Tbh I can't see any players wanting to join us given our league position and that's the sad truth of the matter.

Edited January 28Jan 28 by ValiantHan

1 hour ago, werstayinup said:

2 or 3 years ago,it was stated by someone at the club that during a board meeting it was agreed that the majority of any money from outgoing transfers would be reinvested in the team(that could also mean Academy of course)

What academy? Has someone pressed the self destruct button?🤨

@JRC I don't think we will get a quality replacement in for Cole with three days of a window remaining. I suspect the most we could hope for is a loan deal (and with our situation even that may be unattractive to players). But I do think if Cole goes, then we can prepare for replacing him in the summer. I've very much got my long-term head on today - I cannot see any realistic chance of us staying up regardless of how many points are left to play for. 

However, the terrible morale sapping relegation in 2024 didn't stop the club going out that summer and getting some decent players in (Lorent Tolaj, for one) so I would hope it's no different this summer. 

7 minutes ago, robf said:

@JRC I don't think we will get a quality replacement in for Cole with three days of a window remaining. I suspect the most we could hope for is a loan deal (and with our situation even that may be unattractive to players). But I do think if Cole goes, then we can prepare for replacing him in the summer. I've very much got my long-term head on today - I cannot see any realistic chance of us staying up regardless of how many points are left to play for. 

However, the terrible morale sapping relegation in 2024 didn't stop the club going out that summer and getting some decent players in (Lorent Tolaj, for one) so I would hope it's no different this summer. 

My long term head is looking at being 17th in league 2 this time next season.

I honestly think the Wheels have come Off !!

2 hours ago, robf said:

I don't think anyone is saying get rid of players so we can lose heavily.

I think people are saying a) we have a huge, unbalanced squad b) we are going down in all probability and c) we need to prepare/recruit for a L2 campaign. So, it's taking a long-term view beyond this season (which is a write-off).

I disagree about replacements. I think it is possible to replace players IF you have a decent recruitment team. However, that comes with the caveat that we have one and it has a plan in mind (i.e. if we want to develop players on like Posh that's a long term 5-10 yr project not a one-off signing Tolaj and having no succession plan) 

So, I think if you're looking at long-term planning then you are looking to clear the decks especially as (in the case of Curtis and possibly Cole) you can offload high earners now and get a fee. I don't think it makes sense to keep those players on just so we can save face during what looks like a sure-fire relegation - even though that means it's going to be a tough slog from now on till the end of the season. Yes, that's not a nice prospect but if it means we can look forward to a better 2026-27 season then we may have to take our medicine.

Our huge squad should be trimmed by getting rid of squad players rather than those players who are among the first names on the team sheet, assuming they’re willing to stay.

I think you can have the best recruitment team going but they’d struggle to recruit the likes of Cole or G. Hall in any January window in our current position.  In fact we’ll struggle to recruit full stop so any recruitment should add to what little quality we have.  What will happen is that we’ll end up signing lower quality replacements, possibly at an inflated price, and we would need to replace those 2 rather than just bin them off as we could with certain other players.  Cole is our only decent forward and Hall the only player with real pace.

It’s not just about saving face.  As bad as it looks, we’re in a strange place, stick or twist, 12 points adrift but with 2 games in hand and plenty of games to play.  We could throw the towel in right now or battle on until it’s impossible.  It depends on what Brady can do with the existing players plus any he can add.  I also don’t buy into this thing that unloading these players now gives us a better chance of success next season, it doesn’t, it just gives us a bit more money now than what we might get in the summer, and even that’s not guaranteed to be the case.  Cole and Hall would still command a fee in the summer.

16 minutes ago, ValiantHan said:

Tbh I can't see any players wanting to join us given our league position and that's the sad truth of the matter.

Were doomed mr mainwaring!😁

James Plant has joined Tranmere on a permanent deal.

 

Well I was going to play Planty Saturday, guess that’s out the window now. Good move for him, he’s playing for a manager in Crosby who likes him.

Edited January 28Jan 28 by Guppys left peg

Just now, Guppys left peg said:

Well I was going to play Planty Saturday, guess that’s out the window now. Good move for him, he’s playing for a manager in Crosby who likes him.

Judging by what Andy has said he has wanted him since the Summer but we loaned him out to Yeovil instead. 

https://www.tranmererovers.co.uk/news/2026/january/28/james-plant-signs-for-tranmere-rovers-on-an-18-month-deal/

Getting a bit sick of this now. He’s not up to this level but was worth keeping one of our own for league 2. 

Really pleased for Planty. Would have played him here in L1 when desperate but he is not really at the standard required. 

I expect he's not the last of Vale players to head to Tranmere either just yet. I expect to see Garrity there next season too. 

Curious re: Shorrock though and the plans for him. Still very young so plenty of opportunity to grow into a good standard player. 

2 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

Getting a bit sick of this now. He’s not up to this level but was worth keeping one of our own for league 2. 

agreed,no idea what happened to bringing the youth into the team

Was a fee involved do we know

2 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

Getting a bit sick of this now. He’s not up to this level but was worth keeping one of our own for league 2. 

Yep, I've had a few recurring thoughts lately that as much as I don't think Smudge is the answer, the local aspect gives us identity we sorely need at the moment. I couldn't really name many of our players who would run through a brick wall for the shirt. 

4 minutes ago, valiant_593 said:

Getting a bit sick of this now. He’s not up to this level but was worth keeping one of our own for league 2. 

Getting sick of what? he’s nowhere near good enough. Just because he’s one of our own doesn’t make him up to this level 

5 minutes ago, werstayinup said:

agreed,no idea what happened to bringing the youth into the team

Was a fee involved do we know

Nothing indicated on either our or Tranmeres announcement. I suspect at most we’ve agreed to let him go for any cut of a future sale. And their owners don’t have a pot to piss in outside going cap in hand to Smurthwaite.

Edited January 28Jan 28 by Guppys left peg