Rob Fielding says that while Port Vale manager Darren Moore should not be except from criticism, talk of replacing him is ridiculous.
Rob Fielding writes…
It seems crazy that fans of a club sitting second in the table can even think of replacing the manager but that is what happened recently on the forum. I think Darren Moore has plenty of credit left in the bank before the club should reach that decision.
I would say the positives outweigh the negatives, that talk of sacking him is well wide of the mark but that there are still several areas for improvement…
In some ways, I think Moore is the victim of the high expectations created by the summer transfer business. The naysayers can argue that with such a budget a manager has to deliver but let’s just bear a few things in hand – yes, the club bankrolled business in the summer, but it was still up to the manager to deliver on signings – and deliver he certainly has. Just look at the difference in squad depth between this season and the last. It’s also worth remembering other squad overhauls – the one under Bruno Ribeiro in 2016 springs to mind – where other managers have had free reign to overhaul their squads and failed. So, the expectations were a result of the budget, but also the result of canny signings from the manager.
There’s also another point to bear in mind, one which was expertly made on the forum. Let’s just suppose the club does (bizarrely) get rid of Darren Moore. Who are they going to get in his place? Who is available who is an “upgrade”? How is that manager going to cope with someone else’s squad?
As I mentioned in another opinion piece, I think there are tweaks that I think the manager could attempt. They include having a more settled eleven and having a striking partnership upfront. However, these are changes to build on an already strong platform, not “make or break” decisions. We are second in the League with a very strong squad. What I suggested was ways, in my view, to make Vale even more formidable. Even without them, I still think Darren Moore has turned the side around in a very short period of time.
And talking of time… I’m not sure what the “Moore out” brigade want. For me, continuity is key in football. When clubs keep faith in the manager (locally – Stoke City under Pulis, Crewe under Gradi and Vale under Rudge) they have had successful spells. I think a manager needs more than one transfer window (and remember that’s all Moore has had) to prove his worth. Otherwise, we risk a constant state of flux where new managers come in and are dumped for not performing – but that is often due to the fact they haven’t been given enough time to bring in their own players in transfer windows.
So, what would be a reasonable stance on Darren Moore? I would say that, at the moment, the positives outweigh the negatives, that talk of sacking him is well wide of the mark, but that there are still several areas for improvement. I personally think that should we go up this season, the time to judge him will be after next summer’s window when he potentially has to upgrade the squad for League One. It’s certainly not four months into a season with the club sitting in second place.
This is just my opinion. Feel free to disagree (or agree). I welcome your comments both for and against my argument. Scroll down to add yours. I’ll be interested to read them.
Well said Rob. There surely is no case at all to replace Darren, madness! We don’t want to start all over again surely! There is never any guarantee of success in replacing. You only have to look at our neighbours Stoke City, for proof of this.
Sick and tired of the moaners just wish they would go and watch stoke .nearly 2 managers a season and still after spending millions and at the wrong end of their league.
Let’s get through this season and see where we end up notably promotion . Then evaluate next close season. But I wish that there are less changes too lineups match by match. Let’s keep the faith.
I agree. Both ends of the city have an overabundance of doomsayers. Who cares about his rambling interviews? Who cares they aren’t free-scoring? The overall results speak for themselves. This constant barracking is an unwelcome distraction. Onwards and upwards!
I think Darren Moore has become a victim of his own success. After a poor start to the season with two defeats away to Barrow and two poor results at home against Tranmere and Doncaster, we suddenly pick up some great results with back to back Manager of The Month awards. Suddenly our performances seem to become disjoined and 5 points from 5 games follow a miserable FA Cup showing at home against Barnsley. How does a team go from winning virtually every game to looking anything but promotion material? Is it through injuries to key players, constant changing of the team, disillusioned players with such a big squad or just bad luck. Definitely way too soon to be saying ‘Moore Out’ but performances and results will need to improve to justify the budget he has been given and the depth of the squad he has built. But as the article states, getting rid of the manager on a regular solves little and usually means starting all over again.
Gods sake give the manager a break, criticise at the end of the season, today 2nd in the table too early to criticise
It is absolutely crazy to talk about replacing the manager at this stage. Who exactly you would replace him with is anyone’s guess anyway. A couple of dodgy starting lineups and a couple of battles against tough opponents and everyone is crying and moaning. How about a bit of positivity for a change?
What a ridiculous subject, a few people with as much football knowledge as my dog, have too much of a voice, but then empty vessels do make most noise, so it is said
There is never any guarantee that money will bring success. We’re 2nd in the table though , and that’s a measure of the signings Darren Moore has made with the Shanahan’s money, coupled with his tactics , which has made us hard to beat . I would take the same kind of form and position in May. Fans have no patience these days. His football may not be pretty , but we’re 2nd because of him , not despite him.
Who’d want to be a manager eh?
Everyone is entitled to an opinion. That’s what is great about football. I can understand the positive comments above but I as I’ve said before do not believe Mr Moore is the right manager for Vale. He is to negative with team formation, reactive not proactive with his substitutions and even with stockley injury his team for Walsall with no forward on at the start and 3 on the bench did not make sense. I hope I’m wrong , I really do and everyone can say I told you so come the end of the season, believe me I would be over the moon. For now my cardboard signs saying “Moore out” will remain under my bed! and that’s what I mean when I say football is all about opinion. No one is right or wrong we all want success for our club.VTID
Too many think they are managers and wrongly think they could do a better job.Stick to your own job and let Darren get on with his.Keep up the good work and UTV
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There’s a strong argument that Moore could and should have saved the Vale from relegation last season. Minority supporters are still smarting over this, and given current squad resources think Moore should be winning every game. Their ongoing dissatisfaction with Moore means that any defeat sparks calls for dismissal, no matter that the Vale have dominated League 2 with Moore being awarded successive manager of the month awards. Personally I think he’s doing an excellent job this season. His team selections & tactics can be unpredictable, but results show that it bamboozles opposition Managers as much as Vale supporters. Talk of sacking Moore is just ridiculous.
Fully agree with this article. I, like Bursley Boy, am sick of the moaners. He was responsible for attracting the quality players we signed.
DARREN MO0RE HAS MY RESPECT..HES TRANSFORMED THE VALE..ALREADY..YOU CAN ARGUE ROTATING THE SQUADS NOT GOOD..IVE SAID IN THE PAST IVE WATCHED VALE OVER THE YEARS AND BACK IN THE DAY ..THEY WOULD PLAY THERE BEST PLAYERS EVERY GAME UNLESS INJURED OR BANNED ..BUT YOU CANT DENY AT THE MOMMENT VALE ARE DOING GREAT..CANT EXPECT TO WIN EVERY MATCH OF THE SEASON…DARREN MOORE ..TOP MAN .
I just wish he would try keeping to the same side and 4 4 2 will give us a realistic chance of going back to div1 instead of changing every match
Well said Rob it’s ridiculous what some fans expect DM for me UTV ⚽
Cookie reminds me of the Man U fans who wanted to sack Alex Ferguson. Also a pity he can’t spell TOO
To or is that Too or Two CLB , apologies for the predicted text on the spelling .
How are you all feeling after todays pathetic excuse of an attempt to satisfy the fans