robf

Please see this thread. It's a glitch after work on adding a cache to increase site speed. No actual a/c information is being shared -

It's ten minutes after they've signed with some people!

Just off topic for a bit... has anyone else noticed the number of uninformed Man Utd "fans" who are suddenly upset that Dan Gore may be going to Port Vale. I did a Twitter search for "Port Vale" and the latest posts are just chocka of uninformed nonsense from fans who think their teenaged talent (with one minute of League action to his name) is far too good for the likes of Port Vale. I presume that's because they haven't heard of us because we're not on Sky Sports every week and that they've got no clue that though Dan Gore may be "far better than Port Vale" we've now got a proven record of looking after young loan players and that we can give him plenty of first-team starts, something a kid with one minute of senior football may not get in the Championship or Premier League. Thank goodness, I'm not a supporter of a "big" club, I don't think I could take that amount of rubbish, spouted by uninformed idiots. And if you ever get fed up about a topic on OVF, it's well worth a brief trip onto Twitter - the amount of garbage on there may rapidly restore your faith in the quality of debate on here! Rant over...

Ethan's move will have to wait as we've got Liam Brazier's transfer to Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, PSG, Marseille, Nice, Juventus, Benfica or Rangers to complete first...

From what I've read of Dan Gore (and that's not much admittedly) he seems to be someone who enjoys a tackle and will get stuck in. So, a different player from Devine. However, I wonder if having one of those (showing my age here) all action "Andy Porter types" will help the defence? I think we've been badly missing Ojo and perhaps Gore can come up and add that screen in front of the back three?

The club is bringing in permanent signings - it's not just relying on loan signings. This season you could argue that Ripley, Debrah, Chislett and Ikpeazu are permanent signings that are upgrades. The problem as I see it is that the club also needs to up its success rate on permanent deals. Some aren't good enough, some have come with injury issues and are not available. This summer we brought in nine permanent signings (eleven if you include Debrah and Ikpeazu who arrived later). The problem for me is that only the four I mentioned can be seen as clear successes meaning a lot of the others haven't worked out. Loft hasn't impressed. Grant, Iacovitti and Clark have all been injured. I think there's a mix of squad additions this season - permanent moves, loanees, graduates from the youth team. So, I don't think the issue is a short term approach of bringing in loanees which can be recalled. Eleven permanent signings doesn't suggest a reliance on loans. It's been a mixed bag - the loans have largely been successful, playing the kids was always going to be a long game (and there are glimpses of potential) but the area where the club could improve is with the permanent signings. If they can improve the success rate there (it's never going to be 100% but four out of eleven isn't great) then that would help.

I've done a piece on the Brazier rumours on the front page. It may be useful if anyone is catching up. The response from Vale suggests these reports are hugely wide of the mark... Explainer: why latest Liam Brazier rumour should be treated with a pinch of salt - onevalefan.co.uk WWW.ONEVALEFAN.CO.UK

pm or am?

If this is to be believed, Uche is having a medical today... Charlton Athletic set for double striker swoop – South London News LONDONNEWSONLINE.CO.UK

As far as Young goes, he came back from Swindon seemingly fully fit and full of goals and then mysteriously picked up a knock and hasn't been involved in any squads for them. If he played for Bradford he would be ineligible to move anywhere else, so the theory goes that he isn't being played because they want to cash in on him.

I think there may have been a bit of Vale annoyance over the way Swansea handled the Thomas injury too. I can't remember which interview but in one of the pre-match ones, Crosby said the Vale were expecting Thomas back and then (I'm paraphrasing) he didn't turn up and they were told by Swansea he'd had a further issue and was a couple of weeks away still. The indication to me (perhaps I was reading too much into it) was that was unprofessional by the parent club and Vale seemed a bit miffed that neither club nor player had thought to mention it to the Vale.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. A gut feeling but first of all Uche doesn't strike me as one to sulk. You could also argue that playing well for Vale for the rest of the season suits his interests. He's getting fitter and fitter with more gametime, playing games puts him in the spotlight and gives him more chance of a decent move in the summer if that's what he wants. The flipside is if he sulks and gets dropped then there's potentially a player who's not matchfit who is less attractive to clubs (who wants a "problem" player?), who maybe has to go on trial and could end up without a club. He's suffered that fate earlier that season (I would imagine it wasn't very pleasant) and presumably wouldn't want to do it again. So, for me, if he was told to stay, it suits his interests more to knuckle down and get on with it.

I guess it all comes down to whether he's got a get-out clause in his contract or not. If he hasn't got a get-out clause I would hope Vale either hold him till the end of his contract and only let him go in January if an offer is too good to turn down.

Mike Baggaley suggests Vale are keen on Gore but any move would take time. So I suspect he may be later in the window if at all. I can't see it being Dale Taylor as he's still on loan. He'd have to be recalled but he's doing well at Wycombe so why would Forest bother? It's not in their interests. Their priority is to develop him and get him game time. Why risk moving him when he appears settled, in form and playing? I can see the logic in bringing in Young though, presuming the asking price isn't stupid. Take a chunk of the fee off with what we get for Uche and bring in a younger player with potential. From what I've read Young is pacy with a great shot and can play upfront by himself or as a partnership. The main criticism appears to be work rate off the ball, pressing etc but I guess Vale may think they can work on that. At our level you're never gonna get the complete player anyhow.

I'd agree with that. We hold the cards as Charlton have lost out on other players and need someone now. We only need to sell if the price is right. However, there's a limit to how desperate Charlton are. I suspect if Vale demanded any more than 100k they'd start looking elsewhere.

But Charlton's issue is they need a striker now, they can't wait six months. In that case, it's reasonable that they may have to pay over the odds. After all, Uche is under contract, we have no need to sell unless it's a decent fee.

Flipping heck that's quick. It felt like a bad decision at the time but six games! Is Deeney now free to come to Vale as a player as some wanted in the summer?

No don't say any more - as I will remove any more references to this, it's gone on enough and is danger of taking this thread off topic I will remind you that: Our moderation decisions are not a subject of debate. With due respect it's not your decision to make. It's mine. In my opinion (and as site owner/bill payer my decision is final) it was clearly offensive. That was clearly the same for the members who read it and reported it too A reminder. If anyone has a question about site moderation in the future, please do message myself or a member of the team so that threads do not go off topic. You are very welcome on here to discuss Vale matters but you have also all agreed to our terms and conditions and if you can't follow them, we will remove your access. Keep to the rules and all will be fine. Now, having spent time this evening dealing with this when I have other things to do, that's it. An offensive post was removed. Matter closed. Any more posts on this will be deleted. As you were.

You're wrong as they clearly were because I got multiple people reporting that post. If you really need telling then mocking a dead child is offensive you know! I repeat please follow the rules. I'm not here to debate my decisions. If anyone can't follow them then I will remove them. If you do follow them then you are very welcome.

Other people may be offended though. A polite reminder that everyone on here agreed to abide to our forum rules which ask for no objectionable posts. If you don't want to follow the rules then please be aware that persistent offenders could be banned.

Crosby says there's interest in Uche (and other players) but suggests there's no formal offer yet. 5 mins, 50 secs into this...

Isn't he at Wycombe? Looking at their press, he was praised by the manager a few days ago too. Seems odd for them promptly let him go... Matt Bloomfield's message to Dale Taylor after Wycombe's draw versus Lincoln WWW.BUCKSFREEPRESS.CO.UK

Who's potentially out there if Ikpeazu goes? Bradford seem to have put a big price tag on Jake Young, so just wondering if anyone has heard any other names linked?

Uche's also played in Turkey, Scotland and Wales. In terms of English clubs alone, he's had spells with us, Cambridge, Blackpool and Middlesbrough. All over the place. I'm not sure on that evidence he has any geographical preference. However, I suspect he does have a preference for contract length and wages (which is fair enough).

Interesting viewpoint from a Charlton blog. Seems there is increasing desperation there to add a striker: Andy Scott is a drunken sailor | Albury Addick ALBURYADDICK.WORDPRESS.COM