Players Sparkle But The Damage Is Done

Yesterdays entertaining 2-1 win at Northampton was, of course, overshadowed by the news that Vale now have a transfer embargo thrust upon them due to an unpaid bill. So, no Chris Birchall then. Admin is a certainty, which at least will bring an end to the current hideous, disgusting regime festering in the Boardroom. Peter Miller, Perry Deakin, Mike Lloyd and Glenn Oliver will be gone. Let's make sure that Bill Bratt - alarmingly still very much involved - does not get the role of 'Knight in shining armour'. It's worrying just how many Vale Fans still think that Bratt has the best intentions for the Club, how thick can people be? Bratt is in it for himself, always has been, and given the opportunity, always will be. He, along with the other v2001 Directors, got us into this mess. We should never ever forget this fact.

The fantastic effort from the players is all in vain. The ten points deduction that comes with administration will be foisted upon us soon enough, we will not be making the play-offs. Will the players receive there next pay cheque, due on Wednesday? Highly unlikely, and they must be aware of this. How will they perform on Tuesday when we play Crewe at Vale Park? They must be gutted.

The Fans were, as ever, wonderful yesterday. Right behind the Lads, and making sure that Pie master Akinfenwa didn't forget just how fat he is. Of course he had to score, he always does against us, but it didn't matter.

We all deserve better. The Fans, the Players, the Manager. Right now it's looking extremely bleak for Port Vale Football Club.

The Sad Departure Of Gary Roberts

So, staggering into work merrily shitfaced from the night before clearly no longer cuts the mustard at Port Vale. Surprising news this, as it seems ok to get yourself on to the Board of Directors without actually paying a penny for your shares, it seems ok to obtain a loan with a dodgy financial company using Vale Park as security, it seems ok to announce that you have negoiated an £8 Million investment for the club when you haven't, and it seems ok to bleed the club dry and hurtle us towards administration at an alarming pace. But turn up for training three sheets from the previous night? That calls for an internal investigation, and subsequent instant dismissal.

It's a crying shame that Roberts hasn't been able to conquer his demons, made all the worse by the fact that he doesn't appear to have made any effort to address his issues with alcohol. He has now been sacked by four clubs - Crewe, Yeovil, Rotherham and now us - and you would think that the penny would have dropped by now that he has no future in the game until he sorts himself out. Does he care? He should do. With the talent he possesses he should be operating at Championship level. It appears that his next move will be Conference football with Mansfield Town. Can he see where he is heading? In a short space of time he has gone from the third Division to the fourth Division and now into non-league football. The complete opposite direction for which a player of his undoubted ability should be heading.

I thought he was fantastic when he first arrived at Vale Park. In the initial period between August and december 2010 he gave us something we haven't seen at Vale for many years, a midfielder with vision and the skill to deliver killer passes. Look at what we've had to witness in recent years; Robin Hulbert, Paul Harsley, Ross Gardner, Craig Rocastle, David Howland, Scott Brown, Neil Mackenzie... Jesus fucking wept! It's a harrowing tale of despair, but Roberts gave us a glimpse of how it could be. He could have become a Vale legend, but sadly is unable to resist drinking himself into a stupor at every given opportunity.

Micky Adams And The Xmas Blues...

Micky Adams has now officially been offered the job at Sheff Utd, and what was a perfectly acceptable Xmas for me is now rendered utterly ruined. Not even a new pair of limited edition Adidas Samba's can lift this gloomy mood.

Anyway, this cheered me up a little...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHEGDCXM5d4

I Got Drunk In Northampton

A few pints in The Sixfields Tavern before the game, a couple in there after the game, and a couple in The Rover before going home. A pitiful Hot Dog at half-time. Northampton played the whole of the second half with just ten men, Marc Richards had a great chance, and we hit the bar (or the post) near the end. Other than that this was a piss poor game.

I'm glad I got bevvied up. I was paralytic when the game kicked off so didn't experience the dull tedium in quite the same way as those around me did. Someone had a pop at me as well on the bridge next to the train station. Some nob from Northampton who didn't like me staring at his girlfriend. What is wrong with people?

Oatcakes, Lobby & Vale: The Holy Trinity

Oatcakes with cheese, Lobby with crusty bread and a 2-0 win over a devious and dismal Accrington Stanley to take us to our rightful place at the top of the league. Does life actually get better than this?

How utterly astounding was Marc Richards' goal? I was sat in The Bycars and was convinced it was going to blaze wildly above my head! Astonishing goal! And the second was quality as well, Jemal Johnson showing us some skill and pace before playing the perfect ball into the path of Louis Dodds for a calm and composed finish.

Justin Richards should have helped himself to a couple before half-time, but went a bit 'Akpo' with his finishing. No matter, two goals against a side that had conceded just one in their previous seven games is proof of our new found cutting edge.

Just a word about Accrington Stanley. The first half hour they were horrible to watch, and it's little wonder that hardly any fans bothered to travel down from Lancashire if this is what they're having to put up with. Up until the point we took the lead Stanley were incredibly negative, time wasting at every given opportunity, conning free-kicks from a desperately poor referee, little ambition in going forward.

And yet, in the second half when they did come out to try and give us a game they were actually a half decent side, kept possession well and played the ball around nicely. They might actually win a few games if they adopt the attitude they had in the second half straight from the first whistle.

Anyway, the Oatcakes came courtsey of 'Hamil Road Oatcakes' - £1.56 for two with cheese, the Lobby courtesy of 'The Lunchbox' on Hamil Road - previously the Strawberry Cafe - £2.20 for a bowl with crusty bread.

Tuesday night and Shrewsbury Town could be a little bit special...

Giving Up The Ciggies

A packet of Lambert & Butler, yesterday.

You do these things with all the best intentions in mind. Not only am I giving up smoking but I am also giving up caffeine, all this because I'll turn 40 in six days time and felt the need to make some kind of gesture towards preserving my health. I'm 22 hours into this self-abusive punishment.

It's amazing. What would I give right now for a cigarette and a cup of coffee. Sitting here with a mug of 'green tea' trying to keep busy, to keep my mind away from thoughts of cigarettes and lovely coffee. Is it all worth it? Is it worth putting myself through this right now when I know very well that I am going to ultimately 'give up' with my efforts. I mean, Jesus, I'm going to be 40 on Friday, am I really going to deny myself a ciggie on me birthday? Or a cup of coffee even? No, of course I'm not.

Great win for Vale yesterday at Macclesfield. Second in the table now, joint leaders really - same points as Shrewsbury, it's just 'goals scored' that divides us. Accrington Stanley are coming next Saturday, and although they seem to be doing alright we have to beat them. Accy Stan are precisely the kind of team we need to be hammering at Vale Park.

Then next up it's Shrewsbury Town at Vale Park - Tuesday 28th September - should be an amazing game! And I won't be there... Can't really make midweek games 'cos of work and travel.

Sterilised Milk & Three Points At Home

Sterilised milk. Don't often see it outside of the Stoke-On-Trent area these days do you? Actually I'm struggling to think of anywhere I've seen Sterilised milk outside of S-O-T, and I've seen pretty much all of our green and pleasant land. It's very much a nostalgia thing for me, reminds me of been at me Nan's house when I was a kid, and the countless holidays at me Nan's Caravan near Rhyl. A big fan of sterilised milk was me Nan.

Anyway, yesterdays game. Vale 1 Aldershot 0. Four wins from the first six games, and we have a home win to celebrate. Big shout out has to go out to Gary Roberts for his awesome display in midfield, and his fantastic winner - although The Football League Show tried to spoil it somewhat by pointing out that it took a deflection on it's way past the keeper, something that wasn't apparent to me sat in The Bycar's. Great news that Roberts has had an extension to his contract, he is a real joy to watch - when did we last have a midfielder at Vale Park who could do what Roberts can, namely; control the ball, look up, pick a pass. Doesn't sound like to much does it? The basic tools of the central midfielder, but in this league players of this calibre are few and far between.

And consider this: Robin Hulbert, Paul Harsley, Craig Rocastle, David Howland, Scott Brown, Neil Mackenzie. This is what we've had to suffer over recent years. I might mention Tommy Fraser, but perhaps that would be a little unkind - I could even annoy people and mention Anthony Griffith, yes - I love his 'action man' style and love to see a bit of old skool 'getting stuck in', but he struggles with the ball at his feet, when have we seen a defence splitting pass during Griff's time at Vale Park? Roberts is a gem.

It's creamier than pasturised milk, and still comes in a bottle with a proper bottle top. I really like it in coffee.