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Portvale4
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Posts posted by Portvale4
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I’m torn on Ojo. He’s got a fair amount left on his contract, so as JoeB has mentioned, he’ll be hard to shift.
In which case, we are left with no option to build the midfield around him. There is a question around his attitude, and rightly so, but you can’t doubt his ability. He’d be brilliant in League Two, around a good group.
Ojo, alongside Ripley, Smith, Garrity & Chislett is a decent spine to build around in League Two.
No doubt it’ll be an interesting summer…
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5 minutes ago, TJHValiant said:
The only beautiful side for Moore is his wage.
I can’t help but think that perhaps Mark Kennedy (ex Lincoln) would have been the better option. A bloke who’s worked with smaller budgets, rather than Moore who’s predominantly worked on bigger budgets. Hindsight is a wondering thing, of course.
I just can’t help feel disappointed with Moore, and more so disconnected.
Hey ho, at least Flickers tied him down for 5-years…
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And that’s that, down we go.
Another uninspiring Darren Moore interview on BBC, “football has a beautiful side and a cruel side”. I don’t want to <ovf censored> hear that after 1 point in 5 games and relegation all but confirmed.
As far as I’m concerned, Moore can do one, as well 95% of them pathetic footballers.
I’m absolutely seething.
Can’t wait for Saturday…
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44 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:
She paid around £5m and had loaned us, interest-free, £8m, over 5 years.
Of course the losses are greater now, but that’s down to two factors:
1. Losses are higher across the football pyramid. Nearly every club is insolvent and reliant on director’s loans. Our losses have been very manageable (1m a year) until last season where clearly we made a dog’s breakfast out of League 1. Comparing losses for previous owners is useless.
2. 3.4m is a fairly standard loss for League 1. Very normal. It’s bad for us, but common for a lot of teams. You have to be spending way in excess of what you bring in to compete. Unfortunately, Carol fell for the BS from Flitcroft and consequently the money was poorly spent.
It’s clearly ‘give Carol a kicking’ season which is understandable- her poor leadership has squandered the opportunity created in May 2022 and set us back several years and several million. She should have listened earlier and set up a far better quality assurance structure to assess where the money was going.
I’m not coming out to bat for her. I was raising concerns in the immediate summer after promotion where our signings were non-existent and we played minimal friendlies. I had worries in January 2022 when we seemed to bundle home a load of questionable signings and very nearly fell out of the playoffs. It was a circus then, held together by a very good manager.
However, let us not rewrite history. Carol’s first two seasons were Covid-impacted, and in her first full season with fans we went up. Survival in League 1 was acceptable, if underwhelming last year, and then this year has been a disaster.
Folks emotionally predicting we’re on our way to non-league, that Carol has killed us, and that she hasn’t a clue what she’s doing are (in my view) emotionally and angrily lashing out after a relegation.
The fundamental truth, however some try to twist it, is that PVFC will always incur losses of at least 1m a year (as every club does) and someone has to pick up that bill. Carol is the current fool daft enough to do so, for the ego trip and adrenaline rush.
I’m really not bothered about apologies or ‘taking responsibility’, or making her March through Burslem whilst we chant ‘shame’ At her.
She just needs to quietly and without fuss go away, learn from the mistakes, and do what she did in 21/22. Moore’s rumoured wage suggests she is more than happy to throw more money at the financial black hole of PVFC. The alternative is she sells up, incurring about a £10m loss, to (most likely) a consortium of investors who would again have to foot the losses, without the attachment to the club or area.
We will be absolutely fine next year, and if I had to bet, I’d assume we’d have a fairly successful year considering the weakness of League 2 24/25. The cloth will have to be cut a large amount (which is probably going to force much-needed efficiencies) and the off-field structure needs completely reshaping, but as a serial moaner who is never satisfied I’m rather sanguine about it all.
The compounding effect of so many losses over the last 18 months have absolutely battered the fanbase emotionally. Everyone is knackered. There’s an intensity to how awful we’ve been. We’ve been crap for ages. We need the season to finish and to all find something else to do for 3 months. PVFC will be fine under Carol Shanahan - as much as that appears to be a controversial view on this thread.
Spot on!
Emotionally battered is a perfect way to sum the general mood amongst a hardcore fan base of 5,000.
What an absolute car crash League One has turned out to be.
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Build around Garrity and Dipepa - the rest can do one. Absolute toss.
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I can’t really add much more to what has already been said. What an absolute calamity of an afternoon- we deserve relegation.
If we’d have won today, not only would we have edged away from Cheltenham, as well as kept up with Burton, but we would have closed the gap on Shrewsbury (same GD) & Cambridge (last home game of the season) to just three points with three games left.
Darren Moore hang your head in shame, that was the most shocking half of football I’ve seen at Vale. I’m genuinely shocked there isn’t more criticism in his direction at the minute.
Absolutely pissed off this evening…
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I thought we were pretty poor today, but I would have happily took 6 points from the last 9 available.
As many have already stated, our home games will be pivotal. It’s simple really, win all three and I think that may be enough.
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I’ve been really impressed with Dipepa over the past couple of months, and has really progressed since his first start against Fleetwood.
If you are a Premier League club who can throw about money, you’d be mad to not take a punt on a homegrown youngster who’s banging the goals in.
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17 hours ago, Granville said:
It struck me yesterday how few of the squad have actually played AND succeeded at this level prior to the last two seasons:
Ripley - yes, but relegated
Jones - no
Sang - no
Lopata - no
Smith - yes, but relegated
Clark - yes, but relegated
Garrity - no
Loft - no
Chislett - no
Mighten - yes, but sent back from a loan
Ikpeazu - yes
Ojo - yes
Grant - yes but only one season where he barely played
Lowe - yes, but legs have gone
Iacovitti - no
Massey - yes
Weir - yes, but relegated
Plant - no
Walters - no
Dipepa - no
Debrah - no
Wilson - yes
Not to mention Arblaster, Devine, Balmer and Thomas were all on their first loans.
It all comes back to recruiting a squad with very little League One experience, and those that did have it were over the hill or had been relegated.
Its no surprise we are where we are.
You would hope IF Moore is given scope to bring in his own players, he will get some experienced League Two heads with a track record of promotions, not a bunch of kids, has beens and National League players.
On the face of it, last summer's recruitment seemed decent, and a slight improvement on last year's squad.
However, when you dissect each signing and what they've achieved, as shown above, it was terrible.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I suppose.
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A much needed, well earned point tonight.
Thought Dipepa looked really bright. It’s tough watching Sang & Jones - I do genuinely think two ‘proper’ full-backs make such a difference to that team tonight.
I can’t help but feel so frustrated looking at the table tonight. We are only six points off the teams in 18-20 - if only we’d held on against Fleetwood & picked up another point or two elsewhere.
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Done.
Carol and Flickers, <ovf censored> do one.
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29 minutes ago, Doha said:
Christ this has to be seen to be believed. The free header came about from Lowe impotently jumping up and down in place like a scalextric that's come partially off the track. He's like an NPC in a video game. So <ovf censored> bad and so <ovf censored> pathetically infuriating that it's funny. Move over Ryan Loft, you aren't so bad son in comparison to this absolute dosser. I never want to see Lowe in the squad again.
What a superb acquisition Lowe has been...
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Where do we even go from here?
I’m still absolutely seething. What a spineless bunch of <ovf censored> we have got.
Moore has to take some of the blame. Why on earth did he allow Fleetwood to come out in the second half and absolutely dominate the game? Why on earth did he hang Sang out to dry by not switching it up, as Patterson put in 20+ crosses, albeit not the greatest of quality, but enough to keep the pressure on.
I was slightly optimistic this time last week. I think I’d got sucked in by the Moore appointment and thought we’d have enough to do it.
Let’s be honest, we must have the most unbalanced squad in the division. We have one recognised full-back in the squad in Mitch Clark, and he’s played 10 league games. THAT IS DISGRACEFUL RECRUITMENT.
We have the worst trio of forwards in Wilson, Uche & Loft, who between them have scored five goals, alongside Dipepa who is 17-years-old. THAT IS DISGRACEFUL RECRUITMENT.
Just as a comparison to the 16/17 season, when Norman’s sweety jar treated us to a relegation. After 33 games, we were on 35 points, which is three points more than this season. To match the points tally of that season, we would need 17 points from 13 games - not happening.
If we go down next season, and League One has the likes of Stoke, Crewe, Derby, Walsall, Burton, Wrexham and Stockport all playing each other, I think my 20+ years of having a season will be ended.
Carol & ‘Flickers’ you have got blood on your hands.
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Relegation fodder.
<ovf censored> off Vale. <ovf censored> off Flitcroft. <ovf censored> off you absolute bottlejobs.
Our chance to make up ground tonight with Cheltenham, Burton, Shrewsbury & Cambridge all losing.
That second half performance was an absolute disgrace. We’ve been played off our own pitch by Fleetwood Town - just let that sink in. We didn’t even deserve a single point from that game.
Bring on League Two. Carol & ‘Flickers’ you’ve only got yourselves to blame.
I’m done with this joke of a football club.
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18 minutes ago, Portvale4 said:3 minutes ago, pete vale said:
I can't see where the next win is coming from, never mind 20 points. Unless Garrity gets the goals we've no chance.
I agree.
Just to add, Exeter currently have 21 points from their last 15 games, which is 14th in the form table over that period. Before that, Exeter looked down and out, with fans turning against Caldwell. It just shows how a couple of decent results can change the momentum.
It is 100% doable. We basically need to turn bottom four form into mid table form to stand any chance of survival.
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A strange as it may sound, I am a tad more optimistic after last night following the switch to a back four, Moore’s post-match interview and the return of Garrity, etc.
On paper, the final eight home games are winnable. They aren’t against any of the “big boys” in the division - Lincoln, Fleetwood, Shrewsbury, Oxford, Bristol Rovers, Exeter, Cambridge and Wycombe (yet to be rescheduled).
If we are to stay up, we need a minimum of 15 points out of the 24 available at home. You then couple that with perhaps five points away from home and that puts us onto 51 points, which would have been enough last season.
Let’s be honest, it’s an absolutely massive task.
If Moore can pull it off, get that bloody statue up…
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11 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:
He was crap. He’s there as a striker on 3k a week plus.
I can run still at 43. Doesn’t mean I should be a Port Vale number 9.
His miss from the Chislett cross was unforgivable.
If you want someone who can run I’d suggest go to Northwood stadium.
Come on. It’s not hard to see he’s absolutely utter garbage, robbing a living and isn’t the answer to get us goals with 15 games to go.
I never said he was good. I am just pointing out that he showed a bit of grit and determination, a willingness to get on the ball and cause a bit of bother.
As much as I love Willo, he’s been absolutely woeful lately. Then you’ve got the likes of Grant, Massey & Ojo just strolling around the pitch with no care in the world.
Just look at Cheltenham. You could argue, on paper, they have a worse squad than ours with not as many “better” individuals, but they make that up in hard work and desire.
My point stands, Loft looks arsed and that is more than most of that squad currently.
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7 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:
Player wise tonight.
Tom Sang. Jason Lowe. Ryan Loft. All take a long look at yourself in the mirror. And ask yourself, are you a professional footballer.
Loft is awful. Just keep him off the park. He isn’t going to get us any goals to keep us up so as a supposed striker we are carrying him.
Lowe is garbage as a midfielder. Just go to Moore and say “gaffer my legs have gone.
Sang ain’t much better. Stick him at right back. He’s crap. Stick him at wing back. He’s crap. Nowhere else to go for him. He’s just crap.
May as well put Lowe at right back going forward. He’s the best of a bad bunch. Garrity up top. And then put Mr Blobby in the middle of the park if he’s still about, over Lowe.
Honestly. I mean….. What an absolute <ovf censored> mess Carol has got us in!!
I’m going to hold my hands up, as I was wrong to criticise a certain player on Saturday - I targeted Ryan Loft, and used him as an easy scapegoat to vent my frustration. He ran his bloody socks off tonight and actually looked arsed. He’s evidently no where near League One standard but at least he’s putting up a fight.
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At least we went 75 minutes without conceding a goal…
In all seriousness, I think that is us about done for this season.
Well done Carol & Flickers!
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2 hours ago, JohnDoe said:
Thought Devine was outstanding and ran the game. The blaster leaving and playing deeper looks like to have been good for him.
Is Massey injured or just dropped?You’ve summed my thoughts up perfectly- Alfie has been superb recently.
It would be such a shame if Spurs decided to recall him in January, especially after the heartache of losing the Blaster.
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As many have already mentioned, Crosby must learn from last night.
Pretty, possession-based football isn’t the be-all and end-all, and doesn’t always win you games of football, but being organised and playing to your player’s strengths can go a long way.
I said it after Wycombe & Barnsley, why would you try and play possession-based football without Ollie & Funso.
It was really refreshing to see Crosby switch it up yesterday, and I really do hope that he doesn’t revert to type on Monday.
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An interesting comment by Crosby after the game last night, where he basically admitted we finally decided to utilise Uche’s strengths. Which then makes me question the Uche signing- why has it taken around three months to get to this point?
Uche caused absolute carnage last night, and he was a goal away from a brilliant performance.
A really pleasing watch last night. An energetic, battling performance coupled with some real classy moments.
I do think it’s unfair to just give one player the man of the match, as it genuinely could have gone to anyone.
The win is now a real building block, and a result against Carlisle really does put us in a good position for the remainder of the season.
I’m still not sold on Crosby, but what do I know?
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Absolutely gutted to see the expected recall of Ollie.
In his short stint, he’s perhaps cemented himself as one of the most talented to pull on a Vale shirt.
I’ll be surprised if that boy doesn’t pull on an England shirt at some point.
Best of luck, Ollie!
On the flip side, what a hammer blow for us. He will be sorely missed in that midfield, as he was integral on how we wanted to play.
Flitcroft and the recruitment excelled on this one, down to them again to find a suitable replacement - I’d imagine they’ve been looking since the minute we signed him.
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6 hours ago, Bimbleabout said:
So our two best and most influential midfielders are out injured. What do people expect?Who can we bring in of equal quality and influence?
We aren't allowed breathing space to try and sort an affective midfield, during a game, without people going mental. The midfield was obviously severely lacking yesterday,for all to see, resulting in 60 odd mins of being over run.
However our defence held firm and Ripley wasn't really tested, apart from making one decent save, and we grew into the game after formation changes and subs etc and came away with a point.
Just the fact that we had formation changes shows that the management were more than aware of our lack of midfield and were juggling on the hoof thru the game to come up with the best option.
Boxing day should, hopefully, be alot different.I get your point, but what about the other games over the past four months? Games where our two most influential midfielders, Oli & Funso, have played.
The midfield that started yesterday, simply shouldn’t have been put out. Jason Lowe, as shown against Crewe in the cup, is not a holding midfielder in the ilk of Funso & Oli. He’s far too slow, but we were persistent in playing the same ball into his feet, resulting in Wycombe retaining the ball and put us under the cosh (it’s a good job they were as bad as us). Why did Crosby allow that? Why is Crosby reluctant to switch things up from the start rather than 60 minutes in when a goal down.
I like Andy Crosby. He’s a proper bloke. I certainly wouldn’t chant some of things which I heard yesterday, as what good does that do? But to move forward, this football club will have to do with someone other than Crosby. He’s not up to the task.
As JoeB stated, it all depends how you view life. I’m certainly not content with mediocrity.
I’m just fed up with being the worst football club in League One in 2023.
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Cambridge (H) Match Thread - 27th April
in Port Vale present
Posted
If only we’d done enough to take it to the last game of the season - it would have been a thriller. There’s a good chance we can send Cambridge down!