Hemel latic

Stones started all four games while he was here but you're right, Walker as on the bench at Dorking. I expect Sachdev to start on Saturday.

That's my expectation too. I fully expect him to start was just being a little mischievous suggesting otherwise.

This is an interesting signing. Is it a stopgap until Mellon's long term solution becomes available in the summer, or has the management team been patient in pursuit of their preferred round peg? It will be something of an anti-climax if he doesn't debut on Saturday!

Even more of a shame that we tossed the game against Hendon.

This is what happens when you make so many changes for a game, reminds me of the Everton team we knocked out of the FA Cup although those years ago, players of the quality of Thomas Gravesen came in but they didn't look a team. Incoherent team selection pitted against a committed group playing in the biggest game of their lives has all the ingredients for a cup upset. I do think Mellon must have known defeat was a potential consequence of so many changes but clearly prioritised the league game against Boreham Wood on Tuesday, as would many fans. I don't think he'll be crying too many tears about easing our fixture list. Disappointing from my perspective, the arguments about best opportunity of getting to Wembley for a cup final are well rehearsed.

Welcome back Brad.

But there clearly isn't...

I'm still a keen viewer of the EFL highlights and Stockton has always looked a proper handful around the box while at Morecambe.

Burton have just signed a striker on loan from WehateManU, may well signal Stockton out, although not necessarily to BP.

I wouldn't be surprised to see as few as two changes for this game: Conlon for McGahey and Gardner or Hope for Lundstram if he's struggling with a knock. Equally, given this is the first game in a run of five in 15 days neither would it surprise me to see wholesale changes. The ideal would be play a strong side, 3-0 up at HT, use the bench in the second half (ha!).

It was a second injury. First was early in the season which led to Hudson getting his chance. Then later in the season Langley was on the bench for the games against Newport and Eastleigh. I wondered if Steve Collis, or whoever scouts keepers for us, had seen something in Langley as per Hudson, and Norman as well to a certain extent.

Yeah, poor lad. Testament to his character (and the support he received) that he's made it back to this level, let's hope he pushes on.

Oli Kilner on loan to Bury, didn't realise he was still on the books.

It's a good question. There's no mention of a fee on either website but he was under contract at Vale, it's described as a permanent transfer on the Vale website, permanent signing on ours. They seem to have allowed him to leave after signing a midfielder on loan from Brighton for the rest of the season. Given he wasn't catching their team presumably if a fee was involved it was nominal. But a good question to ask someone who might know.

On Twitter Tshimanga is rumoured to be wanted by Crewe, seems unlikely he would drop from L1 to NL.

If you believe what Vale fans and others say this is a really good, forward looking signing. It's a signing for the promotion push and a player that will be comfortable when we regain our place in L2. Very happy, really interested to see how we line up in the Trophy game on Saturday.

Looks like a coup on paper and centre of the park was the position we most needed strengthening. Sounds like he has leadership qualities too. I always like to read between the lines with MM and he makes a point about his personality as well as his playing ability, we do look light in terms of leaders on the park at times, think this guy will help rectify that.

Regan Booty was a funny one for me. Seems like the sort of midfielder we need, looked nailed on to sign for us and then went to Gateshead. I guess working with Mike Williamson was probably the draw. Will be interesting to see what happens next as that Gateshead team is dismantled.

Signed at Crewe for the rest of the season.

Strongly agree with this. He's a much better RB/RWB than when he first played the position which, funnily enough, was a year ago at Dorking. He looks so much better on the ball now and much better positionally. I still think he'll be a better CB but this experience can only aid his development as a footballer.

Ah, thankyou, getting ahead of myself! I thought we were already into the two matches a week grind.

If we play 532 the way we did yesterday we cede possession and territory to the opposition in a way that makes it very difficult to win the ball back - the back 5 was flat when we were defending so the front five had an impossible job trying to co-ordinate any kind of press because they were always out-numbered. Dorking worked out after about half an hour wehere the space was and dominated the game from that point on. At home against Hartlepool the formation was much more dynamic and changed at least twice during the course of the match. The switch from Hope to McGahey for this game was an indication of a more defensive mindset. I would agree with other posters that as turgid an experience as it was watching the game, and I couldn't really summon an awful lot of backs-against-the-wall excitement and suspense for hanging on against Dorking, it's a real pleasure to have burgled three points we didn't really deserve. Also testament to the manager and players for the resilience they demonstrated. Hope and expect to see something a bit different against Boreham Wood on Tuesday. They are a big, nasty, athletic team although relatively slow at the back. At the very least I would expect Hope to come back in for McGahey. Perhaps the introduction of Willoughby and/or Walker on the hour after Big Mikey has roughed up their centre halves for half an hour. Defenders will need their wits about them against Ndlovu and co. Onwards and upwards, we're in the play off places.

You're right @Gaz_Oafc, he did get a mention. I also saw him mentioned by Tom Williams, an analyst on twitter, as a potential signing for a L1 club (I think) so they may have done well there.

I think Reid back training is good news. Good from a playing perspective, he has pace which we don't have in abundance. Good from a management perspective too, slap his wrists get him back on the job.

This is where I'm at. Like what they've done so far and the one signing made was exceptional. Share your confidence that they know where we need strengthening. I'd much rather they were patient, do their due diligence on signings and sign the right players rather than saddle us with more squad padding. I guess out of contract players, like Danny Lloyd (if he is a target), are ripe for 6 month short contracts at this stage of the season and also a good time for loan signings too. I didn't realise Brabin was Peter Taylor to MM's Clough, thanks.