9 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

I aren't sure we are in the market for an experienced keeper tbh with having Amos(although injured) and Marosi,purely guessing here but i would think we are after a keeper in the 20-24yr old bracket who we can nurture over the coming years(or maybe even a young loan one)

I thought we were looking for 1st team ready GK in that 22-25 age bracket who could realistically win the shirt from Amos by mid season. We didn’t find that keeper and changed strategy. I except we have a list of GK’s identified who could be available end of next season to improve the nb.1.

I’m not convinced by Marosi signing, notwithstanding that we have an excellent GK coach who is a far better judge than I ever will be.

Edited July 23, 2025Jul 23 by MBE

1 hour ago, robf said:

I think the point was basing opinions solely on what they've done against us 

As opposed to basing opinions on what they’ve have heard or read on Wikipedia 

Let’s be honest, the signings we have made during the close season have been steady. I was hoping for at least 1 if not 2 marquee signings similar to the Byers one last season. We are still short of a quality goalkeeper and a striker if Tolaj goes or if Stockley gets injured. 

24 minutes ago, TreacleValiant said:

Let’s be honest, the signings we have made during the close season have been steady. I was hoping for at least 1 if not 2 marquee signings …

OK, being honest, I think you often look to find a negative interpretation of everything at the club.

So let’s be honest - why?

To be fair, if most of your experience of the Vale has been the V2001 and Smurthwaite years then I couldn't blame a fan from being negative / cynical. 

31 minutes ago, TreacleValiant said:

Let’s be honest, the signings we have made during the close season have been steady. I was hoping for at least 1 if not 2 marquee signings similar to the Byers one last season. We are still short of a quality goalkeeper and a striker if Tolaj goes or if Stockley gets injured. 

Without seeing the players play in competitive matches the truth is we don't know because we haven't signed a player in that 26-30 years old bracket who has a career 99% of fans know of without referencing wiki/transfermarket/footmob et al.

We did extremely well last pre season  thanks to DM as manager attracting Byers, Curtis and Stockley. It's just not practical or possible to do those type of sigings each pre season.

We invested heavily last season in players to develop like John, Headley, Paton & Tolaj, and have gone again with Humphreys, Gabriel, Waine and Rico. The focus has to be to provide those lads the best opportunity thrive and be a success for themselves, ultimately benefitting the club. The marque players are still here.

Personally I really love our approach, we have a clear plan. Having said that we do look a little short of L1 CB experience outside of Henegahn - it would be nice to bring a player in if we can move a couple out.

 

 

48 minutes ago, TreacleValiant said:

Let’s be honest, the signings we have made during the close season have been steady. I was hoping for at least 1 if not 2 marquee signings similar to the Byers one last season. We are still short of a quality goalkeeper and a striker if Tolaj goes or if Stockley gets injured. 

Marquee signings don't come cheaply,I'm sure it's not without trying,what you have to remember is we're a little fish in a big pond this season and marquee player's will look at other team's first 👍🤔. UTV VTID 

6 minutes ago, Splodger said:

Marquee signings don't come cheaply,I'm sure it's not without trying,what you have to remember is we're a little fish in a big pond this season and marquee player's will look at other team's first 👍🤔. UTV VTID 

Never rated Marquee…. Can he do it on a cold and wet Tuesday night in Burslem? 

7 minutes ago, MBE said:

Without seeing the players play in competitive matches the truth is we don't know because we haven't signed a player in that 26-30 years old bracket who has a career 99% of fans know of without referencing wiki/transfermarket/footmob et al.

We did extremely well last pre season  thanks to DM as manager attracting Byers, Curtis and Stockley. It's just not practical or possible to do those type of sigings each pre season.

We invested heavily last season in players to develop like John, Headley, Paton & Tolaj, and have gone again with Humphreys, Gabriel, Waine and Rico. The focus has to be to provide those lads the best opportunity thrive and be a success for themselves, ultimately benefitting the club. The marque players are still here.

Personally I really love our approach, we have a clear plan. Having said that we do look a little short of L1 CB experience outside of Henegahn - it would be nice to bring a player in if we can move a couple out.

 

 

I think that’s pretty much in line with my thinking also… in the background the club is improving all the time as well which is crucial if we are to get to a position where we can actually afford a centre forward capable of 15 goals a season in league 1 🏆

4 hours ago, werstayinup said:

I aren't sure we are in the market for an experienced keeper tbh with having Amos(although injured) and Marosi,purely guessing here but i would think we are after a keeper in the 20-24yr old bracket who we can nurture over the coming years(or maybe even a young loan one)

I'm not sure either WSU, my post is just my wish.  If you pressed me on, "What do you mean by experienced" I'd suggest a 'keeper who's been first choice at a Lge 1 or 2 club for at least  1 -2 years or more and DM or someone he trusts has seen him play regularly.

I just don't wish to return to the days of Etimov et al during the relegation season after Alnwick left, it was only when we signed  Scott Brown that normality and confidence resumed between the sticks. Rob Lainton was decent but too injury prone.

Edited July 23, 2025Jul 23 by Paul6754

5 hours ago, MBE said:

I thought we were looking for 1st team ready GK in that 22-25 age bracket who could realistically win the shirt from Amos by mid season. We didn’t find that keeper and changed strategy. I except we have a list of GK’s identified who could be available end of next season to improve the nb.1.

I’m not convinced by Marosi signing, notwithstanding that we have an excellent GK coach who is a far better judge than I ever will be.

More likely we were waiting for Marosi to commit and covering our backsides whilst looking at a few trialists.  We have a keeper on trial still, or have in the last few games.  There was/is talk of our young keeper being linked with a move away so possibly getting a youngster in, either on loan or permanent, is part of that, whilst also covering for the absence of Amos.

10 hours ago, TreacleValiant said:

Let’s be honest, the signings we have made during the close season have been steady. I was hoping for at least 1 if not 2 marquee signings similar to the Byers one last season. We are still short of a quality goalkeeper and a striker if Tolaj goes or if Stockley gets injured. 

Quality,proven strikers at this level are expensive, maybe too much for us for the real deal? Also there are more bigger clubs to join in this division if you are the real deal  which probably puts us down the pecking order.  DM could be thinking  that Rico or Paton will fill that position or possibly he sees something in  Waine that he can develop. . 

9 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

 If you pressed me on, "What do you mean by experienced" I'd suggest a 'keeper who's been first choice at a Lge 1 or 2 club for at least  1 -2 years or more and DM or someone he trusts has seen him play regularly.

You have described Marko Marosi.

I don't think a marquee signing of, say, a proven striker is likely.  What is more likely is a 'hot prospect' from a lower league who has been scoring goals for fun.  eg another Tolaj. 

They tend to be  like gold dust, but they are around, as we know. I'm all for that.  It's affordable, has the promise to be exciting, and realistically, is our best way forward given our gates and where we are right now. 

10 minutes ago, Dol Boy said:

I don't think a marquee signing of, say, a proven striker is likely.  What is more likely is a 'hot prospect' from a lower league who has been scoring goals for fun.  eg another Tolaj. 

They tend to be  like gold dust, but they are around, as we know. I'm all for that.  It's affordable, has the promise to be exciting, and realistically, is our best way forward given our gates and where we are right now. 

How much did Sjoke pay for Ince? Vokes was not cheap, plus the other garbage they signed. Hence why they are at the bottom of Champ teams for a few seasons.

They are around, but I agree, do not throw money in the bin.

Just be sensible and we will be fine.