Lifting the Vale

Yesterday I asked fans on twitter to use one GIF to describe how they felt about the business done by their side so far this summer. It proved quite a telling experiment which showed that, in most case, fans of clubs felt the same way about their side’s transfer market dealings.

One thing I noted was that Port Vale fans appeared anywhere from pleased to downright over the moon (see a couple of examples below) about how Neil Aspin has gone about rebuilding his side after one of the worst seasons in the history of the Burslem outfit.

 

Port Vale, as a club, have been synonymous with punching above their weight by, mainly, excellent use of the transfer market. John Rudge, their most famous and longest serving manager, was an expert at spotting talent, bringing it in and then selling it on for a decent profit.

It was this ability that helped keep the Valiants playing second tier football for nine campaigns out of 11 between 1989 and 2000. That may not sound all that impressive but before the club won promotion in the 1988-89 season they hadn’t played above the third tier since the 1950s.

Last season, however, would have had many of the fans who were blessed enough to witness those heady days of the mid-1990s, looking back wistfully in disbelief at just how far their club had fallen.

Much of the mirth and blame for the problems were being firmly planted at the door of chairman Norman Smurthwaite whose baffling appointment of Bruno Ribeiro in 2016 started a catastrophic series of events which almost saw the club relegated out of the EFL altogether.

However could it be that the man the fans call Smurf is finally getting to grips with being the chairman of a club with a proud history? The jury is still out on that one to be honest but one thing is clear, by appointing Neil Aspin as manager last season he scored a big hit with many fans. Bringing back John Rudge as director of football was also pretty smart. He still has a long way to go to win over the bulk of the supporters at Vale Park and probably should have given Aspin more backing in the January transfer window last season but it does appear he has learnt from previous mistakes.

This summer has seen no less than 10 new arrivals sign for the Burslem club and they all appear to be well thought through additions that suit the needs of the squad. While no one should be getting carried away it is nice to finally see Vale fans getting excited again about their team. I for one thoroughly enjoyed watching them push bigger teams around during the 90s and would love to see them do it again.

It will take patience and a lot of hard work to get the club back to the second tier. Money has changed the game completely over the last 25 years meaning it is now harder to rise up the league unless you have an owner willing to splash some serious dosh around – something most clubs can only dream of. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be successful.

Accrington Stanley provided the evidence of this last season by winning the title using the least number of players on the smallest budget in League Two. This proves that a well-built squad can go a long way in the fourth division.

Neil Aspin, like nearly all the managers at this level, is rebuilding using free transfers and loan players but he has also spent some money. Last season Vale lacked goals, in fact if it wasn’t for Tom Pope’s 17 in League Two the club would almost certainly have been relegated. So bringing in forward options was a priority. You don’t have to spend big to do well and a little cash can go a long way in League Two. Norman Smurfwaite will have understood that when he sanctioned the signing of Ricky Miller from Peterborough.

The fee remains undisclosed but sources close to Peterborough have suggested that it was not insignificant. This could turn out to be a very shrewd signing. Ricky Miller had a difficult time at Peterborough with some well documented off the field issues. These and the lack of first team opportunities saw the striker play just 10 times for the Posh before a brief loan spell at Mansfield yet the season before he was sensational.

Playing in the National League for Dover Athletic Miller bagged a remarkable 40 goals in 41 league games. It was an almost unheard of record. He had also scored 20 league goals the season before which in my opinion, for what it’s worth, proves he is a man of some ability. It also suggests that he is a man who relies on confidence.

Neil Aspin could be a perfect manager for Miller. He needs to be playing regularly and in a squad that can create chances for him but once he starts scoring it is hard to stop him. Miller is not the only forward brought in by Aspin. Idris Kanu, another signing from the Posh, this time on loan, is a highly rated young player. Again he lacked game time at London Road last season but Aldershot fans rate him and he could give Vale an excellent option off the bench.

Louis Dodds has also returned, a player who was a big part of Vale’s 2012-13 promotion campaign, he has already alluded to his partnership with Tom Pope which saw the pair score a combined 38 league goals when they finished third in League Two. It is true that 31 of those were scored by Pope but Dodds bring a great work rate to the forward line which can be so important in League Two.

At the back Vale have also bagged some impressive additions with experienced pair Leon Legge and Connell Rawlinson signing as well as Scott Brown, a promotion winner last season at Wycombe, joining as the number one ‘keeper.

One other signing that may have gone under the radar somewhat is Luke Joyce from Carlisle. His work rate and ability in midfield will be another vital component in a side that was lacking an engine in the centre last season.

A trio of exciting players from non-league, Theo Vassell, Brendon Daniels and Manny Oyeleke have also been drafted in making this already appear like a successful window. More players could well arrive before the season kicks off but so far you have to say it has been a positive summer for the club.

Pre-season is now underway and Aspin will be getting to know his best eleven while the club play a number of friendlies but I would be very surprised if this season wasn’t a huge improvement on the last for this proud club.

Aspin is working hard and clearly has a plan – which Michael Brown obviously didn’t and the club is no longer coasting into oblivion as they appeared to be doing over the last couple of years, which is good if you believe what Francis Bacon once said: “Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.”

Let’s hope that Aspin’s design is a winner in 2018/19.

words James Richards, D3D4 Football