If you don’t score goals, you won’t win games. If you don’t win games, you won’t stay up. We take a look at Port Vale’s scoring problems this season.
In this feature we take a statistical look at Port Vale’s appalling scoring record this season.
A note on positions: we’ve tried to put players where we think they have featured most this season. A good example is George Hall, who has played in a variety of positions but we have put him as a forward as he is often played further up the pitch.
Attack 20 goals scored
Summary
The most obvious place to start is upfront. Despite the Valiants using ten recognised forwards this season, they have scored just twenty League goals. Two players – Mo Faal and Andre Gray – haven’t scored a League goal while only four players – Devante Cole, Jayden Stockley, Ethon Archer and Ben Waine have contributed more than a solitary League goal.
In reflection clearly the sales of proven scorers Lorent Tolaj and Devante Cole were significant. However, there appear to be other mistakes. Jayden Stockley has contributed in the second-half of the season but he was fit and mysteriously excluded by Darren Moore in the first-half. Then there’s the endless debate on whether Ruari Paton may have contributed for Vale rather than being on loan in Scotland. Finally, none of the loan signings have made a significant contribution.
Player stats
League appearances and goals only
- Ethon Archer – 15 appearances / 3 goals
- Dejaune Brown – 22 appearances / 1 goal
- Devante Cole – 19 appearances / 6 goals
- Mo Faal – 13 appearances / 0 goals
- Andre Gray – 11 appearances / 0 goals
- George Hall – 32 appearances / 1 goal
- Ruari Paton – 13 appearances / 1 goal
- Martin Sherif – 12 appearances / 1 goal
- Jayden Stockley – 22 appearances / 3 goals
- Lorent Tolaj – 4 appearances / 1 goal
- Ben Waine – 23 appearances / 3 goals
Midfield 8 goals scored
Summary
If the frontline contribution was bad, the midfield tally is pretty abysmal. Only Ryan Croasdale and the departed Ronan Curtis managed more than one goal. Croasdale has certainly played his part – four goals in just 26 games makes him the club’s second-highest League scorer. However, Vale have clearly missed the goal contribution that skipper Ben Garrity normally provides (he has no goals this season). The Valiants may also have expected some goals from set-piece expert Jordan Shipley too.
The conclusion surely has to be that the central midfielders are too similar and that Jon Brady has to add some goals to his engineroom next season.
Player stats
League appearances and goals only
- George Byers – 18 appearances / 1 goal
- Ryan Croasdale – 26 appearances / 4 goals
- Ronan Curtis – 19 appearances / 2 goals
- Ben Garrity – 21 appearances / 0 goals
- Funso Ojo – 27 appearances / 0 goals
- Rico Richards – 1 appearance / 0 goals
- Jordan Shipley – 24 appearances / 0 goals
- Rhys Walters – 22 appearances / 1 goal
- Grant Ward – 2 appearances / 0 goals
Defence 5 goals scored
Summary
And if you thought the midfield tally was bad… just look at the defence. Even including wingbacks, not a single player has scored more than one goal. Considering the amount of deadball opportunities Vale have had it’s odd that the likes of Connor Hall and Ben Heneghan have not scored more often. Again, it’s certainly going to be something for Jon Brady to try and address next season.
Player stats
League appearances and goals only
- Elijah Campbell – 14 appearances / 0 goals
- Mitch Clark – 12 appearances / 0 goals
- Jesse Debrah – 17 appearances / 0 goals
- Liam Gordon – 21 appearances / 0 goals
- Connor Hall – 35 appearances / 1 goal
- Jaheim Headley – 24 appearances / 1 goal
- Ben Heneghan – 23 appearances / 0 goals
- Cameron Humphreys – 32 appearances / 1 goal
- Kyle John – 25 appearances / 1 goal
- Marvin Johnson – 5 appearances / 0 goals
- Jordan Gabriel – 21 appearances / 1 goal
- Tyler Magloire – 7 appearances / 0 goals
Please share your views on Vale’s goalscoring woes and post a comment below.
If this team were a ship you wouldn’t get more than the cost of a box of tacks in scrap, you sink it and forget.