Who should play in Port Vale’s defence against Barrow?
So after that display against Walsall and manager John Askey’s public criticism, who should play in Port Vale’s defence against Barrow? Rob Fielding takes a look…
The Port Vale defence has had a torrid time in recent weeks. They haven’t kept a cleansheet for twelve games and have shipped seven goals in their last two away games. The form is so dire that manager John Askey publicly criticised centre-halves Leon Legge and Nathan Smith and suggested changes would take place. But what should those changes be?
The goalkeeper
The goalkeeperIncumbent: Scott Brown
The case for: a former player of the season and one of the more consistent players at the start of the season, there is an argument that the problems at the back are not Brown’s fault. Dropping one of the most reliable figures at the club may be a knee-jerk reaction too far.
The case against: no-one is immune from criticism and Brown has been beaten at the near post several times in recent weeks and dropping the regular keeper may send the message that no-one is undroppable.
My choice: Dino Visser
He was signed to provide competition and surely there is no time like the present to give him a League start.
The right-back
Incumbent: Zak Mills
The case for: Mills hasn’t had the best of games recently so rather than defending him, it’s more of case of – are replacements ready? The obvious choice is Mitch Clark but there have been rumblings about things off the pitch affecting him and he wasn’t even in the squad on Saturday. Is he ready to take over? If Clark isn’t then the other option would be to switch Nathan Smith to right-back but with his recent form is he in the right frame of mind to play on the right?
The case against: It’s sad to say that Mills has been the prime candidate of the boo boys in recent weeks and his form has certainly been off. His positional play looks off at the moment and several of his mistakes have resulted in goals for the opponents.
My choice: Mitch Clark
If Clark is fit and/or in the right frame of mind to play then surely he has to play against Barrow.
The centre-halves
Incumbents: Leon Legge and Nathan Smith
The case for: the duo have been first choice at the club for some time and for a reason. They may be going through a sticky patch but this is the same partnership that was stacking up clean sheet after clean sheet earlier in the year. Arguably they remain the best central defenders at the club despite their recent dips in form.
The case against: there’s an argument that complacency can set in at football clubs. Even if it’s only a temporary change, all players should be reminded that they are not undroppable and surely with the club’s recent run and John Askey’s remarks about poor central defending, this has to be the time to make a chance and prove a point.
My choices: Shaun Brisley and Adam Crookes
The duo may arguably not be the best central defenders at the club but they deserve a chance. They are used to each other having played in Football League Trophy games and will surely have more confidence and form than Legge and Smith.
The left-back
Incumbent: David Fitzpatrick
The case for: arguably the best of a bad bunch in recent games, Fitzpatrick has also done a decent job backing up youngster Alex Hurst on the left flank. With obvious replacement Cristian Montano a fitness doubt, doesn’t it make sense to keep Fitzpatrick in place?
The case against: the defensive display has been so bad there’s a case for dropping all of them. Some fans have also said that the central defensive problems are caused by Legge and Smith having to bail out the full-backs.
My choice: David Fitzpatrick
With Cristian Montano a fitness doubt and Adam Crookes probably needed in the centre, it’s a stay of execution for Fitzpatrick.
My defensive selection for Barrow
Visser (GK)
Clark (RB) – Brisley (CB) – Crookes (CB) – Fitzpatrick (LB)
Yes, it’s radical and it’s pretty much the Vale line-up for Football League Trophy games but I think a major shake-up is needed. The likes of Scott Brown, Leon Legge and Nathan Smith are clearly quality players and being dropped may only be a temporary matter but it will serve as a wake-up call for the entire defence and let the squad know that no-one is undroppable.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts by clicking on the orange button to post a comment.
Bob Norbury
22nd December 2020 @ 12:09 pm
You could be right but I would not be as drastic. Although Vale have been very weak in defence in recent times – allowing the opposition to seemingly pass the defenders as though they are not there and score some simple goals. I would play Smith at right back and bring in Brisley to accompany Legge in the middle. I would keep Fitzpatrick at left back but always at some stage of the match have Montano on the pitch. I think the other obvious problem is that Vale don’t seem to be trained up to play the full 90 minutes, and they are also vulnerable straight after scoring. I think the training has got to be looked at because the same problems seem to be happening time after time. It is wrong for me to have to say to my wife when Vale go 2-0 up “its not certain that we can preserve that lead they could get beat 3-2”. They shouldn-t try to always defend a lead but continue to play to score more goals and keep the opposition busy.
Glenn Fowler
22nd December 2020 @ 4:27 pm
Would it ever to be possible that for instance when 2-0 up at Walsall that someone like Brisley should have been deployed at centre-half and Legge as sweeper for start of second half which it seems other teams do to the Vale like bullying tactics
Tommy Tunstall
22nd December 2020 @ 5:11 pm
Would not disagree with the amended defence, it is not a bridge too far, the current defence needs a good shaking up. Just feel although we have not turned the year yet, Boxing day is a must win. Any other result points to a bleak season.
Geoff Ainsworth
22nd December 2020 @ 11:26 pm
Yes, Smith at right-back isn’t a bad move, he has played their successfully before. So Brisley would come in as the other centre-half with Legge and leave Fitzpatrick at left-back. Oyleeke should come in in place of Joyce as we cannot afford to have non tackling midfielders in a central midfield position. I refer to Joyce as a non-tackling midfielder as every time I have seen him try to tackle this season he has always given away a foul or earned a yellow card or even a red and got himself sent off.
PHILIP MYATT
23rd December 2020 @ 10:19 am
No doubt about it Smith needs removing from the team and the club in my opinion.
He is a fighter a warrior but let’s face it he is on many occasions this season out of position, uncommitted and just looks like a player going through the motions and you can see why no one else come in for him, sorry if that’s not what you want to be reading but it’s TRUE.
So here is Crookes big chance hope he takes it, I feel he could well do.
Legge is in most games terrific for Port Vale but he cannot be doing Smith’s job as well. OK, he’s maybe at fault for Sat goals but I ain’t watched it so I cannot comment on that but the games I watched is committed up for it and generally a 6/7 out of 10.
Mills, well most of our good results have come when he is in the side. OK at fault for goal at home to Forest Green, like I say didn’t see sat but going forwards he is very decent but I suppose his defensive works not so good. But we are at home and as long as our central defenders block and do not give free headers and lose there man then he is assist going forwards.
Brown’s out of form drop
Billm
23rd December 2020 @ 11:39 am
Putting Smith at right back asking for trouble he couldn’t tackle his grammar. Tried Smith there last season he made their winger look an international.
Geoff Ainsworth
23rd December 2020 @ 6:50 pm
Sorry but cannot agree with selecting Crookes in any position in our defence. His performances in the first two months of last season and same again for the first three months of this season proved that he is not good enough. Also why is everyone only criticising our back four when talking about our poor defending. surely all our midfielders should all be defending also? When watching the 2 or 3 matches on t/v at weekends any team that that is defending are always got 8 players back defending.
PVFC
27th December 2020 @ 12:30 pm
Said it before Smith is no good and needs replacing not just for a few games but for good. Needs to be moved on. Defence has been awful for the last 5 years and he is the only one who has been a regular during that time. Don’t need to be s manager to work out where the problem lies.