valefan16

Watched the stream and came away feeling positive, think Moore's personality finally came out and it was good to see. He was quite open and honest so see what happens. Bannan is a very long shot but I suppose big names have dropped to L2 in recent times. Bannan and Ojo as play makers deep lying, with Garrity and Chis in front... that would be pretty special mind!

June they said last night for the home. Assume we will go back to keeping one of the three kits for 2 years (away kit becoming the third) not that its been much luck to us!

Agree, I think play offs have to be the very minimum aim, especially with how weak the league looks this coming season.

He did yes, scored a stunner v Sheff United too. He scored 5 or 6 in a short spell and was outstanding with Andoh. Recall us battering Doncaster and one of their lads tried to rugby tackle him and he just dragged him along the ground as he kept running! He got sent off against Burton for diving and that seemed to be that with him at Vale. There is a player there but he looks unfit, arguably the best he looked was once he picked fitness up against Charlton then he got injured the next game.

Seems a lot of anger at the retained list but not sure what else we can do at this stage, the contract situation for the ones under contract is what it is and that will I am sure develop over the coming weeks in terms of letting players go, maybe even loaning them out etc so it was never going to say much more, could potentially transfer list some but assume thats being done behind closed doors. Surprised at Uche a bit but not devastated by that, a full pre season against League Two teams that sit in he may be useful but it could also be terms of his current deal hence "in discussion" as I am sure the press released when he signed said the deal keeps him here "Until at least the summer". Gutted James Wilson has gone but understandable and deserves to be remembered for those great moments in the promotion season, Derby and Plymouth away. Feel a bit for Luetwieiler as never let us down but maybe a keeper more there to challenge Ripley for the number 1 would be better? Massey as expected, good luck to him but not lived up to expectation. Wynne I can't comment as never seen him play so will rely on Moore's judgement there! Cass I assume will go but he was very good in L2 for us so not too down if he signs a new deal. Devil will as always be in the detail.

I have always enjoyed Crawley, largely because we always seem to win there! Can't be a ground we've visited on multiple occasions where we have such a good record? Won all but 2 games, including 1 0-0 draw and a 3-2 loss when we had a man sent off at 2-1 up.

If Crewe stay down and Solihull come up it is a great league in terms of local away games, shame Burton somehow stayed up or that would have added another in the mix. That said, if we have a promotion/play off campaign its enjoyable, if we dont its not. I can't say I have enjoyed the last 18 months in a higher league so wont be a high bar to set to enjoy this more.

Nowadays we are probably a yoyo league 1-2 club, long gone are the days of the likes of us Grimsby, Crewe, Walsall being regulars in the second tier largely due to the finance required... That said football does change quickly, if a mega rich owner came in to a club of our size the potential is there to grow it and push it up like your Rotherham's, Brentford's or Bournemouths but the key word there is investment from mega rich owners. Wrexham possibly the next example to break out of the doldrums into it. To achieve that I think we would have to leave Vale Park or rebuild on it to an "arena" like Rotherham that could be a big money maker etc. New Stadia often increase the fan base too when you consider say Hull City for instance and what the KC Stadium did there (but we don't have a relatively decent rugby team to help make it viable).

This has Vale turning up, putting in a real performance and winning 3-0 now the horse has bolted.

They didn't really sign anyone outstanding though in fairness, they signed L2 players hence their form never turned around at all.

To be fair it is no big secret that Michael Smith was at Vale Park deadline day until late wasnt he? and it fell through due to Wednesday not getting their target, suppose we dont know if that was a loan or permanent. Would of stayed up had we signed him IMO.

Not so sure we would lose Garrity, he would command a fee at this stage and likely would be courted by a lower half L1 club so may as well see out the year with us and see if he can get us back up.

You cant get rid of them all, the costs are too high but have to remember we are dropping a level so have to work out who would do us a decent job in League Two... Just because they've not done well in L1 doesn't mean they cant be an asset in L2 so that is what we need to establish. Imagine we will release all the out of contracts (as much as I would keep Wilson) and so leaves us with Dipepa (if not sold who will be a low wage) and Loft so room for 2 strikers which we need to improve on. Goalkeeper I would probably offer Leutwiller a deal and the two we have are fine. Midfield I would move heaven and earth to try and keep Garrity and Chislett, Ojo will likely want out but would be stand out in L2, Walters looks off, so room to bring a couple in, need some wide men. Defence is the big problem though, Smith is decent L2, would you get more from Debrah at a lower level and Yak? try and move Jones on but that be harder as he is injured a lot, room to bring a could in and we need a right and left back (or wing back). I would imagine we will try and move on: Sang (all be it maybe decent L2?) Jones Lowe Loft That leaves us room for around 9 or 10 permanents if Cass, Uche, Walters, Wilson, Massey move on plus your usual 3-4 loan players. Even if we cant move on the 4 under contract we'd have room for 5-6 plus 3-4 Loan players so we can still improve the squad.

We lack the nous to win games. Wycombe a fine example, they were time wasting, and as with Exeter every time we broke would hack us down... we dont do that! How many times have we conceded from a breakaway when your thinking "Why didnt he take a yellow early on in the break and stop it"

Odd one this a little as I felt Yak was early season, he didnt start v Barnsley but in that good run he seemed to win everything.

Tempting. What would the situation be regarding kit for instance?

They do have a slight chance but Derby have Cambridge A, Carlisle H so it's unlikely and they rested a few risk players Tuesday who had knocks "Looking at the bigger picture" like Santos.

I think we will still have a sniff potentially as Reading should beat Burton and Lincoln Cheltenham all be it party rather have it over and done with! I hope we just go there and have a go, nothing to lose now and sitting back for a 3-0 defeat is pointless at this stage. Take the game to them, they are all but out the race now for auto's so may rest a few touch and go players fitness wise for the Play Offs.

It is the biggest summer Carol has had really. Some discontent in the fan base, a club with a losing culture for 18 months, and a structure that needs rebuilding. L2 will be quite open, you've lost the big spenders in Wrexham and Stockport, hopefully MK join them, but the rest is much of a muchness. Still many questions, rumours Carol will go big, will Moore be here, if not who?, if Flickers was right about some decent offers made in January will we still have that approach to put this right with a big budget? Until we are clearer on things like that it is hard to say, the double dip is a worry, FGR have shown what can happen but there seems to be a few clubs in bother down there and 2 spots only, as bad as we have been I do think much of this squad would survive in L2 and would surely strengthen now. We need to get fans back onside and a positive outlook so does feel it needs a top 7 finish again minimum, if we go down, have a great season and bounce back up this will all soon be forgotten and the place will be buzzing again, easier said than done but certainly has to be a clear target for the club by what means necessary.

Doubt Pep could get a tune from this lot in fairness and he looks and sounds resigned to it now. I imagine if he does intend to stay he can't wait to get to the summer and build his own side, then he can be judged, especially as it looks likely recruitment will be on him rather than above as it stands.

We've got to rally behind Carol, if she is struggling and emotional its not good for her which is the main concern, regardless of how the last 18 months have gone she saved the club, and gave us those days at Man City, Wembley, Derby and of course it was never going to always be a bed of roses, football isn't like that, I hope she doesn't let it get to her too much and of course we need a strong positive Carol to turn this around.

I felt we played fairly well after a shakey first five when we did the Lincoln start on repeat but got away with it, so did our usual pathetic back post defending from a deep cross. After that we dominated and a half decent attack would have put them to the sword with 3 or 4 goals but poor touches, poor finishing and to be fair good goalkeeping kept us out. Frustrating to lose as a point with other results would have kept us in with a chance likely into the final day, only Vale could lose to a side that were timewasting for a 1-1 draw most of the second half and showing little attacking intent... but guess thats why we are where we are. Half decent performance in the main but same Achilles heels cost us.

For what reason?

A gamble, they really needed to do something to entice fans as I think many wont renew.

On a side note with the diversion in place I ended up driving down Federation Road, and saw some car parks opposite Lidl Vale fans were parking in, looked more secure. Anyone know the charges on those as couldn't see anything so didn't risk it?