[Shrewsbury (H) match thread - 9th March]

Difficult to believe that SHREWSBURY have lost more League One matches 20 than any other team, also lowest goals scored 26 and worst goal difference minus 25.

 On Saturday I was in SHREWSBURY officiating on a local grassroots football match and on my way home after my game, I tuned into the second half OF SHREWSBURY V BLACKPOOL. BLACKPOOL were the dominant team and according to the Radio Shropshire commentary team SHREWSBURY were toothless and never looked like scoring against a good BLACKPOOL side. But after the game their commentary team were adamant that PORT VALE away although a "BIG GAME" for SHREWSBURY was a good opportunity to get three more points towards safety.

 Surely VALE'S dwindling opportunities to gain salvation means the only result which is classed as a success is 3 points. This is last chance saloon. But I have just about given up on VALE escaping the trapdoor.

 Let's hope that Darren Moore can get rid of the dead wood, who have not been good enough this season and recruit a promotion winning team in League Two next season, to regain faith in the team for the Hardy VALE faithful.

 UTV

[Next 4 games...]

VALE 2 LINCOLN 1

 VALE 1 FLEETWOOD 1

 DERBY 3 VALE 1

 VALE 2 SHREWSBURY 1

 Where are the goals going to to from? 

 If Vale are going to give themselves a chance of avoid the dreaded drop, 7 points in the next 4 games, is essential. But the return of Garrity is crucial to the team. With Funso Ojo also back Vale have a fighting chance and with DM installing self belief into the players. The time has come for the players to reward the fans.

UTV

[New Manager is ?]

Unreal appointment by PVFC.  DF and Carol have received some unwarranted grief, during a traumatic period for PVFC. YES it has been really difficult period for all Vale fans and with disappointing previous appointments and NO disrespect to Andy Crosby, his appointment was so under whelming.

 But Darren Moore's appointment has to be Vale's best appointment since either Micky Adams or John Rudge and with Darren Moore signing a five and a half year contract, it means Vale hierarchy mean serious business. 

 Darren Moore was not only a good player, but also cut his managerial career first at WBA, followed by a successful stint at Doncaster Rovers, he then went big time at Sheffield Wednesday doing a fantastic job. Reawakening a sleeping South Yorkshire giant. His demise at Hillsbrough was taken by most Owls fans as nothing short of disgraceful, by Owls shambolic owner and look what DM Wednesday demise has done to The Owls. They are starring down the barrel of relegation back to League One. When DM took on Huddersfield Town he was on a hiding to nothing and YES it failed to work out. But since Huddesfield slipped out of The Premier League they have been struggling in the lower reaches of The Championship.

DM can now rekindle his ambitions and rejuvenate the Vale support. Let's hope with 17 league games to go DM can save Vale from the dreaded drop and gain positivity for his managerial reign at Vale Park.

UTV

[January Transfers and Rumours]

 Liam Brazier young Vale talent on the radar of "Spanish Giants Barcelona", it might well be " pie in the sky", but the information has surfaced from somewhere.

 Whatever speculation there is surely to a certain degree is good news for the club in general. Can never remember a season like this for so much young talent coming off the Vale Academy production line and integrated into the first team squad.

 Also this season bringing in " Premier League Young Talents", Olly Arblaster and Alfie Devine who today made his Championship debut for Plymouth Argyle and had an assist in one of Plymouth's goals.

 Vale have know brought in Jensen Weir from Brighton, who was very productive last season at Morecambe. Now young centre back Rhys Williams from Liverpool and a possibility of another talented young starlet Dan Gore midfield player from Manchester United.

 I think it is amazing that a club such as PORT VALE can attract young talent that want to learn their footballing trade at Vale and fair play to Andy Crosby. He may well not be everyone's cup of tea. But full admiration to him for giving youth chance and introducing Premier League Starlets of the future to " The Wembley of The North at Vale Park".

UTV

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

 Majestic performance from Vale tonight and for a fan like myself, it is even more special as it is only the second time I have seen Vale win in last thirteen matches attended and the performance after the first twenty five minutes after Blackpool had had five corners and our players started to believe that they might be able be able to put Blackpool to the sword.

 What a superb performance from the players even Uche had a good game and was so unlucky just before half time when Dan Grimshaw Blackpool made a terrific save to twart Uche. If he scores a goal it will boast his confidence. Same inapplicable to Ryan Loft. Shocking that some so called Vale fans roundly booed him when replacing James Wilson. We all support Vale so let's get behind the players. Look we are 14th in the table and not bottom and even if we were booing players won't help them play better.

 Turning to young sixteen year old debutant Jack Shorrock absolutely first class. He had the menacing CJ Hamilton in his pocket. For me when Ben Garrity dispatched his tremendous strike past the despairing dive of Blackpool stopper in the 39th minute, gave the players the confidence they so desperately needed.

Second half Vale again took the game to Blackpool and after 57 minutes the irrepressible James Wilson struck a delightful second goal, to give Vale the momentum going into the final third of the game and cap the performance club captain and returning to the side Nathan Smith despatches a third goal.

 Andy Crosby OK he may well not be flavour of the month, but in the past five league matches he has secured three victories in five matches and goals scored column has reached twenty four and down to minus nine in goals deficit column.

 For me it's onwards and upwards loan players this season we have had Ollie Arblaster and Alfie Devine plus an excellent signing in Ethan Chislett and so many extremely talented youngsters now being introduced to the first team. Where else in League One or Two is there any club with so many talented teenagers being introduced to first team football.

UTV

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

So much negativity on on this forum and I do understand why. But very few Vale fans have seen them win as few times as me over the years and I normally come between six to ten matches per season due to refereeing commitments. But when I do my fifty mike commute to the Vale I always believe I may possibly see them win. Since beating Swindon in the Division Two Play Off Semi Final two seasons ago I have attended a dozen matches with one victory v Carlisle earlier this season. Yes the football is not particularly exciting to watch and Andy Crosby may well not be most people's choice. But how many managers in the past ten years have fans liked? I am not a fan of Andy Crosby but who would replace him and would be prepared to come to Vale Park. This IS NOT THE PREMIER LEAGUE or even THE CHAMPIONSHIP. Take for example Steven Schmaucher leaving Plymouth to go to STOKE CITY who have a multi billionaire Chairman, who appoints a manager who took Plymouth from League One to The Championship and according sources from Argyle Fans Forum, STOKE have quadrupled his wages. That unfortunately unless Vale can get Robbie Williams on board will NEVER happen at Vale. YES we all want success and to play attractive football, but this is PORT VALE.

 I live on Shropshire/ Staffordshire border and many of my friends are avid Shrewsbury Town fans and ninety per cent of them want Matt Taylor sacked. But again it's down to a lack of finance and who do you replace him with. Reality is there are NO GUARANTEES of success in football. STOKE CITY are the proof of the pudding in recent seasons, six managers and some with a reallygood reputation, but still they have failed not only to finish in the top half of the Championship, but not got anywhere near a return to The Premier League.

 Again tonight I am dreaming that Vale might possibly beat Blackpool. But again according to their fans forum many of their fans are disillusioned with away performances and their manager. Who according to their fans forum has had an interview for vacant manager's position at Plymouth Argyle.

 One more sobering though for fans moaning and YES this particular club who are currently bottom of League One and have some investment coming their way in January from new American owners, Carlisle United have sold inexcess of 4,000 tickets for tonight's game at Wigan Athletic. I think that is fantastic and even Carlisle boss Paul Simpson has received verbal abuse from some fans in recent matches. It's a fans perogative to moan when their team are not brilliant and we all want to see  our teams being successful. But for me if Vale win tonight and avoid relegation I will be happy.

UTV

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

Important match on Friday v Blackpool, this is a game VALE  can WIN with right approach and self belief. Blackpool are a really good side at home but on their travels are lacking in confidence. Last two away league games defeated 2-1 at Cambridge and suprisingly 1-0 on Boxing Day at Burton. Where according to Blackpool fans forum their team were extremely poor and deserved to lose.

 Just like at Vale with the Crosby OUT situation the same applies to Blackpool where the majority of fans dislike the style of playadopted by Neil Critchley and their poor away record. It surprises me that many Blackpool fans want their manager sacked. As certainly in most home matches Blackpool score alot of goals.

 I only attend a small amount of Vale matches per season due to refereeing commitments and missed the Barnsley defeat for that reason. But will attend Friday night's match hoping for a Vale victory.

 I completely agree with most Vale fans that Nathan Smith needs to be recalled to the starting line up to gain stability in the back four and YES the style of play under Andy Crosby is very thrustrating. By as I always appear to see Vale win so few times in any season. I am not bothered as long as Vale secure three points.

 Staying in League One is paramount. There are some very decent young players coming through from the youth ranks at this club which is highly commendable and YES in the January transfer window, Vale need to sign a few experienced players including a striker to cement their place in League One for season 2024/25.

 Surely nothing can be as bad as after XMAS 2022 season virtually through to the conclusion of the season 2023, with so few victories.

[James Antony Wilson.]

James Wilson started his professional career at Manchester United in 2015 in five years at Old Trafford he played 15 first team games scoring 3 goals. In the time he was at Manchester United he went out on loan 4 times making 61 appearances and scoring 9 goals not a fantastic return for a striker. In total he has played 193 matches and scored 37 goals a pretty average return. But over nine year professional playing career he plays about twenty matches per calendar year scoring four goals. As we all know if he could stay fit what a difference he would make not just to PORT VALE but any team playing at this level.

 From the problems Vale have encountered this season with a lack of a goalscorer. He should be given a contract til the end of the season . He is a natural finisher and far more talented than Uche or Loft. Reality states everyone at every level of football wants a goalscorer and unless you can bring one through the academy. The chances of signing one on loan from either a Premier League or Championship club are unlikely. Interestingly Blackpool have a proven goalscorer on loan from Huddersfield Town who are struggling in the lower reaches of the Championship in Jordan Rhodes who throughout his career has been a prolific goalscorer for mainly Blackburn Rovers and Huddersfield Town. His farewell Blackpool appearance may well be at Vale Park on Friday.

[Vote of No Confidence (2)]

CROSBY OUT now is the only salvation for Vale before they are down with the dead men in the bottom four. There has to be someone out there who can motivate them even if is a manager I don't particularly like in Joey Barton.