Will 2019 bring joy or despair to Neil Aspin?
The New Year has well and truly arrived and for many it is a time to look into the future and obtain a clear idea of what the future holds.
However, this isn’t a luxury for Port Vale manager Neil Aspin. The Valiants manager has only recently decided to stay on and fight for his position following criticism which left Aspin seriously pondering his position as Port Vale manager.
The decision wasn’t an easy one and it clearly weighs heavy not only on Neil Aspin, but also his team, as his decision to stay was dependent on how the players perform over the next few weeks. So what will 2019 hold for Port Vale‘s manager? Taking a look into what Port Vale fans already know, here is what spectators can possibly expect to unfold over the course of the next few weeks.
What happened in 2018?
Following the 1-1 draw between promotion hopefuls Lincoln City and Port Vale, Aspin was booed by a section of away supporters. While the Valiants boss agreed that recent performances have not been good enough for the fans as both him and the team would like, he also made the point that the team has made some headway, was showing some signs of improvement and was a long-term project.
At the end of the year, Port Vale had won seven games and lost eleven, placing them 19th in League Two at the half-way stage of the 2018 season. After meeting with Chairman Norman Smurthwaite, Aspin decided to stay on and fight for his career, improving the teams’ strategies and game play methods.
2019 predictions for Port Vale
The events which unfolded over the course of 2018 have convinced some Vale fans that the club is on the (slow) road to recovery. The optimistic viewpoint is that the 2019 predictions come true and that the team does better while the pressure eases on Neil Aspin. However, it’s fair to say this isn’t a view shared by all fans. Many fear the outcome in 2019 will be more of the same and that the club will continue to struggle in the lower reaches of League Two.
It clearly remains to be seen how the upcoming season will unfold but with the Port Vale manager’s determination to stay on and work hard, both the team and fans could see a long awaited turnaround, something everyone has been looking forward to over recent years.
In-play betting has had a major impact on football as a whole and has become increasingly popular amongst fans. If it turns out that 2019 proves to be a promising year for Port Vale fans then even though the pressure is on, so are a number of bets which could make for an interesting season ahead.