Five thoughts following Port Vale’s awful loss to Barrow
Rob Fielding shares five thoughts after the dreadful Boxing Day defeat and the biggest is the future of the manager.
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Time up for John Askey?
So let’s start with the big one. Of all the issues affecting Port Vale during this awful run the biggest question has to be – do you back John Askey to ride out the storm and move Vale further up the table or is it time to look for a new manager? I like John Askey, who seems a nice and decent man, but football is a results business and I have to say – I think it’s looking like a change needs to be considered. There are now some worrying signs: bizarre selection choices, lack of effort from the players on the pitch and the lack of ideas on how to change tactics during it. With the January transfer window looming, the club has to either trust John Askey to reinforce his squad or remove him before it begins so a new man has a chance to make changes. I’m personally a big fan of continuity at a football club, but I just can’t see us progressing at the moment. The owners have to make a big decision and soon.
Picking the wrong team?
Now the big issue has been addressed, on to other matters. First up, it’s the team selection. I’m afraid I couldn’t fathom it. Nathan Smith is hauled off in the last game but he remains and partner Leon Legge is dropped. Zak Mills, who looks bereft of form and confidence keeps his place. Where is Mitch Clark? Tom Conlon is out through coronavirus and Harry McKirdy is probably the natural replacement as a “number ten” – but instead Danny Whitehead, short of fitness and match practice, comes in from the cold. Yes, this is all with the benefit of hindsight but there are just too many mistakes being made at Vale Park right now.
Absences are no excuse
Yes, the Valiants are missing the likes of Mark Cullen, Manny Oyeleke, Tom Conlon, Cristian Montano and David Worrall. But this is League newcomers Barrow we are facing. Credit to the opponents for being better than Vale on the day and deserving to win, but surely a Vale side featuring the likes of Tom Pope, Devante Rodney, Scott Burgess etc should have been good enough to give them a bigger challenge. Arguably, the in-form and confident Vale side of earlier in the season would have walked this game. On Boxing Day. Vale deserved to lose but in losing the team showed just how bereft of confidence, belief and direction this side has become. Fingers can be pointed at the players, who should be doing better, but surely the buck stops at the manager’s door after that performance. The question of whether he has the confidence of the dressing room has to be asked.
David Amoo, the only bright spark
Of all the players to feature on Boxing Day only winger David Amoo could really be happy with their performance. It’s a truly worrying time when a half-time substitute is seen as performing head and shoulders above his colleagues. Alex Hurst and Devante Rodney impressed in patches but as for the rest of the team – well, that was just not good enough.
A reminder of the bad days
Weird selection choices, a dreadful ninety minutes bereft of chances, awful results… yes, it’s just like those runs we had under the likes of Neil Aspin and Michael Brown recently. I would imagine that most fans felt those days were behind us but Vale are dropping like a stone, confidence seems non-existence and it looks like there’s more chance of relegation than promotion. 2020 has been an awful year and some events have obviously been far more serious and significant than what goes on a football pitch. However, with many fans locked down, deprived of things they have come to expect, football can lift the spirits and this awful run therefore could not come at a worst time. I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that the end of 2020 cannot come soon enough…
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Derek Walklate
27th December 2020 @ 9:22 am
I’d agree with every comment Rob, exactly as I see it too. I hate how clubs change managers at the drop of a hat but I can’t see any way forward with Askey at the moment.
Howard Dexter
27th December 2020 @ 9:33 am
Hi. Rob. Agree something has to change and quickly! Heard Sinclair been getting involved more could he be an option? Fans will say we need an experienced manager but they don’t come cheap. You have to factor in the pay off to Askey! Also poor Carol is still paying Smurf off!! H.
Coojo
27th December 2020 @ 9:35 am
I still believe JA is the man to move us forward, but his team selections and tactics recently are dreadful. Player quality poor, but is that down to poor budget?
Graham Mason
27th December 2020 @ 9:38 am
We cannot expect much from a team with so many ex Macclesfield players. They went out of the league last season with these players. Whitehead could even only get in their team 10 times last season. Why Askey feels these players can fuel a promotion I don’t know. He is bereft of tactical nous and unable to use subs to any effect. Walsall manager showed the way last week. 4 half time subs turned the game. Askey did one yesterday which was a half fit amoo in a like for like change hoping that would make a difference. If there was anything about him he would resign NOW !!!
Jacko51
27th December 2020 @ 10:08 am
In response to Howard, if Sinclair has been getting involved and the recent results are the consequence, it would suggest he is most definitely not an option!
Ian Clarke
27th December 2020 @ 10:36 am
Sometimes when players don’t feature it can be as a result of things going on off the field which supporters aren’t party too. Not saying that is the case here but it does happen. One of the things which made John Rudge a good manager was he had a habit of signing good players. Too many signings this season have not as yet come off and players who could make a difference are regularly injured. Fear for us Tuesday at Bradford.
Jeff Short
27th December 2020 @ 11:13 am
Because of last season I think Carol and the rest of us felt that John would turn in around but it isn’t going to happen it appears. Injuries ha e played a large part but performances were on the slide anyway. The Clark situation is baffling.. who else thinks Mills is a better option? In this league Burgess is a luxury when the opposition are bigger and stronger. To drop Legge when you are playing against a big bruiser up front.. baffling. Team selection, formations and signings are down to John and they have cost us dearly. Is our budget less than several teams above us? Newport signed a load of players including loanee.. we never replaced Taylor and his goals. We are in a hole Askey or not..
Ken Rigby
27th December 2020 @ 11:22 am
Even though I live in North Wales I have supported the Vale from a very early age. It’s sad to see how in a few weeks the change has come about. Time for someone like the Cowley Brothers to be approached fresh ideas.
Djj
27th December 2020 @ 11:35 am
Macclesfield went out of the league because of the owner, not the players, but JA brought in too many Macc players definitely.
Tony Boulton
27th December 2020 @ 12:02 pm
As always, Rob, your piece is well thought out and insightful. The only thing that can be added is that the lack of information coming from the club is helping neither John Askey, nor the fans. When there is a lack of information and communication, we draw our own conclusions. It’s time for this to change.
Keith Dawson
27th December 2020 @ 12:12 pm
I think without doubt that was Vale’s worst performance of the season, it even surpassed the Stevenage shocker. So why, Barrow came and threw themselves into everything, Quigley seemingly having a point to prove. We started okay, but yet again there was no end product, when we tried to force our way in their big centre backs simply dealt with our feeble attacking force. Then out of the blue Smith gets caught out and we are 1 nil down! Disaster!!! What bit of football we had played disappeared and slowly but surely Barrow were in the driving seat. I thought Whitehead was shockingly poor and it was a relief to see him replaced at half time. Just when you though we might our defensive frailties bit us in the backside and we were 2 nil down. Sadly we never looked like scoring, Amoo made an impact but without support his effort couldn’t and didn’t change matters. The other substitutes made little it no impact with Robinson once again showing absolutely nothing!!! A very poor performance, the players should be ashamed!!! Let’s hope for better at Bradford.
Brian Robinson
27th December 2020 @ 1:48 pm
Yes Askey needs to move on the owners are the rock but everyone needs to take stock and look at the end result of the football club’s interest
Peter Evans
27th December 2020 @ 2:14 pm
As you say, nice man, but we were expecting a play-off challenge, at this rate it’s heading for a relegation scrap. Don’t know where a replacement would be found, who would take us on, Ryan Burge aside that is.
Peter H.
27th December 2020 @ 2:48 pm
John Askey will get port vale back on form great manager and gives 100%
Get behind him and the team and remember depending on results your only 2 games away from top 7.
A football team is not built all at one go it has to be developed and changed . Give it time with COVID 19. Lack of fans motivation is hard for us all. Keep the vale faith in John.
Maurice williams
27th December 2020 @ 3:06 pm
Is someone taking the mick welcome to vale park and a Merry Christmas. John Askey said at the beginning of the season when we have players out injured we have plenty of cover to do there jobs can you please tell me there names and where they are? Can Carol and co get something done about that excuse for a football pitch so Monty and Mani can play at least a dozen games a season? If all the forwards are doing so much defending why not play Leon leg g. at centre forward. If supporters were in the ground watching l think carol would have given them there money back and as for the team selection was it a case of who wants a game this week
Dave Lowe
27th December 2020 @ 4:09 pm
Totally agree Rob, I’m afraid Askey has to go can’t see him turning things around now and who knows what garbage he’ll bring in in the transfer window if he’s still in charge. Also agree with others on the lack of any information coming out of the club. I think supporters and especially season ticket holders who have forked out a lot of money for tickets have a right to know.
M Rawlinson
27th December 2020 @ 4:21 pm
The problem isn’t the manager John Askey has proved what he can the answer is clear out the players that are not committed to Port Vale
Phil Yeomans
27th December 2020 @ 4:34 pm
It’s not in hindsight as the recruitment of players proved in the early stages that were not good enough. With regards to changes following the Walsall game I expected at least three changes to the back four and how Mills kept his place is a mystery. I fear the worst at Bradford and strong management is required the continuation of 4-3-3 is past its sell by date and Brisley must be wondering what he has to do. Five points from 30 is relegation form. I feel Rob’s constructive criticism is right on all counts and if J.A. does remain he will need to make big decisions and changes looking at both players and backroom staff, he is quickly running out of games to put things right.
K:J w
27th December 2020 @ 4:42 pm
Any body up the Job Centre fancy a managers job?
Bert S
27th December 2020 @ 6:00 pm
Thanks to the Vale team for providing better entertainment that was on the telly. Firstly it was a comic show except I wasn’t laughing. Secondly it was like a dark horror show which I would have turned off and thirdly it was like one of those walking programs where the vale defence had a stroll around Vale Park. I would sack the bloody lot of them for a performance like that.
Alan Heath
27th December 2020 @ 8:18 pm
I had high hopes for this season with a play off position expected. Maybe I was too optimistic. I have been watched PV since 1962 so I should know better!
The concern for me is this group of players are not performing as they can. Some players brought in are not good enough. I will not name them here but needless to say most Vale fans know who they are.
At the end of the day football is indeed a results business, and as much as Mr Askey in a very decent man he is not delivering so in my humble opinion, as much as it grieves me to say it a change has to be made now before the January window kicks in.
A new manager can hopefully kick some backsides and organise the team in a more effective manner. It’s a dire situation at the moment and as such drastic measures should be taken.
Kev Sherwin
28th December 2020 @ 8:43 am
I think we all approached the season with optimism, but looking at the players we have brought to the club ( low budget) what do we realistically expect, we have 5/6 good players and that’s it, you can not carry the rest, work rate will get you so far but once that goes, as it seems to have done then you get found out, forget tactics and substitutes, you are bringing on players who either aren’t fit or are worse than the players on the pitch. Askey should know his best team but he doesn’t and unfortunately having watched most games this season we are simply a poor side, will a new manager change that, who knows, if he’s lost the dressing room he will know it’s time to go if not, the players need to have a look at each other and get back to working hard for the club, that should be a given no matter what their ability is
Michael Lunt
28th December 2020 @ 10:04 am
Unfortunately being a nice man isn’t going to change results. John did well with non league Macclesfield, but when he went to Shrewsbury he failed to move them forward. I think it’s time for a change. I have watched most of this seasons games on ifollow, and due to the poor performances my weekends have been ruined. Mick
Lorneranger
28th December 2020 @ 10:11 am
I think I agree in some respects with everyone.
Our Manager went through a patch of successful matches (just like Asp before him)
At the beginning of the season we were getting results and playing good football.
Now as with Asp we are in decline.
This similar trend will continue unless we have a gifted manager with a reasonable track record who can get us promotion.
If we have just someone who happens to be available we will be in the same situation again.
“If you always do what you always did you will get what you always did”
Kirk Thomasson
28th December 2020 @ 12:27 pm
This is a poor run we are in no doubt about it. To me it is recruitment again which is the issue. We seem to have made poor ‘squad’ choices over consecutive seasons stemming back to Bruno and even beyond.
Apart from Theo Robinson, most people thought we had a strong squad on paper. However, the proof over these last few months is different. We like the management have been let down by the players. With nearly half the first team unavailable, most teams in this division would be struggling.
The call is for JA to go but I’m not sure there is a queue of quality managers knocking on Vale’s door. Surely Sinclair, who is a relative new comer to management, is not a serious suggestion. How we have short memories; wasn’t Brown meant to be the next saviour after Bruno!
We need to weather this storm, back JA and try to build some continuity over the next few seasons. BUT recruitment must be questioned.
Peter Crank
29th December 2020 @ 7:49 am
I believe Askey will turn the club around he just needs time there is a lot cone on this year with Covid 19 and no fans to support the team at the stadiums home and away must make a difference. They thought at Shrewsbury FC Askey was not good enough and got rid of him and thought a new manager in and now Shrewsbury FC is second from the bottom in their league. I think Askey is dedicated to Port Vale and given time will sort it out