Port vale

Quoted from McAllisters Ghost

One thing I do remember just before Christmas when we were doing OK, a couple of people posted some stats graphs about all the teams in league two. - can't remember who it was - but these stats graphs seemed to point out that despite our position in the table, we were one of the worst few teams.  

From what I remember the stats showed four things like times in opponents penno areas, number of shots, minutes to number of shots, and of course the opposite with opponents time in our half and other things.  We were in distinctly the wrong area on these graphs indicating we should be near the bottom on performances but weren't.

I really didn't give it much thought at the time as we were top half of the table - just thought it indicated that you could show anything you want with stats and it maybe proved they were a load of b*ll*x.  Of course now I look back at that and think that maybe this indicated how bad a team we were and we were in a false position at the time.  Doesn't help us now given where we are with hands tied and stuck with the squad we have but guess maybe some indication was there.  

Just hope something changes and we get some luck - just going in front in a game could make a bit difference and I dearly hope that happens on Friday.

Edit: The graph was something like this below

https://experimental361.com/2018/03/04/scatter-graphics-league-2-4-mar-2018/

After the Morecambe game you didn't need stats or graphs, it was clear to many that there was only one way GTFC were heading.

It's a pity that the tossers that run this club were too flipping stupid to realise that and sack Slade then.

Yep, the Morecambe game should have sent the board into action. It wasn't just the defeat, it was the manner of it. Trouble being that there are no football men on the board, so they just see a disappointing loss. Me and my brother were discussing a lack of desire and players not going with runners. Ellison being completely unmarked and having all the time in the world to pick his spot. The signs were not good at all and haven't improved since. We'd already been handed our ar$es at home by Accrington, and when we lost to Newport, also at home, that was last chance saloon; there was still a bit of the window left. The response was to further back Slade and ship more players out of the club. That's why they will get no more support from me, or my brother.

Quoted from moosey_club

Can you imagine the video message from Fenty Towers if that actually did now happen    ,  pan shot around the drawing room , stops at a high back leather swivel chair turned away from camera, the chair spins revealing a smugly smiling JF, large glass of brandy in one hand the other stroking a cat on his lap, beige roll neck jumper with a diamond encrusted gold fish medallion worn over the top ..... he clears his throat..

Yes Dale ..i just wanted to put this video out to belittle those social media bullies and keyboard warriors who have quite frankly slandered me over the last few months and subjected me and my family to unwarranted abuse despite the fact my key decision making and astute managerial appointment have secured our League status for another season....

I'd put up with that if we stayed up

Quoted from ginnywings

Yep, the Morecambe game should have sent the board into action. It wasn't just the defeat, it was the manner of it. Trouble being that there are no football men on the board, so they just see a disappointing loss. Me and my brother were discussing a lack of desire and players not going with runners. Ellison being completely unmarked and having all the time in the world to pick his spot. The signs were not good at all and haven't improved since. We'd already been handed our ar$es at home by Accrington, and when we lost to Newport, also at home, that was last chance saloon; there was still a bit of the window left. The response was to further back Slade and ship more players out of the club. That's why they will get no more support from me, or my brother.

It's almost as if the board weren't bothered if we got relegated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even when we were on the brink of the play-offs I didn't feel comfortable about the season.

I really didn't see us struggling this much, I must admit - but we just weren't playing well. Even when we won, we weren't convincing, and it was never pretty.

If you're not enjoying watching victories then something's wrong. It was just difficult to explain at the time because you'd always be reminded of our (then) league position.

Having five players sent off in our first five games of the season was a warning sign, though. Total ill-discipline in the camp, and crucially out on the pitch. The first sign of a lack of leadership.

Of course, it's easy to say how we all saw it coming. I know that. But I know what I felt at the time, too. I was always uneasy about Slade - not necessarily over how bad he'd be, but the way Bignot was shoved to one side to make way for him.

Totally underwhelmed by his summer recruitment but, again, you give the bloke a chance. Hurst signed plenty of unknowns that turned out to be good.

But the real worry point was when we stopped scoring - way before this run started. All those 0-0s at home (three on the trot, four in five was it?).

It was a reflection of how boring Slade had got his team to play.

But if you're not scoring, you're in trouble. No team stays up by not scoring. The best you can hope for is grinding out 0-0s, but they're no use now.

You simply have to be able to stick the ball in the net - because if you can, no matter how rubbish you are at the back you'll always feel like you're in the game when you can score at the other end.

No goals = no hope. That's what needs to change.

I personally think that the board's lack of football knowledge showed massively. We all knew results were average but many of us could see that performances were well below par and we were riding our luck in games where we'd scraped wins and draws. The situation we find ourselves in could be spotted a mile off, but unfortunately not by those in power.

The naivety and arrogance of our situation and league position from the board is staggering and the blame lies firmly at their door for not recognising this and acting before or during the January transfer window. If MJ had been appointed early January and allowed time to assess the squad and make necessary changes in playing personnel then I don't think we'd be in the position we are now.

They clearly didn't want to be proved wrong with Slade, and but he wasn't even making drastic changes to improved our situation -  how did the board not see this.

Definition of insanity 'Doing the same thing and expecting different results' explains Slades team selections and tactics very well IMO.

Just my opinion though.

Stevenage's appalling home performance and defeat last week to Colchester is also worth hijacking this thread for.  Re: "Stevenage Players - Hang your head in shame".  A long thread on one of their sites. (Views 1462).

They are no better than we are based on their last performance.

"It ranked as one of the worst performances at home this season. Disjointed, lack of tempo, lack of movement, lack of ideas. No spark whatsoever.

Revell looked like a bad Tim stills, no relationship or understanding with Newton whatsoever

Martin was particularly woeful as was Wilko. King not a lot better.

Even McKee gave the ball away a lot. Right to bring Amos on, Goddard was quiet but I'd have hooked someone else.

Nervous in front of the new gaffer?

Tired after working to hard to impress?

Not interested?

Failure to understand or implement what Dino wanted?

Or just a bad day at the office?

The last game we won vs FGR we were awful against ten men for an hour and probably didn’t deserve to win! Even at that point we were far below the average goals scored in the division (I seem to remember being the fourth worst GF but ninth in the table).

Quoted from arryarryarry

After the Morecambe game you didn't need stats or graphs, it was clear to many that there was only one way GTFC were heading.

It's a pity that the tossers that run this club were too flipping stupid to realise that and sack Slade then.

Completely agree arry, after Morecambe turned us over it was pretty obvious. What I was trying to say was that even before that and before Christmas when we were further up the table there were signs of how poor we were.

But of course for the tossers to do that it would involve admitting to a mistake and we know how likely it is that the board would admit that, it would somehow be the fans fault.

Quoted from Civvy at last

It's almost as if the board weren't bothered if we got relegated !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been thinking about this and you wonder if they were not that bothered if it happened. They would save on wages, cheaper weekly wage in conference and they only get paid for the season. Parachute payment evidently same for first year as where we are now. A better chance of another Wembley visit, either FA Vase or playoff final. The downside would be lower  attendances but if we are winning they would recover back to 4000 plus, smaller  visiting numbers but the police bill would be lower, oh wait we don't pay for any police in the ground this year.