Given our astounding away form thus far, three wins from three games, a trip to Moss Rose should be a 'nailed on' certain three points. A mere formality. Macclesfield already have that 'relegation' look about them, just one win and three defeats in their opening six games, and their squad looks desperately weak. A Conference team in the making, and after last seasons embarrassing defeat at their gaff we should be looking to give them a hiding. A seriously humiliating spanking on their own ground. We couldn't, in a million years, play that bad again.
What could possibly stop us? Ok, Gary Roberts - playmaker and by far our best player this season - will be absent through suspension, but he won't be missed. In his place, pulling the strings in central midfield, will be Skipper Tommy Fraser, who will be playing with a big point to prove... Click here for more on that...
All over the pitch we are stronger, defensively we have been superb - Adam Yates, Gareth Owen, John McCombe (COOOOOMBE!!!), and Lee Collins have been impervious, up front Marc Richards and Justin Richards have caused major problems for everyone we have played, Louis Dodds, Sean Rigg, and keeper Stuart Tomlinson have been, erm, ok.
What can I tell you about Macclesfield? Well, half of the seminal group Joy Divison came from Macc - the genius Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris - as did beery, misogynist, homophobes The Macc Lads, who entertained us back in the 80's with such songs as No Sheep Till Buxton, Charlotte Is The Biggest Slag In Macc, and Julie The Schoolie. Peter Crouch apparently comes from Macc, although he hides the accent extremely well.
I remember a few years ago that you could get Oatcakes in the indoor maarket, I have no idea if that is still the case, and in 2004 it was named by The Times as being 'The most uncultured town in Britain', although that seems a little harsh, after all it does have a Maccy D's and a Domino's Pizza which puts it above Congleton in the Culture stakes.
My expected Vale starting eleven: Stuart Tomlinson, Adam Yates, John McCombe, Gareth Owen, Lee Collins, Louis Dodds, Tommy Fraser, Anthony Griffith, Sean Rigg, Marc Richards, Justin Richards.
Prediction? Macc 0-3 Port Vale