After the utter cackness of last week, the Vale boys needed to bounce back with a performance today, and despite losing the game, they did so. Willing to work for each other, put in tackles, and throw themselves around it was a massive improvement on the previous week. Obviously there are still things that need working on, but this side is genuinely not a million miles away from winning games and even bossing some too.
The game got off to an iffy start before it had even begun, with Shaun not showing up, Jim asking to not play because he was too ill (or too stoned, it's hard to tell the difference!) and with Billy throwing up in the playground before we'd even got changed!
With the gaffer changing his team for the five billionth time, he finally sent out an eleven with Sam, Gaylo, Dave D and Cookie at the back; Young Sam, Gerry, Ragsy and Luke in midfield; Billy in the hole and Kie up front. We also had Bomo back in goal! On the bench were Jim and Chuff.
I'd go into massive detail of what happened during the game, but I've already forgotten most of it! We played some decent stuff at times, but let ourselves down by trying the hard pass or the hard skill too often when a simple ball was on. At the back we struggled for the first part of the half as we tried to get to grips with their attacking players who were all very good, but we improved as the game went on. I think their first goal was a lob over Bomo, the second was definitely from a pen when the manager sliced down the Preston striker in the box (in his defence about 3 minutes earlier Dave D had put in a world class last ditch tackle in the box!..this second tackle was not a worldy tho). In between those goals Sam scored after being set up by Bomo...yes you heard me correctly! Bomo launched one out of his hands and perfectly bisected the two Preston defender...Sam ran through, collected the ball and finished well. We got it back to 2-2 after their side gifted the ball to Lukey, who showed his class by calmly finishing it. Preston got two more in the first half, but the one was just a well worked goal. They played it wide, knocked a one-two, squared it across the box and then finished it. Can't moan about those ones. Part way through the first half, Chuff made his return to first team football as Old Sam limped off with a groin injury, Chuff slotting back into his old left back position. There was also a less well worked goal for them as they pumped a freekick in, Bomo shouted 'Keepers' at which point our side switched off and allowed two Preston players to run straight across Bomo, causing him to miss the ball.
Second half began, but the Vale started slowly and let in a couple more goals. There were a couple from corners as people didn't track their runners, tho I'm not sure who. We then actually played a bit and created chances for ourselves. We even managed a few sideways and backwards passes at one point as the entire back four, plus Ragsy and Gerry managed to move the ball around between them (sadly this did not continue for the rest of the game!) really well. Jim came on for Billy and he, Sam and Luke were looking dangerous as they clearly had the pace to beat the Preston backline. A bit of patience and just slowing things down could have seen the Vale create 5 or 6 clear cut chances, but we only managed to convert one of them as Sam set up Luke to score his second toward the end of the game. Final score was 7-3.
Gerry was standout player, with Ragsy putting in a really good performance along side him. Cookie was quality at right back and Kie, Young Sam, and Luke all looked dangerous at times during the game. Bomo pulled off some world class saves, and Chuff looked like he'd never been away when he came on. Dave Delivers put in his best ever performance for the Vale...though still only got a rating of 6...bastards! In fact the performance all round was good enough to make it very difficult for the manager to pick his side for next weeks derby clash with Wilden!
The Good:
We worked a hell of a lot harder this week. People actually put their foot in, and made it difficult for the oppostion.
We scored three goals, with Luke and Sam both taking them really well.
There was a bit more talking (tho still not enough!).
We saw glimpses of what we can do when we kept the ball.
The Bad:
We let in a few sloppy goals....I have no problem if teams score worldys against us, or if they pass it round us, but we should be better when it comes to corners etc. I'm not saying we should win every ball that comes in, but we just have to have the intelligence to track our runners and put them under pressure...if they still smash one in then fair play to them.
We're still not showing for the ball enough. If we want to play good football, we have to want the ball more. I'd rather have 11 players who are constantly wanting the ball, but then fucking up with it, than 11 players who just stand still and don't offer themselves for it. We were better today, but not as good as you all are during training!
We're not being intelligent enough. Basically we need to improve our decision making a bit...whether that's in the final third or at the back. Sometimes the simplest, most obvious pass is the best....trying to play a magic ball each time is not!
Moments of note:
1) Billy throwing up
2) Manager gave away a pen
3) Sam actually passed to Luke!
4) Bomo's goal kicks were amazing (Bomo wished it to be noted that at one point the oppo goalkeeper screamed at his back four to drop as "this other keeper can kick it miles")
*Also, the team that dicked us last week, beat a team 12-0 today....so maybe we ain't as bad as we thought!!
