Michael O' Connor on Trial

[Burslem Academicals]

One question is why does Smurf just go off sixty percent of season ticket money.....shouldn't kit sales and food and drink along with sponsorship and walk ups be included plus fees for players......remember missing out on that pacey centre back last pre season and given how poor and slow the defence were it could have been the difference in terms of the play offs......just a pity that the club couldn't have kept Loft and JMW and added quality

like Hoyte and O'Connor because a bit of ambition and luck could have seen the club knocking on the door of the Championship.

[mr.hobblesworth]

Wouldn't the undisclosed fees we've received for Hugill and Davis, paltry as they may be (low end 5 figures each?), be included in this too?

[Jinkin John Jeffers]

One question is why does Smurf just go off sixty percent of season ticket money.....shouldn't kit sales and food and drink along with sponsorship and walk ups be included plus fees for players......remember missing out on that pacey centre back last pre season and given how poor and slow the defence were it could have been the difference in terms of the play offs......just a pity that the club couldn't have kept Loft and JMW and added quality

like Hoyte and O'Connor because a bit of ambition and luck could have seen the club knocking on the door of the Championship.

 

I maybe wrong but my guess is that the business plan has to be on guaranteed income and ST sales is definate income. Perhaps after last years ludicrous projections the FL want it this way?

[kazmark]

O'Connor might have gone but Port Vale haven't. :rolleyes::rolleyes::(

[ELDERBEZZA]

If O'Connor ain't signing fair enough, if his wages were true we possibly wouldn't be able sign another player let alone the 2 forwards and right back everyone keeps banging on about.

Spot on!Imagine what the other players thoughts would be if he was on a far higher wage than rest of the team.Lets move on now:yes:

[onestepatatime]

As a fan not trying to rock the boat and prepared to give Norm and Micky time to get things right for a bright future....I have to admit that the rumblings about budget/players salaries/lack of squad members etc, etc is now wearing very thin!

 

None of us know exactly what players earn or what Norm has been offering, but surely Vale knew before trials commenced that certain players were on such and such? Not rocket science therefore is it to assume we were to offer a decent wage to whoever we decide to trial? Does Micky have any say in players signing for us, or is it now left entirely to Norm to put figures in front of players/agents?

 

Micky took an inordinate time to agree to signing his contract and surely to God he had talks with Norm about the budget/salaries/ expectations of certain new squad members? Does the present situation therefore smack of Norm now backing down on his "promises" to Micky? There appears still to be some gulf in what press releases are given to us fans concerning Micky's aspirations and those of the Owner.

 

We, as fans cannot influence who we buy but credit us with some common sense and intelligence, Vale!

 

Aside from the fact our non existent commercial and publicity department have not got things anywhere near on a proper basis for a Football League Club, we are now facing back biting amongst ourselves, when surely we ought to be looking forward to continuing our rise up the Divisions?

 

Staunch fan that I am, I am now starting to see flaws and think perhaps it's time for the Club to gel and talk to each other about the massively growing pessimism and bad vibes coming from within Vale Park and it's fan base. Something soon has to be done to quell the present lethargy.

 

We have the basis of a decent squad but it's obvious to everyone who has any feeling for the Vale that we need more players and they have to be decent ones, not just to fill gaps. As fans we are in some way responsible for our inability to offer attractive wages to desired players but also Norm, his team and everyone connected to Vale have a part to play in getting everything back on track. Time now for us all to combine together and not gripe/moan/find excuses. Unity, please and Norm find a way to prove you are our leader and here to stay in our increasing success.

[P.E. ST6]

O'Connor has says he still wants to come, just not for what he was offered. I do not think he is worth blowing the budget on. We only lost 2 quality players last season, but have signed 2 quality players so far. So the only players we need to replace are mediocre players.

[Lady_Vale]

We've signed 2 quality players? We have just replaced like for like so far and are no where near replacing Lofts quality as it stands.

[bar1]

One question is why does Smurf just go off sixty percent of season ticket money.....shouldn't kit sales and food and drink along with sponsorship and walk ups be included plus fees for players......remember missing out on that pacey centre back last pre season and given how poor and slow the defence were it could have been the difference in terms of the play offs......just a pity that the club couldn't have kept Loft and JMW and added quality

like Hoyte and O'Connor because a bit of ambition and luck could have seen the club knocking on the door of the Championship.

 

he doesn't, its 60% of total turnover and last year that was a little over 3m

[bar1]

he doesn't, its 60% of total turnover and last year that was a little over 3m

 

and to be fair, smurf has still added a further 20% on top of the season ticket sales, allegedly, so could be worse

[P.E. ST6]

We've signed 2 quality players? We have just replaced like for like so far and are no where near replacing Lofts quality as it stands.

 

 

Yes 2 quality players in Marshall and Moore. Proven at league 1. McGivern and Daniel may turn out to be quality. Yes we have lost Loft and he will be hard to replace. But as we stand we have 2 quality wingers in the team. Last season Loft was pushed out wide alot, where, in all fairness ain't his best position so maybe we won't miss him as much as some think.

[VantaaVale]

Guyonet not joining now. This is really not looking good.

 

http://www.port-vale.co.uk/news/article/20140717-guyonet-will-not-be-signingew-component-1765622.aspx

[Lady_Vale]

Yes 2 quality players in Marshall and Moore. Proven at league 1. McGivern and Daniel may turn out to be quality. Yes we have lost Loft and he will be hard to replace. But as we stand we have 2 quality wingers in the team. Last season Loft was pushed out wide alot, where, in all fairness ain't his best position so maybe we won't miss him as much as some think.

 

You're more excited than me at their prospects, although Marshall has looked good he'll be inconsistent like JMW....which is fine but to lose a captain and good player to no doubt be replaced by someone we can basically just afford will see us weaker.

[Black and white]

What is smurf doing? Does any1 actually believe a word he says? I feel badly letdown by his leadership. If his heart is not in it then maybe he should think of walking away.

[valiant_593]

Yes 2 quality players in Marshall and Moore. Proven at league 1. McGivern and Daniel may turn out to be quality. Yes we have lost Loft and he will be hard to replace. But as we stand we have 2 quality wingers in the team. Last season Loft was pushed out wide alot, where, in all fairness ain't his best position so maybe we won't miss him as much as some think.

 

Yes but they aren't centre mids. We have signed nobody to play in the middle. At the minute as I said a few weeks ago, we are miles behind!