Just now, NW9Valiant said:

There’s that, and there’s complaining that players at our team that were playing League 2 last season haven’t been plying their trade in League 1 already.
 

I don’t know, I think some need to temper expectations a bit. We just aren’t going to be able to recruit an entire squad every season with divisional experience. 

We have a young squad if most of our players improve slightly they will be league one quality tolaj john debrah walters rico  will be league one quality in my eyes the rest of the squad mostly have plyed their trade at some point in league one. 

4 minutes ago, JoeB2 said:

I think we've done really well to bring in experience of players who aren't cooked. Prime age and hundreds of games at this level or above. We didn't do that last time.

Yep. To add to that, a nucleus of a squad that already have experience playing together. Which is huge bonus. Much more risky with large turnover, we should be pleased and more optimistic this time round. 

Edited June 30, 2025Jun 30 by NW9Valiant

2 hours ago, Walka003 said:

Has anyone thought about Akpo?

I haven’t since he left… 

Loved watching that bloke play football. Absolute animal. 

26 minutes ago, Walka003 said:

Why? He started the season got dropped and got sent to Colchester at the first opportunity. He's been brilliant since he came back. 

I don’t think you realise how bad it got under Darrell before he left. 

Snippet from Plymouth rag on the announcement of them releasing Waine.

The new goalkeeper seems very solid. Another new nationality for us as well.

Wain's record is quite weak but he seems a real nice guy from his interview and I hope he does well. Still only 24.

9 hours ago, Phil500 said:

“ Volume”. Another term to make a simple game complicated. Not a dig at you, Ray.

Dig away, no problem Phil.  I’ll admit I’m with Moore on this one, a big believer in getting the volume in, usually 4 or 5 pints on a home game, several more than that away.  You don’t want to overdo it though.  Risk of injury and all that.👍🏻

48 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

Its an interesting one, Mansfield fans reckon he was miles of L1 level but the Argyle ones are a bit more positive in that he has something there so will have to see.

Think we need a target man so concerned we’ve signed another striker similar to Paton who can do the job and has more goals in terms of his form in recent years. Hopefully still get that target man and another centre half or I’m a bit concerned still.

Looks like we will have a Valiant at the World Cup Finals which will be nice.

Yes, more than prepared to give Waine a chance but what concerns me is that we still don’t have any competition for Stockley. He was injured for too much of last season and if he’s out again and we have no cover, we’ll have to keep altering our style of play with possibly little return. Just hoping that Dazza has one more ace up his sleeve and we sign a decent target man. We’ve all seen before what happens if we can’t find the net and none of us want to go there again.

Fingers crossed.

Definitely think we the Waine and Gordon signings, the likelihood is that come international weekend, we will not be playing.

I disagree. I believe we will only cancel games is if we are suffering with injuries to key players.

6 minutes ago, rayzer said:

I disagree. I believe we will only cancel games is if we are suffering with injuries to key players.

Depends on the opposition internationals as well, does seem like international weekend sees only 2-3 games in L1 go ahead.

13 minutes ago, valefan79 said:

Definitely think we the Waine and Gordon signings, the likelihood is that come international weekend, we will not be playing.

Thought you were going down The Batman route for a while!  Just need A Grayson and an Alfred now 😂

1 hour ago, Walka003 said:

The squads better, 100%. I made a post that I can't find now says such. That being said you've still got to hope that these lads can step up if we are just going to sign squad players all summer. 

It can be spun either way really, weve just been promoted and most fans will think the lads we've got at the min are more than enough to stay up. 

However on the flip of the coin, Headley, Shipley, Gordon and Gabriel weren't particularly loved by their previous fans at L1 level. Clark has barely been available for 10 games since joining us. Hall had to be sold last time he was that bad in L1. Tolaj, Debs, Walters, Shorrock, John have never really played at the level. 

I don't think it will be anywhere near as bad as that, a lot of these players will probably be absolutely fine, I dunno maybe it's just years of being disappointed as a vale fan but I'm nervous about what we're doing so far. 

I think you make a fair point we have recruited for our bench. I don’t see that as an issue though considering the strength of 11-14 players we already have.

Carol very proudly proclaimed at the end of the final game they recruited L1 players, I tend to agree that most are and expect them to show it.

I think we are in really good shape and recruited to give  ourselves a chance to push on over a 2-3 year period.

Waine signing I understand from his write up - we are in short supply of genuine pace up front with our options so he fits the bill. The only question mark for me now is are we going to play a slightly different way next season and not rely hitting Stockley early? We have so many different forward options now.

The backline looks considerably weaker than the rest of the squad in terms of depth but i can’t see anything changing without a few players leaving now.
 

Edited June 30, 2025Jun 30 by MBE

1 hour ago, Walka003 said:

Why? He started the season got dropped and got sent to Colchester at the first opportunity. He's been brilliant since he came back. 

Funny he got dropped seen as he started the game literally days before his departure. 
 

plonker 

Edited June 30, 2025Jun 30 by Swanny-pvfc

14 minutes ago, CambridgeDon said:

Yes, more than prepared to give Waine a chance but what concerns me is that we still don’t have any competition for Stockley. He was injured for too much of last season and if he’s out again and we have no cover, we’ll have to keep altering our style of play with possibly little return. Just hoping that Dazza has one more ace up his sleeve and we sign a decent target man. We’ve all seen before what happens if we can’t find the net and none of us want to go there again.

Fingers crossed.

No way on earth we won’t get a player in to at least cover Stockley.  Could be a loan, if we’re lucky someone experienced.  We bought Jerry in for some physicality up top last season but he wasn’t ready.  Forwards are always in huge demand and we’ll be down the pecking order so chances are we’ll have to be patient.

I see the Waine signing as a low risk punt.  In the right role he could be great, but as we’ve seen with Tolaj and Paton, to name 2, any player needs to be in their best position to be fully effective.