5 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

Plymouth have just lost their manager whose just been named Schalke04 manager 

Weren't there some rumours that Moore had applied (/interviewed) for the Plymouth job previously? (possibly back in January?)

8 minutes ago, The Kalamazoo Kid said:

Weren't there some rumours that Moore had applied (/interviewed) for the Plymouth job previously? (possibly back in January?)

Nope 

10 minutes ago, Brian Johnson said:

Nope 

There were. Probably nonsense mind.

On 27/05/2025 at 09:55, leedsvaliant said:

On 26/05/2025 at 18:13, Conrad said:

Some tough looking games there.

There's not many 'smaller' clubs left there. Lots of established league 1 clubs with a smattering of championship. It's going to be tough but I think there'll be at least 6 or 7 with a weaker squad than ours. We need a kind fixture list to start well and then who knows?

Who do you have as the 6 or 7?

I'm struggling for 4.

Anyone that thinks we'll easily stay up is in for a shock.

I can't be alone in having less inclination to how next season will pan out than ever before. The balance of the team even before any signings or departures seems better than previous relegation seasons at this level in the past 20 years. We've got players on the books which can have an impact and won't be out of their depth. Surely Walters, Byers, Croasdale and Garrity have qualities to step up, as have Headley, John and Clarke. Tolaj and Stockley will be a handful when on form, but I can see them struggling on far more occasions than last term. A top, top striker at this level would cost £500K in wages so do we go for raw unproven talent to supplement and hope to get lucky? It all started to go wrong after Hall left last time around. Has he still got it for League 1? Personally I think Debrah is the real deal but time will tell. 2 good CBs to strengthen are a must. I'd like to see a new number 1 also. I can't tell if we're a few signings away from a playoff push, or destined for a nervy period in the second half of the season, looking over our shoulders... let's see what unfolds over the next 7 or 8 weeks.

Less inclination to what?

Who do you have as the 6 or 7?
I'm struggling for 4.
Anyone that thinks we'll easily stay up is in for a shock.

I'd say we'll have a better/better funded squad than...

Lincoln, Stevenage, Exeter, Mansfield,  Northampton, Burton and Wimbledon. 

Obviously, that doesn't always translate into an effective team but our budget is likely to be bigger than these. Moore isn't going to be happy if we're scratching round for pennies down the back of the sofa. Season ticket sales combined with our commercial ventures surely see us have better income than most of these clubs. In addition, Carol has shown that she's not afraid to splash some of her personal wealth towards it.

By no means do I think it will be easy but I do think we're better prepared than last time. Our squad is certainly stronger. We came up last time with a permanently injured Wilson and an ageing Worrall as 2 of our best players...with an ageing Proctor as our main striker going into the season. We didn't have anyone near Stockley, Byers or Headley to name but 3. With a fair wind we might outperform some clubs with a bigger budget than us.

Need to see who we sign or don't sign compared to other Lge 1 clubs before any comments on Vale's prospects for the season can be made.

Whoever Vale sign the first objective is to reach 50 pts.

Edited May 29, 20251 yr by Paul6754

6 hours ago, leedsvaliant said:

I'd say we'll have a better/better funded squad than...

Lincoln, Stevenage, Exeter, Mansfield,  Northampton, Burton and Wimbledon. 

Obviously, that doesn't always translate into an effective team but our budget is likely to be bigger than these. Moore isn't going to be happy if we're scratching round for pennies down the back of the sofa. Season ticket sales combined with our commercial ventures surely see us have better income than most of these clubs. In addition, Carol has shown that she's not afraid to splash some of her personal wealth towards it.

By no means do I think it will be easy but I do think we're better prepared than last time. Our squad is certainly stronger. We came up last time with a permanently injured Wilson and an ageing Worrall as 2 of our best players...with an ageing Proctor as our main striker going into the season. We didn't have anyone near Stockley, Byers or Headley to name but 3. With a fair wind we might outperform some clubs with a bigger budget than us.

Lincoln, Stevenage, Exeter, Mansfield,  Northampton, Burton and Wimbledon - I'd add Donny and Bradford to that, too. They're not a million miles away from us in capabilities 

Just my 2' worth

I'll take 50 points and finishing 18th right now.......

As with all sides, everything depends upon the pre season dealings....

Really looking forward to our first signing I hope its a decent one! I am sure we have a few good signings lined up.

Lincoln, Stevenage, Exeter, Mansfield,  Northampton, Burton and Wimbledon - I'd add Donny and Bradford to that, too. They're not a million miles away from us in capabilities 
Just my 2' worth

Yes, I think you're right. In spite of Bradford's attendances, they seem to be quite frugal with budgets. I'm not overly convinced by theirs or Donny's signings so far.

It will be tricky, its almost like the Championship used to be with the amount of ex Prem clubs and budgets littered around it, 9 have played top flight football, 1 as recently as 12 months ago and does feel harder than it was 10 years ago to compete but no reason with the bottom half of it that we can't be relatively comfortable if we make the right signings, our budget should be bigger than Burton, AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster, Bradford, Mansfield, Northampton, Exeter, Stevenage, possibly Lincoln so you have to ensure you finish near the top of that pile first and foremost.

It will be tricky, its almost like the Championship used to be with the amount of ex Prem clubs and budgets littered around it, 9 have played top flight football, 1 as recently as 12 months ago and does feel harder than it was 10 years ago to compete but no reason with the bottom half of it that we can't be relatively comfortable if we make the right signings, our budget should be bigger than Burton, AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster, Bradford, Mansfield, Northampton, Exeter, Stevenage, possibly Lincoln so you have to ensure you finish near the top of that pile first and foremost.

Yep and there's likely to be a couple of clubs with bigger budgets that have a basket case season. Where we've struggled previously is not beating those clubs in and around us...do that and then get a couple of surprise wins against bigger teams and we should be fine.

5 minutes ago, leedsvaliant said:

9 minutes ago, valefan16 said:

It will be tricky, its almost like the Championship used to be with the amount of ex Prem clubs and budgets littered around it, 9 have played top flight football, 1 as recently as 12 months ago and does feel harder than it was 10 years ago to compete but no reason with the bottom half of it that we can't be relatively comfortable if we make the right signings, our budget should be bigger than Burton, AFC Wimbledon, Doncaster, Bradford, Mansfield, Northampton, Exeter, Stevenage, possibly Lincoln so you have to ensure you finish near the top of that pile first and foremost.

Yep and there's likely to be a couple of clubs with bigger budgets that have a basket case season. Where we've struggled previously is not beating those clubs in and around us...do that and then get a couple of surprise wins against bigger teams and we should be fine.

That was the issue, in 2022/23 as we fell down the league and just survived we lost to Cambridge who'd not won in months, Burton, Shrewsbury, last year doubled by Shrewsbury who were dreadful, lost to Exeter when 2-0 hammered by Fleetwood, beaten twice by Cheltenham who were dreadful, lost to Carlisle so have to improve that record.

Moore being a manager who is quite defensive and well drilled might find L1 more suited as we are set up to go to places like Bolton/Huddersfield and mid block as we saw against the top sides this season but its those games at home against sides struggling where we need the initiative that will be key.