Opinion: busy Port Vale transfer day perhaps poses more questions than answers

Rob Fielding says the signing of two forwards on loan has divided opinion among Port Vale supporters.

Rob Fielding writes…

It’s fair to say that Vale have not had much success in the loan market recently. So, to bring not one but two forwards on loan caught many by surprise…

Looking in perspective

So, before I address the latest Port Vale transfer activity, it’s perhaps pertinent to observe that the transfer window still has plenty of time to run. Vale’s squad as it looks today may well be not what it looks like at the end of the window. But on the other hand, as fans we can only assess what the team has now, not what it may have in the future, so it seems reasonable to assess Wednesday’s flurry of transfers.

Worries emerge

The addition of Onel Hernandez has been warmly received and with good reason. A one year deal seems like sensible business for both sides and if Hernandez can match or even exceed his form at the end of last season, Vale will have added a hugely valuable asset. So, that’s one signing down, what about the others?

It’s fair to say that Vale have not had much success in the loan market recently. So, to bring not one but two forwards on loan caught many by surprise. The additions of Luton’s Oliver Lynch and Wrexham’s Mo Faal have courted controversy. The argument against the moves can probably be summed up as – Lynch is an unknown quantity and a gamble (which may work, it may not) while Faal was unimpressive last season (so will he improve or not this season).

The signings also seem to contradict manager Jon Brady’s comments towards the end of last season. The boss said “you have to spend money to get that quality on the top line” – a couple of loan signings seems to be the opposite approach. Brady also said that upfront he wanted “players who are on the up in their career, not players who are on the way down” and while Lynch and Faal are both relatively young – it’s their status as loan signings that courts controversy.

Losers all round?

The concerns about loan additions are clear. Let’s start with the obvious – they aren’t our players. Then let’s move on to the current system which sees players move on loan for a full season with a recall clause in January. The problem there is two-fold. Let’s say the pair are roaring successes – like Oliver Arblaster and Alfie Devine were – well, if that’s the case then the parent club can be tempted to recall in January to either play the players themselves or to move on to clubs in higher leagues. A good example of this was Stoke’s recall of Nathan Lowe from Walsall in 2024 – a move that derailed the table toppers to such an extent that they missed out on promotion.

So, even a successful loan can spell trouble down the line and a potential January rebuild of a settled squad. The opposite – poor quality loan players is something Vale fans are sadly familiar with and the failings there are more obvious. Last season Vale had three loan strikers (Faal, Sherif and Brown) who made 73 League appearances and scored eight goals – that’s one goal every nine games – if the loanees show similar quality this season then the Valiants will probably not be contenders.

Further concerns

In other circumstances, fans could be consoled by the fact that if the loanees fail then the club’s contracted players will come to the fore. However, there will be doubts about the reliability of Ben Waine and Jayden Stockley. A fit Stockley is a proven player at this level but the second word of this sentence is crucial – will he be fit enough to play a regular part? Waine has undoubtedly shown promise at times but there will be concerns that he is a streaky or form player and may not provide a consistent cutting edge all season. For me, Waine is a good impact player who, when on top form, should also be considered a starter. That starting place may not be for every game of the season though.

What to do?

So, where do we go with doubts over the contracted players and the lottery of loanees? Well, if we go back to the start of the piece, the answer could well be that this probably isn’t the end of Vale transfer activity. I think in an ideal world most Vale fans would tell you that what would be ideal would be a permanent signing of a young, up and coming and developing striker. That won’t necessarily be cheap but the last time Vale took that approach it worked. The club shelled out on Ruari Paton and Lorent Tolaj and have since received fees for both. Of the two, Tolaj was an undoubted success, the jury remaining out on Paton, but regardless a 50% success rate and a considerable return on the investment made it a good approach.

Will Vale try something similar in the remaining weeks of the window? A lot of concerned fans will be hoping they do.