Andy Crosby – I understand the frustration
The Port Vale manager Andy Crosby spoke to the media ahead of the crucial game against Exeter City. Crosby says he “understands” the fans’ frustration ahead of the fixture and asked the crowd to “stick with the players”.
It’s the most important game because it’s the next one. People will build that up maybe because of the sequence of results of both teams. Three points are available and that’s it…
Commenting on the importance of the fixture Crosby said: “It’s the most important game because it’s the next one. People will build that up maybe because of the sequence of results of both teams. Three points are available and that’s it.”
The manager also understands fan anxiety as well adding: “I understand the frustration personally and professionally. What I would ask the crowd is to stick with the players. Support us. Any supporter that is travelling that distance we are more than grateful for.”
Crosby feels that the squad can make improvements and the run isn’t just about bad luck. He said: “The game is about small details. We’ve had a number of crosses flash across the six-yard box and we don’t quite get there. Why did we not quite get there? It’s not all about luck. It’s about anticipating, you’ve got to run at high speed. That’s just one little thing.”
He also felt the number of long-term injuries picked up has affected the side. He explained: “It’s far from ideal. We’ve probably had six or seven players continually unavailable now since October for whatever reason. Once you’ve been out for that period of time I have and the medical staff have a responsibility to the player, to the football club to not put them at risk again. For obvious reasons, we don’t want them to break down.
“Once you’ve been out for that period of time you can’t then go back in and be expected to play ninety minutes. Because of our games programme, we can’t arrange behind closed doors fixtures for players to start easing into that process so you’re then having to do that within a League game, a Cup game, knowing quite well that player isn’t going to last the game. It doesn’t help the momentum of the team and partnerships, but it doesn’t help moaning about it.”
Crosby also gave an extensive update on injured players adding: “Mitch Clark had his surgery, he’s had some good news his brace will come off maybe slightly earlier than anticipated. It’s obviously been a really bad injury.
“James Plant, had the result of the shoulder dislocation at Stevenage and that is going to be decided in the next 24 hours which route we go down. He’s had previous surgery to the same shoulder last year. The advice we’ve had is if we go down the ‘management’ of it and it goes again it’s going to be even worse. So, to manage it and he goes back out again in six weeks and it goes again the damage becomes even worse.
“James Wilson is back on the grass. Josh Thomas has suffered a setback and he’s been doing his rehab at Swansea. I’ve had a message he’s suffered a setback and I can’t at this time tell you what that setback is because I don’t know yet. Ollie (Arblaster) and Alfie (Devine). They pick up a niggle, because of load in my opinion. I know these lads are doing really well and representing their country but they’re not getting a break. They’re used to playing U21s football which is one day a week.”
Watch the full interview