Opinion: Port Vale retained list illustrates huge summer challenge for Port Vale
The stand-out from the 2024 retained list is the sheer number of under contract players – something that really restricts the club’s hand during a crucial summer of rebuilding.
Rob Fielding writes…
This inability to thin out the squad without negotiations and over what will presumably be a protracted period of time only makes Moore’s challenge tougher – something that both club and fans won’t want to hear…
Anyone expecting a mass clear-out of players this summer didn’t read our earlier editorial where we criticised the mass of long-term contracts handed out in the summer – contracts that mean the vast majority of Port Vale players, yes, even those who performed so badly in the season just gone, are still under contract. The folly of handing two year deals to the likes of 32 year-old Jason Lowe and injury-plagued duo Conor Grant and Dan Jones (to name just three players) has been laid bare.
For those who haven’t seen the retained notice, Vale have released three players, while the futures of another three appear to be subject to negotiations – but that still leaves a hefty sixteen players under contract. It leaves Darren Moore with a very tricky task. Vale clearly need to strengthen in several areas – on the flanks and upfront are obvious – but with only three players gone so far any new additions could result in a bloated squad.
The retention statement contained an interesting line which said “club is currently in conversation with several first-team (players)”. It suggests that the club may try to move some on. However, it’s a tricky business. The under contract players that the club could probably move on easily – Ripley, Garrity and Chislett – are probably the ones to try and build the squad around. The club will surely only move them on if they get an offer they can’t turn down. The ones that Moore thinks are dispensable are probably the ones most difficult to remove. Should they stay and not be picked – will that result in a crop of disenchanted players on the sidelines? Who’d be a football manager!
This inability to thin out the squad without negotiations and over what will presumably be a protracted period of time only makes Moore’s challenge tougher – something that both club and fans won’t want to hear.
If you look at the 16 senior under contract players then once again there is an imbalance – five central midfielders, five central defenders but just two wide defenders and two strikers. It already means that it’s looking impractical to add, for example, a big strapping centre-half without trying to sell or loan out one of the five already on the books. It could even mean that Vale have to rely on the present squad to lift their game and prove themselves in League Two. The jury will very definitely be out on whether some of the players have the character and ability to do so.
There’s not much that can be done right now to turn the issue around but I hope it’s a lesson for the future. The club needs to be practical, business-like and hard headed when it comes to contracts in the future. They need to think about the player’s injury record, their age, their potential and whether they have a proven record at that level when considering contract length. Let’s hope they learn their lessons when recruiting players ahead of the new season.
Phil Yeomans
30th April 2024 @ 10:24 am
An interesting and detailed report which obviously spells out exactly what is required regarding releasing contracted players. I personally await the outcome as the thought of again watching the poorest football seen last season does concern me. Expectations of an element of football and a committed team is not to much to ask. I also hope the likes of Ripley, Garrity and Chislett remain along with the development of the young players.
Vale fan
30th April 2024 @ 2:19 pm
Vale park cries out for 2 midfielders who can move the ball, 2 wingers And two strikers, make Garrity the captain and get shut of Smith, he’s a liability, and the worst Captain I’ve seen at the Vale,the club will play cat and mouse with a lot of the dead wood, until some of them at least leave, with a shout of joy from me.
Darren
30th April 2024 @ 2:26 pm
The signs are not good. We have a poor squad and we will find it very hard to shift any of those under contract. Further those that remain will be league 2 (or worse) quality on league 1 wages – lovely!! Talking of contracts, one other contract isn’t looking too clever. 5 years for a manager who was hardly tearing up trees before he arrived. Didn’t look to be too much competition for his signature and yet his agent somehow managed to arrange a deal that means we are stuck with him. He has had 17 games to try and form a cohesive unit, to try and get some backbone into the squad. He hasn’t. Other perhaps more ruthless managers would. Another gift from the thankfully departed DF.
Anthony Johnson
30th April 2024 @ 3:54 pm
As you say, we are currently left with 16 players and no doubt at least a couple of those will chose to move on or be loaned out. Don’t forget that 4 loanees will leave and out of the 3 under negotiation, it is unlikely that we will keep all 3. We will need a squad of at least 25. That all means that we will probably be able to bring in about 9 players. That is wholesale change enough for any team. Replacing virtually all of the players is never a viable option for any club.
We need quality rather than quantity. We need to bring in players who will be first team players rather than just squad players. We also need to avoid loanees unless they are exceptional.
Warren
30th April 2024 @ 4:53 pm
I think there are two ways to go with this. It does depend on how much financial backing and financial risk the owners are willing to take.
The bold approach is to take a view on who the manager really wants to retain and start to acquire replacements for those he doesn’t straight away. That sends a clear signal to the retained but not wanted. It will encourage them to move on and the club can help bridge some financial gaps if needs be. Then I think we have enough good players to really challenge near the top.
The cautious approach is to accept the position as is and tinker round the edges to balance the squad. I’m not saying that the current squad with some small additions and youngsters developing further can’t actually challenge for promotion in L2. It may do or it may drift, most likely in mid table for a year.
We may learn more on Thursday. But I bet Darren Moore ain’t for drifting!
Ken from North Wales
30th April 2024 @ 6:53 pm
Going to be difficult for the manager on recruitment and some on good contracts are not up.to scratch.
RON
1st May 2024 @ 12:40 pm
I think everyone makes valid points it shows how ridiculous the contract decisions were made by people who supposedly know how to run a football club don’t know how we get out of this one and to be honest I wouldn’t like Darren Moores task let’s hope he can sort it and persuade some decent players to sign but not looking good I’m afraid at the moment
Vale fan
1st May 2024 @ 5:05 pm
Oh Carol it’s you again, let’s go around with the buckets like we did years ago,when we needed a striker, the fans got us out of a hole like we are in now, Also you can ask fraudctoft to sell his assets and donate to the Vale rescue fund, You know the one he caused.
David Brown
2nd May 2024 @ 1:02 am
That statement by Vale Fan about collection buckets seems incredible now, but I well recall it happening while standing in the Railway Paddock before Darren Beckford was signed more than 35 years ago.
Vale fan
2nd May 2024 @ 12:46 pm
Correct David Brown
Paul Rose
2nd May 2024 @ 8:34 pm
Awful displays,the players and manager should hold their heads in shame.Some players have been given long contracts and sat back waiting for the money each week to pop into their bank accounts.Moore had plenty of time to keep them up and failed.
Ian Johnson
2nd May 2024 @ 11:52 pm
The fact that Moore is in talks to resign Ikpeazu to spearhead our quick return says everything about the manager. Fans have been complaining all season about the forward line with no goals in it and here’s Moore trying to resign them . I give up !
philip greer
4th May 2024 @ 10:14 pm
If Moores offers uchie a contract he deserves to get relegated again as it shows he knows nowt. Uchie is crap in every department, no skill, no workmate, no goals, no fitness and no idea. Wake up Daren fgs