Leaderboard

How do I become a true fan? Do we get to wear special armbands to identify ourselves as being considerably better than yeow?

There's no such thing as 'earning your chance'. The opportunity to manage PVFC is not a reward for hard work. You appoint the best manager, not share us out like a toy at a children's party. It wasn't Crosby's 'go'. He didn't even talk to anyone else. He, rather arrogantly, assumed we had the best candidate already here, and he didn't need to bother even reading any CVs. A lot of Vale fans pointed out that this was both an awful process, and that Crosby probably wasn't up to it. We can't defend an appointment which so many average fans correctly saw as not good. Let's not put excuses in place for a massive mistake. Pressure is on him to undo his balls up with this next appointment.

Flitcroft’s overall record isn’t mixed, it’s good. All the off field stuff is heading in the right direction. He got 1 managerial appointment right, and without an unforeseen tragedy we wouldn’t have needed to appoint Crosby, who in my view had earned his chance. The elephant in the room is the striker saga.

I have seen this scenario a few times in my years following the Vale, fans taking up entrenched positions coming around to believing that any counter views are from idiots or not "real" Vale fans and the rhetoric and tempers ratchet ever higher. Believe me, as a senior manager for most of my working life I know that if you get 2 people together you will get many more than 2 opinions advanced. My position is that I do not believe that Flitcroft is doing a good job, purely and simply because I think that the team that won promotion was better than the current one, so I think we have gone backwards. I also do not agree with the current tikka tanka football at all costs. Football like any professional sport is a results based business not a philosophy or worse still an ideology, sometimes you have to be pragmatic. That is my position but I would not have a go at anyone for having a different perspective and I most certainly would not stop going up to support the lads because I was upset about something I disagreed with. Let us hope for a miracle 🙏 but be prepared for the worst. UTV

bullsh1t. 3 horrendous windows. Loft. Crosby appointed without interviewing externally. Dire, dire football, playing wingbacks when we don't actually have any. 3 wins in 5 months and we're in the relegation zone and our forward line every second half is an actual child who did his GCSEs last summer, but it's alright because DF is building an office overlooking the training pitches. FFS does anyone at the club actually have a grip of reality? We never NEEDED to appoint Crosby. It isn't a gameshow.

The nature of a supporter - there's a lot who have been around for 50 years +, having seen all the ups n downs. and are still rocking up every Sat/Tuesday (with various nervous twitches in evidence, no doubt😮) But at what point does a supporter say, enough is enough - are we just mindless drones who are on auto-pilot to turn up whatever can of poop we are having to put up with, or can a true supporter say, you know what, iv had enough of this <ovf censored> show, I'm voting with my feet until you sort it out? Is it possible the foot voters can get more of a reaction from those in power? Sub 5000 home supporters yesterday when we have sold 6000+ season tickets - regardless of what happens in the next 2 1/2 months, this season will hardly go down as successful or enjoyable in the annals of PV history - will those 1000+ STs renew next year - no idea, but if it were my business, I would be worried. Given the tremendous support for the players yesterday, do we want them back (someone made an excellent point on this higher up the thread) As a fan base, I don't think we are overdemanding in general - no one was calling for DCs head, and another couple of victories in the last 20 games and AC would probs still be here, so you know, from an owners point of view, we are pretty easy to please, and with a couple of half decent signings last month, again a lot of discontent would have been avoided. I think DF probably gets flak which is undeserved which he does not help himself with by not being a particularly good people person or spokesman - equally, in communication in general, the management of PVFC have been abysmal with recent (non) communications - rather than spending god knows how long writing the open letter boll@cking, could Auntie carol not afford 10 minutes to put out a release thanking the outgoing staff - shocking really.

So are those who live abroad or hundreds of miles away not supporters? What about those who walk a few hundred yards for home games but don’t bother with away games? Are they not supporters? What a sad, and frankly pathetic, way this thread has turned.

A lot of words to say 'they appointed the wrong guy in a massive blunder, without speaking to anyone else'.

Flitcroft, fair enough on the player recruitment side and clearly, for whatever reason, the Crosby appointment didn’t work out. On the flip side, you have to give him credit for the appointment of Clarke, and with it promotion, or are you ignoring that? I’m not a fan of Flickers but I’ll back Carol’s judgement for a while longer. If we’re relegated then the inquest can be held at that point. Up ‘til then the team need support from the stands. You seem to have an agenda against the owners. I think you’re way out of touch with the vast majority of our fans on that score. It’s easy to come on here spouting drivel so why not make your point, stand outside the main entrance at the next home game and protest away to your hearts content.

Brian says lots of sensible stuff on here.

He's not, so, dunna worry

Speak out about what? It's a community football club, we aren't living in Gaza mate. Its common knowledge we got promoted a season earlier than planned without the required infrastructure to sustain in league 1. We have an upper league 2 budget and work is being done so we can sustain in league 1. Would it be different if we got promoted when planned? Who knows but it may have freed up some money for players and we may not have had to resort to panic buyings and signings over the last couple of seasons as budgets have dictated. If we pull thru this then hopefully the pitch forks can be put away and start afresh next season. If not then we are just in league 2, it will be meltdown with the lynch mob, but it's not the end of the world. I'll be gutted but as long as we show fight and the supporters get behind the lads, like yesterday, I'll be ok with it. Its also points that have been endlessly debated for months now and some people will never accept the reality of where the club is financially and the simple fact that If we want to progress we have to be financially secure with the relative budgets for the relative leagues.

That was in no way a dubious penalty and the team was good for a point yesterday against a team that must be riding very high. I don't mean to single you out, MBE, but we do need to stop stacking the deck against Flitcroft. He's got a mixed record in his job, and the last few months have been particularly concerning, but he now has an opportunity to get a very big decision right.

If you are a true fan you will be there to support the players no matter what. Funny how the crowd seemed to be fully behind the players yesterday, says something about those that stayed away.

Nice one Andy. From what I saw today there was 0, yes 0, negativity towards DF, players, Carol etc etc. Maybe the keyboard warriors are just that, keyboard warriors. Were they even there today? Or have they all burnt their season tickets in the pyre, stoking the pyre with their pitch forks, because we haven't got a seasoned striker lol and we get told to give our heads a wobble looool Just get behind the lads, like today, for the rest of the season,like proper supporters. If we go down, so fking what? The board, players and club have tried and if that ain't good enough for certain people then so what? You forget they are human beings, decent people. The levels of abuse from grown men are just embarrassing and dismal tbh. Literally got no time for it anymore when the lads are trying on the pitch. UTV [emoji123] KTF [emoji120]

The only thing horrendous about the windows is our continued inability to sign proven forwards. There has been some good recruitment, albeit this time we’re short at LWB. The likes of Ripley, Chislett, Arblaster, Devine aren’t bad recruits. We played good football, with wingbacks early in the season. Injuries have had a major impact although we have been too rigidly fixed to a system. The plan all along is to get our own young players into the team. Sadly the best of these, James Plant, is another on the injury list. They’re not simply building an “office”, it’s a facility for the players, including moving the gym to allow Lorne St stand to be fully opened. We NEEDED to appoint a coach/manager and Crosby, for whatever reason, got the gig. It didn’t work out. You’re right it’s not a gameshow, it’s life, and things don’t always go to script.

Cheltenham relegation won't be on Clarke. He's performed miracles there.

He also blames him for global warming and the cost of living crisis no doubt. which of the ‘deadwood 2021’ clearout proved DC wrong by going on to perform well at a higher or even the same level? NONE, but RZ can’t let that get in the way of a personal vendetta of course. DC also had the ability to attract players who had played for him before (despite being such a nasty man) Ellis and Marty Taylor being two. Marty Taylor, for all his faults already has more League 1 goals at Cheltenham after just 1 1/2 games than Uche and Loft combined.

Nope

I didn’t think Flitcroft was involved in the off field stuff, I thought he was responsible for the playing side. Clarke was decent and the right choice but he’s had more backing than any ,manager I can record in 35 years of watching the Vale, and I don’t think Crosby is as bad as a lot make out, maybe he shouldn’t have got the job but I think with better signings he would have easily kept us up as well as getting us further than ever in the League cup. Port Vale have been going backwards since December 22 on the pitch, why? I don’t think it is our owners, some may blame Crosby, myself I blame whoever is responsible for the players we are bringing in. We survived by a few points last season, and nearly all the season was under Clarke, our squad is now worse so what do people expect. If Flitcroft is in charge of the playing side he should be in charge on what players we bring in and controlling the budget, he has failed miserably and will most likely continue to fail with whichever manager we have.

Thought everyone were brilliant yesterday mate. I don't for one minute think everyone who was there yesterday is supportive of Flitcroft. I was there for a start and he isn't on my Christmas card list! Is Flitcroft's failure to sign a major reason why we are in the Relegation zone? Yes of course he is. However I believe the players missing with long term injury is an even bigger reason. Garrity for one is a massive loss isn't he? There are a number of posters on here who are trying to 'encourage' vocal protest against Flitcroft during matches and it is IMHO counter productive. We all want Vale to stay up and yesterday I thought everyone did a great job encouraging the team when 1-2 down especially. UTV

Your first sentence is patently wrong. If I give someone a job it’s in the belief that they’ve earned their chance, usually, in this case, by having a proven good track record in football, as was the case with DC. But it’s not simply an individuals CV, there are also many other factors which come into play. In Crosbys case the club knew the character of the man and already had trust in him. They obviously thought his coaching and man management skills were good, having observed them first hand. He knew the workings of the club and the blue print. He knew the players and they seemingly had a lot of respect for him. You only have to listen to Ojo in his latest interview. The club decided to offer Crosby the role based on these factors. It was less of a risk than employing a manager based on his CV, an interview and a few recommendations, which is where we are right now. Whoever gets the job will have “earned their chance” in the eyes of the club. There’s a lot of pressure to get it right but one look at them lot down the road will tell you all you need to know about how easy it is to recruit a successful manager in football.

Our mate Dave has a season ticket but hasn’t been to a game all season. So is he a proper supporter? He does live in Australia mind.

If you speak to some lads, we are uniquely demanding and petulant, more so than the 91 other clubs. The reality is that we're not special or different - we get a bit sick of losing most weeks and moan about it.

No one's denying people the right to criticize. But if you call yourself a supporter and don't attend, what support does that offer?

Some haven't tho Brian. Abusing the manager and players constantly springs to mind. A core support of 5k fans is very good for a town that has 25k people living in it, especially with a so called bigger team a few miles down the road. This is why we need infrastructure in place if we are to ever progress to be self sufficient as we can't rely on massive crowds for it

Couldn't give a s*** if they stay away anymore tbh Brian. I class myself as a supporter thru thick and thin and always will be. Things aren't perfect but I'd have what we have all day long atm after being faced with no club and no league football. Even if we had dropped out and were playing in Burslem park, with a housing estate on Vale Park, I would still go and watch [emoji23]

I'm sure a certain proportion of our fan base that post on here want relegation purely so they can come on here and pontificate just how right they were and how "nobody listened".

Love your optimism 🤔🤣

He gets run out of town by teams in red and white, don't worry.

You are not supposed to talk sense on here.

I agree. I think the whole “starve em out” initiative which worked makes some fans think that not turning up can be effective and justified in seeing change. I don’t, but equally we have perhaps only got about 4,000 fans who will turn up regardless of the football quality.

good point - im not sure its the relegation battle they are protesting about, but the decisions off the pitch that have weakened us - the support for the players is obviously there - same net result though

Dunno do other clubs supporters boycott their club when they are in a relegation battle? [emoji848]

Of course those people are supporters. But people who choose to stay away in our hour of need aren't.

One thing flitcroft has got right is the DJ in the fanzone he is bangin 👍

What you are saying is that to be a true fan, you are not allowed to speak out if you are not happy? Also, it needs to be right on the pitch first before any infrastructure is in place.

I agree. People are also putting too much expectation on Ben Garrity by thinking that a player that's been out for a couple of month's is just going to pick up straight away, where he left off, by firing on all cylinders. Its going to take him a few games to get to up to speed

Does anybody actually believe we will stay up? IF we don't win on Tuesday that's 3 wins from 24 !!! The only way we will survive is if we beat Fleetwood Exeter Shrewsbury Wycombe and Lincoln at home to take it to the last home game with Cambridge. That is some ask !!! Away trips to Derby Posh and Bolton are free hits and we might sneak something away at Cheltenham Reading and Burton. IF we go down and Stoke come down the only people happy in the Potteries are the local constabulary.

So not really supporting are they?

Throughout all the years, PV has always been consistently inconsistent!🙃

No he didn’t put it in reply to anything. He made a separate post just saying after 4 months out it was nice to be back on the grass. The Vale Twitter account retweeted him not the other way round. Plenty of things to criticise at the moment but this is reaching a bit quite honestly.

They're coming thick and fast... this is the thread for the midweek Posh game... Admin note - we are using this thread originally set up for the postponed game in February, for the rearranged tie. You may notice some of the earlier posts are about the first game! Thanks!

Peterborough have lost 3 in a row. Another poster (think it was Mr H) says we haven't scored from open play in 6 hours of football. We may be in luck! Peterborough have scored 4 own goals in their last 2 games!

Even if they do, they will have made a hell of a fist of it. They were dead and buried when he took over Exactly! I mean, it’s not like he will have only had 35 games to get his 50 points / borderline play off form or picked up a team who hadn’t even scored a goal before his arrival or anything! Clearly needed a break from the game, but looks all the better for it.

A Wozza recommendation - you must be doing something right BJ (you part timer) 😍😍😍😍

I still don't think that Clarke was either decent or the right choice. He was backed to the hilt and decimated our squad by bringing in his yes men players. We are struggling now because the soul has been ripped out of the squad. None of the players other than Smith and the kids have any affinity to Port vale and it shows. Everyone reveres John Rudge, his skill was gradually evolving the squad by replacing the worst players with better players over time so that there was continuity. Everything bad that happens to a club managed by Clarke is someone elses fault and everything good is down to him, in his mind anyway. Look at Walsall after he spent all their money wrecking their squad and then bailed out. I have nothing personal against Darrell, he is just a dreamer like Flitcroft.

I can only come across for a about 6 or7 games a season. That makes me not a true Vale fan.

He is obviously a very big vale fan but I think the point being made is that some fans choose to sit at home watching on iFollow rather than walk for ten minutes to vale park and yes that’s aimed at 2 of my close mates yesterday if your reading this

I’m still asking myself how the hell have we ended up with effectively no strikers. I can’t get my head around it. It’s worse than gross negligence. Flitcroft has to go.