Opinion: Port Vale’s goalkeeping and striking strength means two summer signings are currently out in the cold

Football can be such a fast-moving sport that fortunes can turn around rapidly. That seems to be the case for two recent Port Vale signings as Rob Fielding claims.

Rob Fielding writes…

Marosi looks out of the picture

I think it’s only natural to feel sorry for Marko Marosi. Signed on a two-year contract in the summer he looked a nailed-on number one. However, after fit again Ben Amos was picked ahead of him in the Football League Trophy game against Accrington, Marosi is probably now cemented as third choice. Whether he’ll look for pastures new in the next window will be interesting to watch.

Meanwhile, it looks like a shootout between Joe Gauci and Ben Amos for the starting spot. At the moment, when not on International duty it looks like Gauci’s place. However, there’s three things in Amos’ favour – the fact that Gauci does have to depart regularly with Australia, the fact he’s a loan player and Amos’ greater experience. With the Australian travelling regularly with his country, it must be reassuring for Darren Moore to have such experienced and reliable back-up.

Gauci looks to have little chance of a future at Villa and I wonder if that will prompt a Vale bid for him in a transfer window? With Marosi seemingly out of the picture, it would make sense to bring in Gauci as a long-term replacement for Amos. If it happened, it would leave Gauci as number one, Amos as experienced back-up (and a great mentor) and allow promising rookie Arron Davies to pick up experience on loan elsewhere.

As a fan of nearly fifty years now, I’ve never known the club to have three senior keepers on their books but its a policy which seems justified. I was baffled when Vale brought in Gauci so soon after signing Marosi, but they must have had their reasons – and appear to be justified ones. Those of us who remember the revolving door of the 2016 goalkeeping situation will just be relieved the club now has strength in depth there for the remainder of this campaign.

A similar situation upfront for Waine

After feeling sorry for summer signing Marko Marosi, we should also spare a thought for Ben Waine. The New Zealand International was signed on a long-term deal but hasn’t been able to get a place in the squad in recent weeks. It’s understandable because, with the signing of Devante Cole and the return of Jayden Stockley, the frontline is another position where Vale have a wealth of options.

Personally, I see Devante Cole as a certain starter, if fit. It leaves the question of who partners him. For me, it’s a toss-up between four players.

• Ruari Paton and Dejaune Brown, during the Exeter and Barnsley games, gave a glimpse of what they can offer. The problem with both is perhaps they lack consistency.
• Another option is Jayden Stockley, who is less mobile and still regaining match fitness, but who could be an option against more physical opposition.
• Finally, there’s George Hall, who has impressed recently with pace and skill.

All this competition means match minutes for the likes of Waine and loanee Mo Faal, with five players ahead of them both, is pretty limited.

Like Gauci, I wonder if Darren Moore will make a permanent move for Dejaune Brown in the window? Moore is reportedly a long-term admirer and Brown possesses some admirable assets – he’s young, he’s powerful and he’s quick. On the flipside, Mo Faal seems to fall into that loanee category of “squad player who can often be the target of the boo boys”. I guess his future at Vale will depend on who else is available. After all, Faal has chipped in with a few useful goals and if an improvement can’t be found in the market then it’s probably worth keeping hold of him. Football has a long season and (as we know with the wingback positions) injuries can crop up at an alarming rate. I’ve certainly seen worse loanees than Faal, who, with his height, can be a useful asset upfront.

However, where Waine fits into all this is a bit of a concern. I wonder if like Marosi, he will consider his options in the window or whether, with a two-year deal, he still thinks there’s time to force his way into the starting eleven?

I guess time will tell what happens to the pair but as the opening sentence in this piece said – football can be a fast-changing game – and who knows, there may still be a chance for both players before the end of a long season.