Tom Pope linked with Scunthorpe Utd switch? A report from the independent Scunthorpe United blog Iron Bru says the club are monitoring the situation with Port Vale’s veteran striker.
The veteran striker’s contract expires at the end of the season. The report on the blog claims:
Iron Bru understand Scunthorpe United are monitoring the contractual situation of Port Vale striker Tom Pope and could make a move for the veteran front man this January.
It is understood the Iron are long term admirers of the 6ft 3″ target man and were interested in securing his signature in the summer, however a move never materialised.
However, with the Valiants seeking a new manager after the departure of John Askey, it is unlikely the club will make any decision on the striker’s future until a new manager is appointed.
Tom Pope at Vale Park
The striker first joined the Valiants on loan in 2010 in a move which was made permanent in August. During his first spell with the club he scored 69 times and was top scorer when the club won promotion in 2013. He was player of the year on two occasions. The striker left for a two year spell at Bury in 2015 but returned for a second spell at Vale Park in 2017. He won a third player of the year award in 2018 and has now reaached second in the club’s all-time chart with 115 goals including three this season.
Your thoughts with Tom Pope linked with Scunthorpe switch?
Would it be the right time to allow the veteran to leave and free up wages for new blood – or is he vital to Vale’s survival hopes? Post a comment with your thoughts below.
No. He’s the only proven goalscorer in the squad and the best footballer in our squad by a distance. If managed properly, and given the correct service, and partnered upfront by a younger, quicker striker, then we’ll start scoring goals and climbing the table.
In case anyone is in any doubt about what I mean, Pope and Rodney as a strike partnership, with a couple of wingers, would be a formidable front four.
He also helps defend set pieces, corners, etc effectively. He’s not so effective at this from the bench though!
You should play to your strengths and build the team accordingly.
Feed the Pope!
Let him go we don’t need him anymore hes past his best.
Let him go he’s past his sell by date. Plus he’s to slow .
Theres plenty of veteran forwards who have still scored plenty of goals if you give them the service ,at the moment when pope plays his service is lacking ,we need to take advantage of popes ability to score goals because you can gaurentee if he goes elsewhere that is what will happen ,I agree get someone to do some of his running ,decent wingers who put the ball in the box ,what’s kevin kent up to these days ,he’d pick popey out for fun
Up the vale
The way Tom played against Mansfield i’d defo keep him until the end of this season at least. I can’t understand why he and Cullen don’t play together, I’m sure there’s a few goals between em.If Popey were to leave now, who would replace him, an untried youngster from the Prem? Shame we missed out on Millar from Liverpool u23, looked a great prospect( although it was against our shaky defence)
Popey is the best striker at the Vale, he rarely ,wastes a ball, holds the ball up, is a nightmare to play against, good in the air and gives his all. If he had better players around him he would be scoring regularly. We need Tom to help to get us out of this situation
He needs to stay hes the only one who gives 100% , and come on who would want go scunthorpe , more life in a tramps vest
Can’t see Scunthorpe or anyone else in the football league wanting him. Past his best too slow, cant hold the ball up doesn’t contribute anything to the team yes Might score the odd goal but with him in the side like playing with 10 men every week.
A great, great Vale player who deserves to be remembered as an all time great. However that is his legacy, it isn’t part of what he is doing.
If he can be released from that generous deal Aspin gave him, then that can only be a good thing.
When Tom overhauled Martin Foyles post war goals total I seem to remember him saying that his own achievement wasnt as good as Martins because Martin Foyle scored many of his Vale goals in the Championship. I tend to disagree because Tom didnt get to play alongside Guppy, McCarthy, Naylor, Walker and Taylor. If I was Tom I wouldnt be fancying winter in Scunthorpe much preferring the Sneyd Green grass of home. Given our present circumstances, let us remember the 11th commandment, ‘ Feed the Pope and he will score’.
No… Tom can still do a job for the Vale… He just needs service… Ask John Stones!
Tom is an excellent goal scorer – however he is on a very lucrative contract, has been banned for 6 games, has not played in that many this season and is coming to a time when his age is against him – So what is the Money on Offer ….. If its a FREE Then NO Chance , If its 250 Grand then Thank you Tom you’re on your way. Somewhere between those two figures is an acceptable one. NO one lasts forever .
I’m sure Popey is eyeing up the managers job in the future. If we created something for him he would score more goals. The fact he’s slow is because he’s probably not as fit as he could be and that’s due to him not being used enough.