Four thoughts after the Port Vale win over Harrogate Town – the omens are good
Rob Fielding thinks the composed home win over Harrogate Town could be the sign of a club on the up…
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Clinical, composed and with strength in depth, the omens are good…
What a performance that was on Saturday! We were lucky to see two excellent goals, a cleansheet, a good all-round team performance and the first three points at home. As fans on the forum commented it was a match “full of positives”. When you consider this is a Vale side missing Leon Legge and Devante Rodney and with a player like Dennis Politic unable to get a single minute on the pitch so far, it shows the strength in depth of the squad.
Yes, you could perhaps have wished for more Vale goals against ten men but this Darrell Clarke side are professional to the core and looked to just close the game down. It’s that clinical and composed approach that gives me the feeling that Vale could indeed challenge this season. They will need a clean bill of health, to maintain form and confidence and a bit of luck but it’s possible. Let’s hope so as it would be due reward for owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan as they continue to transform the club’s fortunes.
Unsung Covolan playing his part
Some fans still seem to judging goalkeeper Lucas Covolan on a shaky start at Northampton. However, with four clean sheets in his eight League appearances, it’s perhaps time to give the Brazilian some overdue praise. It’s a more than decent achievement considering that a) Covolan has yet to get to double figures in terms of League appearances and b) he’s a Brazilian getting to grips with communicating with a rebuilt Vale backline. A word too for the signing of Aidan Stone. At times, Scott Brown never had serious competition for a place but Covolan does. It must also help to drive him on. On Saturday, I thought Covolan’s distribution was excellent and he seems to be growing in confidence. It will be interesting to see how he is faring when he’s got twenty-odd games behind him.
Conlon needs game time
Tom Conlon is an excellent player and deserved captain. He’s not been at his absolute best in recent games but that’s probably understandable as he’s only recently returned from injury. I hope fans are patient with him and won’t expect him to be able to suddenly switch on that form from last season. That form peaked when Conlon had played week-in, week-out for 30-odd games as he reached new heights in the final quarter. In contrast, he’s just three League games into his comeback so I hope fans don’t expect too much of him, too soon. He’s a fantastic player and will make his mark at some point this season.
Gibbons gives Vale another player with the x-factor
For all the professionalism of this well-drilled and disciplined Vale side, it also contains a pleasing number of match winners, who can turn the game with a moment of brilliance. It’s great to see James Gibbons back and while his performance on Saturday wasn’t completely eye catching (he is still gaining match fitness after all) this is a player whose surging run and shot set up the winner against Swindon.
Gibbons didn’t have a “wow” moment on Saturday but those honours were taken by David Worrall and (to great delight) James Wilson. Gibbons, Worrall and Wilson are three of a crop of players who can change the game – captain Tom Conlon, absent striker Devante Rodney and perhaps even loanee Dennis Politic – could be added to the list. It’s a really pleasing mix to see a side with real grafters such as Nathan Smith, Tom Pett, Jamie Proctor and Ben Garrity but also a sprinkling of “gamechangers” in there too. It gives this Vale side the “best of both worlds” and this competition is going to keep all Vale players on their toes.
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