Flitcroft Interview in Baggers' 'The Valiant'

[JoeB2]

Once again, 'The Valiant' provides excellent coverage of PVFC. I don't know Mike but I genuinely think its an absolute bargain and we get better coverage than Championship clubs. It's Premier League level reporting.

Flitcroft has given an interview today. I don't want to quote too much from it as it's worth reading yourself and, as some will know, I have my own views on Flitcroft and that would probably shine through in my summation.

Regardless, there's some quite decent stuff in there about the academy, Carol, and the pitch, and also (in my view) so quite concerning stuff which point to a general delusion about the quality of play at the minute - we dominated at Shrewsbury apparently, and the top 3 all dominate possession so we should try to do the same (despite having inferior players). He is convinced our 'xG' numbers are about to increase.

He addresses Walters' lack of new contract, the striker issues, plans for January etc. It's in-depth and at least gives us an insight into where we're going - not sure I agree with all of it but can't knock the effort to take us on the journey.

Edited December 8, 2023 by JoeB2

[Powerline]

Agreed well worth the money 

[Emile]

An unbelievably shocking read for me. Totally nailed the coffin shut for me that he has to go - doesn't have a clue what he's doing. Thinks football matches can be won with statistics. 

- says Clarke was sacked based on performances. Not on anything else

- thought it was a good idea that despite the performances that the as. Manager and coaches should take over and things will be different?!?

- seems to think Crosby is doing a good job and is invested in the long term (I don't think he would sack AC if we lost tomorrow)

- thinks AC was the one to bring Plant into the first team - Clarke gave him his debut two games before AC. 

He has to go, enough is enough.

[Powerline]

12 minutes ago, Emile said:

An unbelievably shocking read for me. Totally nailed the coffin shut for me that he has to go - doesn't have a clue what he's doing. Thinks football matches can be won with statistics. 

- says Clarke was sacked based on performances. Not on anything else

- thought it was a good idea that despite the performances that the as. Manager and coaches should take over and things will be different?!?

- seems to think Crosby is doing a good job and is invested in the long term (I don't think he would sack AC if we lost tomorrow)

- thinks AC was the one to bring Plant into the first team - Clarke gave him his debut two games before AC. 

He has to go, enough is enough.

I also was a bit concerned. I agree with the academy stuff, but he seemed to think Crosby was doing ok and doesn’t sound like he’s going to be sacked any time soon. 

[JoeB2]

I do think that his absolute obsession with a very specific vision for Port Vale, when we don't have the resources to fund it, could do some damage.

He, reasonably, has a view of us of being a possession-based side with a productive academy, that identifies gems and sells them for a profit - which is pretty much what every side wants to be. Everyone wants to be Brighton or Brentford.

There has to be some recognition of the circumstances - our budget isn't huge and has been reduced in the last 12 months. The ground needs hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of spending on it.  We're talking about niche stats and long-term philosophies, but can't win games of League 1 football. Our head is in the clouds whilst our feet are on fire, or something.

Trying to out-do Portsmouth and Bolton at their own game is never going to work. He sort of begins to realise this when he talks of the money Charles is on at Bolton, but doesn't put 2 + 2 together. Surely this should be the sign that we have to do things a different way, and not try to replicate their approach? They can always out-spend us, so how are we ever going to beat them consistently at their own game?

I just think that Flitcroft's dream is at odds with what we can realistically afford to do. It's all a nice idea but 8 wins in 39 league games suggest the reality does not match the vision at all.

Edited December 8, 2023 by JoeB2

[Wrex]

Interesting caption 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by Wrex

[andy jones]

The problem is simple. 

We don't practice a Plan B

There's one way to.play and one way only according to Flitcroft / Crosby.

That shouts to me ... No Imagination!

And it makes us very easy to play against and beat.

 

 

[rob1983]

Crosby isn't going anywhere by the sounds of that.

[Griffalo]

1 hour ago, Emile said:

An unbelievably shocking read for me. Totally nailed the coffin shut for me that he has to go - doesn't have a clue what he's doing. Thinks football matches can be won with statistics. 

- says Clarke was sacked based on performances. Not on anything else

- thought it was a good idea that despite the performances that the as. Manager and coaches should take over and things will be different?!?

- seems to think Crosby is doing a good job and is invested in the long term (I don't think he would sack AC if we lost tomorrow)

- thinks AC was the one to bring Plant into the first team - Clarke gave him his debut two games before AC. 

He has to go, enough is enough.

He said Clarke was sacked because players had downed tools 

[JoeB2]

I can more concisely summarise my concern with this:

Flitcroft bemoans the fact that Bolton can spend £300k on Dion Charles, but doesn't see the issue with trying to replicate Bolton's style of play, or see why this style of play isn't working.

Edited December 8, 2023 by JoeB2

[CAVALIER]

He's got us heading into protest territory if we aren't careful

[Alfie1962]

I have said on a number of occasions he talks the talk. The players from the Academy Rhys, Planty, Jack and Baylee were with Vale a while before the new Academy manager was in post. What as Improved is the transition from the Academy or else more players would have come through in my opinion.

[Smallthorne clampet]

49 minutes ago, andy jones said:

The problem is simple. 

We don't practice a Plan B

There's one way to.play and one way only according to Flitcroft / Crosby.

That shouts to me ... No Imagination!

And it makes us very easy to play against and beat.

 

 

All teams need to do is drop off , watch us make 27 passes , do nothing with it , and then hit us on the break when we make a mistake .

[Smallthorne clampet]

34 minutes ago, Griffalo said:

He said Clarke was sacked because players had downed tools 

Were they still paid ??

[Playa Amodores]

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

I can more concisely summarise my concern with this:

Flitcroft bemoans the fact that Bolton can spend £300k on Dion Charles, but doesn't see the issue with trying to replicate Bolton's style of play, or see why this style of play isn't working.

Flitcroft looking for an excuse to defend his own incompetency and lack of ability. I’d imagine we’ve spent more in wages, for the DoF

Edited December 8, 2023 by Playa Amodores
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