Macclesfield: The Aftermath

After yesterdays staggering 1-4 defeat at home to Macclesfield Central News have announced that an emergency Board meeting has been called for tomorrow (Monday 22nd September).

And top of the agenda will doublessly be Manager Lee Sinnott. Three defeats on the run, four defeats in total from seven league games and if you throw in the two Cup defeats we’ve lost six of the nine games we’ve played this season. His record since taking over as Manager at Vale Park has been appalling, however, like many I felt he deserved to be given the whole of this season, but now I’m not so sure.

Sinnott has had the opportunity to build the squad of players that he wants, but its absolutely clear that some of his signings are not good enough.

Lets start with Kyle Perry and Chris Slater. Signed on 18 month contracts from Chasetown in January after our humiliating defeat to them in the FA Cup neither player looks good enough tobe playing at this level. In the case of Perry this is embarrassingly obvious, he is so out of his depth it is untrue.

Sam Stockley came in during the summer and was given the Captains armband, unfortunately it quickly became transparent that his legs have gone and he has been a liability at right-back.

Louis Dodds has given us a couple of goals from out wide on the right, but apart from that has offered very little and looks decidedly light-weight at this level.

David Howland and Anthony Griffith are both busy midfield ball winners, but neither has the craft or guile to produce any kind of creativity, and are unable to dominate the middle of the park. Griffith has proved to be a useful right-back, and deserves to be playing there ahead of Stockley.

We have yet to see striker Steve Thompson as he has been injured since the summer, so lets reserve judgement there.

There have been some positives, defender John McCombe looks a good centre-half, and Rob Taylor has made a impact playing out on the left, and Lee Collins (6-month loan) should have a big future ahead of him at left-back.

I doubt the Board are going to make any kind of knee jerk reaction and sack Sinnott, but I do think he may find himself on borrowed time.

Vale travel to Gillingham next Saturday. Sinnott, if he is still at the helm, will be desperate for three points.