A marker for a good season – four thoughts after the battling Port Vale win over Hartlepool
Rob Fielding thinks that ground-out wins like the home victory over Hartlepool will be vital if the Valiants are to go on and have a successful season.
Rob Fielding writes…
A marker for a good season
What can you say about the win over Hartlepool? Well, apart from it was cold, this was exactly the sort of game where picking up three points is vital. If Vale can win via a scruffy opening goal, in a game often devoid of quality, with a much depleted side then it bodes well. Darrell Clarke doesn’t like to say there is a hierarchy in the squad but that side on Saturday was arguably missing its top two strikers (Proctor and Wilson), its best midfielder (Conlon) and another squad regular (Taylor) plus a near ever-present in the back three (Smith). It was therefore commendable that the likes of Brad Walker came in and did a job in midfield and that a back three of Cass, Martin and the infrequently used Johnson comfortably kept a clean sheet.
Like all Port Vale fans who wish long term success for the club, I’d gladly take a forgettable game like this than the high drama of the last-gasp losses to Sutton and Oldham. As Darrell Clarke has said, this is a marathon and sometimes you have to grind out the wins.
Garrity shows his worth in advanced role
With the Valiants missing their joint-top scorers in Jamie Proctor and James Wilson, there was a worry that the Vale frontline may be short of goals. However, the presence of midfielder Ben Garrity did help to dispel some of those fears on Saturday. Not only was Garrity on hand to open the scoring after yet another run into the box but he was relentless in his efforts to push forward and supplement the forward pairing of Rodney and Amoo. With Amoo’s tendency to drift into the channels, Garrity was often the most advanced player on the pitch, in the process adding another body and option upfront. When you add in his efforts battling in the midfield to win the ball alongside those lung-busting forward runs, it was an excellent display by the summer signing.
When you consider Garrity is only 24 and has just 50-odd League appearances to his name, there’s potentially a lot more to come from the box-to-box player.
Signing up Gibbo would be a major statement of intent
What a spell defender James Gibbons has been having. He’s hit goals, won multiple man of the match awards and his influence on the games has been immense. His return from injury has been a huge boost for Darrell Clarke as has his new found versatility in being able to fill in on either flank. It’s not just his performances on the pitch with both Darrell Clarke and Andy Crosby hailing the defender’s influence on the rest of the dressing room.
The wingback is out of contract in the summer and with his current form, it’s not inconceivable that his form is attracting the attention of other clubs. A lot of attention will no doubt be on potential additions to the Vale squad in the January window but perhaps one of the biggest statements of intent in the New Year would be to persuade Gibbo to agree a new deal with the club.
Reinforcements upfront now a priority?
In his midweek press conference, Darrell Clarke said he already knows what business the club will be doing in the January transfer window. He mentioned a “few little tweaks” and it’s fair enough that most areas in the squad doesn’t need a great deal doing to them. However, one area of concern will surely be the frontline. Even though Clarke is quick to say all members of his squad are of equal value, it’s fair to say that Vale were missing arguably their top two forwards on Saturday in Jamie Proctor and James Wilson. It’s likely to be that way for some weeks.
The concern is that none of the other forwards who are available look full of goals. Proctor and Wilson have scored fourteen – the other four forwards have mustered eight. George Lloyd, who is himself injured, is more of a terrier and hard worker than poacher. David Amoo has done well and is dangerous but his willingness to drift wide means he’s not going to be a regular goal threat in the traditional forward sense. As Amoo proved with the first goal on Saturday, he’s still more of a provider and in many ways, Dennis Politic is a similar player. Meanwhile, Devante Rodney looks short of confidence although that may change with more minutes. Youth teamer Eden Bailey, who may have been option at the moment, is also on the injury list.
It all means that there isn’t one of those “fox in the box” forwards right now. Perhaps Vale will work around it? After all, Amoo has done well in recent games and employing Ben Garrity as an advanced midfielder may allow him to get into the box and finish chances off.
However, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise if the Valiants do make a move for a more “traditional” central forward in the January window. If they do, it will be fascinating to see who moves out to allow any newcomer in (what with squad limits and all). There’s sure to be plenty of speculation before the window opens!
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