Rob Fielding says the shot-shy Valiants may have to think about paying over the odds for an experienced forward – as it may be worth it in the long-run.
Rob Fielding writes…
We’re now eight games (League and Cup) into the new season and Vale’s stats are stark. They haven’t scored more than once in any game so far. They’ve failed to score in half of the matches so far. The problems clearly lie at the top end of the pitch.
Time isn’t really something Vale have right now. A worrying start to the season can rapidly decline into an all-out slump. And not only that – but that slump can develop at exactly the wrong time for reinforcements – when the transfer window is shut…
After the sale of Lorent Tolaj, ironically himself as yet unproven at League One level, the Valiants appear to largely placing their faith in potential upfront:
- The potential of Ruari Paton to adapt to League One
- The potential of Mo Faal to regain match sharpness
- The potential of Ben Waine to develop his game
- The potential of Dajaune Brown to benefit from regular League One football
The sole exception to that is experienced veteran Jayden Stockley – and he’s injured anyhow. For me, the problem with potential is that even if it works, it often needs time. Take Mo Faal – he has the attributes to become a quality centre-forward. His hold-up play is good and his aerial threat is clear. However, he looks to be fading after about an hour – and that’s understandable as he missed the pre-season through injury. Faal is playing catch-up and it raises the question – can the club afford to wait for him to do so? It’s a similar deal with Dajaune Brown – he looked sharp on Saturday – but how many minutes and matches will it take for him to push for a starting place? Meanwhile, Ruari Paton hasn’t had a single minute in League One to prove his worth – how many will it take to see if he makes the grade and what happens if he doesn’t?
So, there’s the problem with potential – time! Time isn’t really something Vale have right now. A worrying start to the season can rapidly decline into an all-out slump. And not only that – but that slump can develop at exactly the wrong time for reinforcements – when the transfer window is shut.
So, the simple solution is to get a player in who isn’t purchased on potential, who is ready to go right now. I think Vale need to give serious thought to adding an experienced figure upfront before the window shuts. Yes, it’s far easier said that done – there’s limited time and experienced/proven players don’t grow on trees, but Vale do have transfer funds – and money may talk during the window.
The Valiant may have to pay over the odds in the short-term, but it may be worth it if it helps secures League One football this season. After all, potential doesn’t always work out. If the strikers on the book don’t improve, not only will it be a tough season but it could also end up with Vale dropping back into League Two again. That’s something that needs to be avoided at all costs – and the club could help itself by bringing an experienced forward onboard before Monday’s cut-off.
I Doubt we will pay 4 a Decent striker, probably just a dip into the Loan market for another youngster. Dane Scarlett from Spurs perhaps……
Great comments. League 1 ready is a phrase that was spouted. Perhaps that should have been league 2 ready! It’s abundantly obvious that a proven striker at this level needs finding before the window closes. As I’ve said previously the current lot will struggle to score 10 to 15 between them all season. Come on Vale wake up and smell the coffee. This season was supposed to be a celebration 150 years. At this rate it’s going to be an annus horribulus. I await developments tomorrow with bated breath and a fear of dread. Tomorrow will tell the fans if we are serious for this season or not!
The problem goes a bit deeper than just signing a proven goal scorer. Gerrity, Chislett, Curtis, Paton (not at this level) and Tolaj are or were all proven goal scorers, yet under Dopey Darren only Tolaj has had limited success. To my surprise we are playing more of an attacking formation this season, but still no goals. Other than Stockley every other goal scorer seems to have been played out of position for some reason. Moores reputation of being a boring defensive manager has followed him around wherever he’s gone and possibly this is more of a problem than we realise. We can’t just go out and spend the Tolay money for the sake of spending sake, not unless the style and system of play suits and maximise the goal scoring ability of the player or players coming in, and that is something Moore has not been able to achieve while being here. Preseason signing to me shows Moore has no idea of how to increasing our goal scoring abilities and we could end up with a wingback being our leading goal scorer.
Stockley was a proven goalscorer and Moore got goals out of him while Curtis scored more goals for Moore than in his previous two seasons. Garrity I think you can discount through injury which is hardly the manager’s fault. He could potentially have got more out of Paton and Chislett but no-one, not even JR has a 100% success rate with his signings. Where Moore arguably did well is with experienced players (both Stockley and Curtis having League One experience) hence why I think an experienced player (albeit a really tough task to get at this stage) would be a plan.
I think the Vale are making chances this season – look at the multiple chances from set pieces against Birmingham and the two second-half chances for Brown on Saturday. So, I don’t think it is as simple as a defensive set-up, I think it’s actually taking the chances – hence the need for someone to do so but not necessarily (unless one of the additions makes rapid progress) someone learning on the job.
My concern is not entirely with the lack of a goal scorer, it is that we do not look a threat from anywhere on the pitch. Goalscorers feed off a good service and that is something we are sadly lacking, we have no creativity or threat from midfield or wide positions which I am sorry to say is very similar to the situation 2 seasons ago.
Even if we don’t concede another goal to the end of the season, if we don’t score either we will be in the relegation places. We need a proven goal scorer at this level otherwise one mistake, a wonder goal or deflection and the opposition win. It’s obvious 6 games in we are struggling up top and can’t convert. Need to act fast. Waine runs about but not much of a threat, big Mo looks very clumsy with his feet, stockley injured, no idea where Paton is, Richards can’t hold down an attacking midfield place and Curtis is not the answer. The Derby lad looks promising but we need experience.
Rob, Chislett, Garrity, Paton, Curtis and Tolaj for a large period of his time here all played out of position . You have commented on this yourself on numerous occasions! Who is to say Moore will not continue this practice with the next goal scorer he brings into the club ?
All great comments , definitely need a experienced goal scorer but I can’t see it happening, we need to look at what carol is thinking too because doesn’t she see what we are seeing, Darren himself says he his like a broken record and he does it’s like listening to mark hughes when he was at Stoke , going on about concentration at this level you will switch off at times but there is so much pressure on the back 3 or 4 because we are not scoring even when the opposition switch off
Why are we bringing in loan players who are age group guys. They are not use to the cut and thrust of div 1 and 2 level. Only Dane Scarlett fits the bill and yet the manager seems to let Paton rot on the sidelines. Time for Moore to go before we are back in div 2 and beyond . The faith and loyalty of the supporters is being tested .
Nice Article Rob but the ears are not listening, they do not need the opinion of fans who ( at my age ) have dug the football club out many times from the early1960s, when Sir Stanley Matthew’s was there,I know the Vale could go far but there is always something in the way, I will not spend anymore cash until someone “LISTENS, LISTENS ECHO ECHO”
Rob, I’ve been working today so it’s only now that I’ve had time to check out your statement that under Moore, Curtis has score more goals than during his last two previous seasons. While you’re correct, it’s a bit of a politicians answer. Curtis scored 8 in 46 in all competitions for Vale, while the previous season at Wimbledon he scored 5 in 17 whilst returning from a career threatening injury. Then the season before that he scored 7 in 36 in league one for Portsmouth. Regards Ian.
I won’t hold my breath today waiting for our marquee signing of an experienced forward those of us old enough to remember the signing of Ron Futcher who made the inexperienced Darren Beckford into a player who went on to play if only breafly at the top level, You cannot win at this level with young lads who are only used to playing U19 or non league football I think this is a problem in the game today in the past there were reserve leagues where young players learned there trade along side experienced players and against experienced players. But I think the problem at the Vale goes deeper it seems DM blames everyone but himself for his head scratching team selections he seems to drop any one that doesn’t do as they’re told, also we are not scoring from midfield. Don’t forget DM failed to do the job he was bought in to do keep us in this league 2seasons ago maybe he should take his own medicine! Also worrying is the silence coming from the owners over the selling of the best forward we’ve had in some time. We should not be surprised after all this is the Vale!
Neil, totally agree on Futcher – not only brought his own experience but brought on a young talented player too.
I certainly agree with NeilB on Moore failed to do the job he was brought in to do. This is part of my dislike and lack of trust in him. Preseason Carol did an interview on the coming season. She spoke on how much more we are capable of staying and progressing in League One compared to last time. She went on to say all of last season’s signings were basically made with League One in mind, saying that all new recruits were more suitable to league one than league two. She compared promotion this time to two years ago when we went up through the playoffs, and basically said the club both on and off the field was not ready for league one football. Crosby was sacked when I think the club was 17th in league one, after playing the majority of the time with no forwards and having had to include 2or3 teenagers every game. Alls Moore had to do after arriving on a very expensive contract, was to organise the team to match the results of four of the teams below us to keep us in league one. This he failed to do miserably. There seems to be double standards there where Moore is concerned.