2012 Prediction League - Game 31; v Port vale (away)

Div3North · 01-02-2013, 10:15

Port Vale FC

V

Accrington Stanley

2012/3 Prediction League – Game 31; v Port Vale (away)

Their origins are uncertain – well, disputed, perhaps – but certain it is that Burslem Port Vale (as they then were) were founder members, in 1892, of the Football League Second Division, resigning through financial difficulties in 1907 before they returned, in 1919, taking over the fixtures of Leeds City, who had been disbanded because of – would you believe – financial irregularities …… In 1953/4 they won the old Div 3 North

and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing to West Brom after having had a seemingly good goal controversially disallowed for offside ………….In 1957/8 they were – for different reasons this time (relegation

) – once again Founder Members, but this time of Division 4, which they won in their first season with a total of goals scored of 110

………………… and in 1967 Stanley Matthews

took over from Jackie Mudie as Manager, but his first season there ended in tears as Vale were expelled from the Football League for alleged illegal payments to players, a penalty later reduced to being required to seek re-election (oh, the heady days of re-election, and the teams who disappeared through the trapdoor –Bradford Park Avenue, Gateshead, Southport, Barrow …………….Happy Times!

)

It was Alan Hansen, wasn’t it, who coined the phrase “You’ll never win anything with kids”? Vale Boss Micky Adams took him literally in the recent transfer window, signing 6 players with a combined age of 181 years: ex Plymouth Skipper and CB Darren Purse is 35; striker Lee Hughes (ex Baggies, Coventry, Oldham and Notts County), with a goals tally of 206 in 488 games is 36; Liam Chilvers – a defender whose clubs include Colchester (he played against us for them in the 2003/4 FA Cup Third Round game), PNE and Notts Co – is 31; the ‘babies’ are Wolves and Sheff Wed LB Daniel Jones (26), Luton and Crystal Palace Old Boy striker Calvin Andrews is also 26; former player Chris Birchall is 28; of Andrews, Adams said,

· “He’s performed in a number of positions for us, which demonstrates his versatility …………”

Sounds like the Chippendales!

MF Birchall’s an interesting character; signed three times by Micky Adams, who took him from Vale to Coventry for £300,000 and then on to Brighton when he was Boss there; he’s a Trinidad and Tobago international, playing in the World Cup in 2006; he spent 3 seasons at the LA Galaxy with David Beckham and 4 years at Columbus Crew without David Beckham , and offered last season to play for Vale for free; ironically, Vale couldn’t sign him then (transfer embargo due to their well-publicised financial issues), but since the new owners bought the club last November things are a whole heap better ……….

Speaking of GoldenBalls, did anyone catch the clip of his press conference when he was introduced to the fans of PSG? He managed, “Bonjour”

………For goodness sake, David, don’t ask for a quiche, or all the old jokes will start up again ………..Just stick to what you always do: “Deux of them, silver plate”

will get you deux of anything you reasonably want, like it always did. Just don’t let on to Victoria!

And – in case it helps – it’s “Alors, sur ma tete, mon fils”

Out went ex Stockport central defender Gareth Owen (30) following injury problems, and also ex Stevenage MF Darren Murphy (27); out on loan to Bristol Rovers went Clayton McDonald (24), who has several previous existences – Man City, Macclesfield, and Walsall among them.

Currently Port Vale lie 2nd in League 2, two points behind the Gills; at home their record is W6 D4 L3 F30 A15; away they’ve mustered a mightily impressive 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 defeats

, with 28 scored and 15 conceded; overall, P28 W15 D8 L5 F58 A32 for 53 points. Note, please, that their away record is better than their home record (I’d have been happy if we currently had either set of results

), and note also that the two sides they’ve lost to on their travels were Northampton and us

, each by 2-0. Glad to see that the Cobblers didn’t sell You Fat Bastard in the Transfer Window …………….

They’re catching Gillingham, though (watch out, Mad Dog, they’re behind you), and beat them at the Priestfield Stadium on 12th January; Vale’s last 10 games have resulted in 6 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats, whereas the Gills have W4 D3 L3 …………20 points plays 15, and Gillingham (at the moment) two points ahead in the table ………In the Cups – well, the JPT tie against Burnley was lost at home 3-1; the Tinpot saw them beat Tranmere 2-0, then beat the Saddlers 6-5 on penalties after a 2-all draw, and they were finally despatched by Bradford 2-0; the FA Cup saw them win 3-2 at Forest Green before losing 2-1 to the Blades…………..Our head-to-head – perhaps surprisingly, until you remember how poor they were when they came down to our level - shows us with the edge over the years; since they were relegated 4 ½ years back we’ve played nine League games against them, winning 4, drawing 2 and losing 3, scoring 15 and conceding twelve; last year, you’ll recall, we drew 2-2 at home (giving the Snake his first point since taking over

) but got tonked 4-1 away

; this season, I respectfully remind you, we beat them 2-0 at our place, Podge and James Gray (on 94 mins Fergie Time) scoring the goals

Their leading scorers are striker Thomas John (thank heavens it’s that way round

) Pope (27) - with Crewe, Rotherham and lots of loan teams like Lancaster City, Stafford Rangers, and Barrow behind him - with 27 goals (I bet Mark Hughes sorts him out on Saturday!

); Jennison Machisti Myrie-Williams (24) - a winger who’s plied his trade – historically - at Bristol City, Dundee, St Johnstone and Stevenage - who has 9; and Louis Bartholomew Dodds (26 – ex Notts County (again!), Rochdale and Lincoln) with 7. They do score a few (goal difference is +26), and among those to be put to the sword have been Plymouth and Bristol Rovers, who each slipped to 4-0 defeats at Home Park; Wycombe did at least score, although they still lost (4-1); Rotherham they thrashed 6-2

, Fleetwood lost 5-2 at home, but won 2-0 in the return game

In some ways, following all the re-shuffling of squads, we’re starting again; maybe our concern is who’s going to get our goals, since we’ve got enough defenders now to park a double-decker

; my money’s on Beattie and Boco ……. With assists, naturally …………

The deadline for entries is, as ever, scheduled kick-off time, which is 3pm on Saturday 2nd February. Second plays nineteenth (and we stay nineteenth even if we beat them ….); look at it this way ……..The Season Starts Here!

Good luck to everyone …… Keep the Faith …… and thanks for playing!