[Cambridge (H) Match Thread - 27th April]

33 minutes ago, Warren said:

I failed to notice the early kick off! 

Me and our kid too. Doh.

[League one relegation watch]

19 minutes ago, Properman said:

Sorry thinking of Fleetwood away.

They were were only a few weeks apart and away was even worse! 

[League one relegation watch]

7 minutes ago, Properman said:

Moore was not the manager then, still Crosby

Moore was named new boss on 13th Feb. We played Fleetwood at home on the 27th Feb. 

[League one relegation watch]

30 minutes ago, andy jones said:

Sorry can't agree with that. 

We failed to win in goodness knows how many games when DC came in. We were saying where's the new Manager bounce.

In fact the first win under DC wasn't until the match after Andy Crosby joined the club.

So perhaps it's AC we should thank for ending the long wait for a win when DC became Manager?

And given we couldn't buy a win or even hold onto a winning position after DM's appointment before DM's backroom staff arrived perhaps we should be thanking them for the upturn in form? DM was a bit too experimental in his first few games; the Fleetwood game where we were 2 up and then a triple substitution early in the 2nd half led to clinging on for a draw springs to mind. However just a draw tonight would be a massive result. 

 

[Wigan away tickets not available for collection tomorrow]

3 hours ago, Hot Rat said:

My question too - they are not available online but there's no hint that its sold out?

As usual I fell foul of the vague pathway that enables purchase of tickets online which requires you to click on the picture to access the seating plan - I have just bought two and there are about 50 left. The shop have also advised that Wigan are supposed to be sending tickets for another block.  

[Wigan away tickets not available for collection tomorrow]

15 hours ago, Andy Proctor said:

Can you actually buy Wigan tickets at vale or are they unavailable, sold out or you can buy them but not able collect them? 

My question too - they are not available online but there's no hint that its sold out?

[Bristol Rovers (H) match thread - 29th March]

2 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Errrrr. Yes. 
Are you some sort of snowflake?

I can say what I want. If you’re offended that’s your fault.

You can say what you want. If I or others are offended then that’s our fault.

Stoke are <ovf censored>. Can’t stand them.

That Lizzo bird is a fat <ovf censored>.

Sunaks a piece of scum.

That disabled comedienne chaff is awful.

I could go on. 
It’s called freedom of speech. 
I can say what I want. 
Too many snowflakes in todays society have been brainwashed. 

Feedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to be offensive. 

[January Transfers and Rumours]

33 minutes ago, TJHValiant said:

This is nail on head territory. Absolutely spot on. Where has the money gone? I see a Smurfwaite standard squad that we had on 4K gates. People rave on about the money on the ground, but the club shop was probably the biggest development project since Lorne Street. 
 

 

I would imagine that they spent well into six figures on the pitch in the summer for starters. 

[January Transfers and Rumours]

21 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

Got anymore examples that were not 10 years ago?

Adams also had his contract paid up when he left for Sheffield United

Not offhand and I cant be bothered to look that deeply although I suspect there probably are other examples. However, you said "why do you never hear of a manager resigning" and I was merely providing an example on our doorstep?

I should add that I don't disagree that most managers get sacked and paid up, although many probably still think they can turn things around and don't want a sacking on their CV either. Mickey was different in that regard as he said that he'd run out of ideas. 

[January Transfers and Rumours]

28 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

It does in football.

Contracts in football are unlike your normal standard working contract.

The only time a player does not get paid his contract up, is if the player himself asks to leave.

Its the same with managers. Even when a manager is total tripe, why do you think you never hear of a manager resigning because he knows he will get paid up

Uche gets 6 months wages from Vale plus his signing on fee at the club he signs for if he moves in this transfer window

Mickey Adams resigned. 

[January Transfers and Rumours]

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

Think I can more succinctly argue this by saying that the payoff for what we're doing now is going to be in 2-3 seasons time - and even that isn't guaranteed. We're playing quite dull possession football, signing loan players who inevitably get recalled, and giving minutes to young players who probably aren't ready in the hope that we get the rewards in 2027.

The possession football makes us a more attractive proposition to both technical lower-league players, and Category 1 academies. By developing Devine and Arblaster we now have a track record of development to sell to Man City, Liverpool, and Man Utd. By playing Dipepa, Lomax, and Shorrock, we show the top 15 year olds in the country that there's a concrete pathway.

That's fine if you're getting paid to oversee it, but less fine if you're paying to watch it.

The challenge is bringing the fans into the process and achieving buy-in, even if some never will. It's making each week just about entertaining enough to avoid the fans turning and the DoF/Owner facing real pressure to bin off a project they'd committed 5 years to.

I agree with almost all of your observations but I think the current process doesn't consistently result in possession based football as I believe AC is using experience to tweek tactics more according to our results and the teams we are up against despite our injury list - I see this as a positive as other managers including DC persisted in Plan A despite evidence to show the opposition had us sussed (see Bruno Ribiero & John Askey). Over many years there has been a succession of managers who all had differing ideas on team tactics, but after one or two seasons (or less) due to lack of consistent progress were dismissed, followed by wholesale change in players. Personally I'd much prefer the club to have a long term plan and the opportunity to see our Academy players coming through and the opportunity to see the talented premier league loanees any day than an unpredictable future. I defy anyone to name a season in recent memory when we have consistently entertained and had not had a few matches  when it was like watching paint dry!

[January Transfers and Rumours]

5 hours ago, The Master said:

Barrow have better players than us.

Barrow have a better manager than us.

11 on 11 tomorrow, Barrow would beat us.

We should be in for the likes of Cole Stockton.

Our “philosophy” is well and good and will probably make money. 
The academy products. Sold. And others will go. Money.

Crosby. His style of play. Never ever ever will change. Tweeked but will always stay a constant. Like it or lump it.

Flitcroft. Earns money for Carol? He stays.

All I needed in my life today to know where the club is going is that Alfie Devine interview.

Its football manipulation.

Every question is thought out.

Every question will have been fed to Alfie.

Every question is now out there in social media to say to the suits at clubs higher than us that we are a good club.

You may as well have held Alfie down and said say what we want you to say.

I absolutely loved Alfie being here but if that’s the way football is going then it’s not for me.

Its so robotic it’s untrue.

I ask the older generation in here…. Is football fun anymore? Is there real passion? I don’t see it. I honestly don’t see it. All I see is a business. I see Port Vale Football Club as a business. A business where Carol Shanahan wants to make money. Nothing wrong with that. But she doesn’t care. She doesn’t. She cares about money. And she, like any other football club owner will put on a front saying that they care, virtue signaling her silly little scarf, when in reality they don’t! They care about making money. 
 

And don’t get me wrong, I’d rather have her in charge of the club than Smurthwaite, as one wants to make money whereas the other just wanted to steal money but wouldn’t it be lovely to take the politics out of everything.

I don’t want my club to be “robotic”. That’s what we are and that’s what fans can’t see. A robotic club making money for the owners. I want my club to sign the best players and go and challenge up the leagues. 
A lot of this season has been <ovf censored>. Let’s not dress that up. But on the field, when Stockport and Wrexham come up next season, maybe Notts County, that’s more clubs surpassing us on the pitch.

Because when Carlisle, Fleetwood, Reading go down, that’s a lot harder to get points off than the latter mentioned.
 

The virtue signaling in this club might be ok for a long term plan but the hardcore supporter will just leave whilst the <ovf censored> on the pitch continues. Apart from cracks papered over this last month.

 January 18th. Still no striker. Lost our two best players which weren’t ours in the first place. It’s all a bit of a philosophical mess!

 

While I'm as disappointed as the next Vale fan that Devine and Arblaster have departed, I would prefer to look on the bright side and remember those moments of pure football magic demonstrated by some of the best individual talents seen at Vale Park in at least 30 years.  Remember Arblasters elf-like side step to dodge the flying two footed tackle then putting the ball on the plate for Chizzy against Wigan? Devines goal against Mansfield? If DF & AC and the organisation that Carol and Kevin have put in place and personally funded continues to unleash gems such as these, even if its only for 6 months, then bring it on. Think yourself lucky we did not go the way of Bury when smurfwaite realised that running a football club costs money and is actually a passion for those fortunate (or daft enough) to buy a football club. I doubt there's a single football club in any of the leagues which makes a decent return for the owner (other than Man Utd and the Glazers means of profit is questionable). 

[Blackpool (H) match thread - 29th Dec]

48 minutes ago, Packmoor_vale said:

Which stand did the booing come from? 
I was in the hamil towards the back and was expecting it but never heard it 

There was also a few loft will tear u apart songs that a few tried to get going 

There was some booing/groans/grunts from the Railway Stand but some cheers too (possibly ironic but also possibly like me trying to drown out the negative Railway contingent). However there was also a brief chant of "Andy Crosbys Black & White Army!" after our third goal which at first I thought might be ironic but on reflection was probably euphoric...  Full credit to all those in voice in the Railway Stand though as the atmosphere was much better than it has been. Their taunting of the Hamil Stand to stand up and sing was brilliant. 

Full credit to AC and the lads for continuing in the same vein as the second half against Barnsley. Clearly the tactics and team shape against Barnsley in the 2nd half was the difference, and not Barnsley's substitutes as some would have us believe. Admittedly Blackpool were not as clinical as Barnsley when they had opportunities but perhaps that can be put down to our defence and the hard work of our wing backs, particularly Shorrock who as well as showing his speed in attack also made some fantastic covering runs (he was was my MOTM at half time). 

We may be saying farewell to the inspirational Arblaster but there's obviously some super talent coming through the development squad. Granted these young players were probably at the club before the appointment of David Flitcroft and the backroom staff he and Carol have bought in, but, it is the system and backroom staff he and Carol have bought in that is bringing the best out of these young players and that should not be forgotten when the first team are misfiring and questions are being asked about striker recruitment.

Here's to 2024, steady ascent of the league. UTV. 

 

[Blackpool (H) match thread - 29th Dec]

5 hours ago, Devine intervention said:

I cannot find the league games lost this century statistic on the football rates site although I quickly count a total of 420 losses between 2001-23 from the tabulated PV results. Whichever way its viewed, using league matches lost this century as a barometer of current form and crowd participation is bad use of statistics. I prefer this more optimistic statistic from actual football rates site.

[Wycombe (A) match thread - 23rd Dec]

3 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

Agree to some extent but doesn't possession based football lead to a slowing down of the game?

The game becomes a bit cat and mousy then a restart by passing it backwards to retain possession.

I've stopped watching EPL stuff for these reasons but Vale and England are an exception.

Agreed, it can as the team in control of possession dictates the pace of the game - but if they are a good enough they can speed it up at the drop of a hat. The fact that we can only up the pace successfully one in 5 games is probably more indicative of the quality of the players in league 1. Premier league players can produce the goods more consistently hence cost more. 

 

[Wycombe (A) match thread - 23rd Dec]

24 minutes ago, Paul6754 said:

When Tom Pope lead the attack Vale were more direct and the terms 'Hoof ball and Pope ball" were coined, there was a section of Vale fans on OVF who were dissatisfied with how Vale played.

Crosby has introduced a more possession based approach and still a section of OVF fans are unhappy.

What do Vale fans want in terms of playing style? I suspect something that doesn't exist especially at Lge 1 level.

For me good results are key and I couldn't give a damn how we play.

I think the problem isn't the possession based football, its the pace of the game. We played pacey possession based football with a high press against Wigan and the result was very entertaining. Unfortunately when we take our foot off the gas the same system looks ponderous. 

[Vote of No Confidence (2)]

3 hours ago, WV said:

He was sold because his wage was above the new wage limit Carol imposed for strikers. Not because he wanted to go.  

More likely MK Dons came in with an offer that couldn't be refused as it represented a means of improving cash flow and freeing up a wage for a player more suited to the "system". I wasn't too chuffed we let Harrison go, but cash flow is king and I think Uche will prove to be a good alternative once he's lost a few kg. 

[Vote of No Confidence (2)]

39 minutes ago, Shropshire_Valiant said:

I don't disagree, I'm not a Flitcroft hater/basher, I think by enlarge he's done a decent job, I was more making the point that however we dress it up the forward recruitment has fallen short in league one so far(whether that's for a reason(budget, bad luck with injuries) ultimately won't matter if we get relegated as we'll lose more money in the long run) but it saw us collapse last season and we are now in a similar position to when Clarke was sacked 6-9 months ago, nervously looking over our shoulder at the wrong end of the table so something isn't going well in that department. 

Would we say most teams in league one have bigger budgets than us? I'd say Vale are about avg all things considered.  I've always said if we can't compete with the likes of Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Exeter et al(I could probably name half the league) in terms of potential new signings we may as well throw the towel in at this level.  Obviously there are many different variables as some teams will overspend(Fleetwood maybe an example of that based on their fanbase) but then you get others like Reading who have a good fanbase but are in the fertiliser currently due to mismanagement off the pitch it would seem.

 

Its likely that the cost of forward recruitment was hampered by the need to remediate the pitch during the summer. I'm no QS or expert on sport turf surfacing but based on my own experience in civil engineering the cost of plant and aggregate, not to mention specialist consultant expertise would probably have run into several hundreds of thousands. This outlay has probably impacted player budget and has placed over-emphasis upon the loan market, trainees and to a slight degree our consequent style of play. Success in the cup could be fundamental to available budget in January to strengthen the squad so we all need to get behind the team.  

[Sentinel Port Vale News to be a subscription / Baggers]

42 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

Just revisiting this topic, how is it that I can read several up to date reports from yesterday in Stevenages local rag yet nothing in our own.  No disrespect to Baggers, and I hope his venture pays the bills, but the whole advertising excuse for lack of coverage trotted out by Marc Waddington in the Q&A at the bottom of the article is quite clearly claptrap.  If they can justify printing an article on Leek CC signing the former Moddershall captain there should be no problem knocking out a Vale match report as a bare minimum.

Quite agree Ray. Not sure where local and more importantly, balanced news is going when one of the local football teams doesn't merit even match coverage unless the supporters are prepared to pay per view and nobody else in the City is even aware whether they are successful or not. What's next, pay per view reporting on local elections depending upon your political bias? Its a very slippery slope.