Four thoughts after the Port Vale win over Exeter – Debrah proving his worth but strikers still a concern

Rob Fielding shares his thoughts after Port Vale narrowly defeated Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.

Rob Fielding writes…

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Debrah proving his worth

I wonder what the Vale fans who derided Jesse Debrah when he was sent-off against Bristol Rovers think of their criticism now? I always subscribe to giving players a dozen games to show what they can do, especially as in Debrah’s case, the player is coming back from injury and has never played League football before.

Debrah’s performance against Exeter should have those early doubters with red faces. I thought the strapping defender was excellent at the back and also no slouch coming forward. It’s only fifteen games into his Valiants career but at just 22 years of age, he has time to develop into a real asset for the club.

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Strikers still a concern

It’s fair to say the performances of Uche Ikpeazu and Ryan Loft are a real concern. If we apply the “judge them after twelve games” I mentioned earlier then the stats are damning. It’s now twelve games without a goal for Uche and fourteen for Loft.

Loft must be in a really low place right now. He looks bereft of confidence and form and was dropped on Saturday in favour of a teenaged youth team striker.  Ikpeazu looks the most likely to break the drought and get some goals. He had two chances after coming on as a sub against Exeter. One was a header which went over but the second was an excellent turn and shot which would have been a goal but for an excellent save.

However, despite that glimmer of hope Vale still need to find goals. It’s a bit of a chicken and egg question as to whether the lack of threat is the poor quality of the centre-forwards or the service they receive but it’s surely something the club need to address in January.

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Vale trust in youth

Talking of things the club need to address, a long-term contract for Rhys Walters must be close to the top of the list too. After knocking on the door for some weeks, the youth teamer was given a first League start on Saturday and didn’t look out of place. For me, Walters is a ready-made and homegrown replacement for Ollie Arblaster when the loanee goes back to Sheffield United. That seems likely to be in the summer but should Arblaster be recalled earlier (i.e. in January) then surely it’s even more important to tie Walters down.

And talking of youth, it was interesting to see Vale’s squad on Saturday contained three youth teamers in starter Walters and subs Bayley Dipepa and Ben Lomax. Dipepa came on for the last twenty minutes and didn’t look out of place, some nifty work setting up Ikpeazu for his chance. It’s good to see a promising crop of youngsters coming through and for the club to place their faith in them.

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A welcome result but still a long way to go

No Vale fan is going to bemoan a win but it’s fair to say that despite this victory, there’s still some way to go before the pair of Director of Football David Flitcroft and manager Andy Crosby will placate all the fans. This game has to be put in context – it was against opposition in dire form, played with little quality on display from either outfit and Vale scraped a one goal win. It’s hardly the same as turning your form around with a scintillating thrashing of a top ranked side.

For some fans, the worry remains that Flitcroft’s recruitment at times remains unconvincing, that the determination to play with three at the back doesn’t allow for a “Plan B”, while Andy Crosby is a lovely bloke but still unproven with a team that looks good on the eye but has no cutting edge.

But a win is still a win. It’s now crucial that Vale build on it.  If the Valiants can win their next home match against an in-form Wigan side then that would be a better indicator that they have turned their form around. Otherwise, this win will simply be seen as Vale coming out best in an encounter between two poor sides.

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