I am hoping that Port Vale lose tomorrow, well no surprise there then, what is a surprise is that I want them to have a poor season. Vale have never bothered me much one way or the other, yet this season is different, this season they have emulated the premiership in becoming a foreign team playing in the EFL. I'm going of topic here a bit so you need to be patient with me, us old men can lose the plot occasionally. Back in the summer I was watching some hikers walking in the field at the back of my house, for some reason totally honest people in most walks of life, suddenly when walking in the country, seem to think stealing strawberries is quite acceptable. Now my problem was, should I have said something to them at the time, no, no, not about stealing the strawberries, I am referring to the quality of the strawberries after the equally irresponsible people who just 1/2 a hour before had allowed their 2 dogs to urinate all over the same strawberries the hikers were now scoffing. I still feel slightly guilty that I sat and watched these people with a little grin on my face, my worry is will I feel the same guilt by wishing Vale a poor season. There seems little we can do about the European Premiership League (EPL) but do we want the lower leagues to go the same way, if Vale are successful with all these foreign players, will other teams follow suit, where then do or young English players find a home. Sorry Port Vale, I hope next season see's you as a league 1 team again.
He hasn't got any dogs - He empties his colostomy bag.. nb... it's good to see that grumpygit doesn't hate Pot Vale enough to wish them to be relegated ! .... ( it's on brb's Christmas wish list ) ( sorry about using the C word ! )
Old geezers with expiring visas? No, not you and me Grumps. It was on a list I saw of players without a club. Out of several dozen, aged mostly 29 - 37 years, only three were British.
A game o two halves The first half was quite good to watch. Gills played the ball on the deck. They passed and moved very well - especially Dack - who was back to usual business, and causing Vale a lot of trouble. Gills were good value for the lead. It was a goal off the training ground - a corner played to the near penalty box edge - where Byrne drilled a shot-come-cross to the far post - where Wright couldn't miss. A short while later Gills were denied a second. In a lovely, and swift move forward, Mc Donald received the ball and rounded the keeper. His goalbound shot was well saved off the line by a defender. The only issues in the first half were the yellow cards or Oshilaja and Osadebe................ this caused JE to change things. The 2nd half started with List coming on for Oshilaja ( probably to protect him from a 2nd yellow card ), This caused Wagstaff to go to RB. This meant that Wagstaff's 'presence' was missing from the midfield. I expect that JE may have instructed the team to sit on their lead...... and see what happens ! Well we know what happens - Gills go deep - then deeper still - and cannot last 45 minutes without conceding. Bond peomed miracles in goal - making 3 brilliant saves. He didn't deserve to be beaten by a partly scuffed shot for Vale's winner - which was deserved- if only for the pressure Gills allowed Vale to exert. A 'strange' decision by JE just after the score became 1-1. He took off Dack - who was clearly the best outfield player on the pitch !!!! I expect that JE will say that Dack was 'tired' - and still not 100% fit - didn't want to risk injury etc etc etc ----yeah - that excuse is a bit like having a car and not using it in case it might get wet.
