Martin Tideswell: Vale are a work in progress

Comment by Martin Tideswell

THERE'S no denying we look a fair side this season under Micky Adams. But that's not saying much, is it?

We all know the constraints within which the new gaffer is working and so he deserves to be given some slack when results don't quite go our way.

We can't judge the bloke for another 12 months. By that time, if he is still at the Vale, he will have had time to bring in his own players and give new contracts to the few lads already at the club whom he actually rates.

Thus I' will resist the temptation to throw my toys out of the pram just yet.

But, there'sHowever, there is no denying we were very poor against Torquay midweek. on Tuesday. at home to Torquay.

Admittedly, conditions didn't help, but we should still have had enough attacking threat to beat the Gulls.

I thought Micky got it wrong tactically – and I wasn't alone.

We went ahead thanks to a peach of a strike from Doug Loft but, let's face it, after they equalised the visitors dominated the game for the next half an hour.

I was getting a sense of déjà vu. Without Tommy Fraser our midfield was a vacuum. We were defending way too deep.

Griffiths put in arguably his best shift in a Vale shirt – although his distribution is, at times, still woeful.

But can someone explain to me why a tackler and a grafter like Griffiths wasn't playing in the centre of midfield from the start in place of Jarrett?

For 70 minutes the latter did nowt, as far as I could see, apart from give the ball away and concede free kicks.

In contrast, Louis Dodds, – who is undoubtedly one of our best players, was subbed after half an hour.

Huh? No wonder he spat his dummy. I'd have done the same.

I'm not the manager, but I'd start every game with Rob Taylor on the left wing. Us fans were right about him and Dean Glover was wrong.

I hope Micky has some faith in the lad because he's got pace and no little skill and scores some wonderful goals.

By the same token, Lewis Haldane should be playing in his natural position on the right flank – not on the left wing, where he is forced to come inside on his right foot.

I'd also play Dodds week-in, week-out for 90 minutes, because he always looks like the player most likely to score a goal.

Finally, I'd be working hard with Marc Richards. I'd be telling him to clock how hard Griff works and telling him to watch videos of wee Steve McPhee jumping for the ball against giant defenders.

He needs to work harder, start holding the ball up better and winning headers.

Enough said. Must do better Vale. Tomorrow is the biggest game of our season for lots of reasons. Do us proud, boys.