5 hours ago, Rampant Zebra said:

In a similar vein to Dan Gore? He worked out really well for us...

Nothing ventured nothing gained RZ, if you consider every every loan player is gonna be another Dan Gore then why would the Vale bother, why would any team bother. 

I'm more optimistic there is a winger available for loan with the quality of an Arblaster or Devine (Not wingers) or Crozier-Duberry,  just raring to go and make a name for themselves.

4 hours ago, MBE said:

A lot of lads aren’t bothered now.

They are on huge sums of money, pampered and don’t want to go on loan where they are exposed to much inferior facilities and kicked, pinched and pull in men’s football where the ball goes long and they have to run harder for longer and be more aggressive rather than the sideways and backwards keep ball training matches.

The money a young lad can have now from being in Cat 1 academy until 23 sets them up for life. 

If that were the sole case MBE then why does any lad in a CAT 1 or similar academy go on loan. The majority of such lads will be motivated by more than money.

I'm already starting to feel a bit sorry for Brady. Feels like he's going to be hamstrung by circumstances in this window. 

It's going to be difficult to convince players who could make a difference at this level to come in given we aren't going to be a particularly high payer for the league and the position we are in. Any half decent player worth his salt with an offer from vale on the table will surely want to wait for other league one offers before committing. 

I get the feeling any business we do inwards will come down to the wire. Half way point is the end of this week. 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Walka003

 

9 hours ago, Paul6754 said:

If that were the sole case MBE then why does any lad in a CAT 1 or similar academy go on loan. The majority of such lads will be motivated by more than money.

There are very few loans in relation to the number of lads actually in the PL2 and a number of clubs don’t let players go due to the style of football.

2 hours ago, Walka003 said:

I'm already starting to feel a bit sorry for Brady. Feels like he's going to be hamstrung by circumstances in this window. 

It's going to be difficult to convince players who could make a difference at this level to come in given we aren't going to be a particularly high payer for the league and the position we are in. Any half decent player worth his salt with an offer from vale on the table will surely want to wait for other league one offers before committing. 

I get the feeling any business we do inwards will come down to the wire. Half way point is the end of this week. 

I’ve said it before and I will say it again we are preparing for L2.

Th club’s failure to manage the DM situation ensured we have very little choice. 

15 minutes ago, MBE said:

I’ve said it before and I will say it again we are preparing for L2.

Th club’s failure to manage the DM situation ensured we have very little choice. 

We'll see, but given our current predicament would make some sense. In which case you probably look at loans to cover the rest of the season and focus on getting business done early when the season ends. Lots of players out of contract so there's a fair amount of turnover coming whatever division we are in. 

3 hours ago, Walka003 said:

I'm already starting to feel a bit sorry for Brady. Feels like he's going to be hamstrung by circumstances in this window. 

It's going to be difficult to convince players who could make a difference at this level to come in given we aren't going to be a particularly high payer for the league and the position we are in. Any half decent player worth his salt with an offer from vale on the table will surely want to wait for other league one offers before committing. 

I get the feeling any business we do inwards will come down to the wire. Half way point is the end of this week. 

Why feel sorry?  He’s taken the job on and will have his eyes wide open.  Most managers are appointed when a team is failing rather than the other way around so it goes with the territory.  I’m sure he’ll be backed now and in the summer, whichever league we end up in.

17 minutes ago, Guitar Ray said:

Why feel sorry?  He’s taken the job on and will have his eyes wide open.  Most managers are appointed when a team is failing rather than the other way around so it goes with the territory.  I’m sure he’ll be backed now and in the summer, whichever league we end up in.

A great chance of showing an improvement, whether it will be enough time will tell, but at least a solid plan for next season should be achieved. Not always easy stepping into the shoes of a manager moving up to a bigger club. 

5 minutes ago, Fosse69 said:

A great chance of showing an improvement, whether it will be enough time will tell, but at least a solid plan for next season should be achieved. Not always easy stepping into the shoes of a manager moving up to a bigger club. 

I think we've seen that in the first 45 minutes against Fleetwood to be honest. I know it's early days, but quite clear there is an attacking gameplan. It was never really clear with DM if there was one. 

The Winter window is notoriously difficult, but given his experience we would still be a very attractive prospect for lower league players if there's any promising finds to be had.

4 hours ago, Walka003 said:

I'm already starting to feel a bit sorry for Brady. Feels like he's going to be hamstrung by circumstances in this window. 

It's going to be difficult to convince players who could make a difference at this level to come in given we aren't going to be a particularly high payer for the league and the position we are in. Any half decent player worth his salt with an offer from vale on the table will surely want to wait for other league one offers before committing. 

I get the feeling any business we do inwards will come down to the wire. Half way point is the end of this week. 

Crawley, who are in danger of getting relegated back to non league have signed eight players this month, so it proves that there are players who will play any where if the deal is right.

3 hours ago, Brian Johnson said:

 

We said on the night that if Ennis had a decent end product we would have been in serious trouble.

2 hours ago, MBE said:

I’ve said it before and I will say it again we are preparing for L2.

Th club’s failure to manage the DM situation ensured we have very little choice. 

I've said it before and I will say it again ...

  

On 04/01/2026 at 15:34, Alan Vit said:

For some people it is appealing to pre-empt disappointment by owning it.

One way to do this is to not have any expectations in the first place, although this is particularly hard for a committed football supporter.

Another way is to have only negative expectations - if they are fulfilled, then you were right all along, if they are not, then you can forget you predicted doom and just mop up the buzz of success.

My own choice is to wish for positive outcomes for the club, and to affirm the club to try to achieve them.

I may or may not end up disappointed, but I will have done the best I can as a supporter.

To adopt a relevant Aussie phrase ... Harden up, kid.

No reason to suggest this but I would expect some further outgoings and perhaps even some incomings this week.

1 hour ago, rayzer said:

Crawley, who are in danger of getting relegated back to non league have signed eight players this month, so it proves that there are players who will play any where if the deal is right.

How do you know those 8 players are going to improve the team at all though? They may all be rubbish.