Rob Fielding writes in praise of midfielder Rhys Walters, who has made an impressive return to Vale first-team action.
Rob Fielding writes…
So hands up, I was one of the doubters. I didn’t understand why Port Vale had given such a long contract to a player with a handful of appearances and who had been in contract dispute for many months. Well, I was completely wrong.
The 19 year-old looks a class above League Two at times. His ability to spin past a man and supply a weighted pass add much to the Vale midfield. His partnership with ever-willing partner Ryan Croasdale is flourishing…
Vale’s upturn in form can be attributed to several things – the return of Jayden Stockley and two upfront, a formation that suits Ben Garrity, less chopping and changing, a resurgence in form for Jesse Debrah and Ryan Croasdale – but it’s also due to the influence of Rhys Walters since he returned to action.
The 19 year-old looks a class above League Two at times. His ability to spin past a man and supply a weighted pass add much to the Vale midfield. His partnership with ever-willing partner Ryan Croasdale is flourishing. Some fans may have worried when George Byers succumbed to his latest injury, but on this form, even a fully fit Byers wouldn’t supplant Walters and Croasdale from the central midfield positions.
If there’s any doubt about the importance of the Walters-Croasdale partnership, you just need to take a look at the replay of the Barrow game. Vale’s first-half performance with a team shorn of the Walters-Croasdale pairing was dross. Resting the pair remains a baffling decision by Darren Moore. When they came on, Vale raised their game and rattled the woodwork on numerous occasions.
It’s great to see home-grown talent playing and Walters was one of three youth team graduates in the side in midweek (the others being Jack Shorrock and Nathan Smith). It’s not inconceivable that all three will feature again in the crucial game against table-toppers Walsall. If you went back to the start of the season, it probably wouldn’t have been a surprise to see Shorrock and Smith featuring but I bet that back in August, the vast majority of Vale fans would probably have thought they’d never see Walters in a Vale shirt again. It’s therefore been a welcome boost to see him make such an impressive return. It’s almost like having a new signing in the side. Long may it continue.
Walters, Walters, and not a Dropped pass to boot…
2 words…sheer quality.
Rhys Walters was excellent, calm & composed in everything he did. Also I’ve got to add that No-Nonsense Nathan was brilliant, that lad bleeds Port Vale. The whole team was magnificent and was pleasing to see the subs step straight into the battle too. Six more to go lads, let’s go back top and win this league 😉
Have to say whole team stepped up even subs and walters seem to make extra time on the ball would hope for the very least a draw saturday but if they go out with same attitude we can win
The Vale and Darren Moore for continuing to support Rhys even though he had not signed a contract. He has integrated so well into the squad that you would think he had been there all season. Hope the Vale’s junior and youth team setup continues to produce a steady stream of players for the first team.
Walters was a confident tidy player last season but now he has come on leaps and bounds, and looks an accomplished league two player. I spoke out against the length of contract Moore gave Walters, but if he continues to put these sort of performances in on a regular basis then both Moore and Walters have proved me wrong. Which I will be delighted about. I do feel Walters is short of a yard of pace to become a top player but he’s proving me wrong so far at the so let’s hope he proves me wrong again.