Nothing wrong with Devante Cole.

Just needs the service and to be a box loiterer not looking for the ball on the wings. 

Edited December 12, 2025Dec 12 by darren1810

The issue with Cole is he’s a good striker who is the exact opposite of the striker he replaced.

We built a team around and went into the season with a physical, strong, channel-running striker who would press, harass, and cause chaos. He was a bit wasteful but was doing stuff pretty much all the time and never switched off. Our promotion can largely be attributed to changing things to bring the best out of Tolaj - direct football, letting him play off the last defender, getting it into the front post for him.

We replaced him with a cool, cold poacher who won’t do a great deal bar have shots on goal. He will be fairly invisible for 30 minutes and then gives you an excellent chance at scoring. He will press diligently but without aggression; will run in behind but without throwing any elbows; will do the work but without the hurricane nature of Tolaj.

I think Cole is a good striker, he just perhaps isn’t the striker we needed when Tolaj went - or, at least, not the only one. He’ll get into double figures without much bother but doesn’t solve all the problems of losing Tolaj.

Graydon at Fleetwood is the closest thing I’ve seen to Tolaj in style - he’s not as good but would have brought the same tools. We just don’t have a mobile, aggressive forward to run channels and stretch lines. 

Edited December 12, 2025Dec 12 by JoeB2

There will be strikers out there in the mould of Tolaj,the trick is obviously finding them again

1 hour ago, JoeB2 said:

The issue with Cole is he’s a good striker who is the exact opposite of the striker he replaced.

We built a team around and went into the season with a physical, strong, channel-running striker who would press, harass, and cause chaos. He was a bit wasteful but was doing stuff pretty much all the time and never switched off. Our promotion can largely be attributed to changing things to bring the best out of Tolaj - direct football, letting him play off the last defender, getting it into the front post for him.

We replaced him with a cool, cold poacher who won’t do a great deal bar have shots on goal. He will be fairly invisible for 30 minutes and then gives you an excellent chance at scoring. He will press diligently but without aggression; will run in behind but without throwing any elbows; will do the work but without the hurricane nature of Tolaj.

I think Cole is a good striker, he just perhaps isn’t the striker we needed when Tolaj went - or, at least, not the only one. He’ll get into double figures without much bother but doesn’t solve all the problems of losing Tolaj.

Graydon at Fleetwood is the closest thing I’ve seen to Tolaj in style - he’s not as good but would have brought the same tools. We just don’t have a mobile, aggressive forward to run channels and stretch lines. 

waine has in the cup games

2 hours ago, darren1810 said:

Nothing wrong with Devante Cole.

Just needs the service and to be a box loiterer not looking for the ball on the wings. 

He’s our only hope. So much responsibility on his shoulders to secure our survival in this league. However I feel he’d need to score at least two every game. Perhaps if others had regular games, then the responsibility could be shared.

My vote would be to sign/loan a winger, someone of the quality of Cozier-Duberry if one can be found, to give something different upfront, someone to beat a  man, get to the by-line and create more clearcut chances. I would also get Rico back from Walsall.

So if the way forward is 4-2-3-1 then:

                                               Gauci/Amos

Clarke/Gabriel/John  Two from Humphrey/Hennegan/Debrah/C Hall   Johnson/Gordon

                                 Two from Byers/Ojo/Walters/Croasdale/Garrity

                                     New Winger/Rico  Paton  G Hall/Headley

                                                                 Cole

Stockley on the bench.

Return Faal, Brown and loan out Marosi and possibly Debrah.

Deciding who starts/who's on the bench/left out is above my pay grade but the make-up of the opposition would play a part. The above group of players and formation (with other tweaks) are good enough to get to 50 pts in Lge 1.

Edited December 13, 2025Dec 13 by Paul6754

28 minutes ago, Paul6754 said:

My vote would be to sign/loan a winger, someone of the quality of Cozier-Duberry if one can be found, to give something different upfront, someone to beat a  man, get to the by-line and create more clearcut chances. I would also get Rico back from Walsall.

So if the way forward is 4-2-3-1 then:

                                               Gauci/Amos

Clarke/Gabriel/John  Two from Humphrey/Hennegan/Debrah/C Hall   Johnson/Gordon

                                 Two from Byers/Ojo/Walters/Croasdale/Garrity

                                     New Winger/Rico  Paton  G Hall/Headley

                                                                 Cole

Stockley on the bench.

Return Faal, Brown and loan out Marosi and possibly Debrah.

Deciding who starts/who's on the bench/left out is above my pay grade but the make-up of the opposition would play a part. The above group of players and formation (with other tweaks) are good enough to get to 50 pts in Lge 1.

I fail to see what fans see in Rico. He can't even get in Walsall's team 

6 hours ago, butt lane vale fan said:

I fail to see what fans see in Rico. He can't even get in Walsall's team 

Walsall are literally one place below us in the football pyramid. I'm not surprised he can't get into the side when they're top of the league.

It was also a very poor choice of loan as they don’t play with attacking midfielders. You wonder who on earth signed off on it.

I am told that there is real interest from York and Rochdale for Jesse.
The manager has been told he must reduce the wage bill this January.

I’d be surprised if he willingly stepped down to the National League. I’d certainly let him go though, not L1 standard for me.

9 hours ago, Sick_Valiant said:

I am told that there is real interest from York and Rochdale for Jesse.
The manager has been told he must reduce the wage bill this January.

I'll start the car. 

5 minutes ago, darren1810 said:

I'll start the car. 

And I’ll open the door. 

< Richards, CB on loan, 2 strikers
> Faal, Brown, Marosi

As a start.

9 minutes ago, 1 said:

< Richards, CB on loan, 2 strikers
> Faal, Brown, Marosi

As a start.

I was quite perplexed when DM was questioned about Amos the other day.

He came out with something like we've got 3 good keepers all fighting and pushing each other for the jersey.

It's almost reminiscent of the Bruno season where we had about 5 keepers.

We are Port Vale not a Premier league club.

2 keepers plenty with a 3rd choice as a youth keeper. Utilise the emergency loan if the main 2 get crocked.

For us to have 3 is pretty mad. Particularly as Gauci wasn't an emergency signing. 

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by darren1810