Big News - Ah Kid Tom is coming home..

[SFBT]

I can see how this will play out. Pope won't be half the player he was in 2013 and when he doesn't perform he won't get the blame it will be blamed on him not getting service....

 

Pope did pretty well at Bury last season.

I'm hopeful simply because his style of play is based on a few straightforward techniques.

He keeps it simple.

A vastly underrated skill.

His positional play is good. Strength, good touch and aerial power.

Utilise his undoubted strengths and he will be a success.

Which, of course, is why recruitment is crucial.

And also why people are anxious, and will be, until we know who is coming in.

[Andyregs]

I can't believe after a season in league one with players like cicilia up front, that anyone can think pope in league 2 is a bad thing.

[1]

I can't believe after a season in league one with players like cicilia up front, that anyone can think pope in league 2 is a bad thing.

 

Because some people would complain if we signed Harry Kane playing in the conference.

 

When Pope was here he got criticised, when he went to Bury he was considered the missing piece we needed, now he's back he'll get ripped to shreds on here if he doesn't bag a hat-full from the off.

[valeparklife]

Well Reg and Forrester didn't get the service but they get blamed.

 

Reg couldn't control a football that was passed to him from 20 yards away.

 

And Forrester has a body made from Weetabix.

[Paul6754]

Eagles isn't really a pacy winger who goes on the outside and bangs crosses over. Seemed to revel more in the free role or as it is fashionable to call it the number 10 role.

I don't see Eagles supplying loads of balls on Popes' bonce. I hope i am wrong.

 

Darren, IMHO you don't have to be a pacey winger, you need to be able to find space and deliver a good cross with accuracy, Chris Eagles did that often last year but unfortunately we had no one to head the ball or knew how to attack and head the ball playing up front.

 

Can you remember John Robertsoon who played for Forest, he was the classic winger with average speed but incredible skill, he could go both ways and cross with either foot. I used to sit about 4-5 rows back in the main stand level with the 18yard line just to watch Robbo when I went to watch Forest, it was like watching someone in slow motion. He would often recieve the ball on the touchline, feint one way, the other way and do this again and again til he'd made half a yard and then cross the ball, a true artist and magnificent to watch, all with a pot belly!!

 

I'm not saying Chris Eagles is at that standard but he has tons of skill for Lge2 football (assuming we can get him) and I would anticipate he would feed Pope in the same way as Robbo fed Peter Withe, Garry Glassback, Woodcock and Trevor Francis etc from memory. Your right, Eagles can play the No 10 role which would be another string to the bow.

[Paul6754]

I can see how this will play out. Pope won't be half the player he was in 2013 and when he doesn't perform he won't get the blame it will be blamed on him not getting service....

 

Well, well, well, Mr Optimistic Port Vale 2016, the person with the glass always half full, the peron always positive in life, well that post doesn't appear optimistic or positive at all.

 

Tom Pope could play great next year, could be OK, could be not so OK and it will depend on the players around him and the service he receives. However, the important point is signing Tom Pope, an experienced, proven league 1/2 target man who can head the ball and will be a presence on and off the pitch is a million times more sensible than signing a dozen plyers from beyond these shores recommended by some heaven knows what and signed by a gullible, awful manager.

 

If Michael brown can attract quality or even decent Lge1/2 players to PVFC and Tom Pope gets good service then the probabilities are Popey will do well and so will his felloow attackers.

[melv]

Well Reg and Forrester didn't get the service but they get blamed.

 

Pope has the skill and is physically much stronger in a challenge.What we had last season could be blown over by blowing through a straw at them.

[Martino Knockavelli]

Pope has the skill and is physically much stronger in a challenge.What we had last season could be blown over by blowing through a straw at them.

If he doesn't get the crosses from the wide men like he did last time we were in this league then he will just have to adapt his technique.