OVF explores some of the January options for the club – from what to do with loanees, forward options and even the future of the manager…
Back him or sack him?
Back him or sack him?It seems remarkable to say this but one key question for the club isn’t about players during the January window, it’s about the manager. In my view, Vale made a huge mistake last season in not acting sooner in removing Andy Crosby. When he left the window had closed and Darren Moore had no chance to bring in any players he may have wanted. Now the focus is on Moore.
If they still have faith in his ability then fair enough. They’ve dug deep to back him in the transfer market and (controversially) gave him a long contract. If things are still solid then so be it. If the club retain full faith in him I presume they will continue to back him in the window? However… it they don’t, then they need to think long and hard about the options because, if Moore is not the answer, they surely need to act while the window is open and not closed.
A forward in the style of Jayden Stockley?
A forward in the style of Jayden Stockley?It’s perhaps a weird thing to say after so much change of personnel upfront (not to mention the hefty fees for Stockley, Paton and Tolaj) but there’s still a need for an additional body upfront. For this Vale fan, the team needs a functioning forward partnership upfront and that would currently be Stockley and one other from the likes of Paton and Tolaj (the jury’s out on whether loanee Hackford should be kept on, in my view). I would then give that partnership time to develop (in other words stop the chopping and changing).
However… at time of writing Stockley is injured and he’s picked up other knocks earlier this season. Tolaj and Paton both lack experience of the lower leagues and it would therefore be a risk to pair them together. If Stockley isn’t available then there’s no like-for-like replacement for his aerial prowess, experience and link-up play. That’s why I think we need someone in Stockley’s image to provide experience, cover and competition. Such a move may mean potentially sending Hackford back, a move that’s possibly harsh on the youngster, but needs must and someone in Stockley’s image is needed more than a talented but raw youngster from Sheffield United. It’s a tough ask to find such a player in an often over priced window but Vale should at least try.
Central midfield cover?
Central midfield cover?The old-style loan market would have suited the Vale right now. With Harper and Sang currently unavailable, Croasdale playing through injury and Ben Garrity only just returning, Vale could do with someone coming in for a month as cover.
However, that’s not the way the loan market works these days and the Valiants would need to commit until the end of the season. It means yet another body in and (if and) when the injured players return potentially having disappointed players on the sidelines, but surely needs must and perhaps an extra midfield body needs to come in?
Decide on the future of the loanees?
Decide on the future of the loanees?For this Vale fan, while none of the loanees have shown the promise and consistency of the likes of Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine, the best two have been Brandon Cover and Rico Richards. Cover started really brightly but his star has faded recently. While he may now be second choice to fit again Mitch Clark, I feel he’s a useful squad player. It’s the same with Richards who has shown glimpses of skill, albeit inconsistently.
I would say the jury is out on Benicio and Antwoine Hackford, despite the latter’s goals. Darren Moore will need to make a decision on whether to stick or twist with the pair. A lot will depend on what other players are available on loan in January. Could the manager ring the changes with his loanees?
Trim the squad?
Trim the squad?Vale have a huge squad for League Two and it could be right now that some of them are getting itchy feet. It’s probable that the Valiants would welcome permanent moves away for on loan duo Dan Jones and Funso Ojo (and the club will certainly be keen to maintain their loan spells until the end of the season). But will anyone else move on?
In the view of some fans, Nathan Smith should have been in the squad sooner as his battling qualities would help in adversity. But the old warrior, still only 28, has been sidelined and no-one would blame him if he was to look elsewhere for regular football. I doubt he will move on as he’s back in the eleven and settled in the area but who knows?
Could an exit be on the cards for Ethan Chislett, undoubtedly talented but seemingly not guaranteed a regular place by Darren Moore? And what about some of the fringe players – the likes of Diamond Edwards, Andrew Buah, Ben Lomax or even James Plant? Will some of those leave to ease Vale’s currently bloated squad?
What do you think of the suggestions and where do you think the Vale’s January priorities should lie? Post a comment below.
I am sorry to say sang isn’t a right back. More of a midfielder and I would release him on loan to strengthen him up and sign a proper right back and the jury is out on Ripley for me as he had a nightmare at Grimsby hence why he was replaced against Cheltenham but I don’t make the decisions but we have two strikers but the manager only wants to defend but we need service to allow them to score and I welcome back Garrity but he still doesn’t look fit enough yet but allow him to play up alongside the strikers rather than in deep midfield
Please, Please find room 4 him and keep Chiss, midfield left , right or Centre.
Just heard we have signed another left back! Think that’s at least 4 on the books now. Just what a team who cannot score a goal needs another defender!
Does it really matter who comes in, especially with Moores record on strange team selections. There’s no guarantee any of them will play and if they did would they be played out of position and at whose expense. Moore has been allowed to put together the largest and most expensive squad in the division, and if it’s not the best that’s down to Moores poor recruitment so I wouldn’t hold your breath on anything changing. Every manager he comes up against seems to out think him, and when it’s being done with squads of ex none league players, young loanees and unattached players no one else wanted it’s concerning. It doesn’t seem two minutes ago when the club was boosting about the hordes of young talent we had coming through, Moore seems to have put an end to most of their careers with his massive squad and ever changing team selection. Sooner he’s gone the better for all concerned.
How long do we have to put up with the antics of Moore, Tolaj for a start is not good enough for the division he is in, he could not hit a barn door a five paces, Cover is another hot and cold player, I did not want to mention names, but Moore would not know a footballer from a school caretaker,the team is made up of odds and sods, the players are not fit that is why there are so many injuries.It looks like Carol is keeping Moore until he runs the Vale into the ground,Gareth played on Sunday you could tell he was not fit enough but he still showed a lot of the other player up. It has been stated by other writers to this site that Moore is the worst manager they have ever seen.I agree in my 60 plus years he’s the worst, and I’ve seen some bad ones,Vale are now 6th in the division with a poor goal difference, we are now sliding down the table Carol.A decent manager could get a good team out of this squad with a few additions.
I was also under the impression we had a massive squad but if you dig deeper you’ll see it’s of similar size to most others in L2. Not the biggest by and means but not the smallest – clubs have expanded squads since the substitution rules and numbers changed
We have started to get the spine of the side Nathan and Ben back .Let’s see where we go now
In my honest opinion I think vale need to start looking for a new manager Moore is so unsure about is team he never plays the same side I no vale have injured players but he is so inconsistent how can players gel if they never play together from one week to the next week just get rid sharon sooner rather then later
A good run is now required to put us in for even a play off place. At present the squad of players at the club don’t look capable of achieving this with Darren Moore in charge. His performance over November and now December have undermined his credibility at this club and yet again it looks like the club has to bring in a new manager
With the length of contracts that have been given to managers I’m being to wonder if they have been trying to appoint a new “John Rudge?” If so then they may as well have chucked the money on a fire!
Time after time it seems to me that the most important criteria for appointing a new manager is that they buy into the values at this club and their track record is less of a consideration. They are the owners and have every right to choose how they select their manager but for me personally I don’t expect any dramatic progress through the leagues if this is the way managers are appointed.
Far worse manager we have ever had in recent years. Clueless on tactics and formations and man management awful. Get shut before the window closes and appoint after a due process a younger and go ahead guy who is better at not loosing the dressing room.
I respect all the contributions made but I find I don’t agree with Moore out talk. I think we stick with him. Yes, I agree we are work in progress but personally that’s what I expected this season with play offs as a target. I never expected an automatic spot and still don’t.
I’ve got full confidence in Moore and the board…..I think the club is progressing on all fronts.
I am personally Getting about the manager’s lack of understanding the game is about scoring goals and have witnessed fans walking out before the end of games like Carlisle and Cheltenham which is an indication of fans unrest; three wins away against orcambe, notts county and Doncaster is a very poor return for a manager that has been well backed we are currently in 4th place as other teams are catching us up and could slip further on Saturday if we don’t win obviously my personal opinion but the owners must be watching this as well but the length of his contract without clauses I assume is way too long and I understand contract law very well