Four thoughts after Port Vale’s away loss to Cheltenham Town

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Port Vale lacking key attributes throughout the team

In so many respects, the performance against Cheltenham for the first eighty minutes sums up the Vale’s depressing form. There were key issues right through the side. Such as: a well regarded goalkeeper making a key mistake, a defence that goes missing at key moments, a midfield that can’t string those key passes together and strikers who can’t provide the most key element of all – the goals to win games.

It’s deeply worrying for the fans as Vale are in real, real trouble and an exit from the League is a possibility. In fact, you could go so far as to say if the team continue to show such worrying defects then an exit from the League is a probability. Only an all-round improvement will keep the Vale safe. With most of the season gone, the team need to improve now, not later.

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Vale need a ninety minutes performance not a twenty minutes cameo

Manager Darrell Clarke’s comments have prompted debate since he joined but I agree with several of his post-match remarks this time. Clarke told the media: “the last 20 minutes….no pats on the back from me. They should play like that for the full 95 minutes.” He’s right. If Vale are to drag themselves out of this mess they need to put on a consistent performance over the entire game.

It’s commonsense of course but perhaps one of the things to note in the closing stages was that Vale had put on Will Swan and his pace and trickery caused the Cheltenham backline problems. So, it’s fair to say that Vale need to have the right side in place to put on that full match performance. That’s down to the manager and arguably he hasn’t helped himself with wholesale changes nearly every game.

So, in some respects, I hope that there’s no kneejerk reaction and yet more multiple team changes. Yes, Swan caused problems but that could be that he can contribute as an impact sub against tiring defences. It may be a mistake to simply drop him in at the start on the strength of one goal and expect him to do the same over ninety minutes.

However, whether he starts or comes off the bench, I would hope Swan’s performance can perhaps inspire the rest of the side. Whoever is picked to play for Port Vale in the next game needs to have the right attitude right from the start. It’s too late for it to only kick in during the closing stages…

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“Embarrassing” Guthrie sums up Vale’s lack of confidence

I can’t remember the exact phrase that the local radio commentary team used when Kurtis Guthrie was subbed. I was probably too busy burying my head in my hands at Vale’s ineptitude. However, if memory serves me right they said it was an “embarrassing performance.” To hear folk who are not connected with the club and have no stake making that sort of remark shows how poor the performance was. It’s hard not to feel sorry for the striker who contributed no goal threat and little else. He sadly looks bereft of confidence.

In many ways, Guthrie’s form is symbolic of Vale’s current form. Without a goal since October 2019, he doesn’t look a goal threat and doesn’t really look like he’s relishing playing right now. However, what choice do Vale have? If they are to play a longer game under Darrell Clarke then Guthrie is the only player who can really compete in the air unless Tom Pope returns. So, they may have to soldier on with a player who looks completely out of form and confidence and play a striker with no goal threat simply because he can theoretically win balls in the air.

However, it’s not like Guthrie is the only player in the side to be out of form and confidence. It’s evident all across this side. There are no easy answers to the dilemma.

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Same old, same old…

As for the rest of this column, I may as well repeat the same things I have been saying again and again over the last few weeks.

Injuries, bad luck, new manager, whatever… at the end of the day there are no excuses for the same players who were challenging at the top of the division to have consistently performed so poorly week after week. As professionals, they need to take a hard look at themselves and sort it out. The manager can’t do all of it – they need to do it themselves.

It’s too soon and unfair to deliver a verdict on manager Darrell Clarke yet he may not be helping himself too much with a combative interview style and an apparent “rotating door “policy for the first eleven. However, the key thing is the team hasn’t won under him. It’s a results industry and if Clarke can keep this team up I think many will forget what he says in interviews or how many changes he makes on Saturdays.

It’s going to be a huge summer at the club. It’s obvious that a huge clear-out of players is needed but other fundamentals are needed too. Training that doesn’t result in injuries, a consistent style and formation and so on… then there’s the recruitment. The new management needs to be bang on with the new signings. They must get it all right. It’s a big ask.

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