Crewe Alex 0-1 Port Vale 24/25 Review - Predictable

The saddest thing is, I wasn't even nervous for this game coming into it or during it. I knew the outcome of this game a week ago. It's been this way against the Vale for a decade now. Time and time and time again, they just don't show up. Well, not enough to actually score a goal or win a game against them. This was just a continuation of not only their issues against the Vale, but the issues they've been having all season. Here is my review of the most predictable performance and result of the season:

Creativity and Firepower

The Alex are woefully short on attacking quality. Both for attackers who can put the ball in the net and for players who can create chances. There were 20 goals worth of talent out there today. 20. Ok, they had Lankester and Bogle with 12 goals sat on the bench as they weren't fit enough to start. But they need a big clear out in the summer and a reset in the attacking area. Cut Hemmings, Long and Tracey and bring in some fresh faces, as it's stale in there.

And whilst we're at it, they need more creativity. The wide areas have been an issue all season. Conway looks knackered and is clearly running on fumes. The right hand side has become an issue as Cooney is a liability once again and Billington, for all his qualities, isn't a RWB. The midfielders(counting Tabiner, Holicek, Powell, Sanders, Thomas and Agius) have 12 assists between them and 5 were from Holicek.

System

Bell will argue he was more attack minded today because he started 2 strikers. But whilst he did and it had a limited impact, the midfield shape was yet again all wrong. Tabiner and Holicek have looked lost when asked to play at CM all season and only since being moved out wide have they shown more flashes. But the manager decides to put them both in there, where unsurprisingly the likes of Garrity, Croasdale and Walters ate them alive, with Tabiner being knocked out of the game early on.

It's even more bizarre to see these selection choices when Bell signed Max Sanders and re-signed Jack Powell. If he doesn't trust either player in a game like this, then what are they even doing here? And what is the plan for them next season? It doesn't feel like he has much faith in them. Until he stops setting up weak midfields which will clearly get overrun, he won't control games or win them consistently.

Reactive

60 minutes gone and it was 0-0. They had 2 attackers available in Lankester and Bogle and a (somewhat) creative midfield in Powell sat on the bench ready to go. Does he go to any of them? Nope. Ok, Lankester comes on with 20 minutes to go, but where was Bogle? Where was Powell to replace a booked and clearly flagging Holicek?

Only at going 1-0 down on 88 minutes did he throw on Cooney and Bogle. But by then, it was too little too late. They have been level after 60 minutes in 17 games this season. They have won 4 of them. Now, some of that is on the players, but a fair chunk of that is the management sitting on their hands being more content to protect a point than go for a win. They simply don't proactively change games for the better.

If's and but's

Some fans might be excusing this result by saying "Had they taken their first half chances" or "had they got the rub of the green decision wise" etc. But this isn't about one game. It's about a season full of them. Seriously, we've seen this exact same performance at least a dozen times this season. The only difference before was that they were coming out on the right end these games. Now they're not. 3 wins from 15 games. It's not good enough and I'm not even sure the management know where the problems lie.

Ordinary

What makes this loss all the more infuriating is the Vale were so ordinary. They were there for the taking. Don't get me wrong, they were solid at the back and you can see why they don't lose many, plus they had the quality to snatch the win at the end. But you can also see why their fans are frustrated with them performance wise.

They'll be in the mix for the top 3, but with all the money they've spent, you can see why some feel they should be doing better. Still, they deserved their win as they managed the game better and had the quality to score whilst the Alex didn't. Until we meet again, hopefully next season.

Ref Assessment

Let's be real, he was poor, but poor for both sides. He missed Williams lash out in the 2nd half, but didn't give several clear fouls on the Alex either. He didn't make any decisions which directly affected the outcome of the game.

Management Assessment

I've said my piece on them. Let's sum it up this way. Whilst I'm not advocating for them being fired, after 2 1/2 years on the job, we can say they are a very limited coaching team who are poor tactically and poor from a coaching perspective. Were the board to make a change in the summer, I wouldn't be against it.

Player Assessments

Filip Marschall

Not a lot he could do for the goal, he was solid, even if he had little to do overall.

Connor O'Riordan

Solid enough. And I'm not blaming him for their current form. But between him and Knight-Lebel, they look overstocked at CB and short upfront and in wide areas. Which is what I feared back in January.

Mickey Demetriou

Went through a worrying spell in the first half where he kept making horrendous mistakes, but did settle down in the 2nd. Although Stockley frequently had the beating of him in the air. Not great.

Zac Williams

I will happily drive him to a new club in the summer should there be interest there. He's holding the team back by his presence, which I know isn't his fault, but still. And then there is the constant ill-discipline, from the vice-captain no less. Only just back from a 2 game ban, he was lucky to escape another with his lash out in the 2nd half. Is he ever going to grow up? Should be on the bench from here on out, but he won't be.

Lewis Billington

Did his best to get down the right, but that Chesterfield game where he looked superb out there feels a long time ago now. He's not a RWB, which we knew in January. But did they do anything to address this weakness? Nope.

Tommy Lowery

Awful today. His set pieces and balls into the box were a joke. Flat to the first man or massively over hit. He did come close with an effort off the bar, but aside from that he was poor.

Matus Holicek

Looked ok out wide in previous games, so I'm not sure why he was shifted back into midfield, where he looked lost once again. Totally anonymous in the 2nd half, I'm not sure how he stayed on.

Joel Tabiner

See Holicek for my assessment of Tabiner. Took an early bump and was instantly withdrawn, which isn't a good sign.

Max Conway

We're officially code red on Conway. He looks exhausted every game now. I can see why, he's the only outfield player to have played in every league game this season. But with 7 games to go and the system being so heavily reliant on width from the wing back spots, if he's goosed after 50-60 minutes every week, that's a big concern.

Chris Long

Missed another 1-on-1, although he did battle well in the first half. Like the rest of the team, he faded in the 2nd half until he was withdrawn.

Kane Hemmings

Battled well, but could he have done better with that early 1-on-1 where he couldn't pull the trigger in time? He battles well, but I'm not sure I'd be bringing him back next season.

Subs:

Max Sanders

Was alright in midfield when he came on. Although why the manager doesn't fancy him in some of these recent promotion 6 pointers needs to be discussed. Doesn't bode well for next season does it?

Jack Lankester

I'm pleased to see him back, but a standing ovation for him coming on the pitch was not something I've seen before. He was poor when he came on though. One wild swipe over the bar and him dribbling into trouble was all he could manage.

Omar Bogle

Too little too late when he came on. Should have been on at the same time Lankester was introduced.

Ryan Cooney

I get why they subbed him on, although like Bogle he had little chance to do anything.

Overall Verdict

Yes, the manager talks about still believing. And on paper, he's right. Beat Grimsby on Tuesday and they'll be a point behind them with a much better goal difference. But the reality feels like their season is done. Tuesday will tell us whether thats the case or not.