man in the pub

How will our competitive budget be spent? If it's paying off under contract players then how much will be left for new signings and will that figure be competitive?

No but you were close, Banana man

Which is ok if you then go on to take other chances. A one goal a season striker like Uche doesn't and hasn't previously.

A striker who scores goals,not on our radar . Who needs one of those.

I genuinely hope that the retained list is just a document stating the players contract positions as it stands and despite some players being under contract discussions are underway,behind the scenes to move them on. What seriously concerns me and makes me question this is the mention of talks taking place regarding retaining Uche, a proven non goalscoring striker. If this is the master plan then we basically start next season with most of this year's failures. Anyone see a flaw in that strategy ?

The header Uche missed was unmissable, even Lofty would have scored. It was so bad a section of our fans started singing that's why we are going down. Unfortunately a strike force of Uche and Loft does not score goals, they have a proven history. Dropping down a league will not alter this. If DM cannot see this then promotion is a pipedream and that trap door into non league oblivion is gappening wide open.

I think I was following his car the other day.

Remember we were going for Quality not Quantity , whatever happened to that ?. Combine Uche and Loftys wages and we might get a decent, goalscoring striker.

Moving season tickets in the close season is going to be a very hard sell after the garbage we have had to endure this year. Fans need incentives to buy and pegging the price might in the owners eyes be that incentive but from a fans point of view not that attractive a deal when it's back to League 2 football. Neither is the prospect of a new training pitch or a roof on the Railway bogs going to shift many tickets, as needed as the improvements might be. It's going to be signings of decent players that will entice fans back and as a result of fans disillusionment it will need a few jaw dropping signings to shift season tickets in serious numbers. I don't just mean signing a decent left back either but at least 2 goalscoring strikers. Even if that means paying " over the odds" for which I read as the going rate. May I suggest this happens sooner rather than later as this will be the only Early bird offer that will persuade me to part with my money.

VID-20240427-WA0003.mp4

Yes true, but no goals.

I remember it being said that our policy was to go for Quality rather than Quantity. Did I miss something ? Ok we all know strikers aren't cheap especially ones who actually do their day job and score goals. Every team wants a 15/20 goal a season striker and they attract a wage premium. Surely the combined wages of Uche and Loft could have being better spent on the wages of 1 quality striker whose goal return might have made the crucial difference between relegation and staying up.

I know it's costly signing a goal scoring striker, you know the "real deal" but what did Uche and Loft combined cost ? Probably the same only with no goals .

Sat next to a Sheff Wed fan on a plane who told me he was on £27k a week.

A good starting pointPV1973. Being Old School I kinda like the idea of an experienced scout going to watch them too.

Who needs a striker, oh yes we do and have done for 18 months. If only we had known.

Sometimes we hear things from people inside the club that if made public could put that person in serious trouble . Obviously I don't mean Carol but stuff that Carol doesn't want made public. If a statement comes out that isn't the truth I would prefer to hear someone like Jacko saying they know it isn't the truth even if she cannot divulge her source.

You are right Tony the 3000 hardcore Vale fans will always be there. That is regardless of what division we are in and who our owner is. However to improve and climb up the Leagues it's those casual supporters we need to regularly attract. It's regular gates of 10000 not gates of 3000 that is needed. Good luck with your recovery, some things in life are more important than football.

Ha ha cheers Osh. For my sins I am a Lorne St season ticket holder so I will be at the Vale.

It was interesting to hear Sproeys comments on the radio after the game. He said Vales pitch is massive and it cries out for 4 at the back. He should know , he played enough games on it. I know he is a football agent but Carol if you won't and dont listen to the fans then at least listen to someone who really has the Vale close to their heart. You walk past a statue dedicated to his family everyday you go into your office .That is the calibre of person you need to put your trust in and not a chancer like "Flickers". Someone who will tell you the truth , not just what you want to hear.

Better than her last letter but worrying that things have been so bad for so long and we just got meaningless platitudes. Carol put her faith in the wrong people and was too easily fobbed off when things were going Pete Tong. Her lack of judgement concerns me and despite the fans going into meltdown , she put her trust elsewhere. Carol is a good owner in that she has bank rolled the Vale but she has alot to put right as many of the fanbase have lost faith in her judgement. There were a lot of poor decisions.

Main players not replaced, fewer fans in stadium due to dire football.😁

Apparently we would be playing better football and having fewer injuries once we replaced the pitch. That was the preferred option rather than spending money on decent players. Phenomenal.

Getting Cass League 2 ready for when the rest of his team mates join him.

Agreed Santa, problem is there was no cake. Recipe for success goals from midfield which we got and a striker scoring 15/20 goals along side another scoring 10/15. Many on here at the beginning of the season were minimising the impact of lack of strikers by saying goals spread around the team will more than compensate. That hasn't aged well.