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Message from my m8: Every single member of the squad is training !!! Garrity - 1 week away Clarke - 2 weeks away Gore doing 1-1 fitness coach Are things really on the up for Vale.

I thought it was really telling that he said two things : 1) our priority is staying in the league 2) we will be able to attract better players with DM in charge. 5ish weeks ago at the fans forum, he wasn't even considering the idea of relegation and he was all over Crosby like a rash. The bloke can make his mouth say anything to fit what's going on at the time.

I’m probably in the minority here and everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I think DF comes across as honest and knowledgeable in the latest podcast. Yes he has the spiel but in modern football I think, in his position, you have to. I really don’t agree with him getting personal abuse and whoever the perpetrators need to take a look at themselves and think how they’d like to be on the receiving end of it in their job. Carol sees far more of him than any fan and sets his objectives so if she’s happy with him th then so am I. Personally he’s exceeded my expectations in getting DM as Manager and I hope it’s enough to keep us up. I’ll be there next season regardless but I do think the club has moved forward massively off the pitch they now need to match this progress off it and for that there needs to be unity throughout the club. UTV.

Jamie smith assistant manager and Lee Bradbury coach. Not sure who the goalkeeper coach was. Garrity and Mitch Clarke had fitness training alone but plenty of full speed running all session. Planty was with the squad and involved in full training.

What an illuminating podcast. As one of the biggest moaners about our style of play, which is determined by Flitcroft, it would be hypocritical of me to just go about face afterlistening to one podcast. What I will say is the podcast was very well done. He was asked to face up to some harsh intelligent questioning and he answered them with honesty, clarity and integrity. I am again enthused that the Port Vale team from Carol down is in a very good place for our medium and long term future. I just pray that Darren Moore can lift our first team to mid-table safety. An interesting comment in the Podcast is that a number of our injured players aren't too far away from returning. I suggest any poster who has doubts should listen to the podcast and even take up his invitation to talk with him. You may find it enlightening and uplifting.

Yep listened just now. As a vocal critic of DF I am sorry to hear he has had abuse - no place for personal abuse - it's just a job. Singing for him to get out of the club is a different thing - fans are entitled to their opinion. Overall my feeling hasn't changed; - Timing of the interview is interesting. Would we have got this podcast if we had hired a manager that the fans weren't happy about? - We could have gambled on a PL2 player who DF thought might not be good enough - they would be better than a Dipepa surely?!? - No mention of the left back - All our striker options we blame the other club or the player - there is no acceptance that we are perhaps fishing in the wrong pool - Long-term plans are great but short term we need to address the mistakes that have been made - If we can afford Darren Moore now - who could we have got last summer when the club needed a reset? - If we had let Crosby go after the Cheltenham game when it was painfully obvious he wasn't up to the job we would have had an opportunity to get more points on the board and the new manager's influence in the squad. The same pool of players available yes, but managers have a pull and also their own feelings of the kind of players we are missing. I think he has done so good things and some bad things. Hiring a bad manager last summer and the overall transfer windows since being promoted to league one are enough for me to think someone else could do a better job in that position.

The Flitcroft podcast is fascinating, especially the January bit. He rattles off loads of strikers details (no names but little clues) we were after and why we didn’t get them. Here are his comments and my GUESS as to who they might have been. Premier league player who had scored a lot of goals in league 2 who was our main target but he went somewhere 45 mins from where he lives - Joe Taylor went to Lincoln from Luton and had scored 11 for Colchester on loan Player we had everything agreed and at the last minute they asked for an astronomical loan fee - ?? Prem player on loan somewhere else who we wanted to buy, but couldn’t get him out of his loan - Dale Taylor Loan player from Arsenal who was up in Scotland but got another offer overseas which was above league 1 level - Mike Biereth was at Motherwell on loan from Arsenal and went to Sturm Gratz We were completely outbid for someone by one of the big hitters in league 2 - Jack Marriot to Wrexham Championship Striker - “everyone knows what happened on deadline day” - money was all agreed but his club didn’t get anyone across the line so wouldn’t release him - Michael Smith from Wednesday Championship player the fans would love, we have tracked his for 12 months. He wanted to come but they wouldnt sell him and he has only played 6 mins in the championship so far - ??? Frustratingly I can’t figure anyone out despite trawling late substitutions in the championship - Flitcroft says we will go back for him in the summer Championship striker who was exceptional in league 1 who we chased right to the end but it slipped by as they didn’t want to release him because they didn’t get their player and he hasn’t played much since - ??? Best Striker in league 2 - made a big bid but the player wants to try his chances in the championship for his next move - Jake Young He also said we are talking to out of contract players and some from overseas who could play here after Jan.

I just don’t think “look at all the targets I missed out on” is the clever defence that DF thinks it is - he’s absolving himself of agency without considering why we keep missing out on so many targets on a consistent basis.

It's just public relations speak. They key bits are what he's not saying, as well as the results. A lot of talk about effort and things not panning out. Fair enough. Nothing about budgets, what the thinking was with Crosby's appointment, whether there is any reflection on what they might have done differently in some circumstances. Nothing about whether the tactical and philosophical approach is the right fit for the club in its current circumstances. All dealing with facts as he sees it at the time. Which makes it easy to paint a particular picture. Definitely some correct things said, like DM being a pull factor for players coming to the club. But if that is being recognised now, why did we go with Crosby a year ago? This is why I think a review in the summer is needed. Maybe it means DF goes, maybe it means additional support is brought in. What's key is that it's done with DM being completely on board. He is a someone with a record we can believe in. DF, with all due respect, less so having had a bit more of a checkered history and not as high profile in the game. All worthwhile looking at and considering whether DF is doing the best job he can do and indeed, the right job. He might be a better fit for more behind the scenes management than Director of Football duties.

I listened to the Flitcroft podcast and thought it was a really good listen. But then him being a really good listen isnt really in doubt. By the end of it i did find myself thinking i'd been hasty. But its so difficult with him. He touched on the club maybe not communicating the plan enough. I thought he was over complicating that. We just wanted to know why, after two windows this season, we are facing the second half of the season (fighting for survival) with no striker coming in. I feel like an idiot repeating myself on the striking situatio but, since we were promoted, we've signed matt taylor, loft and resigned willo in four windows. Uche as well as a desperado signing. Its farcical, not just unfortunate. He talks a great game does Dave and i always end up liking him after listening to him. Hes pulled what appears to be a cracking managerial appointment out the bag. One that I'm very happy and excited about. But I'm still not convinced we're going to be safe. If the Gayle rumour turns out to be true then great. My concern with him is he's broken. According my stoke mates he literally cannot move. We'd have to buck our ideas up and create some serious clear chances there. I want it all to come to fruition, really do. There is very good reason for folk being sceptical though. Make it happen though Dave and you'll be a great in my eyes. Made me realise again as well how carried away in our passion we can get as supporters again. People are human and some of the stuff we are all capable of coming out with is way too much.

I've been saying this for weeks; good point on the A&V pod earlier today - Gas fan saying the best he played for them was in the channels turning defenders and cutting in. Us hitting it long for him to nod-on (which he's winning a huge amount of duals on) is not the right thing to do. Thats like paying for a good quality spanner to smack a nail in to a lump of wood. Wrong tool, wrong job.

What we have got up front needs to be better organised. For example, it might be a good idea if Chislett stayed up front and wasn't dribbling round at left wing back giving the ball away. I don't accept that Loft is some sort of hopeless guy. He has not been used properly. In his career to date he's scored 3 goals against Port Vale in his times at Scunthorpe and Bristol Rovers. All the critics overlook that little fact in the well established and utterly ridiculous prejudice against him.

I agree he does require external scrutiny however to be very very fair to the club and Flitcrofft Dan asked questions which I felt were very representative of criticism and concerns of fans on here and also on socials. Dan even seeked clarification at times on those answers. Yes it was cozy and the abuse stuff was a little over the top because Flitcroft just waffles at times but you know I very much doubt Baggers or Bowers would have been as direct with the questioning and kept Flitcroft on track as much as Dan did because he has a relationship with him which clearly helped the interview. Everyone can judge the answers for themselves but it was a very open and honest interview. Well done Port Vale, Dan Townley and Dave Flitcroft.

Emailed the Derby ticket office. They have confirmed that the upper tier is safe standing and the lower tier is seating. So if you want to stand up you know where to go!!

I do wonder if Darren Moore actually said much in his interview with DF. Doubt he could get a word in 😄

Newcastle fan by birth, Vale fan by marriage. Black and white blood!

All very well and good, however, both Bowers and Baggaley have said they have asked to interview him multiple times over the past week and have been left hanging, yet he miraculously appears on an in house podcast! It smacks of avoiding the media in case he doesn't have prepared answers for questions he's seen in advance. It also takes the sting out of anything they do now, because people won't read/listen to it because they'll assume its the same as this. I'm all for external scrutiny whether it be fan forums or press interviews rather than a cosy in house piece where Flitcroft can control what's said and what isn't. I also find it interesting he's stuck his head above the parapet now rather than when, as Radio Stoke and The Sentinel/Valiant have said, he was asked last week when there would have undoubtedly been far more negatives than positives.

TBF, and this will sound horrible, if his family are reading stuff on things like football forums and social media, they need their heads looking at. I've seen a lot of (IMO justified) anger and the odd numpty getting a bit personal, but they should just stay away from online stuff. Again, sounds unkind, but they sound a bit thin-skinned. Also, whilst it was interesting to hear DF's long list of excuses/ reasons why we didn't get the layers we needed, I wish he'd been asked how so many other clubs managed to strengthen. Was also interested to hear (if I heard correctly) that "the data" states we are over-performing in comparison to our budget. Something is quite wrong if our budget is bottom 3.

I think, if NINE targets fall through, maybe you’re shopping in unrealistic markets.

Or lady, jackos names Jean [emoji16]

I hope this is true Osh I heard Garrity struggled all last season with his calf and then did his Achilles at Carlisle I really think he is our most important player

Perhaps he was too busy sorting out the deal to bring Darren Moore to the club? Slightly more important than a cosy little chat with Phil or Mike.

I have listened to the podcast but to be honest I didn't need too. It's the same script we've heard at every fans forum: "big picture" "campus" "really enthused by the project at the club" "went after half a million really top level players, but for some unknown reason they don't want to play for a team 4th bottom of the league with a pe teacher in charge" "it's a process of getting better, despite us getting worse yes on year" The personal abuse is poor, especially the twitter stuff. If they are coming on ovf then like hobblesworth says they need looking at.

Weirdly quiet response to the podcast, which I personally found very illuminating. Really sad to hear how the abuse has affected DF and also his family. Nobody deserves that just from trying to do their job.

More likely Mick Miller .

Up or down?

Cheers mate and excellent to see Garrity on the grass ! Have you been to reception yet to speak with Flickers or was there a massive queue 🤔.

You’d think so yes. Training was a lot better. Moore kept stopping it and plenty of instructions to the players. Trying to get his points across. Not sure where Lee Bradbury as come in from I’m not sure he’s worked under Moore before anywhere? But he took the set piece session at the end in and around the box for the strikers.

You’re totally right about the strikers. The Blackpool match, which was our last win was brilliant because it is the only time when we had Wilson, Uche and Loft all featuring. Blackpool didn’t know what to do with a dangerous Devine, Wilson and Uche coming at them. A sad glimpse of what might have been for Crosby and it all quickly fell apart…

Oh, good lord, man! Go back and re-read what he said... its not difficult.

Players can only be signed if out of contract before the end of the transfer window.

There are no suitable strikers out there. We need to get more out of what we have. Loft has been able to score well even in a very poor Scunthorpe side. But you know I've had enough as well. This criticism of Loft and the form it takes on here is what would be called racism if he was a black guy. It is really disgusting.

Yes last 3/4 years we’ve come from virtually being wound up/ closed down and exiting the league to promotion.

This was addressed on the podcast, he also not long before Crosbys sacking did interviews with them and answered all questions directed at him at the fans forums and previously done the Ale and Vale podcast, personally I don't think he is someone who is trying to 'avoid the media'. As he also said he's also happy to talk to anyone. As this is his first time as DOF perhaps fans need to cut him some slack or speak to him in person to better understand both sides, after all we are all human and no one is perfect.

Good listen and a little more perspective. Convinced club is going in the right direction. Behind DF.

I take it you hadn't listened to the pod at the time of writing? The questions didn't dance around the main talking points and I don't think Bowers and baggers would have asked anything different.

That’s how it usually works with a DOF, personally I have never bought the idea that DF is picking the side, makes no sense to me

She's usually on the front row with no top on.

Whatever, your views of Flitcroft I hope everyone stays behind the team tomorrow even if we are losing. As we did midweek. My fear is our ex players and Manager on a mission. A win for them would be massive because Vale sacked Clark and let Pett, Lloyd and most worryingly Taylor go. Matty was recovering from injury when at Vale and DC seems to have him very much sharper now. I would be delighted with a point. But I doubt we will be able to stand up to the pressure they, like Carlisle and Fleetwood, will put us under.

I would expect us to move for a couple of Sheff Wed players in the summer

Now now 😂

Bycars. It was good for an hour. Spoke to Jamie smith and Lee Bradbury after and they said they cannot wait for tomorrow.

Sorry - nothing on Uche and he wasnt there, i'm told.

Wow, that’s some travelling. 👏👏 Surely there’s a team closer that play in black and white so that you don’t need to buy another scarf.

We can’t sign anyone who was under contract at 11pm on 1st Feb. Re Dwight Gayle. He signed a five year contract at Newcastle in 2016. When his contract expired he was given a new one by Ashley on £60k a week when everyone thought he would be released. It was only because Ashley couldn’t be bothered to find another striker even thought it was obvious Gayle was, by that time, simply not a Prem League striker. When he signed for Stoke Newcastle continued to pay £40k a week of his wages. Stoke have now paid him off and his last Newcastle contract expires in June. I don’t know if he will still be getting paid the £40k a week by them but it certainly appears he is not short of a few quid so five bob a week should get him!!!

I think this is a great post & pretty much echo my thoughts. It's fair to be skeptical on his interview after recent goings on but after getting in Moore (in my opinion is a great coup) we have to take him at his word about efforts to get a striker in. Maybe if he had cleared this up sooner fans would hopefully have been a bit more understanding. Onwards & upwards and hopefully Moore can do the business and keep us up & then re-build for next season.

Thats NOT what he said though, is it...

I wonder how many will take up the option of going to see him face to face?

He also says that he never interferes with tactics or formations… and you can ask DC and AC and if they say otherwise it’s not true.

Just listening to the Flitcroft podcast. Interesting listen so far explaining why a striker didn't come in in January. I am glad that he has come out to give his side of the coin and explain the reasons why. He does say if you ever want to chat to him to go to reception and ask for him. Though not sure how successful you'd be with that?