Port Vale 23-24 season squad preview – the goalkeepers
Arguably one of the successes of the summer, Rob Fielding reviews the club’s summer transfer moves in the goalkeeping department.
Transfers
Outs:
Jack Stevens (end of loan), Aidan Stone (Notts County)
Ins:
Connor Ripley (Morecambe), Jason Leutwiler (Oldham)
Analysis
The six foot three inches tall stopper is a huge presence at the back and he’s vocal too – something that will no doubt help a Vale defence that was porous on occasions last season…
The fact that the goalkeeping situation is now the area of the team which causes fans the least concern emphasises the massive strides made this summer.
Ever since reliable Scott Brown was released back in 2021, it’s been a position where Vale have struggled with Lucas Covolan, Tomas Holy, Jack Stevens and Aidan Stone all having their rocky moments.
Rather than last summer’s hurried loan addition of Stevens, Vale have gone all out to bring in a permanent, no nonsense number one in former Morecambe man Connor Ripley.
In last week’s Q&A session, manager Andy Crosby went so far as to label Connor Ripley as the “best goalkeeper in League One” and the signing of the 30 year-old has gone down really well with the supporters.
The six foot three inches tall stopper is a huge presence at the back and he’s vocal too – something that will no doubt help a Vale defence that was porous on occasions last season.
Vale’s second addition raised a few more eyebrows as the Valiants backed up Ripley with the vastly experienced Jason Leutwiler. The 34 year-old may not have distinguished himself at his former club Oldham, but he has impressed fans during Vale’s pre-season fixtures.
It’s a marked departure from previous seasons where Vale mixed an experienced number one with a younger back-up, but with two permanent additions this could be the first season in a while where Vale don’t have to dip into the loan market for another keeper. That’s probably for the best as none of those recent loan additions impressed the terraces.
If there’s one minor criticism of this summer’s moves it’s the lack of a succession programme in the form of a young keeper being developed. However, it’s not an urgent need. Vale’s Academy is now producing some promise in other positions, so in time, there may be a young goalkeeping talent in the ranks who can be developed and loaned out for experience while the old hands fill the first-team squad places. If there is, the youngster will certainly learn lots from the experienced duo of Ripley and Leutwiler.
However, youth development aside, Vale should earn top marks for their efforts in strengthening the goalkeeping department this summer.
Rating
B+