MOORE: ‘MAKE IT FEEL LIKE WE HAVE AN ARMY BEHIND US’
DARREN Moore has urged Port Vale supporters to show him and the team what they’re made of and reckoned, “good support can feel like you’ve got an army behind you.”
The new Vale chief takes charge of his first home game tomorrow, following two League One defeats in his opening matches at the helm.
The 49-year-old is excited about the home clash with Lincoln City and then again against Fleetwood Town next Tuesday.
“We are looking at these two games and for me it’s my first at home as a manager,” he said.
“We are looking back to back and we are really looking forward to the games. I have been here as a visiting player and a visiting manager, and I just know what this place can be like. It’s an intimidating place when it’s in full voice, So for me as a manager here, it will be a proud moment for me on Saturday, to stand in front of the support.
“The message to them is show me what Vale fans can be in full voice. I want to see it and feel it. The players want to see it and feel it.
“Sing your hearts out. They will know I had someone sitting in the crowd [Stevenage] and he said what a tremendous atmosphere it was.
“I am looking forward to standing on that touchline and I really look forward to seeing everybody and to make it a loud place.”
Asked what a difference it makes, Moore answered: “It galvanises, gives confidence, energy, positivity, all those things.
“It feels like you’ve got an army right behind you pushing you on. And it feels like the12th man, it really does.
“And that’s why it’s important having the home support and being in full force and geeing the players on and applauding them and everything else.
“We know as a group we want to be on the front foot. It’s my first game as manager here and it bodes well for a wonderful afternoon of good football.”
Asked whether playing a back four will now be a regular tactic, after changing to it against Reading [lost 2-0], he said: “I think for me in my managerial career to date I’ve played a lot of different systems.
“And what I have to be, and I think you have to be in football, is adaptable. Not adaptable for your sake. Yes you’ve got to look at what you’ve got in the building as well, but also go tactically as well and look at opposition and where their strengths and weaknesses may lie and what tactic you can apply to try and get the upper hand on the opposition. That’s always been the case.”
He saw good signs at Reading and reflected: “There were lots of positives.
“We will probably focus on the last 15 minutes of the game because that’s natural but there were lots of positives and certainly before Reading got their first goal we felt we had a couple of chances where we could have gone in front with a little bit more conviction at the top end of the pitch.
“So going back to tactics, it’s horses for courses it really is. Will we play with the same formation on Saturday? Let’s wait and see. Will we change for future games? Let’s wait and see because that will be dictated by the turnaround of games, the opposition we play against and what we feel benefits the squad going forward.
“All those pointers will play a huge significance in the shape change and different roles and responsibilities of the players.
“I’ve said to the players they have got to sacrifice themselves for the team.
“You might be brought here for certain positions specifically but the club is far more important. So you might have to sacrifice yourself and play in a different position in order for the team to benefit from the right result for the club to move forward.
“Any player now would put their hand on heart and say they are willing to do it. We are willing to do anything to help the club push further up the league.”