9 minutes ago, bobbymanc said:

The upfront fee must have been big so you wonder if it was on the lower end of the spectrum. Still, how much have Man C paid for the U17s England captain to have allowed him to leave in this crazy age of transfer fees? £5m? £10m? When do Vales 2024 accounts come out? I'm intrigued to work out how much we got upfront from Dipepa. I'd be shocked if the overall package was less than 7 figures.

Intersting in a fun way is that Villa are complaining that City are just poaching the best players from lower sides.... they have put a lot of work in with him but pot calling kettle black

1 hour ago, Southern_Valiant said:

Freddie Lawroe passed his medical at Man City wonder what our sell on clause was

The terms would be interesting, Prem games played? Full England caps? Only value would be the transfer fee increase ?

9 hours ago, JRC said:

I think we'll have to be; particularly regarding Stockley. We brought in Umolu last season who is quite highly rated and a similar build. He could do some things Stockley can't but couldn't do what Stockley does. Tolaj is pretty good back to goal. To be fair to Curtis he wins a lot of headers and has a good leap. Stockley offers both but lacks the mobility of either. In my time watching we've only really had Ernie Moss, Tom Pope (until he lost the ability to jump), Jamie Proctor (when fit) and possibly Lee Mills that have offered the same skill set as Stockley.  There have been quite a few as good in the air, or as good back to goal. 

I know that he's not done his reputation much good since he "left", but Pope was probably the best header of a ball that I've seen in a Vale shirt, even after he lost the ability to jump.  I am part of the post Ernie Moss era though.

59 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

Whats age got to do with it?

Ask my missus 😉

16 hours ago, jeffers said:

 Nice to have alternative systems, let the opposition play guessing games.

It's nice to have a manager who is capable of changing systems and who brings in the right players that allow him to actually change formations if needs be

Hi all - 2 n a bit weeks to go 👍👍👍😍😍😍

Not sure if iv asked this before, but has anyone got any idea where Bertha from Kellys is hangin................. oh, soz thats deffo another forum 🙈🙈🙈🙈

Anyway, back on track, are there any sort of recommended league 1 football transfer/ general news forums/ websites/ good youtube channels that any of you beautiful bouncing valiants swot up with?

thanks

Hoppers 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 (purple hearts for the purple prince 💜)

 

2 hours ago, Southern_Valiant said:

Freddie Lawroe passed his medical at Man City wonder what our sell on clause was

One of the best things about this is that it will show other youngsters where you can get to with being a part of the Vale Academy and club.... we can only reap the benefits from these moves no matter what the sell on is

Regarding our sell on for Lawrie,I wonder if we will talk to Villa to try to sort something that might involve us signing the keeper from Villa we were linked with

1 hour ago, Quebec_Valiant said:

I know that he's not done his reputation much good since he "left", but Pope was probably the best header of a ball that I've seen in a Vale shirt, even after he lost the ability to jump.  I am part of the post Ernie Moss era though.

Pope was good. Last 18 months he struggled to get off the ground,  so although winning headers he was called quite a lot for fouls. Moss was knocking on a bit when we signed him but still had a good jump on him. Stockley and Proctor. Beckford was as good as any, particularly in the area. He probably jumped higher than an of them. Not sure who was the best. Beckford was the shortest and in terms of athletic ability was the best. Not as strong as the others but by and large he won the header; or was fouled.

1 hour ago, Quebec_Valiant said:

I know that he's not done his reputation much good since he "left", but Pope was probably the best header of a ball that I've seen in a Vale shirt, even after he lost the ability to jump.  I am part of the post Ernie Moss era though.

Pope was good. Last 18 months he struggled to get off the ground,  so although winning headers he was called quite a lot for fouls. Moss was knocking on a bit when we signed him but still had a good jump on him. Stockley and Proctor. Beckford was as good as any, particularly in the area. He probably jumped higher than an of them. Not sure who was the best. Beckford was the shortest and in terms of athletic ability was the best. Not as strong as the others but by and large he won the header; or was fouled.

6 minutes ago, JRC said:

Pope was good. Last 18 months he struggled to get off the ground,  so although winning headers he was called quite a lot for fouls. Moss was knocking on a bit when we signed him but still had a good jump on him. Stockley and Proctor. Beckford was as good as any, particularly in the area. He probably jumped higher than an of them. Not sure who was the best. Beckford was the shortest and in terms of athletic ability was the best. Not as strong as the others but by and large he won the header; or was fouled.

Beckford was one of the greats, and his "hang time" was the stuff of legend.  Maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I seem to recall Pope scoring a lot of headers with his feet still on the ground, or diving so that his head was below 6ft at the time it met the ball.

1 hour ago, Baldy said:

Intersting in a fun way is that Villa are complaining that City are just poaching the best players from lower sides.... they have put a lot of work in with him but pot calling kettle black

It was a great deal for us. He was only with us for a few months, and we must have known he would be moved on quickly to have signed him up on a 2 year deal.

Just now, Quebec_Valiant said:

Beckford was one of the greats, and his "hang time" was the stuff of legend.  Maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I seem to recall Pope scoring a lot of headers with his feet still on the ground, or diving so that his head was below 6ft at the time it met the ball.

Pope had everything in the air in the box. The two goals at Exeter away were superb, just to note a couple. Anything to get that big hard skull on the ball.

5 minutes ago, bobbymanc said:

Pope had everything in the air in the box. The two goals at Exeter away were superb, just to note a couple. Anything to get that big hard skull on the ball.

Certainly is a thick skull 

2 hours ago, Quebec_Valiant said:

I know that he's not done his reputation much good since he "left", but Pope was probably the best header of a ball that I've seen in a Vale shirt, even after he lost the ability to jump.  I am part of the post Ernie Moss era though.

Pope was good. Last 18 months he struggled to get off the ground,  so although winning headers he was called quite a lot for fouls. Moss was knocking on a bit when we signed him but still had a good jump on him. Stockley and Proctor. Beckford was as good as any, particularly in the area. He probably jumped higher than any of them. Not sure who was the best. Beckford was the shortest and in terms of athletic ability was the best. Not as strong as the others but by and large he won the header; or was fouled. My favourite would be Beckford, as he was a Porsche among Land Rovers.

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by JRC