Vale can overcome loss of trio to make progress
THERE’S no getting around the fact that having centre forwards Jamie Proctor, James Wilson and George Lloyd all on the long-term injury list at the same time does make life difficult for Port Vale.
But they still beat Hartlepool without them on Saturday and ran Rotherham close on Tuesday. So, I definitely wouldn’t be writing Vale off for this weekend’s FA Cup tie at Burton and it’s not a case of just hanging on until they can strengthen that front line in January.
Both Devante Rodney and Dave Amoo know the role and have played there before.
It helps that Vale aren’t a direct team so don’t rely on having a target man. Yes, they will miss Jamie Proctor because he’s an experienced player but their game doesn’t depend on going long.
They look to get on the ball, play through the zones and then try to release the striker. So, whether it be Devante Rodney, Dave Amoo or Dennis Politic up front, the game plan doesn’t have to radically change.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a problem to lose your two top scorers – Proctor and Wilson have seven apiece. But Vale have been set up to get goals throughout the team so Tom Conlon, Tom Pett and Ben Garrity can chip in with goals, as can wing-backs Dave Worrall and James Gibbons.
So, Vale could have done without these injuries but they are in with a chance at Burton in what should be a good game.
They are certainly going to be well supported, with more than 1,600 making the trip. It’s only up the road and, whenever I’ve played for the Vale at Burton, there’s always been a good following.
Burton are mid-table in the division above but Vale’s travelling fans will be believe they can win it, and so will the management and players.
WHO do you fancy for the Premier League title? It’s going to be one of three and I’d go for Chelsea – just. Defensively they are better than Manchester City or Liverpool. Thomas Tuchel said they were nowhere near at Watford this week, but they still won the game. Champions tend to get a result even when they’re not playing well and, over the season, I fancy them to grind out more results like that whereas Liverpool and Man City might drop a few points here and there.
It’s so hard to call though. One thing you can say is it should be a really exciting title race, with three genuine, quality contenders. It’s going to be the closest it has been for years.
But while Chelsea might just prove themselves the best team, being the best team to watch is a different conversation.
That’s very much a personal view and, given the choice of watching any of the top three, I’d go for Liverpool.
They edge it from Man City. They come up with fantastic moments like Bernardo Silva’s goal against Aston Villa – but overall I just don’t find their possession style as entertaining as watching Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have got Alexander-arnold and Robertson bombing up the wings, Salah and Mane doing their stuff up front and then midfielders who press like mad. Yes, they could concede but seem to have that ‘if you score two, we’ll score three’ mentality.
Everyone will have their own opinions. For example, I could appreciate the great Spain team of a decade ago even though I didn’t find their style all that entertaining.
If there wasn’t a pass on to play forward they would play back. As Spain showed, if the players kept the ball and kept doing the right things, then chances would come but, as a spectator, I would rather it take two passes and stick it in the next than 52 and it’s taken five minutes!
I know I’ll get called a dinosaur for this but I prefer watching wingers bombing up and crossing ball and midfielders winning tackles and driving on, rather than bounce it into your Number Four, out to your centre half and then back to your keeper.