9 minutes ago, Regal Beagle said:

Fine but the constant selection of hackford isn't explained by that. He is picking him for a reason, it's a reason I can't see. I know it's not based on form. I know it's not based on past contribution. So it is fair enough to question that. Tolaj was ticking along quite nicely with his assists and then all of a sudden out in the wilderness, and almost as suddenly a nailed on starter again. That situation has been very weird.

 

Lowe, was it enforced? He has played 12 times in the league. Ill be as charitable as possible and assume harper wasn't fit to play more than 45, but we still had Sang, we still had heneghan on the bench to cover cb. I just don't see any rhyme or reason in the tinkering as it stands. It looks like he is a tactical god when we win 8 out 10 or whatever it was, but the flip side of that is when we win 1 in 12 and nothing he changes actually has a positive effect, he looks clueless.

 

That's why the upturn in form since Garrity comes back is making me think that Moore is being carried by the quality of the squad. In fact he has done quite well to go 12 games without winning, in league two, with this squad regardless of the injuries we have had. 

 

Plus, the argument that players benefit from a run of games is still valid. Fine to write it off when you are winning but you can't write it off when you aren't.

 

I'm far far from Hackford biggest fan. Weak as pee at times.

He's 3rd joint top scorer.

For me I think he's an impact sub particularly away from home with his pace.

A bit like Benning 2 season ago, nowhere near as bad as he's made out to be.

All 3 of his goals are away from home.

The fact our top scorer only has 5 is pretty terrible. 

16 minutes ago, crofty59 said:

Moore is thick. End of.

Well if he’s so thick then he must be a very lucky man to have a win percentage of over 44% in every season he’s ever had in management apart from the 2023/24 season 

20 minutes ago, crofty59 said:

Moore is thick. End of.

Two manager of the month awards 🏆🏆 and nowhere as thick as you methinks 🤣🤣🤣

10 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

I'm far far from Hackford biggest fan. Weak as pee at times.

He's 3rd joint top scorer.

For me I think he's an impact sub particularly away from home with his pace.

A bit like Benning 2 season ago, nowhere near as bad as he's made out to be.

All 3 of his goals are away from home.

The fact our top scorer only has 5 is pretty terrible. 

Totally agree with all of that mate. 

 

The starting him is the bit I don't get. 

14 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

I'm far far from Hackford biggest fan. Weak as pee at times.

He's 3rd joint top scorer.

For me I think he's an impact sub particularly away from home with his pace.

A bit like Benning 2 season ago, nowhere near as bad as he's made out to be.

All 3 of his goals are away from home.

The fact our top scorer only has 5 is pretty terrible. 

If Ben garrity hadn't been out injured I think we'd have been up there on Walsall's tail,he's a massive miss from midfield and players like him are hard to find , hopefully he'll stay injury free for the rest of the season daz 🙏🫣

3 hours ago, PVFC2001 said:

Rudge managed in the 80’s and 90’s though mate. it’s a completely different game today than it was back then. You have to be able to adapt to all of the different players, tactics, formations and playstyles in this league in this day and age.

Moore tried sticking with the same team after we battered Newport away and beat a very good Chesterfield side at home. Then we went away to Accrington (who had 2 points from 6 games) with the exact same team and scraped a 2-2 draw last minute and probably should have lost. You have to be able to adapt depending on who you’re playing, and Moore knows that now. 

Love it or hate it, this is modern day football.

Partially agree although Rudge did change tactics, particularly when we were in the Championship.  For a long time Rudge's tactical changes were just to identify the main playmaker of the opposition and get Andy Porter to stand on top of him all game. Didn't really matter whether it was a 10, 11, 7, 8 or a 4 to Porter he'd follow them around like a lapdog; which was why Rudge loved him so much. The rest of the team's shape stayed the same and Porter just moved around to nullify Kinkladze, McCallister or whoever else the opposition had. He didn't really do a lot anywhere after leaving us but I think Porter himself and other clubs wanted him to do more of an progressive role. 

Porter was a unique player because throughout his Vale career he sacrificed his own game to do and play wherever and whatever Rudge wanted him to. That allowed other players to do what they were good at. I think maybe there is still a role for a Porter in modern football,  rather than wholesale changes of personnel to play completely different formations.  If a player is dictating play you could just move Porter to wherever he was needed.

Towards the end of Porter's time at the club he did start to play some decent 25 yard passes. With hindsight maybe that marked the end if a successful career 🤔 

Edited January 24, 20251 yr by JRC

1 hour ago, darren1810 said:

Good point mate. Might see you on the platform tomorrow. 9.30 train. Spoons Stoke for breakfast and a livener first. 

Think we’re getting the 8.30 mate.

14 hours ago, Granville said:

Have watched Moore's press conference today regarding the game - actually asked about the amount of changes he makes and why he makes so many subs. 

What I found interesting is he trotted out one of Darrell Clarke's lines, along the lines of "every game is a different project/challenge"

Not wanting to restart the whole debate but it's clear he picks players based on the games ahead and not on games gone by.

 

10 hours ago, Old School said:

Seems to me that he picks players based on the predictions of Nostradamus.....

😅🤣😂🤪😜😛

 

6 hours ago, philpvfc said:

Or just puts names in a hat. 

@Old School, @philpvfc

Yes, if only Darren Moore had the depth of footballing knowledge and experience that is to be found amongst the OVF luminaries ... 

22 minutes ago, Alan Vit said:

 

 

@Old School, @philpvfc

Yes, if only Darren Moore had the depth of footballing knowledge and experience that is to be found amongst the OVF luminaries ... 

Sarcasm Alan????

 

So let's go through the squad .

Gk Rip Amos Broome 

Defenders Smith Henegan Hall Hart Sang John 

Midfielders Clark Headley Byers Garrity Harper Chislett Curtis R Richards Lowe 

Forwards Tolaj Stockley Hackford New Kid .

Plant Shorrock Walters 

So I make it 25  Players .

So could do with the 3 young uns being sent on loan and a goalkeeper departing .

My team for tomoz if it remains as windy as today 

        Amos 

John Henegan Hall 

Clark Harper Croasdale Headley

    Garrity 

 Tolaj Stockley 

Need keep it in the floor I see no reason why John should be one miss out ,the energy him and Clark and Headley bring to the games are top notch .

Garrity to be the one who plays the  furthest forwards .

Obviously folk will be asking the question where is Smith, well for me Johns a lot better player ,and if want to be front foot John always has to start, and Henegan away is needed for his  leadership and height and willingness to block every incoming shot .

But I'm.sure Smith will stay in , John will miss out as he will be cautious our manager about their strengths, instead of going for it and utilising our  strengths which are moving at speed through the field as last 35 proved last sat where excitement was put back in the Vale faithful and after you look forwards and want be greedy and demand more 

 

UTV 

Edited January 24, 20251 yr by Dipepa delight

2 hours ago, PVFC2001 said:

Well if he’s so thick then he must be a very lucky man to have a win percentage of over 44% in every season he’s ever had in management apart from the 2023/24 season 

Ok. He's lucky then! Or maybe it's his motivational team talks which, if they mirror his hands in pockets touchline demeanor, will fire up the players or maybe it's his insightful after match analyses!?

10 minutes ago, crofty59 said:

Ok. He's lucky then! Or maybe it's his motivational team talks which, if they mirror his hands in pockets touchline demeanor, will fire up the players or maybe it's his insightful after match analyses!?

He’s a likeable guy & as much as his selections, tactics & subs etc frustrate me at times his team talks, lack of touchline antics & how he speaks have us sat nicely in 3rd place. As it stands we’re going up in the autos & not a single Vale can be unhappy about that surely. Or can they 🤷‍♂️ I predicted us to finish 5th this season so I’m not going to grumble too much. UTV

2 hours ago, Splodger said:

Two manager of the month awards 🏆🏆 and nowhere as thick as you methinks 🤣🤣🤣

I can't be that thick as I have an IQ of 125 and a Uni degree! There again, I support Vale, am married and have kids. Hmm... yeah I AM thick😂

2 hours ago, darren1810 said:

I'm far far from Hackford biggest fan. Weak as pee at times.

He's 3rd joint top scorer.

For me I think he's an impact sub particularly away from home with his pace.

A bit like Benning 2 season ago, nowhere near as bad as he's made out to be.

All 3 of his goals are away from home.

The fact our top scorer only has 5 is pretty terrible. 

He’s just extremely raw & his decision making is really poor at times but that will all come good the more he matures. I can see him going on to have a good career. Once his footballing brain develops & he becomes more clinical he will be a handful. Michael Owen was weak as piss but he didn’t need to be strong because he was so rapid & such a good finisher. Hackford has been a valuable asset at times this season for us so far. As you & others have said it’s about finding the right games & time to unleash him. Stockley & Tolaj is obviously the way to go from the off mate 👍🏻 

2 hours ago, darren1810 said:

I'm far far from Hackford biggest fan. Weak as pee at times.

He's 3rd joint top scorer.

For me I think he's an impact sub particularly away from home with his pace.

A bit like Benning 2 season ago, nowhere near as bad as he's made out to be.

All 3 of his goals are away from home.

The fact our top scorer only has 5 is pretty terrible. 

Stockley top scorer? Chiz, Tolaj & Garrity all got 4 haven’t they? It’s not great is it but on the other hand we must be right up there in terms of having the most different scorers combined 🤔