andy jones

Thought everyone were brilliant yesterday mate. I don't for one minute think everyone who was there yesterday is supportive of Flitcroft. I was there for a start and he isn't on my Christmas card list! Is Flitcroft's failure to sign a major reason why we are in the Relegation zone? Yes of course he is. However I believe the players missing with long term injury is an even bigger reason. Garrity for one is a massive loss isn't he? There are a number of posters on here who are trying to 'encourage' vocal protest against Flitcroft during matches and it is IMHO counter productive. We all want Vale to stay up and yesterday I thought everyone did a great job encouraging the team when 1-2 down especially. UTV

Pretty consistent at losing to bottom of the league. It's defeats like those that have got us to where we are.

The team got great support throughout the game today, Nippy. That gave them the confidence to play well. You have a great ability to post the negative aspects but after going 1-2 down we could have collapsed but didn't. Their were a number of occasions where the ball could have fell for us but didn't. The save late on from Lowe in particular was excruciating but the players didn't give up because the fans didn't give up and we got our just rewards. Did you look at our bench when Funjo scored they were going crazy. Even the Polish lad who hasn't been here 5 minutes was dancing on crutches. This group of players genuinely care. The only thing we need the fans to do between now and season end is to vocally support the players through thick and thin and stay together. That's what will keep us up. If you want to vocally protest then do us, fans and players, a favour and stay at home to do it. The club has a great owner and we deserve to stay up for what she has given this club since buying it. Any vocal protest at a time when the window is closed can only be counter productive. We as a club need to stay together and fight to stay in this league. UTV

What was Darrell's record after Christmas that led to his sacking. A repeat of that form would certainly see us down.

Spoke to Rudgie a while ago and he said he used to travel and travel to see players in action. He said everyone these days watches videos of potential signings and even when at Stoke and being asked to watch videos of players he insisted on seeing players in the flesh to see what they were doing off the ball and see what their character was like. Strangely I have just reached the chapter in his excellent book titled 'Managing to Survive' where he is talking about formations and tactics. I would heartily suggest Mr Flitcroft reads pages 211-213 it's enlightening. His core formation was 4-4-2 'an attractive way to play' 'I liked to put the onus more on the players themselves, instead of using robots, giving the player in possession the choice of which ball was on. The better the player, the more freedom you can give him' How much 'freedom to play' are our players given these days. None they are like bloody robots particularly under Flitcroft's tippy-tappy at the back 3-5-2. P.s. if you haven't got the book it's a great read and I am sure the 'statue fund' team would be most appreciative as the £100K target is in sight of being reached.

This all reminds me of when we got relegated from this league under V2001. It was as clear as day then that we were just one striker short of staying up. Was it away at Fleetwood in last match where we dominated the game and did everything but score. We went down in the last relegation spot. I stand to be corrected if my memory fails me.

I was harbouring a forlorn hope that el presidento would have underwritten the cost of a quality loan striker till the end of the season. Just to remove any relegation worries.

Which club in the bottom 4 has a striker who has netted 10 goals this season. Any? We have players who could score. The problem is we don't get the ball forward quickly enough to break the back line as others do against us!

... to bed I assume you mean!

We are as far out as 9/1 for relegation. Bookies are never wrong! .... we hope.

Tomorrow is Saturday .... hey up shouldn't have opened that Plum Porter! BTW Sky saying deals can still be completed until 1am.

C'mon Lofty get that first goal tomorrow and let's see the real Ryan Loft.

Frightening isn't it.

It's been a very quiet window at top level so maybe that has stopped many moves cascading down.

Arblaster isn't a striker anyway is he!

Looks like we will all be praying you are wrong lads.

We haven't seen Lofty fully fit and playing 90 mins alongside Wilson. OK 60 minutes alongside Wilson.

Beginning to think that we might be relying on Lofty to find some goals once he has been given an extended run with Wilson.

<ovf censored> signed winger for £3M from Europe

Nippy how do you know 'the backroom staff needs scaling back considerably'? Or is it just your opinion? Similarly perhaps the 'rush into the abyss' that worries you is down to the fact the only way we can head up the league is by gaining points and that requires positive results in matches. We have only played two matches this month. One a high scoring draw and the other a very narrow defeat against the league leaders.

Rob can you start a new thread relating to the pitch incursion and ship all the comments above to it. Perhaps then we can, finally, get back on topic please.

Nippy, I dont think any of us are 'happy and positive' at the minute but your posts seem to show 'Desperation' with a capital D, and no loyalty to the person who without doubt saved Vale, put us on the road to recovery via promotion, and invested huge sums of money into 'ground improvements'. Yet you seem intent on throwing all that loyalty and commitment into a bin and take a gamble on any 'consortium' who has money. One thing in life is very true. People with money smell opportunities to make more money. Personally, and I think I am not alone in saying this, I think we have one of the best Club Owners in football at any level. We are currently in our second season in this league, second season syndrome, and struggling with long term injuries. Keep the faith, mate.

As I interpreted it, Robbie seemed to state in his interview with our media team the reason he has not attempted to get involved before was because a certain type of character, that he didn't want to associate with, became Football Club Directors. However, now Carol has ownership he is happy to get more involved. Perhaps, those being critical of Carol and wanting her to sell up might like to take Rob's comments on board.

I thought today's team was probably the best we have. However, we were outclassed.