2 minutes ago, JRC said:

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. 

Crewe away. Hemmings clean through. Debrah gains about 15 yards in 3 seconds and performs a goal-saving last ditch tackle.

As you say, you can’t coach that up. It’s rare to have in a centre half. All the stuff he’s less good at, meanwhile, is coachable.

Slightly digressing off topic, but please stay with me. Saw a picture of the S**** team of the 1960’s and set me thinking. Had TWELVE players in total!!. Bearing in mind one was Stan M. who at that age was never going to start every match. Not sure who covered for him, was it Don Ratcliffe or Keith Bebbington?

However my point is the pitches then were atrocious and the ball weighed a ton. How come now we need four players for two positions?. Football has certainly evolved and the teams from then would not survive now. But is football more entertaining now?. Am not so sure as now I am an old cynic.

12 minutes ago, Phil500 said:

Slightly digressing off topic, but please stay with me. Saw a picture of the S**** team of the 1960’s and set me thinking. Had TWELVE players in total!!. Bearing in mind one was Stan M. who at that age was never going to start every match. Not sure who covered for him, was it Don Ratcliffe or Keith Bebbington?

However my point is the pitches then were atrocious and the ball weighed a ton. How come now we need four players for two positions?. Football has certainly evolved and the teams from then would not survive now. But is football more entertaining now?. Am not so sure as now I am an old cynic.

I'd take a bet Stoke didn't have a season in the 60s when they didn't use at least 18 players. I've looked at 2 random years in the 60s and they used over 20 in both. My guess it was the squad for a match. There were also loans allowed up to the transfer deadline, so clubs could run with smaller squads. There was also only one substitute until the mid to late 1980s. You only needed 11 fit outfield players.

20 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

Crewe away. Hemmings clean through. Debrah gains about 15 yards in 3 seconds and performs a goal-saving last ditch tackle.

As you say, you can’t coach that up. It’s rare to have in a centre half. All the stuff he’s less good at, meanwhile, is coachable.

Happened quite a few times last season.  If God had given Tankard Hughes's pace he'd have played for England. If Hughes's hamstrings hadn't gone when we were is discussion with Wimbledon over a transfer he'd have played in The Premiership. 

33 minutes ago, JRC said:

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. 

True. But personally I don’t think he’s good enough to be a starter in league 1. I really think some are underestimating and forgetting the difference in class. 

7 hours ago, Osh said:

I'm told that Mitch has been offered a 1yr extension with a further year depending on % of games played. He's holding/negotiating for a straight 2yr deal. 

Why would any player, who's just worked his socks off to get promoted, want to stay in the division they got promoted out of by his own choice. Doesn't make sense...

Unless they enjoy promotions

59 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

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

Tough position to find quality, Hall was never that impressive last season yet made team of the season. 

For me though, in an ideal world I’d want 3 new cbs. I know that won’t happen but I’d guess we will get a Cb and then a RCB over replacing Hall

1 hour ago, JRC said:

Happened quite a few times last season.  If God had given Tankard Hughes's pace he'd have played for England. If Hughes's hamstrings hadn't gone when we were is discussion with Wimbledon over a transfer he'd have played in The Premiership. 

As an LCB, Tankard would be great in today's game.

I see some on twitter are already moaning that we have been linked with Dennis,saying things like if that's the level of signing we are aiming for then we are going straight back down. Do some of them actually realise what we are trying to do as a club especially where younger players are concerned.

 

1 hour ago, Phil500 said:

Slightly digressing off topic, but please stay with me. Saw a picture of the S**** team of the 1960’s and set me thinking. Had TWELVE players in total!!. Bearing in mind one was Stan M. who at that age was never going to start every match. Not sure who covered for him, was it Don Ratcliffe or Keith Bebbington?

However my point is the pitches then were atrocious and the ball weighed a ton. How come now we need four players for two positions?. Football has certainly evolved and the teams from then would not survive now. But is football more entertaining now?. Am not so sure as now I am an old cynic.

Gerry Bridgewood covered for Stan a few times

I see McGoldrich has turned down Notts County. Would love him here for a year or two. Totally class player 

 

Personally, I think Debrah came on leaps and bounds last season.I think he could still do well in league 1.Some folk on here are thinking we've gone up to the premier league I think.

5 minutes ago, Osh said:

I see McGoldrich has turned down Notts County. Would love him here for a year or two. Totally class player 

 

Looks to be signing for MK Dons Osh

1 hour ago, valiant_593 said:

Tough position to find quality, Hall was never that impressive last season yet made team of the season. 

For me though, in an ideal world I’d want 3 new cbs. I know that won’t happen but I’d guess we will get a Cb and then a RCB over replacing Hall

we will defend better in every area of the pitch than we did last time and we have a very potent threat up top so teams will be less likely to throw caution to the wind and camp on the edge of our box bombarding us like they did last time. Debrah will be fine he has improved from last time, hall is an excellent league one/two level cb we just need a replacement for smith plus one to provide competition and if teams do start to bombard us we have heneghan to bring on to tighten things up aerially. Last time we had a weak midfield that got pushed back easily no threat up top and no proper wing backs its chalk and cheese and league one, apart from maybe the top 8-9 teams is not that much different to the top half of league two and we managed to finish in the top two of that league plus we are strengthening our squad with new signings so we have nothing to fear and everything to prove.

 

I think some people are wetting their pants for no reason. We will be fine, mark my words and feel free to repeat them to me at the end of next season.

 

Edited May 31, 20251 yr by kevin_struggles