Iron Curtain

According to Baggers article, Foyle was at the game yesterday

The lad who would have been perfect was the local lad who went from FGR to Portsmouth… but that ship sailed a long time ago. And of course there is the option of having no DOF role at all.

How about we just go an pinch this guy? Data, deals and Airbnbs: the plan driving Crewe’s promotion push | Crewe Alexandra | The Guardian WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM I do also like the Martin Foyle suggestion. Or do we go for someone with less power and control than Flitcroft had, someone who just becomes a “football person” that can guide Carol… Leon Legge?

How about we just go an pinch this guy? Data, deals and Airbnbs: the plan driving Crewe’s promotion push | Crewe Alexandra | The Guardian WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM I do also like the Martin Foyle suggestion. Or do we go for someone with less power and control than Flitcroft had who just becomes a “football person” who can guide Carol… Leon Legge?

Right decision and will benefit Port Vale in the long run if not the short run to the end of this season. My view on Carol is that I try to judge people on intentions over execution. Her intentions are absolutely to do the best she can for Port Vale. That gets her a significant amount of leeway in my eyes. The execution hasn’t been perfect and it’s clear as a person she is very loyal and tends to hold on to people for too long when it’s clear they should go. Its not the worst fault in the world, I can name many MANY worse by just looking at previous owners.

It’s a pretty bad vicious circle… Ryan Loft has been made the boo boy and the treatment of him on social media and in the ground has been pretty poor. And this is a bloke who pundits continually tell us is a confidence player. His reaction to his treatment is a natural human one unfortunately and the circle will continue.

It’s disgusting. Look at the behaviour on here tonight. Slagging him off for walking down the tunnel… building the pack mentality hatred towards the bloke. When it gets pointed out that there are rumours he was abused at half time and probably within his rights to walk away, it gets ignored and they just move on. A bigger man would acknowledge that if’s that’s true some of the stuff said on here tonight is out of order and won’t help the player, the team or the club.

Rumours on Twitter he was being abused by fans whilst warming up at half time. Not sure why brain dead idiots who abuse players at the ground can’t understand that it doesn’t help Port Vale football club… in fact clearly it does the exact opposite. Slag the bloke off for not clapping but IF he was being abused to his face as he is trying to do that job do you blame him for not sticking behind?

Gregory is a good shout, as we know Wednesday didn’t get their man due to the Michael Smith saga. I had a look at that website and saw Phuthi but he is a defender… it’s not clear whether he has played exactly 6 mins, or around 6 mins… also whether that’s since Jan or since the start of the season. This one may have to stay a mystery

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.

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.

Alan Nixon say it’s a no on Gayle… but how much does he know about what’s gone on today? Still a chance hopefully??

This is an interesting interview with DMs usual assistant manager. It indicates he isn’t as wedded to 352 as we think. He says that they played 5 or 6 different formations at the start of their Wednesday journey as they adapted in games and figured out what was best for the players they had… which was the 352 they settled on. At Doncaster he played 4231. That said, I think our squad has been recruited for 352 so I reckon that’s what he will go for. Personally I think the 4231 would suit us at the moment Ripley Lowe Lopata Debra Grant Ojo Gore Chiz Weir Mighten Wilson

Totally agree… I think going o to that situation without a backup is unforgivable

Alan Nixon said this morning that Sheff Wed didn’t get a striker in, and now Romano saying they may go in for Gayle. I wonder if that was the issue last night? We may have had everything agreed with Michael Smith and then sat there waiting to see if Sheff Wed would let him go only to realise they missed out and therefore said no.

Confirmation that Michael Smith was at the club until past 11 last night.

Feels very much like we have missed out on someone at the last minute. The bloke on Facebook said he saw a very impressive championship striker shaking hands with the coaching team before going back in with his agent. When people were asking who it was he would say ‘no’ to names like Gregory and Wyke… but wouldn’t say anything if people mentioned Michael Smith. Could it have been him? So feels like either 1. we will get an announcement this morning and people will have to admit that’s a very good addition, or 2. We will find out that we missed out at the last minute and couldn’t get it across the line and that will have to be viewed as a massive failure especially with no back up option.

From FacebooK I think Shane Ballard is Alfie’s Dad, the lad that does the videos?

Yeah no chance it’s him… just wishful thinking

Darts reference - Michael Smith Sheff Wed striker? Michael Smith (footballer, born 1991) - Wikipedia EN.M.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

9 dart reference. Taylor Dale Taylor?

We normally tweet something along the lines of “that’s all folks” when our business is done… can we still hold out hope of someone’s paperwork being completed?