Dr Delgado

Well said, I can’t think which manager would have been happy with the cards that Crosby was dealt. Managing Vale must be like trying to complete a 1000 pice jigsaw with 8 pieces missing.

Can I just clarify, who would have to be naked in this deal?

Just been trying to find these latest odds, can you please tell me where I can find them?

I can only imagine that the first meeting between Carol and Flitcroft was something akin to Mowgli meeting the snake in “Jungle Book” It would appear he has given her the “trust in me” lines, Carol went all swivel eyed and the rest, as they say, is history. It concerns me that with the exception of Rudgie, who is nearly 80 and somewhat out of touch, there is no other permanent fixture within in the club who could offer Carol a different perspective. I believe for us to progress as a proper football club someone will have to break the Svengali spell that DF has cast over Carol. Could we perhaps arrange some form of exorcism, does anyone know a willing priest?

I have been quite vitriolic towards our director of football due to my belief that he has underperformed in the most important aspect of his role. I think it is only to be expected that Vale fans are able to watch a team befitting of our League 1 status ie fielding a team with proper strikers, wing backs etc. Our position in the league doesn’t lie, we are clearly deficient in important areas, put simply we concede too many goals and don’t score enough at the other end. Out of respect for Carol and her family I won’t be taking part in any demonstrations against Flitcroft at this point in time. There is no doubt in my mind that her and Kevin’s investment has guaranteed our survival as a club and for that I am grateful. Whilst Carol eloquently presented her views which were valid and compelling, her response was deficient in actually addressing the reason why so many of us are up in arms at present. Whilst I cannot speak for all fans, I think most would like an explanation as to: why we continue to fail in the transfer market? and why we have to suffer the unproductive style of play that has been foisted upon us.? Two simple questions really. Whilst I welcome Carol’s response, I think we should make sure that she has the opportunity to read some of the responses that Vale fan’s have posted on here in order for her to get a feel for why we feel as we do. Not sure if Rob or anyone else could select a few varied (non abusive)posts and pass them on to the club.?

I am a Vale fan because of Tommy McClaren and his tenacious tackling and 100% commitment. I am a Vale fan because we beat Burnley at home in the FA cup in 1977. I am a Vale fan because Ally Brown scored a last minute goal at Macclesfield when we really needed it. I am a Vale fan because of the wonder goal Jimmy Greenhoff scored against York. I am a Vale fan because of the header Van Der Lan scored at Anfield. I am a Vale fan because of the goal Foyle scored in the FA cup to knock Stoke out. I could go on, all these reasons have one thing in common, that being, they all happened out on the pitch. People won’t want to be Vale fans because we’ve got a good training pitch, the best exec boxes or the best scoreboard. If we the fan base know what matters how come the powers that be don’t. ? If nothing good happens on the pitch then nothing good will happen on the terraces.

I wonder if Carol has ever seen that documentary on Waco?

Our only hope this season is to rid the club of this shadow skulking chancer. Sometimes it can be hard to admit we are wrong however that is what Carol has to do to move the club forward. If and only if, Flitcroft is relieved of his duties ASAP, do we have a chance of surviving in this league. The so called “system” needs to be abandoned in order to allow a new manager to take over and do whatever is necessary for us to survive. Unfortunately without the likes of Garlick whose counsel does she seek? I think Rudgie is so out of touch these days, although I’m sure he would help to the best of his abilities. We’re in a bit of a situation.

I really get frustrated when I can't succinctly articulate why I dislike a particular person and this is currently the case with Flitcroft. Maybe it's his Teflon coated position that grates on me, whereby he can ride out any storm, with his ready made fall guy in the form of his puppet of a first team coach. Maybe it's his smoke and mirrors, matrix process that says everything and delivers little. Perhaps it's his absolutely abysmal performance in the January transfer windows. Frustratingly he knows we need some decent nogger players at our club but is evidently risking our league 1 status by failing to get them. If we can see past this narcissistic monstink then I'm sure those within the world of lower league football will, I have a feeling that the pool of applicants will be more of a small puddle. Am I misjudging the poor man?

House of cards

Just googled Will Ryder, seems he’s made some interesting films???

I can’t help feeling we are in a mess. Whoever comes in will have to play within the agreed system, thus making the job less attractive as the system doesn’t work. Yes, our style of play may suit Premiership loan prospects but they are not going to make Port Vale, they come and they go. We need more Dave Worrall’s, players who make it obvious who they are playing for. I genuinely am confused about what kind of club we are trying to be. I’m pretty sure that a while back Flitcroft confirmed at some forum or other that we had not missed out on any targets due to their wage demands. What the hell is happening then, why aren’t Carol, Flitcroft or any other mover & shaker at Vale Park attracting the calibre of players we need? I can’t help but feel a little disdain emanating from the club towards the ordinary fan, you know the ones not in the RW suite or executive boxes. Why haven’t they offered up any explanation for their paltry return from the transfer window. Talk to us David, Carol, you never know we might begin to understand and get behind you. At the moment I feel like the proverbial mushrooms; kept in the dark & fed on 5h1t.

That's the kind of character I would like but that character wouldn't like to be a "yes man" to Flitcroft.

Vale fans! I’m not questioning the altruistic endeavours of Carol and the community wide work. I'm talking about looking after Vale fans, you know, the ones that made the club.

It’s quite interesting to read the opinions with regard to Bratt, Smurthwaite et al. It makes me laugh really, people were seduced by Smurthwaite’s knitted scarf believing him to be a fan, I wonder where that scarf is now? Perhaps resting in the bottom of a dog crate. If Bratt was such a committed Vale fan why haven’t we seen him at Vale Park since his calamitous exit? And finally, I was never convinced by the antics of Mo Chauhdry and his involvement in the Black n Gold period, turning up at Vale Park pretending to be a fan. I’m pleased we have our current owners, we seem relatively stable from a financial point of view, however financial stability doesn’t get me off my seat on a Saturday afternoon. I’ve been patient whilst we have implemented this new playing style with questionable results. I’m just getting a little bit concerned with regard to a disconnect between the running of the club, the players and the fans. The Paddock toilet fiasco highlights this, it is inexcusable for facilities to be out of action for so long. Last season on a number of occasions the tea bar had run out of food prior to half time. I take my 13 year old lad, if he wants to get a half time pie, he has to take my credit card with him, cashless was a crap decision. We might be a club that looks after its players and their families but are we a club that looks after it’s own, the real fans who have been turning up for an untold number of years?

But the player’s families have been made to feel ever so welcome.

What is the point of being a fan of any club without the hope of progress, the odd promotion push, a good cup run, the scalp of a bigger & higher placed team. I am a Vale fan, I was before Carol owned the club, or before Robbie Williams was making his annual gesture visits. It is frustrating when the ambition, hope and progress would appear to be avoiding relegation from league 1. Make no mistake, whilst knowing what our lane is, a Port Vale fan’s hope’s and dreams are no different to that of a Chelsea of Man City fan. I’m a little bit concerned that we are becoming a play thing for other clubs, as soon as Spurs & Sheff U realised how good their players are they have snatched them back. Likewise the lad from Liverpool whose name I can’t be arsed to learn, he’s probably been sent to us with a bus load of baggage, he was clearly a big issue in Scotland. Evidently Carol and her family have done untold good with their investment. I am grateful for that but has she taken us as far as WE want her to? If we are to be a club that is stocked with developing youngsters and loan players the fan base will dwindle. Aiming to finish 14th in league 1 isn’t my idea of supporting a football team even if it is solvent. We need players who are committed to our club, real signings who we can identify with and who are prepared to put their bodies on the line. If any of our loan signings do well we will never see them again. Im not sure Carol realises how important it is for at least half of the team to have a true connection with the fans, we love them and at the very least they have got to pretend to love us. I am prepared to offer a degree of patience and hope my pessimism is unfounded. Knowing Vale fans as I do, there certainly isn’t a groundswell of patience and understanding emanating from the terraces, in fact a couple of defeats down the line and I can envisage a few more “Super Ted’s” invading the pitch. Will someone please cheer me up and tell me that it isn’t as bad as I think.

Ever since the first real transfer window Darrell Clarke had and we pretty much brought in a whole promotion squad, I have had to seriously manage my expectations. Most transfer windows have come and gone with me feeling seriously underwhelmed. At this point anything we bring in will be a boon to my mental health.

No need to apologise. I was wondering if any other fans felt the same way.

Sorry to be pedantic Badboy, and it maybe just me but I really hate it when fans of other clubs refer to Manchester United as "United". I find this lauded familiarity quite nauseating. We never seem to see them being referred to as just Manchester as we do Bristol or Sheffield. Minor issue I know but whenever I meet a fellow football fan and they say they support "United", I often reply with "Ah, shame Rotherham are struggling this year" Is it just me?

If you categorise us, in your opinion, of 'crap' now, what on earth did you think of us just 4 years ago? I occasionally try out a little sarcasm on here which I know is foolish on my part. The three managers I quoted are all in charge of teams we have beaten this season. For the avoidance of any doubt I don’t think we are crap.

Exactly! I remember the Oxford, Blackpool and Exeter manager’s all saying the same thing this season. When will Vale fans all wake up to how crap we are?

For the first time ever I think it might be the right decision to allow Nathan Smith to leave. I wouldn’t be sad if he stayed because his effort and commitment in a Vale shirt is evident for all to see. I just think that the current style of play doesn’t suit his skill base. I think a parting of the ways may suit both parties. Smith would have something to offer as a competitive spoiling centre back at a club who play in a different way. I think we need a footballing centre back with a bit of pace to compliment our intended style of play. I never thought he would struggle to hold his place in the team but this has been the case of late.

What if he improved, what if he popped up and scored a couple?