The Valiants part 2

JJ Robinson is back for his second season at Port Vale and his first start to a season. Robinson took over in February last year and kept Port Vale in the division. His contract was up in June but the manager and club agreed on a new deal. 

The contract comes with conditions that Robinson requested. It is rumored to be a three year deal with the goals focused on those three years. 

“Last year the focus was on staying in the division. That is all the club and I cared about. This time, there are more items to focus on. I want to build a team to compete and to be promoted. The club was very willing to agree. The goal is to gain promotion within three seasons. We want to focus on using the academy and the club offered to sign two additional scouts. 

We also have a good size budget for the division and we plan to use it all. The club is providing me the resources, it is my job to make them work.”

A few recognizable players there. Ben Amos and Dan Gore continuing the Man United links I noticed last season with Gore and James Wilson.

Ryan Croasdale and Rico Richards, I had them both in the early stages of my Stockport save, the former as captain and the latter on loan.

George Byers I've had in a previous save some years ago. I believe it was whilst I was playing in Scotland with St. Mirren. And Ronan Curtis is one I've scouted so many times due to amazing numbers in pace, stamina etc. Always looked like a perfect fit for me, but somehow the timing has never been right for me to look his way.

Nathan Smith is not a player I'm familiar with, but 345 for the Valiants must make him a club legend there. Not far from the top 10 all time appearance list, as far as I can tell.

List of Port Vale all-time appearances - onevalefan.co.uk

Edit: Just a heads up. According to transfermarkt - Nathan Smith - Stats 24/25 | Transfermarkt - Smith had 401 appearances for Port Vale prior to this season.

Thank you! I will double check some of the higher numbers on transfer market. I was using fbref.com but the way they break it down is not as clear as TM. 

Gore is actually not on the team in real life anymore from what I can see. But I really enjoyed using him last season and he was on the initial squad in FC 25 (either a mistake or not fully updated) so I kept him with the team. 

(Carrying on from the end of FC 24 where I tested City being relegated..The SPFL is just a fun twist to see what would happen.)

The new EFL leagues.

   League one

This is nicely set up. Rangers and Celtic provide a nice touch and possible "story in the story". How will these Scottish giants perform in the English league system? Will they both advance to the Premier League, or only one of them?

City's possible rise from League Two will also be interesting to follow. If you "fail" promotion in the first season, you might find them among your opponents in season two. That's also what happened to me with my Sunderland save in FIFA23, as I recall.

Looking forward to this.

According to Talk Sport Troy Deeny claims Birmingham will morealess be promoted by Christmas. 

Lots of potential side stories to follow as well keeping an eye on City as well as the old firm clubs