Competition across the board – five thoughts about Port Vale’s season so far…
Rob Fielding has some thoughts on Port Vale’s 2021-22 season so far and one of the positives is the competition for places within the squad.
Disagree or agree? Feel free to post your thoughts on this article. Scroll down to post a comment.
Competition across the board
The Football League Trophy game against Bolton may have been a meaningless group game in a much maligned competition but it was an extremely useful exercise for Darrell Clarke’s new-look Valiants. Why? Well, not only because it gave valuable game time to key duo Tom Conlon and James Gibbons but it also showed the potential strength in depth and competition for places in this new-look squad. Just look at some of the challenges the Vale manager may have to face:
- Play James Gibbons, David Worrall or even Lewis Cass on the right flank?
- Should the impressive Cass come into the back three? At whose expense?
- Does Clarke continue with the bang, in-form Ben Garrity in central midfield? If so, who drops out when Tom Conlon returns – Brad Walker or Tom Pett?
- Who starts upfront. At the moment, Jamie Proctor looks first choice but who should play alongside him? The so far inconsistent Rodney? The undoubtedly skilful, but short of goals Wilson. The wildcard Amoo? The youngster Lloyd?
It’s clearly a pleasant problem for Clarke to have and one where he can shape his side to the best formation to suit the occasion and opposition. It’s certainly heartening to think that no player, with perhaps the exception of captain Tom Conlon, appears undroppable with even David Worrall potentially being put under pressure by the return of Gibbo.
Scoring worries still remain
Despite the competition, where the goals for this side are going to come from could be a worry. Jamie Proctor leads the way but he’s hardly renowned for reaching double figures in a season, so the jury’s out on whether he’ll continue to find the net. It’s a similar story with James Wilson and Devante Rodney. Wilson is clearly talented but he may be best as a link-up, withdrawn forward than the focal, goalscoring striker. Rodney remains inconsistent and is currently going through a poor run which may see him left on the bench for now. Like Wilson, he also doesn’t have a proven double figure goalscoring record in the League either. David Amoo is a converted winger and George Lloyd is at the start of what could be a long career. It would obviously be nice to have a proven twenty goal striker in the side, but we all know how much they cost, so Vale now either have to develop one of their players into such a striker – or share the goals around.
For me, that second option seems the most reasonable approach. If there’s no single candidate then perhaps the answer lies in a combination of all of them. Against Bolton’s static defence, Clarke opted for the pace and trickery of Amoo and Rodney. Against Forest Green Rovers, it was the pairing of Proctor and Wilson. It seems very much a “horses for courses” approach which sounds good but does have a down side. I would imagine forwards need a run of games to keep match fitness and form and I wonder if the chopping and changing approach will work? We’ll have to wait and see.
What formation to favour?
Another long-debated subject has been the Port Vale formation. The competition and adaptability of many of the players certainly allows for flexibility in the formation. That’s a good thing as arguably some formations won’t suit certain players. For instance, in the absence of James Gibbons, many fans felt that David Worrall’s strengths were wasted as a wingback. With Gibbons back in action, it may mean that Worrall doesn’t need to be employed as a wingback but that then begs another question – where to play Vale’s most consistent provider of assists? It certainly makes sense to not put square pegs in round holes and play players in the position that suits them best.
In many respects, just like his striking partnership, Clarke’s formations may well depend on the opponents and it may simply be that fans may have to come to terms with the fact that there won’t be one, consistent formation this season. Arguably that will be fine when the team is succeeding and picking up points but it will be harder to justify if the team struggles. The success of otherwise of such a strategy will come out with the team’s final League position.
Never trust the opposition fans’ views
The form of Ben Garrity for the Valiants has once again proved one of my favourite lessons – never trust the opinion of the fans of a new signing’s former club. When Vale shelled out for Garrity there was bemusement from Oldham fans, many of whom assured us that the player was dreadful when on loan last season. In contrast, Garrity has been one of the early stars of the season for the Valiants. It goes to show that a player’s form for another club often has no bearing on how he performs at your club. There’s a whole host of factors – Was he carrying an injury? Did he fail to settle? Did the coaching/tactics suit his style of play? Was he played in the right position? Were there other mitigating personal circumstances? All of these can contribute to a player being a “donkey” at one club and a “rising star” at another. Personally, I put little store in what a player has done at another club – I’d prefer to judge him on what he does in a Port Vale shirt instead.
Nathan Smith is an example for Vale’s youngsters
While the new summer signings have caught the eye and attention, a word for the reliable Nathan Smith, now a regular pick for the last five Port Vale managers and who quietly passed the 250 games mark for the club with barely a fanfare. A locally born player who progressed through the youth ranks, there wasn’t much indication, at that time he was made a professional, that Smith would make the grade and break through. But then came a career-changing move to Torquay in 2014. I think that must have had a massive impact. Smith uprooted from his family and friends for a whole season to play senior football. It clearly had a huge impact as Smith won both player of the year and young player of the year awards. It gave him the confidence, life experience and match time to come back to the club and successfully forge a place in the first-team.
That journey could be a real inspiration for the likes of Eden Bailey, who is also clearly highly thought of by the club. Bailey is still young but I hope that if he is given the chance to move on loan, he should grab it with both hands. It could be the spell that transforms him from promising youngster to genuine first-team contender. Local youngsters from the youth ranks hold a special place in the hearts of Vale fans and it would be great to see another make the grade. If they need a mentor and a player to aspire to, they should look no further than Nathan Smith.
Disagree or agree? Feel free to post your thoughts on this article. Scroll down to post a comment.