Manager Jon Brady says “you’re only as good as you have upfront” as he reflected on the loss to Stevenage.
Vale took the lead through Jayden Stockley but once again they were unable to hold on to it as they lost 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Brady said that one of the clear differences was the quality of the two side’s frontlines. Vale played recent additions Andre Gray and Martin Sherif, who are both short of match practice, while Stevenage had a proven and experienced forward line. It included experienced Championship loanee Harry Cornick (who was sadly injured during the game) with nine goal veteran Jamie Reid able to replace him off the bench.
Look at their frontline compared to our frontline. It’s miles ahead. You’re only as good as you have upfront…
The Vale manager said: “Up until I had Andre (Gray) and Jayden (Stockley) up there I had a bit of physicality then I’m bleeding in Martin (Sherif) who hasn’t played for three or four weeks and you can see that and Ben (Waine) comes on and struggles with physicality against that back three. It’s the biggest back three in the League. Look at their frontline compared to our frontline. It’s miles ahead. You’re only as good as you have upfront. To be fair I thought Andre started to look like he has got some sharpness and Jayden did his utmost but now I’m trying to bleed Martin in and get him up to speed.”
Gray did manage to find the net in the first-half only for the goal to be disallowed with Brady adding: “”I had some Stevenage fans come up to me and say ‘how was that not a goal’ for the life of me I can’t understand it.”
Vale don’t just have problems upfront. They lined up with a rejigged midfield of Jordan Shipley and Cam Humphreys after Brady revealed that Ryan Croasdale was injured. It means Vale have three senior midfielders out injured. He said: “Cam’s played in there before and Ryan’s out injured at the moment. I feel we are struggling a bit in midfield with Ben (Garrity) and George Byers out. I am trying to find the solutions in there.”
As for Croasdale, he isn’t set to be missing for long with Brady adding: “It’s just a slight strain and whether the weekend will be too soon for him I’m not sure.”
However, the main issue for the Vale boss is getting match sharpness into his new arrivals. Grant Ward was an unused sub and Onel Hernandez didn’t make the squad as they continue to build their fitness. Brady concluded: “all these players coming in – we have to get them up to speed.”
Not sure where to start? Vale look like a team of 7 year olds playing their first competitive match, there is no cohesion whatsoever. When we have the ball out wide we always turn backwards instead of forwards and so fail to get the ball into an area from which we might score. Here’s the question? What the dickens do they do when they train? I would place most of our players as enthusiastic amateurs certainly not professional footballers. Let’s so how badly we can do between now and the end of the season, we seem to be going backwards which is quite alarming. I normally sign off with Keep the faith but the faith is beginning to fade.
As i said in a previous post, what a mess we are in. I hope people agree, but the solution is consolidation within league two for 2 or 3 seasons, built a youth team full of energy, pride and teamwork. That would build confidence, togetherness within the team and fans and would bring real passion. Instead, we tend to go for short term fixes that do not maintain any loyalty, which just stinks of short term thinking. I’m convinced most fans would be content with a mix of experience (Garrity, hall, Humphrey’s) then good experienced young lads like John, Hall, Walters, Shorrock, mixed in with more youth talent. Then we build momentum at a sensible wage structure. Sell 1 asset a year and keep building and building
What you pick the team you overlook the training ..and it’s you that keeps tinkering about match to match with players and tactics.. think this job is to big a challenge for you ..this squad won’t survive league 2 ..look at the players we’ve sold or sent out on loan ..they’re performing well…its got to be down to the vale set up and atmosphere in the club itself …players can’t help but leave .cuz they’re not happy how it’s run that’s obvious.
I don’t know who wasted the most time
The home team after they went 2 1 up or
Our goal keeper taking goal kicks
I can’t believe iwhat I’ve just read from our manager, John Brady believes Port Vale players are not good enough, no they are Not John, some of them are not even fit, I am beginning to put you in the Mr Moore, catagories,yes I know give him a chance ok ok, but Mr Hancock and Mrs Carol need to come clean and tell us WHATS REALLY GOING ON WITH PORT VALE,something is amiss, the players look like they are made of left over parts, No season ticket for me.This club needs rebuilding from top to bottom
Well I have to agree with Keith, just where do you start!! I did feel that we should give the new manager some time, as once the better players had moved he was left with an average team. But he did have a window to work with and what did we get young players on loan and old players out of contract. Perhaps understanding if we have no money but he cannot now moan saying he doesn’t have a capable forward line with the majority not up to speed…he signed these players?!..clearly stronger and fitter players should have come in..even if from non league and just why was Paton allowed to go?..whoever claims responsibility for what is going on they need to be accountable when season tickets for next season are announced…shameful..and my thoughts go out to all those true fans who made the journey last night..they should be refunded.
Why is gouci still between-the sticks,why didnt ben waine start,this team and manager are just not good enough for league TWO,bringing in players unfit or past their sell by date,,,, no change since the moore days
I have to say there were some strange team selections by Brady for the Stevenage game. Centre back Humphreys was slotted into a presumably holding midfield role. He has good feet, but clearly is best suited to the back line. Ojo, who could or should have started in the position Humphreys was shoe horned into, was put on the bench. Walters should have started the game, but was left out of the squad entirely despite no injury being reported. Shorrock who was specially recalled from loan at Chester, has disappeared completely from all match day squads. On form striker Waine’, who Brady praised for his previous man of the match performance and high work rate, was dropped from the starting line up. Obviously I’m not privy to Brady’s knowledge of squad affairs, but the mindset of his team selection for the Stevenage game seems baffling.
The buck has to stop at the feet of the owners. Their blind loyalty to Moore, then selling two of our three experienced forwards just before deadline day, leaving Brady no time to replace them, no wonder they are reluctant to come out and speak to anyone. The club is in self destruct mode and they are worrying times. Yet we still have to listen to the Bull from Hancock saying how the club is in a good 1st division position “better than before”. Talking to supporters like we are stupid is a big part of what is wrong with the club. The club is in turmoil sonny, and you are a big part of the problem. On the field we have one of the worst teams ever, the pitch isn’t fit to stage motor cross, we have the biggest debt in our history, we are losing £millions a year, and we are due to lose even more next season with the loss of TV money as well as a couple of thousand season ticket holders. And I nearly forgot WE ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY BEING RELEGATED! “Better position indeed”.
Hi Ian,
After our recent comment debate, can I say I agree 100% with this comment. Well said!
Rob
Thank you Rob, I’m not as daft as I look !! Ian .