Four thoughts after Vale’s win over Mansfield – no more moans about the loans…
Rob Fielding says that recent games have shown that the club did do their homework when recruiting loanees Ryan Edmondson and Kian Harratt.
No more moans about the loans
I think we all know that moving for youngsters on loan is always a risky move. Some can pay off, others can be the next Toby Edsor or Callum Whelan and make little or no impact. With the Valiants struggling for forwards in the New Year, Vale’s need was apparent but we are frequently told January is a difficult time to secure a big name move – prices are often inflated or clubs don’t want to sell. Predictably, Vale’s move for two less well-known players in Edmondson and Harratt prompted criticism from some fans.
However, the club consistently maintained that they had done their homework and the stats following the Mansfield Town game do bear them out. Edmondson has three goals in eleven games while Harratt now has four from twelve. When you consider Vale netted a fee for Devante Rodney (one in seventeen this season) it now looks like the loan moves were pretty good business. After all, would the club have got an equal goal return if they had splashed out on an experienced player instead?
No-one will dispute that Jamie Proctor and James Wilson are the club’s first-choice strike force. David Amoo offers an experienced and alternative option. However, Edmondson and Harratt can now be considered potent options from the bench too – a vindication of the club’s much criticised January transfer business.
Stone looking solid as he presses his claims
I realise that us fans don’t get to see as much of the players as the coaching staff, but I had always been pretty impressed with Aidan Stone’s displays earlier in the season. He looked solid, committed and could pull off the odd spectacular save. While it must be frustrating for the more experienced duo of Lucas Covolan and Tomas Holy, I am pleased to see Stone get a run in the side. After all, loanee Holy may not be a Valiant at the end of the season and Covolan still has a lot of adapting to do to League football and at 31 years of age, time is not on his side.
Stone, on the other hand, looks a good prospect. He’s locally born (Stafford) and at just 22 years of age, he’s a mere baby in goalkeeping terms with plenty of time to develop further. He’s out of contract at the end of the season and this is his chance to not only secure the goalkeeping shirt but perhaps to earn a long-term deal with the club.
Garrity not just a goalscorer
I think we’ve all been massively impressed with the development of Ben Garrity this season. At the weekend his goal prowess proved to be crucial in the win over Crawley and his workrate and tenacity have been much in evidence all season. However, I felt Tuesday night’s game showed another aspect of his play. Garrity played in James Wilson for Vale’s equaliser and then his flicked header played in Kian Harratt to give Vale the lead. So, that’s too games in a row that Garrity has had a huge impact, albeit in different ways. He’s rapidly becoming the complete box-to-box midfielder for the side.
Who to play on the left?
First of all, this is not a dig at Chris Hussey… the veteran has shown glimpses of his worth since joining the Vale. especially in deadball situations. However, with Hussey now pulling up in two games, I do wonder if this is the time to give Mal Benning another go?
I’ve never been one of the Benning critics. When he’s played I feel he has been decent but not eye catching and not deserving of some of the criticism sent his way. For me, perhaps his inability to push on to a higher level is because he hasn’t had a consistent run of games.
Maybe this is the time? So much of Vale’s good play comes from the flanks and I do feel that Banning offers more pace and dynamism than the rather one-paced Hussey. At the moment I feel Vale are slightly unbalanced as they show far more threat from Worrall’s right flank. With James Gibbons out injured, I wonder if giving Benning a start may balance that out and give Vale more drive down the left.
Agree or disagree? Share your thoughts and post a comment at the end of the article.