Five thoughts after Port Vale’s loss to Scunthorpe Utd
A seemingly never ending cycle of poor defending… Rob Fielding shares his thoughts after yet another poor Port Vale result as they lose 2-0 to Scunthorpe United.
Agree or disagree? Post a comment at the end of the article.
Vale’s leaky back four at fault again
It’s a seemingly never ending cycle of poor defending at the back for Port Vale. No-one in the Vale back four covered themselves in glory in the first-half. Nathan Smith was outmuscled for the first goal while Shaun Brisley was beaten to the second goal’s loose ball by Loft. Both full-backs were beaten several times by Scunthorpe’s lively wide players. It was good to see James Gibbons come back into the eleven for the second-half but arguably the rest of the back four needed replacing too.
The defence was put under less pressure in the second-half as Ryan Loft tired but that shouldn’t distract from yet another game where Vale conceded poor goals. A new centre-half looks an absolute essential January window addition. A second centre-half and the odd full-back wouldn’t go amiss either.
Visser’s unlucky timing
It’s certainly not fair to focus too much blame on Scott Brown, who has been a great player, or to single him out. However, that was the second game in a row where it looked like he may have done a little better with the opposition goals. Is the uncertainty in front of him affecting the keeper or is Brown starting to show his age? It’s certainly a bad time for Dino Visser to be injured as arguably this could be THE time to turn to the South African. After all, no player is undroppable and it may actually help Brown to have a short spell out of the firing line. However, it’s unlikely to happen now given the injury to Visser.
It’s doubtful that Vale will risk the untried Tom Scott apart from in an emergency so everyone must be crossing their fingers that Brown’s confidence returns to its normal levels. Let’s hope so because on his day he’s one of the best in League Two.
Who partners Kurtis Guthrie?
While it was a pleasant surprise to see Vale play two upfront, the question remains as to who partners the big man. Sadly, Mark Cullen hasn’t replicated last season’s form in 2020-21 but out of the available players he was the obvious choice to partner Guthrie from the start. However, with Cullen not making an impression, Vale then resorted to playing winger David Amoo and briefly midfielder Manny Oyeleke in the middle.
It’s perhaps symbolic of Vale’s unbalanced squad that they have just two available recognised central strikers right now. Devante Rodney was unfortunate to be injured when in a decent run of form but it’s worth remembering he is still a work in progress and his form can fluctuate too. It’s therefore looks like the Valiants will need to add a new centre forward to their shopping list too.
Valiants can’t afford to lose Conlon
Once again captain Tom Conlon was a class apart with his form even attracting the attention of the opposition’s commentary team. Conlon should walk the player of the year awards this season but the fear will be – will the player still be at the club when the awards take place? His form must be attracting the attention of other clubs and Vale must be desperate to keep him at Vale Park.
A crucial few days
With the January transfer window set to shut, the Valiants now face some far reaching decisions. The club has to perform a delicate juggling act as they attempt to bring in quality additions while at the same time deregistering unwanted players to make space and ideally getting those no longer in the squad off the books.
It’s a huge ask of any manager, let alone interim manager Danny Pugh. While I understand the financial worries this season has brought, I wonder if the club are now regretting not being more decisive in making a long-term managerial appointment when John Askey left? After all, Vale’s finances will be even more dire if another awful January transfer window sees the club end up in the National League.
Agree or disagree? Post a comment at the end of the article.
Valiant Steve
27th January 2021 @ 9:46 am
We can’t afford to go out and get four or five new players. We need to invest in one decent manager to get the best out of the players that we already have… quickly!
James
27th January 2021 @ 10:38 am
With the exception of Gibbons we need a new back four with tenacity and the will to win and compete for every ball.
We need an experienced striker with the same quality sadly the existing so called strikers are only good enough for the National League. Carol needs to bite the bullet before the January window goes or we will be in the National League next season.
The time to act is NOW. .
Edward Blaney
27th January 2021 @ 11:14 am
Terrible defending. 2 goals that could have been stopped. We were much better in the second half but could not find that quality finish. Missing the speed and strength of Rodney. Watching the game on iFollow that’s every game. Tom Conlon is a class act, excellent ball control plays and reads the game as a pro.
Maurice Williams
27th January 2021 @ 11:56 am
Carol give us an up date what’s going on at the club that big doom and gloom cloud is hovering again .All as you get from the manager and staff is we played well must do better but no points again. clubs must be itching to play us at the moment as we can guarantee them 3 points It’s embarrassing.
Maurice Williams
27th January 2021 @ 11:58 am
Come on Carol give us an update at what’s going on .This is bloody embarrassing
Ken, North Wales
27th January 2021 @ 12:06 pm
Time for new outside management team to be appointed or National League here we come.
Reg smith
27th January 2021 @ 12:24 pm
The majority of these players have let down the managers, the owners and the fans. Some of the older ones would have needed to go at the end of this season anyway. Some pick and choose when they want to put in some effort so should also go. We have a very small nucleus of players left who we need to build a more skilful team around.
Phil Yeomans
27th January 2021 @ 12:43 pm
For months now the back four has been poor the two full backs in particular and at the very least if the two centre backs remain in the short term work on at least one dropping behind the other in order to stop being caught by one long ball. Good to see Gibbons back and prefer Crookes at left back, midfield has enough ability once all are available and two up front is a must although another signing required to support Guthrie until Rodney is available. The Southend game is now far bigger than it should be as picking up points away from home looks beyond us. At least the results indicate how important it is to appoint an experienced manager who knows the standard required and has the contacts where needed.
Keith Dawson
27th January 2021 @ 4:53 pm
Very poor first half performance again last night, what the dickens was Cullen doing? 2 avoidable goals conceded and then even with the lions share of possession we were unable to put a dent in Scunthorpe’s defence. I can’t understand why but we look totally vulnerable at the back, Smith seems to have lost his mojo, Brisley is clunsey and both fullbacks simply aren’t good enough. On a plus note Gibbons looked good and Conlon was our shining star. I don’t know who is out there but we need to find s goal scorer, and fast. I thought having every game available through ifollow would be a good thing, I’m not convinced! Come on Vale, let’s get at it, the game in Saturday against Southend is massive, must win !!!
PVFC
27th January 2021 @ 5:22 pm
The problem is not new and the only player who is still in the defence from when it started is Nathan Smith. The lad is simply not good enough and as long as he is a regular the problem will remain. We badly need an experienced manager to get the rest of the team firing again. But we also need an experienced centre half who is commanding and has a presence. Smith must be left out and another left back, Montanno or Crookes should come in as well as Gibbons starting. Legge is still a better bet than Smith, and with the players we have 4 3 3 is still our best system as last season proved. However the people in charge of the team at present are not the answer. Swift and quick decisions need to be made by the owners if we are to see any improvement.
Walklad
27th January 2021 @ 8:11 pm
The defence was outstanding last season…..just look at goals conceded . What’s changed, apart from confidence?
The existing full backs (both signed to strengthen the squad) are poor. This results in (a) more crosses coming in, and (b) the 2 centre halves have to be preoccupied with potentially ‘covering for them’.
Gibbons, Monty and an experienced Manager who can coach and improve players has to be the answer. Don’t throw the baby out with the dishwater…. A year ago everyone was singing the praises of (the newly signed ) Smith and Legge
Anthony Cheetham
28th January 2021 @ 12:05 pm
Well Rob anybody can talk afterwards , this or that should have been done, did you say anything when Smith resigned, we need a manager asap, Carol needs to get the players together & see if there is a problem. Did you always do a perfect job every day? Get behind the team . TC.
Rob Fielding
28th January 2021 @ 5:59 pm
Blimey, no-one is saying they are perfect, it’s just called having an opinion. But on that one question – when Askey left I did say that it would be good for a new man to have enough time in the January window to make a difference. I may or may not be right on that but that’s just having an opinion. You don’t have to stand silently by every decision to support the team. Sometimes, by pointing out issues, it’s showing your support by pointing areas of improvement.
Philip Myatt
29th January 2021 @ 3:01 am
To be honest it was one of those nights. I thought we put a fair bit of pressure on till the goal with the ball pinging around there area but nothing would drop for us then disaster a nothing ball and Smith doesn’t do his job properly and the lad finished superbly if you’re a Scunthorpe fan.
Once that goal went in Smith went to pot in that next ten mins and got turned again like v Walsall second goal and deja vue surprise, surprise another cheap goal given away.
Somehow we survived without conceding again and Cullen had a chance pull one back but miscued.
Three changes at the break and much better application but apart from a Amoo header which he should have buried we huffed, puffed but got no reward at all.
So I’m looking at it from a critical view and I believe that Mills, Smith and Fitzpatrick aren’t to the standard we need at Port Vale football club, Taylor is not playing well and Brisley’s passing forwards is atrocious.
Lots to sort out for the new manager first things get rid of those who may have shone last season but this season are very damaging to Port Vale and its future as a football. In most games I’ve watched on iFollow the goals we give away are that giveaways most games the opposition are having a field day and one player in particular is a constant in the rubbish we have had to endure with mistakes galore – Smith.