SFBT

That's a really important qualifier for us short sighted fans 🙂

Who knows whether this is the right appointment? Definitely fits the demands of most fans it seems. No doubt that DF and CS have gone for the best they can get. Instantly, and pretty much inevitably, previous club's fans jump all over it and gleefully vent their spleen about DM's shortcomings. We can only watch and see how things pan out. There are no guarantees, but imo, the club have given it their best shot, so deserve some credit.

Good to see that we're climbing one table at least!

Probably already been said many times, both implicitly and explicitly. My twopenneth, for what it's worth, is that Darren Moore strikes me as a very straightforward, no nonsense type of character. He would therefore be the ideal foil for Flitcroft's fantasy land ideas, and the two might actually dovetail very neatly. No doubt in my mind that the club needs someone to keep Flitcroft under control, which is logically a bit bizarre, but it's where they are.

Well that would be a sensible move.

Unless... DF has seen the light.

Yep 👍

Vale were a basket case club for years. Neglected badly. The last 5 years have seen ambitious attempts to rectify the situation. Resources have been spread across, imo, too many areas too quickly, with on field resources suffering. My point is that it wasn't, and still isn't, a good place for an inexperienced manager.

It was before the end of the deadline. Expect MB to pick it up at least after the game on Saturday, or next week at the latest. He said he would be producing an edition tonight

I'd rather not 😎

On another note, I see that Harry McKirdy is back at Swindon on loan.

What's this pace thing that you speak of? 🤔

I like the look of the 4 incomers. Arguably all better at the start of their Vale careers than if compared with the starting point of those they've replaced. Slotting in will be much harder, as the team they are joining is much weaker than the team that started the season. Consequently, I fear that they may struggle. Like most, I'm concerned about the striker and lwb situation. I think all the outgoings are good moves on a variety of ways. Overall, I'm falling into the camp of a little too much attention on the future, and a need to focus more on now on the pitch. I just hope that we survive, but have no great expectations.

Here's hoping for a repeat of the next 15 years then 😎

6-5?

Attracting top quality young players on loan is a highly impressive achievement. Even moreso when considering the not too distant club history. I also think balancing this with the many other factors that have been discussed on here in the last few days will require further very astute management. Style of play and the short term nature of loanees being two that immediately spring to mind.

Oh dear. He passes back and sideways. Won't please the faithful!

Nail on head 👍 In a very even, often bland game of football, dictated by the same tactics that all coaches are drilled in, it's these marginal differences that make a difference, and provide some much needed entertainment. Uche provides it.

Very positive comments from his mum about the academy and how much it has improved. Maybe we wouldn't have signed a new striker today without the resources put in to develop the academy.

What's with all the golf references?

Sad to see Uche go, as seems to be the case. He brings loads of energy and enthusiasm and is highly entertaining to watch in my opinion. We looked to be building a team around his strengths too, so there will be another change of style. I wish him well, and hope we bring in a viable replacement 🙏

We're just a very small part of a very complex system that goes much higher and much lower than us.

I guess part of the attraction with Uche is that he's just coming good for us and there is anticipation that this would continue and develop into a decent attacking unit. One part of the team that seemed to be coming together, with Uche as a pivotal piece of the jigsaw. So losing him at this point, especially given that other areas of the team are also needing attention, is a disappointment. Hence the, surprising for some, strength of reaction to his potential loss. And then there's the conundrum if who will replace him...

It's heart rending stuff losing players who have played a big part in building a team. The fact that there is such disappointment is again a sign of the progress being made. It's impossible not to love Uche, and seeing two quality youngsters develop so well has been great to see. None of this was happening before now. Loanees came and went with barely a whimper. I doubt we'd have even got Uche through the door in the past, never mind developed him into a decent player again.

Strikes me that what's happening now are signs of progress towards the stated aim of being a development club. Inevitable constant churn of players, justifying the need for the backroom staff employed to facilitate this process. For Oli and Alfie in particular, it's been exactly what was needed. Metaphorically, they've been on placement with Vale, and are now moving on for another, probably more demanding, experience. One day, hopefully, our best assets will be stripped from us in return for good sized fees. Vale are gaining a decent foothold in an already well developed system. One in which we were much lower ranked a few short years ago.