Ossydave

I've not been the pub but agree with all of this. There's lots of excuse making at present, not so much on here, but within our fanbase in general about us over achieving to be in this position. Now look at the QPR team that played on Wednesday. How many of those players would people take? Chair is the obvious one but after that I'm struggling. You'd probably take Gray or Austin given our circumstances but neither is flying this season. So bollocks to the excuses, we have enough quality to be up there challenging and we damn well work our backsides off to sort this goal drought right out. We still have an excellent home record apart from the obvious Fulham horror show, Forest we didn't deserve to lost 2-0. As a stat nerd, our h2h vs QPR at home is excellent. Played 15, won 11, drawn 3 and lost just 1. Gonna stick my neck on the line and say they won't add to that 1 today. 2 nil home win. Khadra to make amends and if either Hedges or Dolan start I'll tip either of them 2 to score the other. Mowbray death spirals come and go, they always come to an end though and let's just hope today's the day because ultimately it may just become too late to salvage the season if not....

I'd be in favour of that, we need something to give us a bit of a buzz, it's rapidly been going flat lately. U23's don't play till Monday either so it would be plausible. After that they don't play again till 14th March, if we wanted him to play in that too it would wipe out another 4 first team games, we need him back sooner...

I'd love to know what Mowbray actually says to Gallagher pre match. I'm also willing to bet he thought he played well on Wednesday because he ran about a lot, closed a lot of players down and drew a few fouls. It's almost as though scoring isn't even on his list of priorities. When he calls players out who need to be contributing goals he never really focuses on the player who should be #1 in the list. I can't even blame Gallagher 100% either because I think he's just following orders. A better manager could get better results out of him, I mean even Coyle managed a half decent return! That said, he could also grow some balls and question the managers decisions.

If Hedges doesn't at least play a part in this game someone seriously needs to explain why he was signed. Dolan also must start for me.

He needed subbing off sooner, awful last night. BUT that's massively down to Mowbray and the team trying to use him as an offensive outlet. There's no question he can defend.

The back 3, which has been great this season is being wasted though by the players in front of them, that same defence is also torn apart at the end of the season. Its a solid foundation to build upon, but if we don't do that this season we're literally back to square 1. I really do shudder to think how we'll line up next season, in the championship.

I don't think there's much more to add that hasn't been said, you just KNEW after that penalty miss we'd go on to lose. Perhaps the most annoying part is we're losing against such bang average teams, along with the fact that the back 3 i the best we've had in ages and we're not capitalising on that, futhermore next season it will also be ripped apart as well so we're back to square 1. Nyambe was dreadful last night, although why we're looking to him to be our creative outlet is beyond me, I think he's even wondering why himself. When we go on these nightmare runs we usually manage to pluck a few results from somewhere but I'm struggling to see it at the moment. The full season basically hinges upon the impact of Dack now but it sounds like he's still some way off. I've never known a team with so few players who can actually shoot, to have a 'false 9' that fits that bracket is absolutely mind boggling, can someone please explain why we pursued Hedges for ages, brought him in early, yet still don't play him? The tombola needs a full on 2 handed spin at weekend, its shit or bust time. On another note, the pockets of our fans signing "your support is f*cking sh*t" just need to stop, the cringe is real.

He's scored a couple of goals which is more than we can say for the first team recently...... I think you can tell from Mowbrays comments its not gonna be in the next few games though anyway.

Pickering being back is a huge plus, perhaps a case of you don't realise what you've got till it's gone with him. The facts speak for themselves that we've struggled without him. Coupled with Dack returning soon it could well be the shot in the arm we need.

Just been to get my tickets, I must be due some good luck hoping it starts on Wednesday 🤞

Not usually a tombola fan but I think we're actually on the brink of needing a spin in the current circumstances. Gally in the middle (or hedges) and Dolan and Khadra either side for me. If not Dolan than Hedges. We need to at least start troubling goalkeepers ffs, Hedges looks to at least have a half decent shot from the snippets I've seen. Football does indeed work in mysterious ways and although its a blow losing Brereton it actually forces Mowbray to try something new, something he's been reluctant to do. Can't make it today sadly as I'm away for the weekend and I'm gonna make a conscious effort to avoid following the game till the full time scores are in, confident of a 2 nil home win though.

5th Literally every team will have a rocky spell, we're in ours but hopefully it'll end soon. Luckily our fantastic run gave a bit of a buffer to allow the rocky spell without it being a complete disaster, yet anyway. Will help to have a strong finish especially if we do end up with a play off spot.

I think if we do get a goal, whether it goes in off someone's arse or if its a 30 yard screamer, more will follow. Things like that get inside players heads and the longer it drags on the more confidence drops. Agree with other comments, I think we've hit must win status with this one given the games coming up. I think we'll do it 2-0.

Surprised how many people are happy with a point, West Brom are bobbins and were there for the taking. No pressure or anything but we simply need Dack back now IMO and we need him scoring. Just not creating anything for Diaz or even Gallagher last night and the pivotal man in the middle, although he's had a decent season, is off the boil and can't really shoot. I'd have him on the bench on Sat, his presence alone will be a shot in the arm, if he's not required then great we've managed to score but give him the last 15 if not. I'd be starting with Diaz up top, in the middle, with Khadra and Dolan either side. I fully expect this to not happen though and the same front 3 will start as last night...

Do they not usually cram some midweek games into the 'bundles'? Genuinely can't remember the last few if I'm honest. I think that's a great offer personally although Millwall is probably the last game people look for when the fixtures come out 😕

Happy with that team. Will be good to see Zeefuik in his actual position and what sort of attacking threat he offers. Shame there's Nyambe fan boys who'll be looking for him to make a mistake so they can rant 🥱

Millwall and qpr for 25 quid in the Darwen End interestingly...

Not sure they fully deserve to be labelled in form forest. They've won 3 and lost 3 of their last 6 league games. Granted they played well in the cup game but so did the likes or Boreham Wood, totally different. We need to make the fans believe again and there's no better place than Ewood under the lights for that..

It's quite simple for me, if we're as wasteful as we were last weekend we'll most probably lose. I'd we pull out fingers out, combined with home advantage, we'll win. Saturday was poor, but no way we deserved to lose, we won't go many more games this season missing so many sitters. We need to come out the blocks fast tomorrow and hopefully bang an earlyish goal in, otherwise I think nerves will grow as the game goes on. 2-1 home win

Both in non contact training so 2-3 weeks

Well that was shite, again. We really haven't played well for a long time now, the Boro win papered over the cracks I'm afraid. People in the pub cheered their red card, I signed, it was literally the worst thing that could happen. How the hell does a team that prides itself on counter attacks play against a team with no intent to attack? We have no plan B, period. On a plus note Giles looks fantastic, if only we'd signed someone like Maja who scores on his debut to finish them balls in 😣 Enough doom and gloom though, I actually think we'll do OK against the better teams coming up as they will actually attack.

Bookies look at allsorts of factors, including our record recently at Swansea and will also factor in uncertainty over our starting 11. We were huge odds last weekend too for these reasons, we also haven't scored a goal in our last 2 away outings. They've probably also heard Mercerman is filling his boots 🙄

Things you most definitely love to see...

So back to back hattys for Vale now, surely jes knocking on the door of the first team bench at least?

It's 'half term' round here that week too which I hadn't realised, should further boost the numbers 👍