Interesting interview with Phil Sproson (Gabriel’s agent) about how he came to sign here. Saw off competition from 6 other clubs and finally down to us and a “well established L1 club” and he chose us. Positive sign we are not just looking to make up the numbers next season.

Baggers’ article also reports on the interest in Matthews Dennis and it’s usually a sign that there’s something going on when he covers a rumour. Might just be agent talk, bigging up his client, but it’s probably more reliable than the Twitter teenager chancer accounts.

23 minutes ago, Guppys left peg said:

Interesting interview with Phil Sproson (Gabriel’s agent) about how he came to sign here. Saw off competition from 6 other clubs and finally down to us and a “well established L1 club” and he chose us. Positive sign we are not just looking to make up the numbers next season.

Sounds like Gabriel’s going to be a proper attacking wing-back, a bit like Headley. Sproson mentioned he can play in a back three, but I get the feeling he’ll be nailed on at RWB come the opening day.

If we manage to agree terms with Clark,  we’ll be laughing. I reckon that’d push John inside to RCB, which is where he looks most comfortable, and he can still cover at LWB if needed.

Stick Ihiekwe in the middle of the three and that backline starts looking very tasty.

1 hour ago, Guppys left peg said:

Interesting interview with Phil Sproson (Gabriel’s agent) about how he came to sign here. Saw off competition from 6 other clubs and finally down to us and a “well established L1 club” and he chose us. Positive sign we are not just looking to make up the numbers next season.

Got a linky to the interview please GLP...??

Ta

3 minutes ago, Osh said:

Got a linky to the interview please GLP...??

Ta

It’s from Baggers newsletter issued this morning mate.

3 minutes ago, Guppys left peg said:

It’s from Baggers newsletter issued this morning mate.

Copy and paste 

34 minutes ago, Osh said:

Got a linky to the interview please GLP...??

Ta

I'm spoiling you, Osh ... 🙂
 

Inside Vale's first transfer deal of the summer

PORTVALETHEVALIANT.SUBSTACK.COM

Needs a subscription, which is well worthwhile for anyone who hasn't yet.

Exclusive: Notts County, Port Vale and Walsall table offers for six-goal Carlisle United star

FOOTBALLLEAGUEWORLD.CO.UK

 

5 minutes ago, Alan Vit said:

I'm spoiling you, Osh ... 🙂
 

Inside Vale's first transfer deal of the summer

PORTVALETHEVALIANT.SUBSTACK.COM

Needs a subscription, which is well worthwhile for anyone who hasn't yet.

Ta m8 - i subscribe already 🍺

Couple of general comments:

1) Wouldn't be surprised if Mitch does sign. My main reason is that, for me, the use of 'wing backs' are our main way of getting out from the back and putting pressure on the opposition. DM may want to prioritise this position as a real priority when attacking. I think we'll be quite 'solid' as a team but we are going to need to get out. With Mitch, Gabriel, Headley, John we've got decent wing backs.

2) Regarding 'getting out/forward' we must get someone in who can link the midfield and attack.

 

15 minutes ago, Osh said:

Exclusive: Notts County, Port Vale and Walsall table offers for six-goal Carlisle United star

FOOTBALLLEAGUEWORLD.CO.UK

 

Yeah these correctly linked us with Gabriel over a week ago. There is probably something in it and I personally don't have an issue in a gamble/developmental forward signing. We aren't going to convinced many established forwards to come and play back-up to Tolaj.

23 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

We aren't going to convinced many established forwards to come and play back-up to Tolaj.

In a 55-60 game season, and with Darren's rotation policy in force, at least 4 and probably of our forwards will get into the 30-40 appearances band.

I don't see competition putting off any new forward worth their salt.

10 minutes ago, Alan Vit said:

In a 55-60 game season, and with Darren's rotation policy in force, at least 4 and probably of our forwards will get into the 30-40 appearances band.

I don't see competition putting off any new forward worth their salt.

Loving the optimism Alan , 9 to 14 Cup games !!! 

6 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

Loving the optimism Alan , 9 to 14 Cup games !!! 

There is the Pizza Paint Autoglass trophy.. that’ll get us halfway there at least 😉 

5 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

Loving the optimism Alan , 9 to 14 Cup games !!! 

Last season, we had 5 games in the EFL Trophy and 1 game each in the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Only needed us to make the second round of each of the latter two Cups to make 9 Cup games.

This coming season, we can win the EFL Trophy = 8 games and have 3 games each in the FA Cup and EFL Cup, voila 14 Games.

Easy! 🙂

17 hours ago, Powerline said:

Where’ve you heard that. Sounds absolute rubbish.

I wasn't in the country at the time. I was complaining to someone very much connected to the club when I came to the UK early April that season for 10 days. I thought it was ridiculous we let Hall go without experienced backup and that our subsequent relegation form backed that up. I got told then about Hall Clarke and one or two other things. I am very confident it's true.

Logically if the story put out by the club at the time was true (he left to be near his family) then he wouldn't have come back. Burslem hasn't moved 150 miles south and east in the last 2 years. He also hasn't gained a second family from Stoke. There were a couple of people who posted rumours about the Hall transfer on OVF when it happened. At the time I had no idea if there was any validity to them.