Four thoughts after the Exeter game – have some starting positions been sorted?

Rob Fielding has praise for the strike force, is pleased to see Ben Garrity back and thinks some players have cemented their places in the starting line-up.

Rob Fielding writes…

Have some starting positions been sorted?

If, like me, you’re hoping for some more consistent team selections from Darren Moore then this game may have given some pointers:

• Joe Gauci looks the first choice goalkeeper right now (apart from when he jets off on International duty). He didn’t do anything wrong on Saturday and commanded his area well.
• The first choice striking partnership should be Ruari Paton and Devante Cole who looked to link-up really well. A bench containing a fit Jayden Stockley and Dejaune Brown (who looked a powerful figure to come off the bench) gives good cover.

I now hope that manager Moore keeps a more consistent starting eleven so these partnerships can develop and flourish.

Sharp strikers take their chances

And talking of Paton and Cole… if you look back at the game, Vale really only had two clearcut chances – and took them both. Paton was predatory, latching onto a mistake while Cole showed all his striking skills. It looked odds on he would lose out to the defenders but he showed pace, tenacity, skill and calmness in conjuring up a perfect finish. Vale’s new found clinical finishing could be decisive to their chances of establishing themselves in League One.

Garrity makes such a difference

I must admit I was concerned when Darren Moore started with Ben Garrity rather than bring him off the bench. It seemed a big ask after his latest injury layoff. However, he clearly makes a huge difference with his runs and linking up midfield and attack. Without the skipper, the midfield looks a bit… “samey”. I was concerned that Moore didn’t hook the skipper off after an hour but I can understand why he kept him on for longer given his influence on the side. I just hope he came out of this match fully fit.

How do you keep the squad happy?

I do wonder whether one of the reasons behind Darren Moore’s changes has been a desire to keep everyone happy in his squad? However, if consistent selection is the key then some are not going to be involved. For this game, it was the likes of Ben Waine, Rhys Walters, Jack Shorrock and Jordan Shipley. Part of the management role is man-management and Moore will now face a challenge of keeping some of the squad outliers happy. One simple way to do so is a good cup run in the Football League Trophy – the ideal competition to give the fringe players a run out.

Image kindly supplied by Roy Thompson

What do you think? Decent suggestions or total nonsense? Share your thoughts and post a comment below.