Micky Adam’s couldn’t hide his disappointment after Saturday’s penultimate pre-season against Southport, where Vale lost 4-2. Although he feels that training will be able to “iron out the kinks” for the season opener against Walsall next Saturday (9th August, 3pm KO).
Adams said: “I’m utterly disappointed about that performance, we picked the team according to the minutes they had all played. What we wanted to do was even it all out, but I have to say that I am disappointed about that performance and certainly with some of the individuals as well. So it has given me a bit of food for thought. We’ll get back to work on Monday to sort out a couple of things that were present today.
“We have to give credit to Southport though, they played well and won the game convincingly on paper. Having said that, I’m not concerned about what they do because they aren’t in our league.
“I thought we had three great chances during the first half, and it was only Southport goalkeeper Danny Loyd-Weston who kept them in the game, and that just goes to show that it is a fine-line. You have to put your chances away when you get them, and defend properly at the other end and we have been done during the second-half by a free-kick and a penalty. You can’t give teams, whoever it is, chances like that, but it is pre-season and that’s what it’s there for so we’ll learn from it.”
Adam’s believes that even though the team suffered a loss he still believes that he knows around 90% of his starting eleven for the opening fixture against Walsall on Saturday, but that 10% is still up for grabs and next week’s final friendly against West Bromwich Albion will help him finalise his team.
He said: “I’m pretty certain where I’m going to go next Saturday with my team. There’s still 10% up for grabs though, we have another fixture next Tuesday and we’ll mix and match again, but there’s still things we need to sharpen up on.”
“That being said we’ll still be giving our best on Tuesday, and individually they need to show me they are ready for the start of the season.”