An Open Letter from Carol

[Mr Tambourine Man]

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse after this last week I read this PR disaster of an open letter from Carol Shanahan.   

The letter fails to address the single most important topic which currently preoccupies any Vale fan - ie; why have we failed to sign a single centre forward this January?   Like the elephant in the room it never gets a mention.

Instead we are instructed not to question what are to me the very apparent shortcomings of the Director of Football.      This letter was ill-advised and will destroy the hitherto almost unconditional goodwill of Vale supporters so far enjoyed by the owners.

 

[RayWalkers40yarder]

so ive had time to take in the letter and listen to ale and the vale podcast and most of the stuff thats cropped up i totally agree with.

alot of what has been stated in the letter doesnt interest fans in the here and now. we all know how good carol et al have been in saving the club and looking after the community.

 

HOWEVER.

 

this last 18 months has been a disaster on the pitch and it needs redressing URGENTLY.

the simple fact is - the first team should always be a priority and it hasnt been over this period.

we all knew we needed a LWB and a reasonable striker to stay even " league one steady " and as much as i want to see vale managers do well we all kinda knew letting crosby take the reins would end in failure ( only because weve seen it so many times before)

so what do we need now? the short answer is a SOLID league manager who knows how to get the best out of a struggling team and this is the worst bit - were gonna need a journeyman free agent striker ( probably gonna want big money in wages) to get us out of this mess.

 

i fear we dont have the funds for either and this is gonna set us back 3-4 years. we can do without more turmoil after whats gone on previous to carols tenure. its exhausting.

[Smallthorne clampet]

17 minutes ago, Mr Tambourine Man said:

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse after this last week I read this PR disaster of an open letter from Carol Shanahan.   

The letter fails to address the single most important topic which currently preoccupies any Vale fan - ie; why have we failed to sign a single centre forward this January?   Like the elephant in the room it never gets a mention.

Instead we are instructed not to question what are to me the very apparent shortcomings of the Director of Football.      This letter was ill-advised and will destroy the hitherto almost unconditional goodwill of Vale supporters so far enjoyed by the owners.

 

I agree , people are asking what do we need to do now - senior players stepping up  , the fans getting behind the team , appointing a tough manager etc. etc. But all these things combined if you haven't got players who can score goals to win football matches . It has been blatantly obvious for over a year that we have been sadly lacking in that department . Sometimes you have to pay over the odds to get goalscorers  , obviously we aren't prepared to do so . This will result in relegation this season , which will cost a lot more money in the long term . The club have been very short sighted to let this happen .

[Vtid]

2 hours ago, Warren said:

I 

The letter is a good communication. If nothing was said another type of criticism actually far worse would be levelled. They don't communicate with the fans. That is more poisonous. 

Unfortunately, the appointment of Crosby has transpired to be a big mistake. I can see why he was appointed. It wasn't the cheap option. It was a decision made after risk assessment. Crosby had performed well in his interim management spells. He is a very experienced coach. He was successful in keeping the club in L1 at the end of last season when in charge after Clarke was removed. Giving him a go permanently looked possibly less risky than bringing in a new manager. Less change etc. 

I think Crosby has personally cost Port Vale 10 - 15 points in games this season. His second half decision making has been particularly awful. Without these mistakes or misjudgements we would be much further up the league. This is the number one key issue. It looks like the number two key issue is the squad has been weakened not strengthened in the Jan 2024 window. 

So we are where we are. Must make a good management appointment this time. 

You still going on about Crosby! Your as bad as Devine with smith. This isn’t on Crosby it’s the numpty who appointed him 🤦‍♂️ Sounds like we may be bringing another coach with poor managerial records to replace him. Suppose that will be Andy’s fault as well 

[darren1810]

2 hours ago, Warren said:

Stoke is the enemy. They have 50k people waiting to laugh at PV. Cambridge are rivals. I live on Merseyside, you're having a laugh if you think Everton fans care about PV. They are protesting points deductions at the moment. I 100% know my Liverpool supporting friends I drink with tomorrow night will not give a moment's thought to said letter. And more to the point, they are irrelevant. 

If Stoke lose to Blackburn on Saturday and QPR win at home, they will be in a big relegation battle themselves. 

Would you like screenshots ? Are you calling me a liar ? 

[darren1810]

2 hours ago, Warren said:

Stoke is the enemy. They have 50k people waiting to laugh at PV. Cambridge are rivals. I live on Merseyside, you're having a laugh if you think Everton fans care about PV. They are protesting points deductions at the moment. I 100% know my Liverpool supporting friends I drink with tomorrow night will not give a moment's thought to said letter. And more to the point, they are irrelevant. 

If Stoke lose to Blackburn on Saturday and QPR win at home, they will be in a big relegation battle themselves. 

You're missing the point. Stoke didn't put out some pathetic letter from Coates when Neil was dismissed. 

Nor do any other clubs. A statement thanking the manager for his services is the norm. Oh no not at Port Vale. Woah is me, leave Dave alone. Haven't seen one quote from Carol thanking Crosby. 

[Mellor!]

2 hours ago, Warren said:

I live on Merseyside

Do you?! You should have said.

[Brian Johnson]

Not sure where to put this because its not worth starting a new thread but Ronan Keaton Keating & Boyzone look like they are going to take over Chorley 

[Aguar61]

6 hours ago, AndyGeorge said:

At least it's not a low cost housing development. All of a sudden? I was at Vale Park when Roy Sproson was playing. You can judge a football club on it's presence, values, sustainability and standing in the community. Where have you come from?

I've just come in from work actually... welcome to the website,do enjoy...

[Loggerheads Sage]

My problems with the letter are,

A, I don't like being lectured/ told off,  " it has to stop"

B, Carol listed all these objectives,  a tick b tick etc,   but it's all with hindsight.  Were these so called objectives stated anywhere beforehand?  

C,  nowhere does she comment on all of the problems.    League position,  threadbare squad, no strikers, etc etc

D,  I would have thought a key objective would be to keep us in L1 myself,  especially after " championship ready" followed by " L1 steady"  statements previously. 

E,  surely some comments had to be made re the January transfer window?    At a forum it was stated that we needed strikers in January,  they didn't arrive,  despite our lead striker then being sidelined for 12 weeks.  Why FGS?     Other teams signed them.  Even if there is no money,  surely a couple  of PL kids could have come in?

F,  why dud a DOF with over 300 games experience not take charge on Tuesday after Dunn left, ( and indeed why did Dunn go, usually the manager plus assistant go and the coach takes temporary charge ), but threw the academy coaches under the bus.  No presser today I notice. Plus refusing to speak to RS now 

I want to make it clear that I am definitely not anti  Carol.  For me most of the infrastructure spends have been essential.  The pitch just had to be done,  managers were complaining about it even after wins. Scoreboard,  interest free loan, so monthly repayments,  offset by advertising revenue.  Fan zone,  cant see how that isn't a revenue earner. RP toilets issue, covered many times and logical.  Hamil toilet issue, unfortunate that it's come at the same time, but very short term and being addressed.  Campus, seems a very long term project to me,  hopefully very little spent so far.  Training zones, maybe we have moved too fast?

For me the problems started last January.  In late December the club were talking of " going for it". It being the play offs ( I think we were about 9th at the time).   Clearly there was a major policy shift shortly afterwards. I could understand pulling back, I didn't think we stood much chance of reaching them and next to no chance of being promoted.  But it lead to an almighty scare. I can't believe that we have repeated it from a much poorer league position. 

Sadly I cannot see where the goals to save us are going to come from. Hope to God I'm wrong. 

Sorry for the late night,  wine fuelled rant.  Feel better now though,  lol

[Aguar61]

On reflection, I think if Carol really trusts flitcroft is doing a good job, what is her judgement worth? She's plainly got things so wrong. Her open letter was like mummy's telling the naughty people to stop picking on my lovely Davy ,you rotters.... forever backing the wrong horse 😟

[Guest]

If only they got a few strikers in and a lwb then none of this would have happened .

Crosby may have still been in a job aswell .

The letter has misunderstood the reason why the faithful are kicking off ,there kicking off because the players are losing games ,but not just losing them they should be losing last 3 by 6 six goals a game the performances have showed a complete lack of pride in the shirt in fact I'd go as far as say there taking the piss 

Now if you have paid 200 pounds for a few rooms in Blackpool, payed 100 pounds for tickets ,plus 100 for food travel etc etc and witnessed that display then you would kick off, don't forget this is just day's after just bringing mighten ,and only a replacement for the already here Williams ,so just the one bought in on deadline Day and no strikers and no lwb which were promised the very week before at flitcroft meeting something about 2 from  Chelsea .

Instead of releasing a statement saying we hadn't the funds ,or we were in for a striker but paperwork didn't get through in time they said nothing leaving, us with Wilson Bipepa and Loft ,between them maybe 6 goals this season and one was a pen v Carlisle so before game v Fleetwood folk were irritated ,and then the players turn in a performance what 11 out of the crowd could have shown more spirit determination and will to win .

Tues was horrendous chatting to a stokie who watched it ,he said none of the players were any good apart from chizzy near end of game ,so let's add more fuel to a absolutely pissed off home support its no wonder folk are getting  pointed at and wanted OUT the club .

The one question i would like ask Carol is why have the last 3 performances from the people you pay, been nothing short of disgraceful   ,what are you going to do to ensure none of these performances are ever going happen again because the fan base are getting sick of them hence the unrest .

There better than that there taking our support as mugs 

 

[Lifelongvalefan]

If the rumours are right and I state  ( Rumours) why is she not looking for more investment in the club and if she is then tell us the fans what is happening  ie donno Williams Taylor  and sure others would like to invest CAROL just be honest and up front with fans we are your bread and butter

[philpvfc]

Do you think the letter was written by Flitcroft and signed off by Carol?

[Brian Johnson]

12 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

Do you think the letter was written by Flitcroft and signed off by Carol?

I just think it was Carol trying to back her man but getting it wrong in the way she did it