1 minute ago, Nippy Naylor said:

Yeah but it's where we finish at the end of the season what counts isn't it ,🙄 osh 

Of course it is.  On THAT we can agree; sadly people like you (and several others on here) have got us confirmed as relegated already.

I'd prefer to stay and fight if thats OK with you.

1 minute ago, Warren said:

Left wing back and can play central defender. We have a need in that left wing back area. He's also played for Peterborough and is clearly at L1 standard. 

At least if we can stop conceding goals we have a chance of a few 0-0 s 

14 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

It’s hard to say as you could say that for any side. Let’s say every other side has the same injuries and we had none, I think we would be mid table more or less yes. Clarke started well and is clearly our best wing back and Ojo is clearly our most influential player. But injuries happen to all sides and we just haven’t coped. 

A team like Portsmouth can and should be able to cope with our level of injuries; they just have much bigger squads. My big concern this season would be that 2 of the relegated teams from last season proved they were comfortably mid table during periods when they had few injuries,  they just didn't have the depth of squad. All bar the first relegation under Rudge we had bad seasons with injuries.  Equally under Rudge most promotion seasons we had relatively few injuries.  I'm not sure we have the depth of squad right now to stay up IF the injuries don't clear very quickly. It's not just the number of injuries: Clark, Ojo, Uche and Garrity are 4 of our 6 most influential players. 

1 minute ago, osprey said:

At least if we can stop conceding goals we have a chance of a few 0-0 s 

Except when we play a team as strong as Portsmouth I think we will have enough going forward to score goals. Last season and this season we've had big problems at left wing back and must do something about it. 

1 minute ago, JRC said:

A team like Portsmouth can and should be able to cope with our level of injuries; they just have much bigger squads. My big concern this season would be that 2 of the relegated teams from last season proved they were comfortably mid table during periods when they had few injuries,  they just didn't have the depth of squad. All bar the first relegation under Rudge we had bad seasons with injuries.  Equally under Rudge most promotion seasons we had relatively few injuries.  I'm not sure we have the depth of squad right now to stay up IF the injuries don't clear very quickly. It's not just the number of injuries: Clark, Ojo, Uche and Garrity are 4 of our 6 most influential players. 

It depends on the view of the young players. For example, I thought Shorrock gave a good account of himself v Portsmouth. Now before that game, I thought he was miles off being ready for L1. These young players, who looked to need another year at least when we played Crewe, are possibly much more up to the level than I thought. But there is risk in all of this of course. 

8 minutes ago, mr.hobblesworth said:

Even when Clarke was fit, he wasn't being played.

Perhaps he was playing to far up the football pitch for crosbys liking, maybe 😂

1 hour ago, mbycars said:

Isn't he a defender?

Well we do need defenders.  Specially those that can defend, but more importantly score goals (in the right end) 🤣

16 minutes ago, Warren said:

Except when we play a team as strong as Portsmouth I think we will have enough going forward to score goals. Last season and this season we've had big problems at left wing back and must do something about it. 

Don't you think we have got problems with scoring goals at the moment, I'd rather see two forwards come through the door but it's all about opinions at the end of the day 

2 hours ago, PVFC764 said:

Or being a realist.  We all thought it tho.  No incoming players and we will loose on saturday.

But football is a funny thing and we may even win.  😉

Lose 😁

19 minutes ago, Warren said:

Except when we play a team as strong as Portsmouth I think we will have enough going forward to score goals. Last season and this season we've had big problems at left wing back and must do something about it. 

Where will the goals come from 

Garrity was our main goal threat 🙄

Edited January 31, 20242 yr by Nippy Naylor

In reference to Vales player budget, in the latest 'Valiant' Baggers believes its now about 18th.

Outside of the club we won't know until the relevant accounts are released what it actually is.

Looking at clubs around us who are doing transfer business, the busiest seem to be clubs who have sold players on for good fees and obviously Carlisle who have new rich backers.

Let's keep our fingers and legs crossed we have a good finish to the window and we can also get players back fit (and keep them fit) sooner rather than later.

 

 

 

 

54 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

Every side has injuries. We sign injury prone players and then moan when they miss large parts of the season. 

Yes every side has some injuries but over that last 2 seasons ours have been catastrophic and many of them lasted several months. Yes part of that has been because we have signed some players who have been injury prone like Wilson and Grant. You take a gamble with some but others have had injuries when previously they have been relatively injury free. You can't have as many defenders and forwards out as we did in the 3 months leading up to xmas and expect to keep getting results. We have a relatively small squad and that amount of injuries will always affect what happens on the pitch.

1 hour ago, valiant_593 said:

Every side has injuries. We sign injury prone players and then moan when they miss large parts of the season. 

Would you say Garrity, Uche ahd Ojo are injury prone?  Add to them the loss of Alfie and Blaster and we've lost 5 of our top performers, regulars.  Small wonder we're struggling and are going to struggle. 

1 hour ago, LancyTony said:

I don't think we will get relegated, that's for sure...no matter where we are now.

I feel we can compete against most clubs of our size in this League...but injuries haven't helped, all season - Uche even getting injured during the transfer window; nor have the various postponements we've had.  And losing Ollie and Alfie when they were supposed to be here all season! It's all disruptive and no wonder we've struggled!

Your reply makes more sense than the "spending our money badly" one I first replied to!

I think we will but I really hope I'm wrong.

I think injuries haven't helped but we've also signed players with poor injury records / not many games in the past seasons. We're also not the only team to have injuries but i can accept We've had it tough with a smaller squad/ budget (for example Portsmouth who also suffered bad with injuries but have a bigger squad and more budget)

We also knew there was a chance that the loans would be recalled. I don't buy that as an excuse. 

In general though, I don't think we have done well enough in the recent transfer windows and that's coupled with a very poor management appointment. 

Like I say, I really hope im wrong and we can stay up and build on again in the summer 

We have rode our luck these last two seasons and sometimes your luck just runs out. Poor transfer windows will cost you in the end.