3 hours 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 is the best CF I’ve ever seen at Vale. (Since 83 when I started going)

His hang time for headers was a thing of beauty to watch. Brilliant player for us.

1 hour ago, darren1810 said:

So we've ascertained Pope was good and he was strong.

Any new signings? 

Linked with Josh Ruffells on X.

3 minutes ago, Valiiant said:

 

All gone a bit quiet on the transfer front hasn't it. I'm expecting (and hoping) at least a couple more in, not counting any loans. I still think our defence needs work and we badly need another proven striker at the level. Could be the difference between struggling and a comfortable mid table finish.

You wonder if the Gyokeres money might initiate a flurry of activity in the lower leagues, with Coventry suddenly having money in their pockets and the knock-on from that.

2 minutes ago, Valiiant said:

 

All gone a bit quiet on the transfer front hasn't it. I'm expecting (and hoping) at least a couple more in, not counting any loans. I still think our defence needs work and we badly need another proven striker at the level. Could be the difference between struggling and a comfortable mid table finish.

We won’t get another proven striker at this level…. That would be big money.

I suspect we ll get another defender in on a permanent deand a youngish loan forward as close to Stockleys style as possible which for a young loan forward lad from an academy is almost impossible to replicate. As we found out with our central striker on loan from Palace last year.

It is the only way, when we sold the Chaberlain brothers, it gave us a boost in money.

Things have changed, re wages etc now, but we have to progress, in all ways.

The club has moved on and hopefully the fans are.

We move forward !!! UTV

 

4 minutes ago, MBE said:

Linked with Josh Ruffells on X.

I reckon that one is just a lazy rumour given he used to play for Huddersfield.

He’s a left back and we have a billion of them.

16 minutes ago, MBE said:

Beckford is the best CF I’ve ever seen at Vale. (Since 83 when I started going)

His hang time for headers was a thing of beauty to watch. Brilliant player for us.

I saw him 3 or 4 years after he left and he was gigantic.  Not sure why it went wrong at Norwich.  He could do a bit of everything.  As you say hang time unbelievable and he was quick. Probably the best we had; although there is a lot of competition.  In terms of being able to do a bit of everything you want a forward to do, probably him of Foyle. Both could play off someone or as a 9.

Edited July 17, 2025Jul 17 by JRC

9 minutes ago, MBE said:

Linked with Josh Ruffells on X.

Highly unlikely given our left side strength. 

19 minutes ago, Valiiant said:

 

All gone a bit quiet on the transfer front hasn't it. I'm expecting (and hoping) at least a couple more in, not counting any loans. I still think our defence needs work and we badly need another proven striker at the level. Could be the difference between struggling and a comfortable mid table finish.

I am still expecting a permanent keeper to sign or at least on loan because we wont go into the season with Marosi and then Davies on the bench

20 minutes ago, Valiiant said:

 

All gone a bit quiet on the transfer front hasn't it. I'm expecting (and hoping) at least a couple more in, not counting any loans. I still think our defence needs work and we badly need another proven striker at the level. Could be the difference between struggling and a comfortable mid table finish.

Left centre back and striker would do nicely, but they will end up being youth loans unless we can get rid of Ojo and another. Another striker would certainly mean we have a lot of them in that department but I am just nervous about Waine and Paton being adequate enough. 

As for left centre back, I feel as though we are in trouble if Hall gets injured because the current cover I don't feel is good enough either. 

Looking forward to the loan window opening up and seeing where a lot of youth players in levels above end up going. Keen to see Dipepa go somewhere as a first teamer unless he can break through at Saints 🙂 

Strangest signing of the summer..

Dan Gore has returned on loan to Rotherham… unbelievable after last season’s spat about him with Steve Evans.

9 hours ago, BlytheValiant said:

Futcher was an awesome player for us in 88-89, but his invisible friends he used to pass to were rubbish!  To be fair he had played most of his career at a higher level and often his team-mates didn't make the movement he expected them to.

I thought that exact same thing when we had Ally Brown at the club, he saw passes that just bafffled players at times.

47 minutes ago, MBE said:

Beckford is the best CF I’ve ever seen at Vale. (Since 83 when I started going)

His hang time for headers was a thing of beauty to watch. Brilliant player for us.

He was excellent, IMO the second best I’ve seen at the Vale. Martin Foyle takes the crown, he was the best finisher and all round game was excellent.

19 minutes ago, NellyTheValiant said:

I thought that exact same thing when we had Ally Brown at the club, he saw passes that just bafffled players at times.

Ally brown was just great… so was Nicky Cross another very clever forward who stood out a mile in our league. 
still not sure how we managed to sign players like that even on their last legs!

12 minutes ago, philpvfc said:

He was excellent, IMO the second best I’ve seen at the Vale. Martin Foyle takes the crown, he was the best finisher and all round game was excellent.

Great vale forwards deserves a thread of its own!