1 hour ago, kevin_struggles said:

clearly out of favour hence him moving on. Doesnt mean anything on tis own, for instance Chizzie hardly played a full 90 minutes all season for us even when fully fit but whoever gets him next is getting a decent player.

In div 2!😁

25 minutes ago, PV1973 said:

Do you know how good he is defensively? 

No, but DM does. If he signs him then that’s good enough for me.

16 minutes ago, JRC said:

John, Gabriel and Clark are all good enough to play league 1. I really can't see Mitch playing second fiddle. A lot of clubs play a back 3 where one in essentially a fullback. Adds some pace to a backline which can be a problem with 3 more classical centrehalves and we have a big pitch. Moore used John, Hart and Sang in a back 3. Clark has played there when he was younger. Would also explain the release of Smith as we only need 4 out and out centrehalves as he'd only play 2 at any one time. Clark is also the closest we have to a player who is two footed, so could provide cover for Hall. Picking up a decent left centrehalf isn't that easy. If he is planning to play 3 more conventional centrehalves in his back 3 it sadly looks like Mitch is off, until he sign for us for the fifth time in a couple of seasons 🤔

Clarke has played LWB for us quite a few times and done a good job. He can act as cover on the left for Headley. If Clarke stays and remains fit I’d expect to him to have 20+ starts next season. 

After Mitch tweets out how good the new top looks I think it’s more than likely he’s after a new club. 
 

Absolutely no need for him with this new guy coming in IMO. And I’ll be relieved, was a fair bit concerned about his injury record anyway. 

22 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

He’s described as a right back on the net. I can’t remember Debrah playing in the centre last season, RCB yes. Although I think you are right in that he has been brought in to replace Clarke 

Notts County away, AFC Wimbledon and Fleetwood at home I'm fairly certain he played in the middle of a 3

I wasn’t concerned Mitch’s injuries. But I think we need a blend of options as there will be rotations to suit injury, suspension and changing tactics to suit the opposition. I know nothing of Gabriel, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a similar profile to Headley, more of a winger playing wing back than a full back playing wing back. So we’ll see when he plays for us. 

Edited May 31, 20251 yr by PV1973

25 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

He’s described as a right back on the net. I can’t remember Debrah playing in the centre last season, RCB yes. Although I think you are right in that he has been brought in to replace Clarke 

Notts County away, AFC Wimbledon and Fleetwood at home I'm fairly certain he played in the middle of a 3

34 minutes ago, Phil500 said:

Never been a fan of Mitch Clarke,s off the field shenanigans. However when fully fit and on the pitch he is championship level. Will be hard to improve on.

I wouldn’t say he’s that good. I wouldn’t even class him as our best full back in recent lower league history of the last 15 years or so either. 

35 minutes ago, jeffers said:

100%, wing back in a high intensity game is gut busting. To have Clark, John, Headley and now Gabriel, we are well covered to play high intensity for 90 minutes. 

Exactly this, it’s why we need options. Wing back is an unforgiving role, you can be isolated 1v1 in the attacking third and have to turn into a winger who has to come up with a trick to create something. Then run back 60 yards and  have to be a full back defending for your life. I think the preference these days is for a winger type player to be wing back rather than having an out and out defensive full back playing as a wing back. 

Edited May 31, 20251 yr by PV1973

6 minutes ago, JRC said:

Notts County away, AFC Wimbledon and Fleetwood at home I'm fairly certain he played in the middle of a 3

I’d still say Debrah is our RCB and be surprised if he is to be moved to CB next season. 

2 hours ago, JoeB2 said:

I cannot see a world where Mitch Clark signs a contract to be second choice wing-back on either side - and in competition with John to be on the bench.

As you saw all last season just because you dont start the season in the 11 or in the strongest line up you will still get ample game time and your chance to claim your place in the 11. If you believe in your own abilities you wont mind competition 

18 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

I’d still say Debrah is our RCB and be surprised if he is to be moved to CB next season. 

I’d expect us to sign a better RCB than Debrah

7 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

I’d still say Debrah is our RCB and be surprised if he is to be moved to CB next season. 

Maybe although we don't really know whether Moore thinks he's better on the right or in the centre. He was default on the right because Smith and Heneghan weren't really quick enough to play there. It's quite normal for centrehalves to play fullback or on the right or left of a 3 when they first get first team football and then move more centrally.  I've assumed Moore sees him as a right centrehalf because that's where he's played him but he may just have seen him as best equipped out of his options.  Personally I prefer him to Heneghan on the right,  or in the centre. Heneghan does a good job when we are under the cosh holding on for a win. His lack of pace alway worries me when he starts.

19 minutes ago, Vale1995 said:

As you saw all last season just because you dont start the season in the 11 or in the strongest line up you will still get ample game time and your chance to claim your place in the 11. If you believe in your own abilities you wont mind competition 

No one should be guaranteed a starting place, it has to be earned. At the same time, football is now more than ever a squad game, not 11 a side (ask Walsall fans).

7 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

I’d expect us to sign a better RCB than Debrah

I’m expecting us to sign a better C/B than Connor Hall

7 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

I’d expect us to sign a better RCB than Debrah

Maybe but Debrah has 2 things you can't coach; pace and height. He does a lot of clearing up at the back that very few league one or two centrehalves can purely because he is quick. Darren Hughes was the best leftback I've seen at Vale in 55 years, yet he wasn't anywhere near as good technically as Tankard. Really he was just freakishly quick and OK technically. Garner and Garreth Griffiths before he got injuries were both quick for centrehalves.