Freddie the Dog

No owner should throw money at it. However as shown by the successful teams in League 1 and 2 this season, spending good money wisely generally brings success.

One of the very many criticisms of this season has been the lack of leadership and the lack of character. Since Connor Hall left, we seem to have not replaced the big physical leader type that galvanises both players and supporters. I suggested Aden Flint when Stoke released him last season. Ironic he ended up a league lower with Mansfield but is now in League 1 with them and was their player of the season.

I totally agree this statement although 95% will blame Flitcroft and his recruitment which on the surface is fair. However there are 2 sides to every story and it has been interesting that since his departure, Flitcroft has been silent. I wonder if the payoff was big with a confidential clause to not put out his side of the fiasco over the last 18 months. This all started in Jan 2023 when we sold Hall and didn't get a replacement or decent striker as a minimum because the owner said we had overspent. Since then what have we spent? Flitcroft might have said he had peanuts in money terms and we got what we got or didn't get because of the money available on the playing side. Moving forward, what money the owners spend depends upon her plans now and the long term. For example is the plan to spend only what we need to to stay in League 2 or are we going for an immediate return. If the former, the squad we have will stay more or less the same because most are in contracts and we can't afford to get rid of them. There will just be 4 or 5 coming in and the hope is that's enough to keep us up. If the latter then most of this squad need to go because they IMO are just not good enough to get you 25 wins to be promoted.

The most interesting bit to come for Vale fans is not the game but the retained list (or in our case which of our players in contract are being made available as surely none of the out of contracts will stay).

Proof is in the pudding as they say. A massive rebuild that costs money by getting rid of a lot of the current squad to the extent of even paying off contracts if necessary to get them out of the club and buying as good a quality of players as we can so we can be competitive in League 2. I think it will take longer than one possibly two seasons but if she can show she has backed her words with actions, it's a start

The irony is that as bad as we have been this season, we could end up still not being relegated until the 46th game. We don't deserve to stay up given how we have played but if it does go to the last game, it will verify just what a ba**s up we have made of just staying in League 1.