Rob Fielding says a scenario which seemed ridiculous just a few weeks ago is now being considered more seriously after Vale’s dreadful slump in form.
Rob Fielding writes…
Will Moore survive?
It just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it. Clueless against Carlisle, battered at Bradford and now gloom at Grimsby.
I still think the manager has credit in the bank but that credit is definitely declining with each poor result
It seems remarkable that we have to say this but having written an article just over two weeks ago saying talk of removing Darren Moore was “ridiculous”, I have to revise my viewpoint. I still think the manager has credit in the bank but that credit is definitely declining with each poor result. I can certainly appreciate the views of some long-standing fans that “enough is enough” and they have earned the right to express those views. However, personally I think Moore deserves more time. However, like other fans my patience isn’t limitless and having previously dismissed calls to dismiss the manager out of hand, I am now starting to waiver. He needs to turn things around fast or the numbers calling on him to go will be so big the club won’t be able to ignore them.
I think the club will stick with him. His position is perhaps helped by the imminent transfer window. Last season, Vale removed Andy Crosby after the window had shut and it left the new manager (Moore) no chance to reconfigure his squad. I think this time around they will back Moore in January in the hope he can recover his mojo. They have invested long-term in Moore personally (a five year contract which I still find a baffling decision) and by backing him handsomely in the transfer market. It will therefore be difficult to save face if they ditch him now.
On a slight tangent, personally, I would think a manager only deserves a long-term deal when he has proven himself and delivered success not handed one on just arriving at a club. Vale thought otherwise and we, as a club, now have to live with it.
The manager was certainly given the resources to turn the club around with one of the biggest, if not the biggest squad in the division. However, he has to prove his talent by managing that group of players to deliver consistent results. If he doesn’t the chorus calling for him to be removing, five year contract or not, will only grow louder. A positive result on New Year’s Day is a must.
What can Moore do?
Here are four things which I think Moore should look at in order to turn the side’s fortunes around:
Pick the best starting eleven and stick with it?
Pick the best starting eleven and stick with it?This is really the key, I feel. Over this season there have simply been too much chopping and changing. Is it any surprise that arguably two of the more consistent outfield players – Croasdale and Hall (pictured) – have been regular picks. Darren Moore says the changes are made to suit the game circumstances (and I suspect also to keep his whole squad happy) but it doesn’t appear to be working. Some players may be upset at not starting but football is a results business and a settled eleven may help Vale reverse their poor form.
Try to sort out the injury issues
Try to sort out the injury issuesFor all Darren Moore’s insistence that his chopping and changing helps keep players from burning out and getting knocks, this side have had an awful lot of injuries. Just look at the number of players to spend time on the sidelines – Byers, Garrity, Hart, John, Clark, Stockley, Harper, Benicio…
Clearly my suggestion to keep a consistent starting XI doesn’t hold up if there is a steady stream of injuries causing disruption. Does the club need to look at the root cause? Did the club mess up when checking players’ injury history? Is it the fitness routine? Is it the training pitch? Or is it even the constant selection changes themselves which are causing so many injuries as players drop in and out of the starting XI?
Bring Smith back into the defence
Bring Smith back into the defenceJesse Debrah had a torrid time at Grimsby and arguably was lucky to remain on the pitch. The young defender’s form has been off for several games now. I find it strange that, given Debrah’s form, Nathan Smith can’t get a regular start. In some respects, a gritty and experienced performer like Smith is needed in the “trenches” as Vale battle to regain some semblance of form.
Build a partnership upfront
Build a partnership upfrontFor some weeks, Jayden Stockley has been starved of support and cut an isolated figure upfront. Now the targetman is injured and so Vale will have to think again about who to play upfront. For this fan, playing a front three doesn’t provide enough goal threat. Would it not be better to play a forward partnership, allowing those two players to develop an understanding, with a “number ten” behind. Vale have plenty of choices for that “ten” position – Garrity, Chislett or Richards spring to mind. It’s the pairing ahead of that player that they need to develop.
What do you think? Should Moore stay or go? Do you agree with the points made or are they wrong? You’re welcome to add a comment at the end of this feature.
I argee this recent run of form is worrying, but we should let Moore have the January Sales with some it’s and outs to find some winning Formula .
We look like a relegation side , which our current run of form confirms. When players come back from injury we are told it will take a few games to get back up to speed and match sharp. Well true but surely the same applies if you have been frozen out of the squad for 3 weeks. Pick out “best”11 and by and large keep them week in week out. Other players can still be brought on after 60/70 mins to keep the squad engaged, particularly with the number of subs you are allowed to make. This builds sharpness for the players picked and familiarity with team mates.
Stop the nice guy attitude Darren, get assertive with the players and tell them they need to get stuck in and stop the trying too look good, if in doubt boot it out. We are suicidal at times in giving the ball away all over the pitch. This team atm looks worse than the team last year and its been the case since mid Oct. Teams are saying just get into them from the off as they shy away from getting stuck in, weve been figured out!!!
As I said on post after Walsall defeat ,which you eluded to at start of this one , Moore should have gone then. It’s no wonder we cannot pass the ball to each other with constant changes every match . If he stays forget promotion or play offs this season. New Year New Manager. Taxi for Moore!!
Yes we should try and play our best eleven. Some of the other teams up there consistently do this. I accept our midfield is decimated and Croasdale has had to almost man it on his own, we are desperate to get Garrity and Byers back, and for them to play well.
We’ve not had the rub of the green, goals not being given, wind assisted winners, Tom Sang, one of our best performers sent off for nothing at Bradford .
However I feel we haven’t been working hard enough recently, which is unacceptable. Certainly this was the case against Carlisle and yesterday’s new low at Grimsby. Darren said we are playing as individuals and not as a team at the moment, this only reinforces the opinion that a settled team is needed.
This club is capable of a top 3 finish and the players need to get their winning mentality back
Who will we move on in January? Surely we can’t get anyone in unless we do,
So who gets the chop ?
I still can’t believe he got a 5 year contract. He must be able talk the talk. We need get someone in January who can score goals. Obviously people we have can’t so need a change. Can’t do anything if we can’t get ball in the net
I do think that despite the size and the quality of the squad, immediate promotion back to League 1 would be futile. Most of the players drafted in at the start of the season won’t be out of contract in June and this current team would just come straight back down. Give Moore the chance to see if he can turn it around before the end of the season and if not, then sadly he has to go. Supporters will certainly not put up with this for another four years as loads have already had enough of the dross being churned out and his constant changes.
Even when results were more favourable there were always concerns why players were left out and now it’s resulting in catastrophic performances and players disgruntled. You should always play your strongest eleven and change when the game allows. The interviews after the games don’t fill you with much confidence. Due to the length of contract and monies spent on the squad it would seem time will be given to correct the shortcomings and hopefully the manager learns from his shortcomings which can only improve his development and show in the results.
Moore should be shown the door before the January window is up. New man in place. He relegated the club, has an awful record.
I said at the start of the season Moore had signed a lot of chancers, Paton and Tolaj arrived with hefty price tags around their necks without ever been proven at this level, Stockley and Heneghan arrived from a club relegated along side us. Hall signed from a struggling league two Colchester, plus the usual crop of unproven youngsters and loanees. Only Croasdale and Curtis could said to be proven steady league two players. A LOT OF THINGS HAD TO FALL INTO PLACE, AND HAVEN’T !! Moore has made an almighty cockup of it ! We had a lot of lucky single goal wins without playing well, Notts County missed 2 sitters at 0-0, MK had 2 goals disallowed, Accrington battered us for 90mins, for us to pinch a draw. At home, both Chesterfield and Fleetwood would consider themselves unlucky to loose, while both Wimbledon and Crewe murdered us in the second half. 4 wins from 40 odd last season must be the worst record ever in the EFL, and to me, take away the lucky wins, and performances have not been much better this season . I’ve made my views pretty clear on my thoughts about Darren Moore and I wouldn’t let him manage my grandson’s lads and dads team. To give him anymore time and anymore money to waste would just add to Carols long list of disastrous decisions!
For those worried that a 5 year contract is a financial obstacle to changing the Manager, I can add this having managed employment contracts of all types for years before retiring. Severance payment doesn’t have to compensate the full balance of the contract term, if there’s a termination clause to specify differently. For example, a 5 year contract could be terminated with a specified 3, 6 or 12 months salary, irrespective of time in the job. That limits and protects the employer’s financial exposure if the job holder fails within a short time of their appointment. On the other hand, if the employment is an agreed “fixed term” 5 year contract with no specially flexed termination provision, the financial exposure is to pay in full the balance of the remaining 5 years. Supporters favoring Moore’s dismissal now must hope that the Vale chose caution, and agreed the flexed termination option when Moore signed on the dotted line. And, Darrel Clarke was also on an extended contract, but that didn’t prevent the club from dismissing him.
Back to the football, I agree with all the points made in this report. With only 1 win in the last 10 League & Cup games, I hope the owners encourage Moore to sit down with John Rudge for some serious mentoring advice. I suspect that advice would be along the lines of “always pick your best team and system, and barring injuries & suspension stick with it”.
I believe Moore should stay, I see stupid comments from people on X saying that he has been awful for months now, but he was the reason we achieved what we have so fair I can’t deny December has been disappointing but the league is fair from over. I would say give him another 5-10 games and if he doesn’t win a single one then we look at getting a different manager. The one issue with this though is if we keep changing the managers the way we have they never to leave their mark properly it takes time for a managers influence to work
and of course people may not agree but most people I speak to feel time is running short for the manager and it might depend on the next few games
obviously New Year’s Day is important followed by a tough away game at Doncaster and then onto notts county; lose those and his time might be up; the club have backed him to their best but how much longer will they; the length of his contract is too long unless there are clauses in it; I will be there on Wednesday to support the club and manager but time is ticking?
I am getting worried about the manager’s ability at the moment with some tough games to come after Cheltenham like Doncaster and Notts county in February and he needs to stop tinkering all the time and needs a win to save his job but he only defends and the football is unattractive and he needs to look after his training regime with all these injuries but for me his job as manager is on edge
I find it a difficult watch with Darren Moore in charge. The constant team changes, negative football, players that have thrived at other clubs are struggling with us. I don’t expect us to win every game but the lack of goals and entertainment makes watching us a chore rather than something I look forward to. The virtual exclusion of Nathan Smith annoys me so I don’t know what effect it will have on him. We sign 2 successful strikers in Tolaj and Paton at considerable cost and they hardly get a look in or get played out of position. As was said of John Rudge. He signed good players, played them in position and in a system they were comfortable with.
“We look like a relegation side , which our current run of form confirms”.
Statistically if we get another 10 points from the second half of the season we’re safe.
And I’m guessing the other teams that came down with us might actually be willing to trade places!
Face facts the run has been poor just like Man city run will they sack either manager no .It’s always sack the manager man utd gave found out it doesn’t work .Can they afford to sack him I doubt it.Bring back Smithy back into defence he is not my favourite but ge his division battle hardened. Stop with a starting 11 and keep the sane team apart from injuries .consistency for success .
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