Realistically I think January will end up with Wilson released, Conlon sold and a new lwb and striker coming in.

In an ideal world - Cass, Conlon, Balmer, Loft, Uche, Grant, Thomas & Massey out. Fill in the positions accordingly. Not going to happen like but you have to have a little hope.

1 hour ago, Diego Maradona said:

Seriously, does anyone know what LWB and strikers are available?? 

We'll probably be in the loan market!
 

Managers always say deals tend to come up you don't expect, and it will also be dependent on some clubs bringing players in so some of their existing ones become available. 

At our level the players that end up being available on loan are normally:

-U23s at Championship or Premier League sides who have done well at academy level and teams want them to get some first team experience. 

-Players who have had a long term injury and need games, with their parent club using a loan as a way of getting a player back to fitness as they have a settled team.

-Players who have underperformed since a summer move and are on a pretty good contract, with the loaning club sharing a percentage of the wage to allow the parent club more leeway to bring someone else in.

-Experienced pros approaching the end of their current contract and looking for a potential summer move on a free closer to home or on better wages.

-Players who are out of contract in the summer but are doing really well, so a club will look to cash in on them before they go for nothing.

Beyond that you're looking at an under contract player who clubs will offer fees for because they want to get them signed up.

I think given the rumoured links with Gibbo that we might test the water to see if he is available, particularly given Bristol Rovers have a new manager and he may have an idea of who he wants and who us surplus to requirements.

I also think we could try and revive the Denver Hume deal (if true), as he's not featured for Portsmouth that much.

As for strikers, Stockton hasn't really done the business at Burton and is reportedly on a big wage (by Burton's standards). A new manager there may want some room to move and offloading him might happen.

Sam Smith at Reading is one of several who hasn't been paid, so may be open to a move.

I think our likely targets will be an experienced wing back and maybe a young striker on loan. I can see Thomas going back, and if Arblaster does too we may look to strengthen there as it'd be a lot to expect from Walters to step in there at this stage of his career.

On 09/12/2023 at 09:22, smithie said:

Well unless a law has been introduced compelling players to sign a contract l don't think it's fair to blame Vale for this. 

Rhys Walters looks a decent prospect but it would be absolutely mad to break our structure for a kid with so much still to learn.

Sounds to me like Walters has been tapped up. Hope we get a decent fee for him. 

Sounds to me like Walters has been tapped up. Hope we get a decent fee for him. 

Sell Walters, use the money for a striker? [emoji848]

Sell Walters, use the money for a striker? [emoji848]

I don't know the full ins and outs of how it all works, but I'm not sure we would be able to sell a player in the last year of his scholarship. More likely it he'd sign a pre contract with whoever it is are after him and then we take it to tribunal.

Not that he hasn't earned it, but I think part of him getting all these appearances from a vale perspective is if the the worst happens, every 1st team appearance bumps up his tribunal fee.

10 minutes ago, Walka003 said:

I don't know the full ins and outs of how it all works, but I'm not sure we would be able to sell a player in the last year of his scholarship. More likely it he'd sign a pre contract with whoever it is are after him and then we take it to tribunal.

Not that he hasn't earned it, but I think part of him getting all these appearances from a vale perspective is if the the worst happens, every 1st team appearance bumps up his tribunal fee.

Thought Walter’s looked a bit lost yesterday. Not ready for regular 1st team yet ? 

Thought Walter’s looked a bit lost yesterday. Not ready for regular 1st team yet ? 

Think that probably a bit unfair. He's only just turned 18, I think 45 mins here and there is probably about right for his development.

If he was ready to play full 90 mins in league one at just 18, he wouldn't be playing for vale, he'd be on loan here from the prem like arblaster. He needs time, no rush for him while we've got ojo/arblaster/lowe to share the load.

2 hours ago, Walka003 said:

Realistically I think January will end up with Wilson released, Conlon sold and a new lwb and striker coming in.

In an ideal world - Cass, Conlon, Balmer, Loft, Uche, Grant, Thomas & Massey out. Fill in the positions accordingly. Not going to happen like but you have to have a little hope.

Disagree on Grant, haven’t seen enough of him yet to decide. Besides, we already need a lwb in the window, don’t want to be having to get two in

56 minutes ago, The French Connection said:

Sounds to me like Walters has been tapped up. Hope we get a decent fee for him. 

Fee wise we’d get nothing really, absolute peanuts. Only winner would be we’d get a sell on fee so we’d have to pray he got a big move at some point

1 minute ago, Powerline said:

Disagree on Grant, haven’t seen enough of him yet to decide. Besides, we already need a lwb in the window, don’t want to be having to get two in

 not impressed with Grant so far. He's so slow & pedestrian, supposed to be known as someone with a deadly left foot yet i haven't seen many decent balls whipped in by him. I understand he's yet to have a good run in the side i just hope he can stay fit now & push on 👍🏻 

On 09/12/2023 at 08:30, Rory said:

Am I correct that his agent is Leon Constantine?

That's a bit worrying in my opinion if so. I listened to his Ale & Vale podcast and he didn't come across as a very nice man and, to be honest, he sounded as thick as a submarine door. I can't imagine dealing with him would be great.

Good luck Port Vale.

I live in Arlesey, Bedfordshire these days and about 10 years ago at the end of his career, Leon played for Arlesey Town a few times, incredibly on one occasion at least with Ricky Millar up front, who also played for us. Asked him to sign and old Vale shirt from his era, which he did and cheerily said it was the best period of his career, rated Foyle highly,  but basically felt we were a club full of old whigners as fans. Even so, it wasn’t a bitter exchange and seemed like a pretty normal guy. 

I agree with him having a bit of an ego, but felt he enjoyed his time at Vale but was aware of a certain amount of backlash, which he seemed amused about rather than actually resentful to the club.

 

16 minutes ago, Walka003 said:

Think that probably a bit unfair. He's only just turned 18, I think 45 mins here and there is probably about right for his development.

If he was ready to play full 90 mins in league one at just 18, he wouldn't be playing for vale, he'd be on loan here from the prem like arblaster. He needs time, no rush for him while we've got ojo/arblaster/lowe to share the load.

I agree. I’m not knocking him just saying that yesterday he didn’t get into the game. As you say, not surprising.
 

Some have mentioned though that if Arblaster goes back Walter’s would be a ready made replacement- I don’t think he’s ready for that yet 

Nice to see Dipepa get League minutes another one for the future maybe and one who could become a fan favourite(with a song to go with it).

It is a bonus for the club that these young players are coming through,I also like the look of Lomax when he has played.

I would love to see us find a non league goal scoring Gem like Notts County did with Longstaff from Gateshead for 50k(what a bargain he turned out to be). I see that Peterborough(they can spot them) are chasing a South Liverpool striker name Glennon

Nice to see Dipepa get League minutes another one for the future maybe and one who could become a fan favourite(with a song to go with it).
It is a bonus for the club that these young players are coming through,I also like the look of Lomax when he has played.

Lomax looks good. This time next year he could be doing a Walters.

Dipepa looks OK, fast, needs to bulk up over the summer similar to what Planty did. Looks like one stiff breeze would blow him over.