2 hours ago, Rampant Zebra said:

Jordan Hughill was a non league gem, unfortunately we let him go for Smurfs wallet.

 

Edited January 11, 20242 yr by valeinspain
Wrong reply

3 hours ago, robf said:

I would imagine the last one was Lucas Covolon wasn't it?

I think certainly recent seasons (especially the influx under Askey - Kieran Kennedy, Fitzpatrick, Trickett-Smith, Rawlinson, Callum Evans, Jordan Archer, Jonny Maddison the list goes on) may have skewed some opinions (perhaps deservedly) on concentrating too much on non-league 'bargains'. That list shows you need decent scouting to select the wheat from the chaff. However, the likes of Peterborough have shown it can be done if you do it properly and pick out only the top prospects. 

For me, I wouldn't want to see a sudden influx of half a dozen non-league players like Askey brought in, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the club bring in the odd one to see if they can develop them. 

Crikey. It's mad how much I've erased from my memory. Makes you much more grateful for what we have now.

2 hours ago, ValeForever. said:

Peterborough signed Ricky Miller.

Feel like I realised that when I posted it but it was too late! Lol

5 hours ago, TJHValiant said:

The best Vale signings were not part time footballers stepping up to the football league but unwanted, talented guys from the big clubs. Reading through Rudgie’s book, it is remarkable how many of our greats like Guppy, Aspo, Robbie Earle, Glover, Mills, Ainsworth, Foyle etc etc all shared a history of having been on the books of big clubs before coming to us. 
 

The number of non league legends is actually very very small. 
 

Even today, our best signings like Wilson, Chislett (Southampton), Garrity (Blackpool) had a history of being coveted for their talent by bigger clubs. 
 

Our most likely route of success is to look to the big clubs. Look at the talent in those u23 paint trophy games and look for rough diamonds there to improve. 
 

As the standard of Premier and Championship has moved far away from league 1, so has non league from the league 1 and 2. Don’t be fooled by a few strong clubs in the national league, the standard is worse than ever down there. 

 

You can't watch a lot of football at non league.

The standard of NL is the strongest its ever been even outside the likes of Chesterfield. 95% of clubs in the league are pro, 50% of those clubs compete with L2 salaries and NLN &NLS leagues is full of young lads who for whatever reason have dropped down to get football rather than sat in u23's football.

There are some very good footballers down in those leagues. The trick is to catch the right age and background to develop them. Players with a good football education will look much better playing with better players.

Non league is a great route. Would you rather take a 20- 22 year old with 50+ appearances at NL league level who was at a cat1 academy or a 20- 22 year old released from cat1 academy who has not played mens football?  I know which ones I would take.

 

 

 

Edited January 11, 20242 yr by MBE

3 hours ago, robf said:

I would imagine the last one was Lucas Covolon wasn't it?

I think certainly recent seasons (especially the influx under Askey - Kieran Kennedy, Fitzpatrick, Trickett-Smith, Rawlinson, Callum Evans, Jordan Archer, Jonny Maddison the list goes on) may have skewed some opinions (perhaps deservedly) on concentrating too much on non-league 'bargains'. That list shows you need decent scouting to select the wheat from the chaff. However, the likes of Peterborough have shown it can be done if you do it properly and pick out only the top prospects. 

For me, I wouldn't want to see a sudden influx of half a dozen non-league players like Askey brought in, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the club bring in the odd one to see if they can develop them. 

Same with overseas players from lower European leagues, one or two brings interest and possibility whereas the 12+ Ribeiro bought in brings relegation.

1 hour ago, Tony Rodriguez said:

Brexit might prevent this.

We are allowed to sign one non european player without a work permit. 2 in the champ

Thomas has been recalled by Swansea - no great shock, I guess.

https://x.com/OfficialPVFC/status/1745483229098876986?s=20

Just now, efsb said:

Thomas has been recalled by Swansea - no great shock, I guess.

https://x.com/OfficialPVFC/status/1745483229098876986?s=20

Disappointing. Good player. 

5 hours ago, smithie said:

For every Andy Jones there are 100 Kyle Perrys.

There’s only one Andy Jones

I think Thomas probably passed the ball forward to .much for crosbys liking 😆

Writing on the wall with Thomas. If he's over his injury I expect to see him back out on loan at L2.

Don't ever see him being anything more than a 10 minute sub for us.

That’s disappointing. Think Crosby missed a trick not giving him more a shout when he was available. All the best to Josh, he’s got a good future I think. Any player with that sort of pace will always be useful to have.

Thanks for your service Josh Thomas. A really good player in there, it's a shame he never got a proper chance. Cros clearly didn't rate him & im not convinced that he's been injured for the past 3 months or so either. 1 in 5 goals ratio isn't bad considering he was off the bench a lot & compared to our other strikers 😂

Edited January 11, 20242 yr by Vtid

Looks like another young loan signing will be incoming soon then

Don’t think he was good enough personally. Ok off the bench looked off it for anything more. As MBE said I expect him to be off to league 2 on loan