Stoking the fires. Home to Port Vale defending our trophy...Tues, 5th Dec 7-45.

[Mar]

And Toal with the armband! Heck of an ascent.

Interesting given Dempsey has already been captain this season. Toal certainly risen up the ranks!

I prefer captains to be CB's. Got a clearer picture of how the team is lined up rather than a midfielder who has restricted visibility at all times. Not saying Dempsey would be a worse captain, just more that its an easier job to spot mistakes or issues in our game.

Still, good for Toal. He was captain at his previous club so he's got previous.

[Mar]

Interesting play from their midfielders, spinning on the ball and then driving through the centre. Seen it a few times already.

Maybe they've been to the Barry Bannan school of Ballet.


Lovely build up and finish. Dempsey's hard work making it easy as you like for Charles.

[officer_dibble]

Easy easy easy
Dempsey up for it

[sonicthewhite]

Get in!

[Mar]

Feel like Coleman's dalliance on the ball's gonna cost him one of these days. Quite like it for the first 5 to 10 seconds he's doing it, but then he just makes it last too long. Feels like its taunting the opposition.

Not a pen for Charles, not a dive either. Unfortunate collision.

[officer_dibble]

What’s Dion playing at here?

[Mar]

Just took a look at some of the other scores. Nice to see the U21's losing for the most part.

Liverpool U21's down to 10 men with Jason Koumas' kid sent off, and with Jay Spearing on the bench. Always find that strange, seasoned pros being eligible for the U21s.

[DJBlu]

Victor's touch is dreadful.

[officer_dibble]

Victor's touch is dreadful.

Half time sub to give bod : Charles a go?

[Mar]

Victor's touch is dreadful.

He's been found wanting a couple of times. However, i'd also like to flag that there was a good chance he'd helped in the build up with a decent touch into someone else's path. So its not all bad, just not as good as desired. Think he just needs some confidence, or something to fall for him.

[officer_dibble]

Overplaying it to create a chance for Victor…have a go!

[Mar]

Overplaying it to create a chance for Victor…have a go!

I think the issue was it being on his left foot, given he was that far in-field. That's twice now, JDC and another being a little reluctant to shoot after working a decent angle.

[sonicthewhite]

Fresh brew time

[officer_dibble]

Disappointing if it’s only 1-0 at half time… I think there’s a goal in them but two kills it.

[Mar]

Feels like the speed has gone from the game. Maybe it'll ramp up in the second half, but right now we're just not getting out of first gear. Not the usual effort levels and Port Vale just doing a good enough job to frustrate our attack.

[officer_dibble]

3 subs at half time! All 3 midfielders by the looks of it

[Mar]

3 subs at half time! All 3 midfielders by the looks of it

Might be indicative of the standards dropping in midfield towards the latter part of the first half. Definitely a good amount of effort by those three so dont really see the need for the change.

Maybe a chance for all the midfielders to play themselves into contention for the match against Portsmouth.

I'm yet to see CMG be consistently effective. Definitely feels like there is quality there, just waiting for it to come good.

[officer_dibble]

Harsh on Dempsey that I think he was standout. Anyway they are racking up the set pieces here

[Mar]

Harsh on Dempsey that I think he was standout. Anyway they are racking up the set pieces here

Dempsey was good and had the bigger impact (assist), Maghoma generally stood out more I thought. Morley didn't seem to do anything outstanding or anything badly.


Getting a bit concerned how everything seems to be Port Vale. Like we've lost the grip on the game at the minute.

[officer_dibble]

El Hadji Charles at it again