Four thoughts after Port Vale’s home loss to Cambridge Utd

Will Vale stay in the Football League?

I always like to read the comments left on these articles and one posted after the Stevenage match caught my eye recently. Dave Shaw asked why I “talk so assuredly about next season. It’s by no means a given that we will still be in League Two.” Dave, you’re right. I’ve been far too over-confident about Port Vale’s chances of safety recently. This result puts Vale just eight points about the relegation places but having played two more matches. From eyeing promotion at the start of the season, Vale’s fortunes have plummeted and fans like Dave are correct to be worried about Vale’s Football League future. If the team’s form doesn’t pick up soon, we could be looking at the likes of Solihull Moors and Maidenhead United visiting us in the League next season.

Port Vale’s attack, a cow and a banjo

I completely agreed with Port Vale summariser Chris Birchall when he gave his reaction to Kurtis Guthrie’s miss early on. I’ve been an apologist for the striker’s goalscoring prowess in previous pieces, but Birchall was right when he said “he has to score” when clean through and only the keeper to beat. Guthrie’s miss is symbolic of Vale’s striking woes in recent weeks. The rest of the team has marginally picked up – since Clarke’s arrival, the defence have managed a rare clean sheet while some of the approach play by the midfield on Saturday was promising. The trouble is – the forwards are not finding the net. No Vale forward has found the net since Clarke took charge. In fact, Devante Rodney is the ONLY forward to find the net this YEAR. Tom Pope has the excuse of being injured but Theo Robinson hasn’t scored in the League since October, Mark Cullen hasn’t scored in the League since the opening day and Kurtis Guthrie hasn’t scored in the League for any club since October 2019. That old saying about a cow and a banjo seems appropriate for some of the Vale’s strikers.

A cup half full report

So far, so gloomy… sorry about that. Let’s try and look for a few positives in that performance. Vale at least matched their promotion chasing opponents for large portions of the game. I felt that captain Tom Conlon was back to his best and although patchy Jake Taylor and Scott Burgess had moments. But perhaps the most encouraging aspects from the match was the good form shown by veterans Leon Legge and Scott Brown. A back three certainly seems to suit Legge while Brown pulled off a stupendous save in the second-half. The long-term issue for Vale is how much longer can the ageing duo perform at the same level?

The “sounding like a broken record” part

And finally, at the risk of repeating myself, Many of my thoughts posted in previous features still apply now. You’ve probably read these before in previous columns but can I say again:

• Vale face a huge rebuilding task in the summer. It has been noticeable that several of the disappointing summer signings are not even in the matchday squad right now. It gives an indication of how much deadwood needs removing.
• Similarly, Vale are still reliant on an ageing core. It’s worrying that there is no realistic competition for two of those positions – goalkeeper and defensive midfielder (Darrell Clarke was right about Vale’s unbalanced squad) and a key task will be how to replace the likes of Brown, Legge, Joyce and Pope smoothly and without depleting the side’s strength.
• For a squad tipped as promotion contenders, the lack of quality on display at times on Saturday was a huge concern. Aimless crosses missing everyone, shots flying well wide. It may be lack of confidence or it may simply be lack of quality but it will need addressing if Vale are to be in any sort of shape to progress next season.
• I feel sorry for owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan who have poured so much time, money and effort into the club. Away from the pitch, the club is reinvoraged. If only things on the pitch would catch up. In a weird way, perhaps it’s a good job fans are away from Vale Park as it could be a toxic atmosphere right now.
• Finally, good luck Darrell Clarke and David Flitcroft. You’re going to need it!