[Ale and the Vale Podcast]

Thanks lads.

The problems you had selecting a team said it all.

Far too many injuries and sadly no chance at all yet of selecting our strongest line up.

It was very interesting to hear what Brown said wasn't it? Just confirming what we've all thought for several seasons - quantity over quality.

[Ale and the Vale Podcast]

I know some find Clarke a bit outspoken but he's spot on about the weaknesses in the squad. It is unbalanced. We've never had a midfield physical presence since Grant left and are soft centred. No real leader out there. Heads drop - in part because we've got a lot of young lads. Everyone knows we badly needed at least one defender in January but we didn't do owt about it (apart from the young boy on loan). Leaving the managerial appointment too late was another error.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. And when confidence plummets it's tough to get it back.

I think our best (only) chance of winning games lies in us getting a tune out of the likes of Pope, Amoo, Oyleke and Worrall. Their experience, trickery and physicality might give us a bit extra and get us across the line.

But it's a poor squad. The spine is badly creaking compared to last year, Askey's signings were appalling generally, and we've got far too many crocks in the squad (at least 4 of them). None of these things are Clarke's fault. I'll judge him after a couple of windows and a pre-season but it's going to be a nail biting finish. We've been far too complacent since last October.

[Ale and the Vale Podcast]

Just as an aside, I think we've been mentally quite weak for ages and lack a real leader on the pitch. We do drift through parts of games rudderless and it often takes half time to put us back on track, by which time it's too late and we are chasing games.

[Ale and the Vale Podcast]

I'd need a couple of hard drives to list all the dross I've seen wearing a Vale shirt since the early sixties!

Andy Jones was a phenomenal player for us - so strong, powerful and direct. But I always thought his career dipped after he left us. Well, I'm sure it did.

I think it's difficult to play 433 at our level. For a time we did ok under Askey but we hardly ever created loads of chances and hardly ever won games by more than an odd single goal. I can't recall many occasions when we scored 3,4 or 5 but an awful lot of times when we were hanging on grimly at 90 minutes.

The problem chiefly is that the lone striker gets isolated. Unless, as said above, both wingers get close to him sometimes and/or we have a couple of lads able to support him from midfield. Fingers crossed that Taylor can do that. Otherwise it becomes a thankless task and the centre forward is isolated and battling on his own against two centre backs. It happens a lot with us when the gap between him and our midfield is too wide. We never get enough players in the box.

I much prefer two up there and I felt sure that Pope-Rodney would have worked a treat. it's a shame that hasn't happened but maybe Guthrie can step up.

[Ale and the Vale Podcast]

Agreed.

Thanks, lads.  Much appreciated.

[Bury statement]

Reads like a speech from Boris Johnson.

[Boxing: Fights coming up]

I'm not an expert on boxing nor as knowledgeable as some on here but is the sport in danger of damaging itself if it doesn't get a grip on drugs?

What's happening with Whyte? Has he been found guilty in his 1st sample of using drugs, or not? Wasn't he banned a few years ago? What could this do to boxing's reputation?

By the way, I do like boxing! My dad insisted we used to watch it many years ago as he was a successful boxer in the army and very often regaled me with stories about the best boxer he ever saw - Joe Louis. And who couldn't but watch boxing when the great man Ali was in the ring?

I wouldn't want it to go the same was as Le Tour with all it's many problems over the years.

 

[Boxing: Fights coming up]

For me an absolute farce, I won't be paying to watch it.

 

I fully agree. It's making a mockery out of boxing. But money talks.