Glover and your very own (free-scoring) Michael Brown So sorry I can't name any more, we are a tiny club so we have only had a tiny amount of players since our formation recently in 1876 as founder members of the second division.

Anyway no offence taken

Now Mr Perm, you said you weren't going to respond, and then you just couldn't resist could you?

 

[Trigger Blade]

I shan't answer your questions, I'm going to do a bit of self-indulgent Vale related reminiscing.......

I lived and worked in the area from 1984 until last year and have a number of Vale connections. I loved the years when Vale were higher up the leagues than Stoke, they just hated it and Vale fans were realistic about the likely short-term nature of their superiority. Stoke were more like W*dnesday and we're more like the Vale. I always enjoyed The Memoirs Of Seth Bottomley, some excellent cartoons. My favourite cover was the one with the tight defensive wall showing the back (with names on shirts )of Stokes, Swann, Kerr, and Kerr pointing at Mark Stein. Still makes me smile.

Vale have had plenty of chairmen over the years, one of them (Jim Lloyd) lived across the road from us before they moved out to Ashley. I still see Andrew Lloyd occasionally. I also worked for Peter Walker, who was very briefly Vale chairman in the middle of the turmoil years. I don't know what the supporters' view was, but he was a good bloke to work for and unfeasibly passionate about the Vale. I once remember seeing Ray Walker (no relation) at the factory, presumably to collect a product that he'd got a good deal on.

Oh, and Bill Bratt gets his petrol from my mate's garage and on one occasion he asked Bill how he was and I couldn't resist saying I heard he had a bad side

On the playing front, I was at university with John Ridley and in the same department as his future wife, who sadly died two years ago with some kind of dementia, barely 60. When he was at Chesterfield in 1980 or 1981, he got me a ticket and after the game (we lost 1-0), we went out on the town and I was asked for my autograph, a unique experience for me.

More recently, my older son was at school with Gareth Owen and Adam Yates and one of their PE teachers was Miss Rudge, daughter of and she was apparently ace at keepy uppy

 

[JohnDenver]

First attended regularly in the 1988/89 season when Vale ran us close for second spot behind a rampant Steve Bull's Wolves.

Same as me. The Port Vale memory I have of that season is a very tight game at the Lane (was it 1-1?). That and being ensconced in the back of my parents' car on a long journey one night, and hearing the news on the radio that Wolves had been promoted. I immediately figured out that meant Vale hadn't won, giving United the initiative in our promotion battle.

UTB.

 

[diplomat]

Same as me. The Port Vale memory I have of that season is a very tight game at the Lane (was it 1-1?). That and being ensconced in the back of my parents' car on a long journey one night, and hearing the news on the radio that Wolves had been promoted. I immediately figured out that meant Vale hadn't won, giving United the initiative in our promotion battle.

UTB.

Innocent times. I honestly had little idea of where we "belonged" in the football pyramid back then. I knew it wasn't at the top table that far in my lifetime and felt a genuine rivalry with anyone near us in the table as it was based on merit.

I can't remember the home Vale game that year but I think it was a draw. My first game that year and first ever on the kop was the 3-0 Newcastle cup win. Notable for them having just bought Beasant and Thorn from cup winners Wimbledon for more than probably the next 20 players we signed cost.

 

[ThatJa]

1. Tell us a bit about yourself & history as a fan?

Born in 89, first game in 93m Barnsley at home finished 1-1, had a season ticket from ages 7 to 16, then went to a few games each season for the next 6-7 years, now a season ticket holder again, won't be renewing until we're promoted though as fed up of watching the same League One football year after year. (one of the reasons i stopped having on when i was 16, same Championship football, we were the "nearly men", every year.

2. How do you expect your team to do this season (including a forecast for a positional finish for the entire season)?

Top 10 would be lucky. I'd say we'll scrape a 9th place as minimum.

3. Who should we watch out for (one or more danger player/s)?

Mark McNulty if Clough decides he fancies a game.

4. What are your thoughts on your manager and his signings this season?

Born to manage in the cup, his signed have been OK, but his management of the signing raises a few questions, Butler mainly.

5. What are your thoughts on your board & off field club activities?

Jim Phipps (our chairman) has been a revelation, interacting via social media almost every day, will always stop to have a chat if he's around too.

6. Which one Vale player would you take past or present to add value to your squad?

Tom Pope, but it'd have to be a free transfer, we have loads of wages.

7. How do you expect Vale to do this season?

Bottom half, maybe 13th?

8. What is your team's most memorable game with Vale (good or bad reasons)?

None off the top of my head.

9. A score prediction (and potential scorers for both sides)?

1-1, draw specialists us, O'Grady and Michael Brown (just cos he played for us!)

 

[lawlessdan]

Hero Gaz Ainsworth

That name should never be mentioned in these parts.