Rent free .

Anyone else couldn't give a toss about Bradford? 
Say aye. [emoji1787]

Aye.. [emoji849]

2 hours ago, robf said:

I think it's all balance. You can make your squad too experienced (Michael Brown did that with Kay, Tonge, Lawrie Wilson etc). It made the squad slow and lethargic. You can overload with non-league chancers such as Askey (Kieran Kennedy, Ryan Lloyd, Callum Evans etc) and the majority don't make it. Neither of those squads were balanced and suffered as a result.

I think it's nice to get mid-20s players in but I would not be upset with the odd veteran too. 

I remember hearing from someone who knows his stuff that DM kept on Jason Lowe last season, not so much because of his effect on the pitch but because he was a model professional who would help the younger players and would help keep standards up. 

I think a happy balance is a few younger players. We seem to have that in Shorrock, Rico Richards etc. Then a larger contingent of players with experience, hitting their prime (those mid-20s players we're talking about) but I also think a couple of veterans to add experience, professionalism, guidance etc won't go amiss either. 

A couple of experienced "older heads" are always useful, remember Ernie Moss, Ron Futcher, Lee Huges. All of them were instrumental in Vale's success. I agree though it is all about balance and  I reckon our "balance" is just about right, testament to all the good work done over the last 12 mths.

Interesting interview with Moore on PVTV. Said he's not looking at offloading anyone and he's happy with the squad. Clearly looking for a keeper and a forward. Mentioned Humphreys is two footed and comfortable on the left, although I suspect he'll play in the middle of a 3 personally.  Didn't mention Hart in his wingback options,  so possibly planning to play him in the back 3 maybe. Discussed the midfield and said they all add something different including Ojo. Sounded like he's looking to use Shipley centrally as he thought we needed someone in there with a greater passing range. He sounded very confident in the squad.

1 minute ago, JRC said:

Interesting interview with Moore on PVTV. Said he's not looking at offloading anyone and he's happy with the squad. Clearly looking for a keeper and a forward. Mentioned Humphreys is two footed and comfortable on the left, although I suspect he'll play in the middle of a 3 personally.  Didn't mention Hart in his wingback options,  so possibly planning to play him in the back 3 maybe. Discussed the midfield and said they all add something different including Ojo. Sounded like he's looking to use Shipley centrally as he thought we needed someone in there with a greater passing range. He sounded very confident in the squad.

 

He's in the happy position of not having to do anything drastic, so he's right to lower expectations as regards significant changes.

5 minutes ago, JRC said:

Interesting interview with Moore on PVTV. Said he's not looking at offloading anyone and he's happy with the squad. Clearly looking for a keeper and a forward. Mentioned Humphreys is two footed and comfortable on the left, although I suspect he'll play in the middle of a 3 personally.  Didn't mention Hart in his wingback options,  so possibly planning to play him in the back 3 maybe. Discussed the midfield and said they all add something different including Ojo. Sounded like he's looking to use Shipley centrally as he thought we needed someone in there with a greater passing range. He sounded very confident in the squad.

Interview | Darren Moore provides updates on Pre-Season preparations | Port Vale FC

WWW.PORT-VALE.CO.UK

 

14 minutes ago, Tamworth said:

 

He's in the happy position of not having to do anything drastic, so he's right to lower expectations as regards significant changes.

What looks like it will be 6 new players is still relatively significant.  He went into this window with the strongest squad we've had for a long time. It's a lot easier to start from a position of relative strength. 

12 minutes ago, JRC said:

What looks like it will be 6 new players is still relatively significant.  He went into this window with the strongest squad we've had for a long time. It's a lot easier to start from a position of relative strength. 

Certainly is. That's my main point. Let's see where we end up.

23 hours ago, Brian Johnson said:

 

Who jimmy summerville?

1 hour ago, JRC said:

Interesting interview with Moore on PVTV. Said he's not looking at offloading anyone and he's happy with the squad. Clearly looking for a keeper and a forward. Mentioned Humphreys is two footed and comfortable on the left, although I suspect he'll play in the middle of a 3 personally.  Didn't mention Hart in his wingback options,  so possibly planning to play him in the back 3 maybe. Discussed the midfield and said they all add something different including Ojo. Sounded like he's looking to use Shipley centrally as he thought we needed someone in there with a greater passing range. He sounded very confident in the squad.

I think he’s just saying he’s not looking to offload anyone as it makes it a bit harder to get a good deal for someone if you’ve admitted on Day 1 you want rid.

4 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

I think he’s just saying he’s not looking to offload anyone as it makes it a bit harder to get a good deal for someone if you’ve admitted on Day 1 you want rid.

He was quite upfront last season. 

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

I think he’s just saying he’s not looking to offload anyone as it makes it a bit harder to get a good deal for someone if you’ve admitted on Day 1 you want rid.

Team was massively overhauled since last season though, it makes sense now that the player movements out would be fairly minimal given the good job of it he did last season (comparatively speaking, though there were a couple of misfires)

I don't think he'd ever say a certain player should go unless there was a specific offer in place maybe. but he might be more likely to admit there could still be one or two moving in vague terms. 

Blackpool v vale. Carabau Cup 1st round

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

I think he’s just saying he’s not looking to offload anyone as it makes it a bit harder to get a good deal for someone if you’ve admitted on Day 1 you want rid.

All our over 30 players at the end of the seasonhave contracts expiring 6/26. So could be tempted by a move?

 Just some thoughts on what has happened so far:

Given that all our strengthening has been done in defence (goalkeeper excepted) and midfield areas, I suspect we can look forward to a similar set-up and approach to matches as last season.  In other words, compact, narrow, slow to break, but tight & strong at the back.  Being critical; boring.  Being charitable, hard to beat and effective. 

At the end of the day, it is a result-orientated business and hard to criticise when we all enjoyed the promotion.  However, I would have hoped for an additional goalscorer up the front and an entertaining, more speedy approach to getting forward and attacking opponents much more quickly than last season.  There's still time in the transfer window of course and I may well be too pessimistic about our approach during this coming season. Will DM take a different approach this time around? Only time will tell us.

Despite all the above, with the publication of the fixture list today, my appetite is whetted and I can't wait for the season to begin. UTV!