Reader's Letter: The numbers just do not add up

The statistics say it all.

One goal scored in five matches. Two games lost after opposing teams were reduced to 10 men. An average of four forwards parked on the subs' bench and the smallest centre forward in the division asked to plough a lone furrow up front.

Five games where long, high balls were sent to the same player and, as usual, possession was lost. Boring, highly predictable football with no end product and too few shots on goal. Relegated Chesterfield playing us off the park. Plan A and no Plan B. The list is endless.

The football message to our players and fans is clearly all wrong. We are not playing to win. We are playing and set up not to lose. With this approach confidence is quickly eroded away and then we have panic attacks in the last 15 minutes of each match.

Our game is currently easily contained by the opposition who have now sussed us out.

And do not put this on the shoulders of the injured Gary Madine. Gary, bless him, is a six-goals-a-season centre forward who punches just a little above his weight in the final third.

Certainly we do miss him but you cannot just expect him to return on the Port Vale bus and everything will be okay again. It is just too much to ask or expect of him.

What we do need now is a more positive approach and a solid Plan B to get us over the line. Failing that our promotion push is all but a kamikaze pilot's dream of a future after the war.

Tony Ambrose

Blackrod

Source

A very accurate summary.

karlypants wrote:The statistics say it all.

One goal scored in five matches. Two games lost after opposing teams were reduced to 10 men. An average of four forwards parked on the subs' bench and the smallest centre forward in the division asked to plough a lone furrow up front.

Five games where long, high balls were sent to the same player and, as usual, possession was lost. Boring, highly predictable football with no end product and too few shots on goal. Relegated Chesterfield playing us off the park. Plan A and no Plan B. The list is endless.

The football message to our players and fans is clearly all wrong. We are not playing to win. We are playing and set up not to lose. With this approach confidence is quickly eroded away and then we have panic attacks in the last 15 minutes of each match.

Our game is currently easily contained by the opposition who have now sussed us out.

And do not put this on the shoulders of the injured Gary Madine. Gary, bless him, is a six-goals-a-season centre forward who punches just a little above his weight in the final third.

Certainly we do miss him but you cannot just expect him to return on the Port Vale bus and everything will be okay again. It is just too much to ask or expect of him.

What we do need now is a more positive approach and a solid Plan B to get us over the line. Failing that our promotion push is all but a kamikaze pilot's dream of a future after the war.

Tony Ambrose

Blackrod

Source

Lumping balls up to Madine and hoping for a knock down is certainly not the answer. He would rightly be at half speed
if asked to play anyhow.

Totally agree with all that has been said.

It's looking bleak!!!!!!

Absolutely spot on summary. Just says what everyone else but Parky can see. But if you're expecting anything different tomorrow you are going to be disappointed.

I think the last result has probably shocked Parky into realising that its all about to slip through his fingers, so hopefully we'll have a plan A and B in place today. (Don't hold your breath)

Not expecting anything different today, in all probability Parky will look at today as must not lose rather than must win. There will be no cavalry charge unless we go behind.

IT'S DOOMSDAY!

Don't worry,Gillingham will beat Fleetwood.

I had a dream last night that it was 2-0.

Not saying who to.

boltonbonce wrote:Don't worry,Gillingham will beat Fleetwood.

My mate has a mate who is a Gills fan and he has promised me that the Gills will win. So that must be true.