The first in a series of articles looking at what went wrong for Port Vale during the 2025-26 season.
Read all our 2025-26 relegation explainers
Relegation explainer #1 – Port Vale’s forward failings
TOOTHLESS Why a lack of goals doomed the Valiants
As part of this site’s “Explainer” series we will examine some of the issues that we feel played a big part in Port Vale getting relegated. These are not presented in any particular order but we hope the club will address them when trying to recover from what has been a terrible season.
It will come as no surprise that Vale’s failings upfront played a key role in the club’s relegation. Here, in our first article of this series, we look at some of the key issues in the forward line:
SUMMERTIME BLUES
It had hardly been the most convincing of promotions. Port Vale had only gone up in 2025 because Darren Moore finally opted for a settled starting line-up. It included front duo Lorent Tolaj and Jayden Stockley who between them contributed nineteen goals in the second-half of the campaign. The task for the summer window seemed simple – with Vale playing in a higher division the forward line needed an injection of competition and quality.
Sadly, neither was achieved.
There was just one permanent signing. New Zealander Ben Waine looked a squad player when he arrived after a less than stellar spell on loan at Mansfield. To his credit, after a slow start the striker has impressed in the latter stages of the season.
However, loanees Mo Faal, Dejaune Brown and (later) Martin Sherif all achieved very little. Similarly, the returning Ruari Paton once again failed to nail a place down.
The exception to the rule was the late addition of proven striker Devante Cole. The former West Brom forward was arguably the only unqualified successful forward addition of the summer window. However, the reason for Cole’s arrival was the departure of the talented Tolaj and more on that below.
Looking back at the window it was clear that the opportunity to strengthen the front-line had been spurned and it would prove fatal to Vale’s hopes of staying up.
REASONS NOT TO BE CHEERFUL
36
Vale goals scored, the lowest in League One
24
Port Vale League games without scoring
6
Goals by Devante Cole, Vale’s top League scorer
EXIT WOUNDS
You know that expression about sinking ships… well, that certainly happened to Port Vale this season – and it caused significant damage in the process. Firstly, the departure of Lorent Tolaj near to the summer window closing left the club scrabbling for a replacement. At least they managed to bring in Devante Cole. But not for long…
The departure of Cole himself in January was perhaps the fatal blow. With Vale already struggling, it left manager Jon Brady with little chance of bringing in a replacement of similar quality.
REVOLVING DOOR POLICY
Let’s step back to the previous season and previous remarks in this article… Port Vale had only gone up in 2025 because Darren Moore finally opted for a settled starting line-up
Did Moore learn his lesson? Well, the answer to that is clearly no.
The endless rotation continued. It allowed little chance for partnerships to develop and players to gain match fitness. As a result, the service to the frontline was non-existent at times.
Upfront, the situation was no better. Moore often insisted on one upfront or one recognised forward as part of a front three. It meant players like Ronan Curtis playing out of position and it meant whoever was lucky enough to be picked upfront often lacked support.
Furthermore, there was no-one in the Vale squad who was particularly suited to a lone role upfront. The majority of forwards were crying out for a physical partner to win aerial balls and so on. Jayden Stockley had played a big role in promotion and his absence as a support/link player was keenly felt.
BEST LEFT A-LOAN?
What is it with the Valiants and ineffective loans? Since the brief shining lights that were Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine, Vale’s loan business has been rubbish and has clearly played a part in relegation this season.
Of FOUR forwards brought in this season (Ethon Archer, Mo Faal, Dejaune Brown and Martin Sherif if you’re asking) the quartet have made 73 appearances and scored six goals. Of those, three have come from Archer meaning that Faal, Brown and Sherif have a mere three goals between them. That’s an average of one goal every SEVENTEEN games.
This isn’t necessarily a forward problem either – loan moves elsewhere in the side have also largely failed to impress. Joe Gauci and Eli Campbell have both looked shaky at times too.
If Vale are looking for things to file under “must do better” then loan business must surely be one of them!
STATS TERRIBLE
The goal tallies for Vale’s forward line makes grim reading…
Ethon Archer – 20 appearances / 3 goals
Dejaune Brown – 24 appearances / 1 goal
Devante Cole – 19 appearances / 6 goals
Mo Faal – 13 appearances / 0 goals
Andre Gray – 11 appearances / 0 goals
George Hall – 37 appearances / 1 goal
Ruari Paton – 13 appearances / 1 goal
Martin Sherif – 17 appearances / 1 goal
Jayden Stockley – 22 appearances / 3 goals
Lorent Tolaj – 4 appearances / 1 goal
Ben Waine – 27 appearances / 3 goals
THE STOCKLEY SHOCKER
If one incident shows the ineptitude of the forward line this season, it’s the treatment of Jayden Stockley. I was staggered when I read in Mike Baggaley’s Newsletter that Jayden Stockley was fit from September onwards. I had simply presumed he was injured.
Despite being fit, he played 151 minutes (5 sub appearances) between September and late November. During that time Vale played ten League games – and only won three of them. The team scored just nine goals in those ten games.
So Moore largely ignored a forward who (alongside Tolaj) basically rescued our promotion the previous season and yet Moore had a side that was clearly struggling for goals.
Now Stockley is not a world beater but he’s a vastly experienced targetman, who holds up play well and chips with with a reasonable number of goals. Considering the lack of quality upfront this season I find it quite staggering that Moore left a fit Stockley out of his starting XI and often out of the squad completely…
CLEAR VISION
In recent seasons, Vale have seemingly lurched from one transfer philosophy to another. There was the plan to become a favoured destination for elite loanees (how did that go, David?) then there was the more recent plan of speculating to accumulate (resulting in fees shelled out for Messrs Tolaj and Paton). One could say that the last one has seen a 50% success rate (Tolaj sold for big money) and I think that’s pretty decent as no speculative transfer policy is going to return 100% returns.
So, with over £1m banked and decent success, why did Vale not persist with it? It seems to me that the club only want to dip their toes in and not commit. This is wrong. You need to have belief in your decisions and long-term commitment to them.
So, it’s with some relief that I read Jon Brady’s plans. He recently said he wanted forward players with potential, on the way up, that can be developed. Sounds good to me – it’s now up to the club to stick with it and not lurch to the next idea instead.
TO-DO LIST
So after all that… what to do? Well, here’s a wishlist for the club
- Better recruitment. Definitely easier said than done but clearly a top priority for the forward line.
- Have a clear recruitment philosophy. I was happy to see Jon Brady has already suggested his plans for the forward line. I like his commitment to buying players who can be developed and improved.
- Have a continuity programme. If point one works there’s going to be interest from richer clubs. Make sure you are prepared if bids come and ideally can promote from within.
- Use the loan market better. Again, easier said than done but if other clubs can bring in influential loanees Vale should also be able to do so.
- Ditch rotation. Leave that one for the Premier League. Allow partnerships and match sharpness to come from regular games.
- Pick the right formation. One upfront is unlikely to bring you bags of goals unless you have the right personnel. Don’t put square pegs in round holes and pick an attacking formation.
The hard work will begin for Jon Brady and co when he rebuilds the squad over the summer. Let’s hope he does a better job than Darren Moore!
What do you think went wrong upfront and how do you fix it? Share your comments below.
What I really really don’t like about the Club is how 2 faced they are on the one hand they love to project a happy happy public face aren’t we doing well ! While on the other hand they are as secretive as the CIA or former KGB! As far as I can see this is not going to change any time soon!
Your summary and opinions are good but I feel you undervalue one player Ruari Paton who when he played worked his socks off for the team and was booted out of the club to be replaced by loanees who I feel contributed very little in the second half of the season.
I agree that Jon Brady will have to work very hard to put together a decent team who will hold their own in L2 let alone go straight back up to L1. I hope he is successful in the transfer window and creates a team who the fans can be proud of. The big question for me is will everyone at the club be singing from the same hymn sheet? The club can not afford another screwed up season like the last one.
Exactly.
As I have said on Mike’s Substack page, and in agreement with Chris’ comment, I also think Ruari Paton has been a missed opportunity for Vale, who have treated him poorly. He rarely started, when he did, he was playing alongside different players so impossible to form good connections, and if Vale lost or didn’t score, was usually the player dropped next game. For instance, he played alongside Cole away at Exeter, both scored and Vale won 2-0, then they rarely started together again. And his ability to put in excellent free kicks and corners never seemed to be appreciated, it wasn’t his fault that a Vale player rarely got on the end of his crosses. Now we hear that Stockley was fit from September, why wasn’t he paired with Paton or Cole up front ?? What a mess Moore made with his crap decisions, unnecessary player rotation and poor signings. I just hope Jon Brady can sign good players, with the right balance of experience and potential, so that we have a real chance of getting back up.
Agree Ruari Paton a wasted talent
The Relegation explainer should just read just “DARREN MOORE”. His tactics were defensive and and basically set in stone. His recruitment was all over the shop with litter thought. His team selection was erratic and his match day decision making nonsensical. Brady has a better record than Moore with a patched up squad, so for me. Vale went down two years ago in a much worse position than they are in now (as bad as it is), just winning 2 of their last 20 games and with a clown in charge. So I’m hopeful for next season!
Rob’s assessment is accurate, but I would like to highlight that too often Vale have played with only one striker. Best performances over the last two seasons have come from playing two upfront, first Stockley with Tolaj, and then Cole with Paton. Playing a lone striker is fashionable, but I prefer two strikers in a flexible 442, every player selected in their right positions, and as little rotation as possible.
Well I agree with most of the comments and as I’ve started before I put a lot into Port Vale over a season but not anymore, at least not until I see what they sign, if it’s another load of out in, out in , players forget it, I do not trust the oewners anymore.