It is well known knowledge that Vale manager Micky Adams is targeting a few more signings, going into the new season. One of the positions being targeted is a new right-back, and Vale's current full-back Adam Yates feels this can only be a positive thing. Unlike most players whose first team place is under-threat, Yates is not worried; in fact he sees it as a good thing.
He said: “There’s been talk of the Gaffer getting another right-back in and to be honest I think every single player in the squad needs competition for their place and I'm no exception.
“He’s looked at a couple of lads over the last couple of weeks and for one reason or another, things haven’t worked out. If it doesn't happen he has (Richard) Duffy who can play there as well and at a push I think (Chris) Birchall can do a job in the position for a game or two. It’s one of those where it’s left with the manager, but I fully expect him to try to bring someone in.
“It’s more of a squad game nowadays, so instead of playing fifty/sixty games a season you now play twenty/thirty games, twenty players making an impact throughout a season instead of eleven playing week in, week out. At the end of the season we can look back and if we have had a successful season, like we did last year, we know we all had a part to play in it, which is a nice feeling.”
Yates added that he feels with the squad Micky Adams has at his disposal, he can’t see why they can’t aim for the same position as last year with one eye on improving on it.
He said: “For next season we need to aim to be in the same area as last season, I think we have enough quality in the squad to cause more problems than we perhaps did last season as well, so if everything comes together there is no reason we can’t go higher.”