Rob Fielding thinks that it may already be too late, but the side simply has to win against Fleetwood following their capitulation against Lincoln City at the weekend.
Rob Fielding writes…
These are my thoughts after a chastening day at Vale Park which saw the Valiants slip further into relegation trouble.
The worst possible start (and end)
I hold my hands up as someone who has been a huge Nathan Smith fan over the years. However, this season he appears a shadow of that usually reliable figure at the back. It was summed up by that Keystone Cops moment just one minute and eight seconds into the play. It not only gifted Lincoln their opening goal but killed the atmosphere. The game was then capped by Dan Jones, who I felt had been poor, clearly fouling in the box for a penalty. It was an appropriate end for a dreadful match.
Check mate
So, did you enjoy the “bring a mate” day – or as some wag called it the “lose a friend” match? I can understand why the club, in our current predicament, tried to whip up some support for Darren Moore’s first home game, but I doubt any new walk-ups will be rushing back…
Before the game, Darren Moore had said that the Vale fans can be the “twelfth man” but support of the faithful can only take you far. It’s up to the players to perform too.
Personally, I think we need to support the players now as the time for an inquest is at the end of the season. However, I can certainly understand the frustration of fans and with so much money being spent supporting the team, it’s justified. Nevertheless, at times it does go too far and there does seem to be a practice of singling out a “boo boy” in the team. Right now, I’d argue that this shell-shocked Vale side need all the help they can get – but even that may not be enough.
It may already be too late
It was a game of no positives. However, arguably even if the immediate issues were resolved, the transfer window disaster, presided over by the Director of Football, David Flitcroft, could have already sealed Vale’s fate. For those dwindling numbers who still think David Flitcroft deserves his role here’s a reminder – we’ve had THREE, YES, THREE transfer windows to sort out the club’s striker problems and failed to do so in each one.
No matter what Darren Moore does, he’s going to struggle with that squad. As would any manager. I remain concerned that there appears to be a general feeling at the club that nothing needs fixing, that no inquest is needed. That would be completely wrong in my opinion. There needs to be an open and honest review of what went wrong once the season is over.
It makes Tuesday an absolute must-win
The Tuesday night fixture against Fleetwood at Vale Park is now a game that Vale must win. It says something that there’s not too many who think the side will do so. I think, in the current desperate circumstances there may need to be some sort of gamble with the line-up. It means relying on youngsters and loanees but here are my thoughts…
- Would Rhys Walters be a more energetic and creative option than Jason Lowe in the central midfield?
- Would Alex Mighten, if fit, offer more of a threat in that attacking trio than Jenson Weir?
- Would Kacper Lopata, who doesn’t appear to have done much wrong, be a better option than captain Nathan Smith?
- Would Jack Shorrock, despite his tender years, be better on the left side of the back four than Dan Jones or Connor Grant?
Personally, I’d rather the Valiants “went for it” and ultimately lost the gamble than just subside without a fight.
The problems may not be resolved by the summer
It’s been a pretty grim feature so far and it’s not going to end on a high. Regardless of what happens this season, Vale will be saddled with the majority of this squad beyond the summer. Most of the players are contracted until the end of next season. By my calculations only four players are out of contract – Jayson Leutwiler, Gavin Massey, James Wilson and Uche Ikpeazu.
With only four players out of contract, it looks unlikely that Vale can a) have a clear out and b) that they are going to get in the long awaited forward reinforcements the squad clearly needs.
It seems a ridiculous decision to hand out so many long contracts and once again, the finger points at our Director of Football for that decision. Let’s hope those decisions are also part of an open and honest post-season review.
Most of the other teams around us have rolled up their sleeves determined to get themselves out of the fix they are in.We on the other hand seem to have just capitulated and resigned ourselves to L2 football next season.
To me the manager doesn’t seem the “blood and guts” type that will send out the team with a rallying battle cry.
Well we might as well except our fate league 2 next season if I was Darren I would clear the decks and bring in his own players & start from scratch this team has no fight & no pride
This is the worst vale side I’ve seen, recruitment has been an issue with players being replaced with inferior players, no wide players and no striker. The best recruit being Connor Ripley. The mistakes defensively have been there all season but the error on Saturday killed the game. I hope DM can pick a side who give 100% and make fewer mistakes. Miracle worker required.
Rob, I sincerely believe that you are 100% correct in your analysis of the current situation and concerning your thoughts regarding team selection for Tuesday, again I am 100% in agreement. Something HAS to change and the young lads can’t possibly do any worse and we would be guaranteed enthusiasm and passion. I have been going to Vale Park pretty much continuously since 1965 but even I am having to summon up enthusiasm from way down deep to go and see the games. It’s a very depressing situation. But for right now, I would urge everyone to do their very best to try and rise above the doom and gloom and go and support the team, summon up that siege mentality that we Vale fans seem to have in our DNA and leave the inquest until the last ball has been kicked at the end of the season. UTV!
Totally agree. Apparently Carol seems to think we will get out of this and that everything is going to plan. She refers to beginning of the season, but we now have a much weaker squad than in August , not just in quality but also in numbers. On top of that in August there was no “negative feelings around the players” but now after 32 games I am sure that mental pressures are taking there toll and self doubt must surely be creeping in, after all 3 wins in almost 6 months tells you all is not well.
I don’t see where the next win is coming from to be frank and I its not like we are creating loads of chances and the strikers are missing them, we just aren’t creating and the few we do get we rarely score anyway. Plus there is usually a mistake or two in the defence, recipe for relegation in my book.
Come off it. This is far from the worse PV team I’ve seen. It’s still in a scap to stay up and has the players to do so. Introduction of young players got Liverpool over the line today. I would start a couple, it depends on a fitness assessment and tactics as to who. We need the committed not the frightened on Tuesday.
It seems the Vale are suffering the same fate as Stoke, recruitment although at Vale one man seems to be responsible for signings David Flitcroft, not signing a Striker in 3 Transfer Windows and issuing long term contracts spells a recipe for big problems, same at Stoke wrong players signed in the last Transfer Window and now in the relegation battle, Stoke got rid of one of the problems in Ricky Martin is buddy Jared Dublin she have been shown the door.
I like to see both clubs doing well and not fighting relegation, I do go Vale and Stoke but this season I’ve gone the Vale more.
Not sure about the club being saddled with the majority of players in the event of relegation – perhaps some already have some kind of release clause in their contracts in the event of relegation.
Quite possibly a number of players may also hand in transfer requests, especially given the abuse some are already getting and will continue to get as the drop nears – mind you, as to who the players figure might just want them would be interesting to see.
The maths says we can still avoid the drop but the games in hand are now pretty much ‘must-win’ simply to play catch-up, personally I think the players look shot, I keep thinking we must win one soon, law of averages says so, but unfortunately the law of averages doesn’t kick a ball.
Whatever does happen in the next 15 games, something HAS to change.
Flitcroft couldn’t direct S–t down a toilet, Carol your deluded
I think David Flitcroft and Boomer should go on a Jobshare for a month and see if things improve?
Misery misery misery. Cheer up, a couple of wins and all will look better. Stop being so negative. Pete (Yorkshire Vale)
Take captaincy straight back off Nathan smith when he was out of the squad we were doing just fine he’s absolutely diabolical give the arm band too Garrity
Pete the Yorkshire Vale has got right – ‘STOP BEING SO NEGATIVE’
There’s a saying “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. The assessment and comments made are all valid, but we have no God given right to stay up – we determine our own fate! It’s so easy to support a successful team but when it gets tough …?
The future of our beloved club is not only in the players hands it belongs to the supporters too; the booing that goes on when something goes wrong on the pitch does not encourage players, management or owners. They are NOT TRUE supporters!
So whatever the outcome is of this season can WE AS TRUE SUPPORTERS do our best for the Vale.
Barry (Scottish Vale)
Having been to Exeter v Fleetwood on Saturday there is certainly a good chance of getting the three points. First half Fleetwood were by far the worst team I have seen all season and 1 – 0 at half time simply wasn’t enough. After the Charlie Adam half time blasting with 4 subs it was the cliche, a game of two halves where we were lucky to come away with a point. If you don’t start on the front foot and get at least a goal it’s going to be the nail biting game no Vale fan enjoys. Interesting that you lack a striker, so did we, but took a gamble on a non league lad and pushed a little more from midfield. We too are not safe and our game with yourselves at Vale Park might well be another six pointer that both teams need to win. Good luck, I hope you stay up as you are locally owned by passionate fans wanting the best for their local club.
We should never have sacked DC. Looking back, was he confronted with the same difficulties in signing good strikers. We brought an unfit Matty Taylor and he was obviously not ready to do a really good job for us. You’ve only got to look at what he’s done since coupling up with DC at Cheltenham. Yes Nathan made a mistake on Saturday. Wish he hadn’t of done it but we can and should move on from that. Smudger has been and will continue to be the blood and guts performer that we will need from all of the players if we are to escape the drop this season.
I didn’t want Moore in the beginning and after two games I want him even less. His substitutions at Cheltenham and on Saturday were scandalous to say the least. Since sacking Crosby we have gained 1pt out of 15 that says it all. Our problem is CAROL, according to Carol, Flitcroft is definitely not one of her mistakes, backing him to the hilt. And the only manager she wanted was Moore, what chance has the club got ! As for the first goal on Saturday, shouldn’t the opposing player be 10yds from a dead ball kick? Let alone intercept it and put it in the opponents net . Flitcroft has now sack 3 managers and chosen 3 replacements and look at the state of us, he has got rid of Steve Speed, and brought in his own groundsman persuaded Carol speed a fortune’s on the pitch and it looks worse now than ever. Count up the redundancy for 3 managers, god knows how many coaches, plus a groundsman and it’s no wonder we can’t afford striker.
In the unlikely (but still possible) event of the Vale avoiding relegation, it would likely reinforce Flitcroft’s position with the owners. He would have changed Managers to effect. That the current relegation predicament threatened the club’s League 1 security would be seen as blip, effectively managed and overcome. If the club is relegated, there’s no telling IMO what the owners will do. Is Flitcroft on the club’s Board of Directors ? If so, his departure under any circumstances may be difficult. If not, he may well be exited after relegation. All of which begs the question, would some supporters settle for relegation if it meant Flitcroft’s definite exit ?
To Peter from Yorkshire, yes you are right we do not have a God given right to win or even, stay up.The supporters DO HAVE THE RIGHT for their team to show some guts and bottle, the side is dire and a bloody shambles’s a bit like Flitcroft