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You appear to conveniently forget recent history. When the club was owned/run by Bratt/Deakin and Co and then Smurthwaite I can't remember any wealthy people with a genuine interest in and desire to own PVFC clamoring to buy the club, just the opposite in fact, so what makes you think anything has changed. I remember a plastic turf man from mid west USA, a pie in the sky rumor that a hedge fund from Boston, USA was interested, a mystery man with a bag of cash who paid for a pre-season trip and quickly buggered off. Fans knew all about these prospective purchasers and more, there are likely no Shanahan equivalents lying low waiting to pounce or the fans would know. My first game at Vale Park was Port Vale 2 QPR 3 in the early 60's, PVFC is in my blood, I'm from Kickrew, I love oatcakes and Stoke-on-Trent but if I ever came into a large amount of money I wouldn't want to own the Vale, I'd gift the club money and let Carol run it. Who would put their family in the firing line and be on the receiving end of bilge the moment something adverse happened.

Anyone talking about Bill Bratt as having Vale at heart and worth getting back on board is mentally ill.

I suppose they don't Brian. But that makes it even harder doesn't it...?? We're a sleepy little backwater town, overshadowed by our bigger neighbour - even Crewe, arguably, have a bigger claim to fame as one of the biggest rail junctions in the country. But whether that person is from Stoke on Trent or Sarajevo, I don't see that many banging on the door to buy the place, do you...?? As for some on here thinking Robbie might be the next messiah - I wouldn't hold your breath. I think we all need to calm down a bit and see that we are who we are and we all need to start pulling together on this. The club are trying to get better at communicating with the fans - they've got a long way to go. But they are trying. We now need to see what Moore is allowed and supported to do in the summer. Just shredding Carol at every opportunity is NOT going to get us anywhere. Yes, we all hear you - you are not happy. Neither am I. BUT I'm certain there are no options other than here right now.

Why do you have to be so angry all the time, in making your point? Name calling etc. It gets old. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.

totally with you on this. play the kids last game hardly any of the first team deserve to be given a good send off on the last day. personally i dont want to see any of that lot next year. start again. clear out. retained list as small as possible announced as quickly as possible and the first thing we need to do is sign a GOOD striker in the summer before ANYTHING else.

People need to brace themselves for the release of the initial retained list . The Club can’t just ‘bin off’ players under contract so they’ll be shown as ‘retained’ . The work will come after when some will either be transfer listed or told they’re surplus to requirements and can find themselves another Club . Others may enter into negotiations to be released by mutual agreement. Lots of work ahead for Moore and his team over the Summer months, hopefully this will lead to a much better squad in place for the start of the season . Patience needs to be shown and no use getting all worked up over the initial announcement , it won’t be the end product , give them a chance to put it right . Here’s to looking forward to a brighter future come August . UTV

To be fair I'm amazed we haven't finished bottom having witnessed the performances on offer this season. I have seen many relegations but never on this scale of expected disappointments from this team. An absolutely dreadful season after all the noises off the pitch indicating otherwise. Sent from my CPH2195 using onevalefan mobile app

Undoubtedly we'll oblige.

He did not lose money, you absolute clown. He conned his way into being chairman of the club for very little investment. He then awarded himself a massive wage in doing so and then changed all the shareholder's t & c's so that he could not be removed. He then was on a beach in the Caribbean, sticking his two fingers up to all the Port Vale supporters & all the shareholders, after being the only shareholder to get his little, pathetic investment back whilst the club went into administration because of his shabby leadership. He is the biggest con man of them all. Maybe him and Smurf should join forces and buy Tranmere Rovers to show us what we are all missing

As most have already commented, the retained list has got to be minimal. There are as always differing opinions but the general consensus is keep Ripley, Chis, Garrity and the young'uns, all the rest ought to be binned. I fully accept that some of the players were never L1 standard which some on here have put forward the argument that they will do a job in L2. I understand that point of view but personally disagree with it. This season my biggest frustration by far has not been the players ability, or lack of, it has been the fact that that they are quite simply serial bottle jobs. In match after match this season they have shamed themselves and the badge with pathetic, gutless performances against opposition that was there for the taking if only they had shown some fight. This cowardice got worse as the season unfolded and was at it's worst in all those must win games that they never once broke sweat or put a foot in where it hurts. Lack of ability I can accept. Lack of bottle I just cannot. Get rid, start again.

Don't feed the troll...

I think some people on here are going to get a very rude awakening. This is NOT FIFA Manager; we need some L2 and some L1 players; I think there will be more kept than shown the door. I also think if we play players in the roles they are supposed to play in then you'll also see better performances out of some of them.

The club went backwards massively under Bratt. What happened to the council money while under his watch. He never once put his hands in his pockets like Carol has. Bratt was not as bad as Smurf but that is such a low benchmark does not say anything for him at all.

Smith was player of the season last year, deservedly so and he has played well in the last 6 or so games. He is a good center back, just needs 2 decent defenders alongside him. He is not a wing back and he is no use at playing the ball out on the ground, that is why he needs better players next to him.

Cheers Dipepa, I think we’ve all endured what you describe about our teams. Unless you’re a Man Utd or an Arsenal fan it comes with the territory but despite that I’d rather be a Wanderers fan than any of the so called “Big” clubs. It’s always surprised me why Vale have not reached a higher level because I personally class you as bigger than L1 or L2. Certainly your fans and even your potential fan base could sustain a much higher level so it must be a disappointment that you’ve rarely reached that potential. Like ourselves and equivalent clubs it’s largely down to the owners and how much they’re prepared to invest. After a crook nearly did for us we’ve now got owners who are looking to take us back up to where we realistically should be so I’m hopeful that we can make it this year. Genuinely sorry and surprised at your relegation but hoping that you’ll make up for it next year and bounce back. Moore seems to have come in for some criticism which is understandable but I believe he’s a very good manager and if you stick with him he’ll do well for you once he has his own players. You have to give managers time and if you look at us when Evatt first came in we were 23rd in L2 by January and many were calling for his head but after the first window he brought in his own players and we were promoted. Good luck next year anyway.

Well, I disagree with you.

He's the total opposite.

I don't like the defeatist attitude and negative approach 😒. I get Bolton and Peterborough are better than us. Bolton and Peterborough both lost at home to Carlisle. Orient won 3-0 away at Portsmouth. Derby lost at Shrewsbury and drew at Cheltenham. Plenty of other examples. We can't go toe to toe but too many times we have our bellies tickled. In no scenario is a 3-0 defeat acceptable in my opinion. Me and a mate I go to the game with had a ding dong on Wattsap about Peterborough where he said we were seconds away from the perfect first half . I replied there was 45 mins left and we would of got spanked anyway even if 0-0 at half time. We only beat Derby last season due to 10 men and the gods were in our favour. In general we are beaten before a ball is kicked and rarely score against the bigger fish.

To me this is why we need a complete clear out along with players under contract. Move as many on a possible. Release everyone out of contract, those under contract put on the transfer list. It’s the only way to change the culture.

And that's the point Osh. I'm all for free speech and fair criticism but some fans take it a too far and should just think a little more as to who and what is posted about the Shanahan family on all forms of social media. Vale fans wonder why one wealthy Vale fan in particular doesn't get more involved, perhaps the answer lies in some of the posts directed at the Shanahan family.

Exactly this. You would think some people have never made a mistake on here. Every season clubs have to go down and some go up. Every club can't simply demand a new owner if you get relegated. Clubs make decisions- some pay off for some and some don't. This year we were not good enough. It's a tough pill to take but we will have to move on and rebuild. And I think as fans we should do our bit to support our club rather than turn our backs on it.

Relegation Party or wake ? Will the players actually turn up and show us what they can do ? Can Darren end the season with a win ? Is it a "must win game" or will we finish 2nd bottom and go out with a whimper ? Who knows, it's another "guess the line-up" game but thankfully, whatever way the game is going, we won't be sweating on other results and at 5.00pm we fans can all have a breather and keep an eye on the National League and League Two play-offs. Thank goodness it's over.

Bull if was up to me you would be in prison as you are a cheap crook

The result doesn't matter on Saturday, I'd rather us put out the youth team on Saturday and lose than watch the same half arsed players make the same mistakes over and over again and lose. I'd play Ripley smith chislett garrity and the rest of the young lads. I don't know where some of them play but Walters, shorrock,plant,buah, brazier and Di pepa. I wouldn't bother playing any of Jones,lowe,lacovitti, grant,ojo,ikpeazu,Massey,sang and loft as they have had more than enough chances and just put in the same crap can't be arsed performances. Play as many youngsters as we can as I will get more enjoyment in watching them lose than the same bog standard players. I will predict 3 1 to Cambridge.

On holiday?

Open letter to Carol… Sort this <ovf censored> show out. Give us back some pride! Signed, Every Port Vale fan past and present. PS tell Darren to release his retained list this week! Let’s get going rather than farting around!

@Brian Johnson I read it very carefully and replied to the actual content which you posted. === You said that there may be many people who want to buy or invest in our football club, but we wouldn't know about them because the owner or CEO of Port Vale wouldn't tell us about them. You said that you are "tired of reading that their no one is banging on our door to take over little Port Vale" and we have "all been brainwashed by Bratt & Smurf". I agreed with you that there are loads of people out there who want to take over Port Vale. But pointed out to you that the vast majority of them are "people exactly like Smurthwaite who want take over the club and all of its assets, and then bleed them dry to fill up their own coffers. And further pointed out that, on the other hand, genuine people like Carol, people who actually do want to invest in the club and build it up, are extremely few and far between. === I understand that you are not saying you want Carol to sell. So we are also in agreement about that. I'm just further stressing that we, the supporters as a whole, shouldn't hold false views about there being loads of genuine buyers out there who are interested in taking over Port Vale for constructive reasons, because there aren't. Football seems to attract a large number of self-serving low-lifes such as the Smurthwaites of this world. Which is why we are lucky to have someone like Carol in charge of our club.

And you write all of this whilst having a picture of that bloke who took the club into administration as your avatar.

Compare Bratt, Smurf Waite and Shanahan eras I would say the worst has been clearly the past 18 months. The squad is near to as much use as a chocolate teapot. The manager has no element of passion, the owner doesn't want to engage with the fans. The facilities are a sham, the accounts are a mess, the confidence is at an all time low!!

I'm expecting the biggest crowd of the season. Nothing like a good boo-fest to get the fans flooding to VP.

If we’d have kept Thomas and he’d have played every minute that Loft had we most likely would have stayed up- he’d have scored 6 or 7 goals as opposed to Loft which would have been worth around 7 or 8 more points.

Agreed. If we are agitating for an owner who never makes a mistake (or a manager/player for that matter), who never uses an inappropriate word, who does everything perfectly, we’re in for a long wait.

I would prefer anybody other than Bill Twatt

Someone who's departure has been overlooked somewhat, due to the lament for Ollie and Alfie, is Josh Thomas. He was getting better and knew where the net was. Not only fast, but also chased, which are two different things. Would have grabbed more goals than those who replaced him. Ah well.

Leutwiler Lomax Smith Yak Wynne Walters Chislett Plant Shorrock Garrity Dipepa No loans, none out of contract, no underachievers, only decent seniors, our developing talent (Yak and Smith aside, no-one to replace them)

I’ve got a different take with negative tactics. I thought Moore made us compact, better organised and we started keeping clean sheets and managed a few results. Once we had to win and be more positive on the front foot we were very easily picked off and conceded goals for fun. I think this is the main reason our home record is atrocious. Combine that with a team which finds it very difficult to score I honestly don’t think DM had a choice. History has shown us when we concede 1st we lose so the only way to combat that is to sit in, keep a clean sheet and play for setpieces. If we had pace we could counter attack but that’s just another story of our arrogant recruitment. The difference with Crosby teams though we had a very good midfield with Blaster and Devine so we could keep the ball and try and attack. DM hasn’t had that luxury. The squad he inherited was significantly worse than Crosby’s plus Ojo has been sulking and stopped playing. Generally we ended up with a very poor group of players, one of the worst in my lifetime.

Agreed - but not everybody is Flitcroft. The years of going back to the well of who knows the Vale went well for us with Foyle, Glover and Aspin, didn’t they. Heaven forbid we start listening to gobshite Pope as well and bring in Richard Duffy when DM gets gone.

FTFY Please, no. Carol's been in football long enough to know people outside the circle that is Port Vale that have a bit more lived experience (and isn't an agent either). I've no got no wish or time for her to listen to people with a 'connection' to the Vale, least of all because I want the club to actually progress and go somewhere, rather than think small time which is why we struggled for so long in League 2 in the past.

I think folk get too caught up in demanding a certain ‘type’ of signing. Experience. Proven. Winners. Tough men. Just sign good players. Restricting ourselves by chasing niche profiles arbitrarily selected by Flitcroft is what for us into this mess. If a player is good and experienced, sign him. If he’s good and young, sign him. Sign good footballers who make us better imo, not to fit a narrative about ‘who we are’.

Yes, the signing of one player around 8 years ago who had a litany of personal problems means we should write off any players at the same level in 2024. I’m sure Posh adopt the same approach with Mason-Clark and Edwards. Tolaj would be an absolutely outstanding signing - as anyone who has watched him can attest to

Well heartfelt commiserations to you guys, you put up a good show yesterday, fortuitous at times maybe but you had your moments too. One thing I will say is a big call out to your fans who were as noisy and supportive as any we’ve had at the ToughSheet this season. It wasn’t to be but look forward not back and think of those celebrations next year when you’re back up again, which I’m sure you will be. Good luck next season. 👏😉

Some of Debrah defending yesterday was beyond a joke. Looks like he's won a raffle to play. Smith has been poor 100%. But he's nowhere near our worst culprit at the back.

Just some some players with a bit of backbone would be a start or at least a captain who can take control once things start falling apart on the pitch. As soon as the opposition get a goal back mid/late in the second half we crumble. Players go missing, and the opposition dominate. It’s so predictable. I don’t even want to look at how many points we lost from winning/drawing positions this season.

Yeah, and...?! The release of the retained list (/transfer listing players) will be a signal of the club's intentions of clearing out as much of this dross squad as possible, so if they want to maximise selling season tickets its pretty bleedin' obvious that they should be doing this very soon after the season, and certainly before the end of May! 🥴

Watching the FA Cup yesterday, and comparing the football on show to what Vale have served up this season - it's genuinely a completely different <ovf censored> game. Man Utd would have hit double figures against this Vale side. With ease.

I think if Vale target any non league player it will be a young one they have a chance of selling on at a later date I cant see us having any interest in McCallum(30) or Kabamba(31) because of their age,same with Dieseruvwe(29 and had 300 clubs),I personally think if we sign a striker of that age it will be one who has been playing League football. I mentioned Tolaj(22) at Aldershot and Conn-Clark attacking midfielder at Altrincham(22) I think those are the ages we would target from a lower league

But that is NOT what i'm saying. There are deluded people on here that want Carol out and think that someone is going to come in just snap us up. I don't see that. I also quite like our owner. Yes, she's cocked up BUT she's fessed up to that. Lets get on and get the situation repaired (including the Paddock bogs!) Jesus!

We can go on and on and round and round with pro and anti Carol posts. It will not change a thing, Carol will still be the owner/chairwoman and Darren Moore will still be the manager, unless there is another multi millionaire ready to buy a club haemmoraging £65k a week. Accordingly I will give Carol the benefit of the doubt regarding her latest missive and watch with interest to see if it manifests into positive actions. I have had a few rants about results, performances and attitudes, but as a lifelong Vale fan I will be there next Saturday and next season supporting the team I love. Hopefully the majority of you will be right there with me.

Smith is a victim of circumstance. For him to be on this list is harsh, imo. He can do a job for us in L2 but I would like to see us bring in CBs better with the ball if DM intends to carry on playing out from the back.

Lopata never been give a chance