Port Vale fan zone: Let's hope Adams's bold action doesn't backfire
Comment by Phil Sherwin
ORDINARILY, it would not be a week to remember after three successive defeats, but the fact all of Port Vale's players have been placed on the transfer list will make it memorable.
We've done it before, during the 1979/80 season under John McGrath, but the difference this time is that the transfer window is shut. Therefore, the only departures, if there are any, will be loans until the transfer window reopens in January.
Micky Adams's actions also raise a few questions.
For example, will Kris Taylor not be offered a deal when his present one runs out in a few weeks?
Will loanees Damien McCrory and Lewis Haldane be sent back to their parent clubs?
I assume all three will go as Saturday's rant suggests the manager doesn't want to keep any of them.
In my opinion, the defeat at Notts County wasn't actually that bad.
Yes, we were well beaten, but it wasn't "sack the lot of them" bad, like a 4-0 defeat at somewhere like Darlington would be.
We are going to lose games. In reality, Adams's decision is probably a ploy to get a reaction from the players, and it will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow against Accrington Stanley.
If we lose that, then we can safely say that Adams's tactic has backfired. The Bury game was disappointing, but I thought we battled very well at Scunthorpe.
To pull off a giant-killing, you need to play well and hope the other side are off their game, like in the two Sheffield games.
We did our part, but unfortunately for us Scunthorpe also played well and showed why they are two divisions above us.
We fought hard to take it to extra-time, and I thought the players gave their all. It's just a pity we didn't cash in. A trip to Man City in the next round would have had the financial people at Vale doing cartwheels.
At Notts County we were certainly in it until half-time, and it was disappointing that we fell away after the own goal.
Lee Hughes was the main difference, but he is playing below his true level, making them a difficult team to beat on their own patch.
I'm not making excuses, because we are far from as good as we want to be, I'm just trying to point out a few things for the benefit of fans who didn't go on Saturday.
They probably think we were unbelievably bad, which is not really the case. The bar has been set low I suppose after the last couple of years.
I think Adams is a very good manager for a club like ours, and if we wipe the floor with Accrington tomorrow night then I would back him to give Fergie a run in the mind games stakes.
It must be difficult for him, because it is more than 12 years since he has managed at the wrong end of this division, and I would imagine the playing standards take a bit of getting used to after such a time span.
Given time (and resources), I'm sure he will get it right, but we might have to have a few more volcanic moments beforehand.
Maybe those in the media trying to interview Micky after a defeat in future should possess a safety helmet just in case.
Other Port Vale stories online today:
Prove your worth or go, Adams tells under fire squad
Adams puts entire squad on transfer market after County defeat
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