Next step needed for the Vale
Could the appointment of Bruno Ribeiro see Vale improve on last season’s twelfth position?
After the drama surrounding the news that Rob Page had joined Northampton Town, there is now renewed hope that Vale will put on an improved performance during 2016-17.
Finishing twelfth last season was an improvement on the previous campaign of 18th, and nine more points were gained compared to the year before.
With the right man in charge, there is no reason why Port Vale shouldn’t be able to try and improve again next term as well…
The change of manager – Page saw the lure of the Cobblers, who are newly promoted to League One, as too much to ignore – could give the chance for the club to try and go up another level and really push for a play-off position.
The new man at the helm is Portuguese coach Bruno Ribeiro. He is a close friend of Jose “the Special One” Mourinho and is eager to test himself in England as a manager after watching the methods of his ultra-successful countryman up-close for a number of years.
Having been confirmed as the new boss at Manchester United, the club have already been ranked as fourth favourites for the Premier League title in his first season. With Bell Internet Limited reporting that United are around the 6/1 mark to win their first league title since 2013 next year, football fans who think that Mourinho – who is expected to spend massively in the transfer window – can return the club to the top, can show this by taking advantage of the bets, with a number of free ones on offer.
With the right man in charge, there is no reason why Port Vale shouldn’t be able to try and improve again next term as well. Vale were just nine points off gaining a play-off spot for the chance of promotion to the Championship – an honour that was eventually claimed by Barnsley who beat Millwall at Wembley.
Ribeiro himself has spoken of his admiration for the English game, and stated that it is a country that he is looking forward to working in. He certainly has admirers in high places after the Portuguese coach was recommended for the role.
Mourinho reportedly contacted the Vale chairman, Norman Smurthwaite, to state the case for one of his former protégés to take the managerial reins – and that person turned out to be Ribeiro. So, if the club can the best out of Bruno, his coaching team and his new players there is a hope that the club will build on last season’s steady season, and push for further success on the field.