Guitar Ray

March 9

Basically do not allow David Flitcroft anywhere near player recruitment or dictating the football philosophy of the club. I’m assuming Carol will not sack the guy. Let him look after the kids, training facilities and any other stuff, and sink a few pints on match days in hospitality, which seems to be the norm.

March 8

8 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

Why is not guessing….you said the vast majority will still turn up, even if relegated. I can’t see how this is no more guess work than myself predicting home fans will go down to 3-4k next season as we sit in the lower half of division 2. By your reckoning we will be pulling in around 5,000 home fans next season which I cannot see.

The vast majority will turn up, that’s not guesswork it’s based on recent history at that level where the home average floated around 4500 with the biggest part of this being made up of home fans as the away followings are generally dire. I asked where you got 3000 from? I’m still waiting on the answer to that one, but you’ve now changed tack and it’s become 3-4K so I guess that says you were wrong first time. You’re also guessing we’ll be in the lower half of the table before a ball has been kicked.

March 8

On 06/03/2024 at 07:41, philpvfc said:

More accurate than your guesswork that crowds won’t dip much after relegation. They already have, which goes to prove your guesswork is pretty <ovf censored>.

Read my post again, I’ve not guessed anything. You’re the one guessing crowd numbers and league positions.

March 8

37 minutes ago, TonyD said:

I dont have much to add that Bede and Mellor haven't already said however I would like to say something about my own experience of Monday and the few days since.

I am as guilty as anybody of bashing out my opinion on the Internet without any regard for the people I am talking about. Many people give the impression that they would love to have the opportunity to "put the owners right" on a few things.

It was not pleasant seeing first hand just how much the situation is affecting Carol. I think we all forget sometimes that the people we lambast are just that, people. We often think its OK to scream all sorts of things into the Internet but it really isn't.

I have had a very strange week, where I have seen people take a statement and add their own conotations to it and talk about them like they are fact. I have seen the absolute worst of people on all SM platforms, screaming all sorts of made up theories into the ether.

I understand the clamour for detail and there was alot of debate behind the scenes over what, if anything we should say further. We have been under alot of pressure to get this right.

One part of the official joint statement that seemed to attract alot of critism was the part about urging fans to put aside frustration to help give the players and management a boost. I will hold my hands up and say that I wrote that part and not the club. It was never meant to insinuate that fans hadn't been supportive and was only intended as it was written. It was simply asking people to but it on the back burner to deal with later whilst we try to slavage league one status. I felt that there was pertinence in acknowledging we are in a relegation battle and also in acknowledging there is fan frustration. I got that wrong, so please don't bash the club for my misjudgement.

Some of the critism we faced was too much.

As I have said, I have been massively guilty of this myself and after this week, I must be better in future because I now know first hand that things we say on the Internet do effect people personally.

Meeting Carol under these circumstances has reassured me that the whole family are absolutely the right people to look after the best interests of the club. I have not changed my mind about David Flitcroft, I am still of the opinion that he cannot come back from this.

I wanted to just calrify and apologise for my part in the statement and also to appeal to people to think a bit more before they sit at a keyboard.

I can't see how we stay up but one thing I will say from Monday is that Carol and Paddy have an absolute belief in Darren Moore, so until the fat lady sings, I'll be crossing my fingers that we are still a league one side next season.

I would say, let's get behind them on Saturday and see if we can't get 3 points to put us back in the race... but perhaps not.

The best post I’ve read in this topic for sure. The recent messages put out by Carol herself, the club and the various fans groups are appeals for unity, the rest of it is background right now. Fans need to put all their efforts into supporting the team in an effort to maintain our League 1 status. There’s plenty of time for any inquest can begin afterwards.

March 5

1 hour ago, philpvfc said:

That’s what we will get if we are and unless we manage to improve our squad drastically we will be, and improving the squad will be difficult once relegated as we will lose some of our better players.

Ah right, so it was complete guesswork then.

March 5

3 hours ago, philpvfc said:

I wouldn’t say gates from 6,000 home fans on average down to 3,000 home fans means that the vast majority will back the team. I would say it is more like half the fans will continue to back the team when we get relegated and are sitting well down the table in division 2.

Where are you getting your 3000 average from? Who says we’ll be well down the table in division 2?

March 5

3 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Fans have supported their team. All season. Home and away.
Let’s stop rallying the fans crap eh?
From now on in it will stop IF we fail to get three points on Saturday.

We have a such a small squad supported by youth lads because of extortionate wages on extortionate crap.

Its not rocket science.

Why would it stop after Saturday? Fans will back the team at least until we’re mathematically relegated. Beyond that the vast majority will still back the team, no different to when we’ve been relegated in the past. The only thing that happens is during the game itself, goals for or against will change the atmosphere and no doubt the way supporters express them selves.

March 3

4 hours ago, darren1810 said:

Didn't go yesterday so is it right some applauded us off ?

Yes, some applauded the players, others abused the players, some abused their fellow Valiants, some commiserated their fellow Valiants, some just scratched their heads in a daze, so no different than many other away games this season other than some of the anger at the situation the club have allowed to develop seems to have given way to resignation.

March 3

8 hours ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Point me to fans who say she hasn’t invested?
The club is totally different to the mess that she inherited.

Fans just want the footballing side to be looked after and it starts with sacking Flitcroft!!

You’re clearly selective when choosing what you read on this forum, many times fans have called for Carol to sell up citing lack of sufficient wealth to take the club forward. We’ve also had comments from folk who’ve obviously forgotten where we were before the Shanahans became owners. Both are facts whether you like it or not. Quite simply keep your ST money, that’s several hundred quid that won’t be going into the club, but then don’t moan that Vale are “skint”, like some will do.

Your last sentence is simply stating the obvious so not sure why you need two exclamation marks. Is it for effect?

March 2

1 minute ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

Have you read what I’ve said?

I actually think investment has been made!!! It’s just been spunked! And we are left we a crap squad! So she needs to sack the man who has assembled it!!

Mr all things football is on his 3rd manager in 12 months and assembled an absolute disgrace of players lacking fight, passion, leadership, loan players who aren’t up to scratch and a bunch of school kids.

Sorry but it’s not good enough.

This season has been tragic. I’ve stopped going because it’s dog crap. That’s reason enough. Because I know the outcome most weeks.

Is it 3 wins in 30?

Name me a worse period in recent history?

Its unacceptable and fans will and are walking!

Rightly or wrongly it’s happening and will get worse and you don’t have an argument against that. Nobody can.

Flitcroft has to be fired this week. He simply has to be!! His position is totally untenable. You can’t just walk around and say oh I’ll still renew, up the vale, vale till I die, go on Facebook and post a picture of your season ticket for likes sake. Well you can. But thousands won’t!

Things have to change to unite this fanbase. And it starts with firing him.

Have you read what I’ve said? I’ve agreed with you. The point is that some fans will not renew and some of those fans will no doubt come on here next season and say Carol should sell up because she hasn’t got the wealth to progress the club. Basically saying they’re not investing their own money but want Carol to invest hers, which is pure hypocrisy.

March 2

3 minutes ago, Spunk Trumpet said:

You see, you’re getting my point all wrong. And many other peoples point.

We do not demand more investment or higher wages. BUT….. better players? Absolutely. Because I’m of the opinion that we have a competitive budget but it’s been wasted on dog crap players. Dog crap players who are under contract next season. And fans won’t pay to watch that crap. Rightly or wrongly that’s fact.

All this can be sorted when she pulls the plug on Flitcroft.
She wins back the fans. She wins back respect. She raises hope again. But honestly pal, I can’t go through another summer transfer window with David Flitcroft in control.
To make a mess of one is excusable.
To make a mess of two isn’t good enough.
To make a mess of three is pure ineptness.
And, by the way, to keep dangling that carrot of getting free agents in, when none are coming, is a disgrace.

I’m many things in life but I know a lot about people and psychology. He’s pulling the wool over many peoples eyes in that club and many fans eyes.

Once he leaves the building, the Vale family reunite.
Until that day, the club will suffer and be divided.

We have put Darren Moore on a 5 and a half year contract and I ask you to go back to his first interview and break it down. Nothing is natural. It’s all about his vision on and off the pitch. He waffles about off the pitch. He bigs up Flitcroft and wants unity.
That is his remit. To try and convince fans to all come together and Dave’s a good guy.

With all due respect…. Actually no. With no respect whatsoever…. David Flitcroft is a narcissist who needs to get as far away from this football club as possible.

It’s so obvious to anyone with their eyes open but the main person we need to open her eyes……… Has them well and truly shut…… Until her eyelids “flicker” at the sight of him.

We need Carol now more than ever to wake up and sort this <ovf censored> mess out and fire him ASAP.

Hard to argue about any of this, but it’s not reason enough for some fans to give up their ST, and neither is relegation. I have no problem with fans who take the opposite view and hold onto their money. The only thing I would say to those fans is don’t then come on here and say there’s a lack of investment as that would be pure hypocrisy.

March 2

2 minutes ago, Playa Amodores said:

Crosby always knew his head would be on the chopping block, as the others are too cosy. He just couldn’t believe that some would be stupid enough to give him the job. The more that goes on at the club, it’s obvious we’re broke and no I don’t want her to invest. Just pack your bags and go you’ve stood by and watched this happen. Should we be expecting another letter or a slurred speech. The blame lies with the proletariat fans, like myself.

All managers accept that though, it goes with the turf.

We’ve got enough money to bin off a manager and 3 or 4 staff and recruit another, who’s a far bigger “name”, and his entourage, who are likely to cost big £££’s. It’s not lack of money it’s spending that money unwisely which appears to be the problem.

March 2

10 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

We're too passive and nice.

Ought to be raucous united chanting v Shrewsbury against this charlatan.

But there won't be. We'll have a corner, get all giddy, stand up if you love the Vale. Then spend the rest of the game apathetic before trudging out after another defeat.

At the moment fans realise the need to back the team, evidenced by the great vocal support again today. Highly likely there’ll come a point in time when relegation is confirmed and being “passive and nice” will go out of the window.

March 2

1 hour ago, MBE said:

Think you’re right Fosse.

I do think some fans forget NO player is signed without the manager say so.

Crosby has also <ovf censored> us over with some of these players not to mention his <ovf censored> game management.

This may be true, although I think the DoF model takes most of the responsibility away from the coach/manager. In our own case, the DoF is widely quoted as stipulating the style of play and recruiting players supposedly suited for that style, so just how much influence Crosby had is open to speculation.

Whatever the truth, the main issue is the positions we haven’t filled rather than the positions we have. I firmly believe that the current squad would be safely out of the relegation zone with Crosby in charge if we had 2 League 1 level strikers and a decent option at LWB/LB.

March 2

We’ll definitely renew ours. Good times bad times and all that.

March 1

9 minutes ago, Nippy Naylor said:

I'd take them on as scouts and bin off Fraudcroft and his bunch of cronies

Carol really does need to read the room and realise the anger towards Fraudcroft

Have you got a bet on with somebody, the number of times you can type “Fraudcroft” in a day, or is it just about exceeding your own personal targets and goals?

Well done by the way, either way it’s a high bar you’ve set yourself. 👏🏻

February 29

3 hours ago, Old School said:

I would have thought lows and lower still.

😡😡😡

Indeed. I’ll admit to using a degree of artistic license, it was supposed to be a sales pitch and I thought “jump aboard the roller coaster and look down helplessly as the wheels come off”, whilst accurate, was a bit strong. 🙄

February 29

3 hours ago, NW9Valiant said:

I'm moving back to Stoke this year (selling my flat in London) and would want to get a ST for next year, but the way things are, I am thinking twice about getting one.

I just want the club to be forward thinking, forever challenging itself. Even if that means moving the likes of Flitcroft on after a few years. Surely an ambitious club should always be looking to do that?

He has done some good in non footballing stuff, but we are heading to the abyss with him in charge of recruitment.

“Thinking twice”? Come on, jump aboard the roller coaster. Experience the highs and lows first hand. 👍🏻

Edit: Sorry, that last sentence should read “lows and highs”…..in order of probability.

February 29

I’ll go out on a limb here and say the attempt was that of a player with zero confidence. He had too much time to think about the finish and ended up ballsing it up. Anyone who’s played football will know the feeling.

February 29

17 minutes ago, Valiiant said:

Well, yeah. That's generally how opinions work.

Only shows how much Carol has pulled the wool over most people's eyes here that they actually believe she bought the club out of nothing but goodwill and generosity. As deluded as her toy boy, Flitcroft.

So not only are you failing to recognise the state we were in and the main reason the Shanahans, you’ve also forgotten Kevin, bought the club but you also believe Flitcroft is her “toy boy”? I think what’s happening here is that you’re pulling your own wool over your own eyes dreamer.

February 28

1 hour ago, Valiiant said:

Only deluded numpties would believe they bought the club without believing the purchase would be worth it for themselves long-term for X amount of reasons.

You believe what you want. 👍🏻

February 28

On 27/02/2024 at 16:22, Valiiant said:

You can't actually really believe that, that they just decided they needed to be the ones to save Port Vale. I'm pretty sure her and Kevin had a good think what could be in it for themselves before anything else and before making any offer.

When you say what could be in it for themselves I guess you mean a £10 million hole in their pockets and a load of grief off some numpties who will never be grateful.

February 27

2 minutes ago, Vtid said:

Yes I was around 🙄 been around since the end of rudgies days 👍🏻 my point being I don’t believe people buy football clubs to be nice from the bottom of their heart. It’s a business there has to be summit in it for themselves.

It’s not about being “nice”. We were in a dire situation which the Shanahans felt they needed to do something about first and foremost to preserve the club. The rest of it, off field plans for the local community was secondary in their minds.

February 27

1 minute ago, Vtid said:

Been mentioned by you by any chance

Jacko just up the thread.

February 27

9 minutes ago, Vtid said:

Maybe a late bloomer then 😄 why else would anyone buy a football club? I can’t imagine it’s because they love taking abuse & throwing money down the drain 🤔

Already been mentioned, it was to take the club out of Sexmans hands. Were you around at that time, or just simply forgot the situation we were in?

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