The Saddlers scraped a point away at high-flying Carlisle at the weekend, against the expectations of many Saddlers, one Chelsea fan and probably most Carlisle fans, who assumed we’d be cannon fodder. Even oddschecker had Walsall as the longest odds draw in the division, in spite of our recent run of one point games. Jolly Johnny, UTS regular, was at the match and gives this report:

I was stood in the Carlisle crowd today with my mate (opposite side to away fans, rather than behind goal) and you should have heard what some of their fans were saying during the second half and when we’d scored our goal! Makes our fans look quite objective and content!

Anyway, first half we were wack. Started awfully and they hit the bar eafly doors and we looked all over the place, and scared of the ball. They then scored from what appeared a mistake at the back, butler I think, and I was fearing the worst. Most of the first half was Carlisle in control, our midfield being over run and not in the game and our back four all hoofing balls up to nicholls and macken to try and win headers against a 6’5 and 6’4 pair of centre halves. No contest. In fact, it was only @taundz out right who was winning a header. We weren’t creating, Paterson not really in the game and were lucky to go in at 1-0, with McGovern hitting the bar from a free kick just before the break.

Second half was a lot better and more determined and the subs, when they came, certainly helped. To be honest, I still didn’t think we looked like scoring – we weren’t doing anything through midfield and neither wide player was getting past a man of getting decent ball into the box. We sustained a lot of pressure, had some fortunate decisions foulwise from the ref, and then had a lucky escape when Zoko was clean through (I was in line from where I as and he wasn’t offside) but he lost balance trying to get round jimmy, who did well not to foul him, then fluffed his shot on goal. At 2-0 it would have been game over but we still had a sniff, I thought only from a dead ball to be honest. Bowerman came on and certainly improved movement up front. Jarvis for Peterlin was another change and we actually got the ball wide more. We had what I thought was a certain pen when Bowerman reacted to a shot in the area and it looked like his shirt was pulled nearly off is body but nothing given. Butler had a hearder cleared off the line and then Jimmy made a great save from Jordan Cook (memories!!). The last 15 mins we gave it a go to be fair, and got a pen, when simek fouled Butler from behind at the edge of the area – seen them given and seen them not given. Nicholls put it away, and then for the last 5 we actually tried to go for a win rather than just waste time in the corner.

All in all, a good point, given the way we improved second half. The same problems still persist though in terms of ball retention, creativity and some cutting edge. I thought Manny had a good game, Nicholls too, given the usual service etc, as well as Taundry who put a real shift in and made some great tackles tracking back to help tirelessly. Shame the creative edge of a wide player isn’t really there. Peterlin and Chambers struggled in the main and we really need a centre mid. A striker to play alongside Bowerman would be good for when Macken comes off would be useful, as Nicholls-Bowerman, and Jarvis-Bowerman is quite weak.

UTS!

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Walsall travelled to much-fancied Brentford this Saturday, and returned with an unfancied point! Again, our message board fans, supporters and commenters have pointed out that the problem we have is creativity. On the whole, the team isn’t that bad, but, please (club!) can we find that personality in the middle of the field that will galvanise the rest? Two weeks till the window closes, but doubt we’ll move right now. Not yet desperate enough.

UTS regular Addis was at the match, so here’s his take on the game and the day:

It was Jimmy’s day today, and rightly so (great to see the team wearing Wacka 530 T-shirts when warming up and to see JW chatting to the fans at the end) but it was Andy Butler’s 90 minutes. A superb defensive performance, throwing himself in the way of any player or shot that looked dangerous. Praise to Manny Smith too – they are an impressive pairing at the moment. In fact the whole back 4 look solid.
Good first half performance and we should have been ahead at the break. Brentford were pretty disappointing for a side who have been challenging for the play-offs, it must be said. But, and this is the story of our season, we created very little. Best chance fell to Macken just before h/t, a good save from their keeper (his first appearance of the season I think) but from 6 yards out he should have scored.
Bees came into it more after the break – after we had had a promising 10 minutes though – and had a spell of pressure which resulted in a succession of corners. That was the only time we looked a bit rocky but they didn’t capitalise and we finished the game pretty strongly. As has been noticed, Nicholls was played in down the left and rather snatched at his shot, which skimmed past the right hand post.
Before the game I’d have taken a draw, but we need to find a few wins and soon. I don’t think we are currently playing like a relegation side. Apart from the back four, Paterson looked sharp (and when he learns the art of distribution will be some player) and Taundry seems to have found an extra gear recently. Chambers didn’t contribute much in my opinion. I’d take a point at Carlisle too and in normal circumstances these away draws would be fine, but our inability to win at home is keeping us down with the strugglers.
A Brentford fan on the train thought I was a home fan. “That was a waste of 90 minutes” he said. I don’t think it was from our point of view, plenty of promising signs to take away. And as has been said, so fitting that Jimmy didn’t concede today.

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Excuses over. Forget the undefeated December and the recent reasonable away record, our home form is relegation form, pure and simple. Only the bottom four have picked up fewer points than we have on their home turf and it would only take one of them to start picking up a few home wins and we would be deep in the mire. The reason? Only two teams have scored fewer home goals than we have (although, to be fair, only two teams in the bottom half of the Division have conceded fewer). While the strikers have had the finger pinted at them, by fans and management, it would seem that our inablility to create chances is the major problem. That leaves tomorrow’s visit of Bournemouth a very important fixture.

Dean Smith will have Manny Smith back from suspension for the game. He missed Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Bury due to a one-match ban picked up for accumulating five bookings, but is likely to slot straight back into Dean Smith’s XI, with stand-in Lee Beevers reverting to full-back.

Fellow central defender Olly Lancashire continues to struggle with a hamstring injury which has ruled him out of the club’s previous four matches and is again set to watch from the stands.

Kevan Hurst returned to first-team action as a second-half substitute at Gigg Lane and the midfielder will again hope to be involved as he builds up his match fitness having recovered from a broken bone in his heel.

As for the Cherries, centre-back Steve Cook is set to make his first appearance as a fully-fledged Bournemouth player this weekend.

Cook signed on at Dean Court on a full-time basis this week, after spending a period on loan at the Dorset club towards the end of 2011 and the defender is likely to be given a start by manager Lee Bradbury.

However, Bradbury has a string of injuries to contend with when he selects his team. Defender Adam Barrett (hamstring) and midfielder Shaun MacDonald (dead leg) will have late fitness tests before the Cherries make the trip up the M5, while Mark Molesley (hamstring), Shaun Cooper (thigh), Charlie Sheringham (foot) and Nathan Byrne (ankle) are all out.

Mathieu Baudry will provide another defensive option for Bournemouth after returning from a hamstring injury but Joe Partington remains sidelined as he recovers from an ankle operation.

Predictions?

Bournemouth go into this game in tenth, looking to try and close the gap on the play off places. Away from home, they are quite formidable, as only Charlton and the Franchise are the only sides to have picked up more points on the road. Normally, I’d be happy with a point, but Dean Smith needs a win to calm the growing criticism.

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After the heroics against the Wendies, a return to the apparent base form that’s plagued Walsall this season.

UTS regular Sadsfan was at the game and sums it up as follows:

Absolutely garbage today, and for me it was down to the manager. Far too long this season I have watched the back four pump long balls to the front men completely bypassing the midfield. Now, this is not just the fault of the defence as the midfield has all the movement of a photograph. Peterlin can play the short pass well but doesn’t find space to receive the ball off the back four and Chambers may as well not play as he always makes sure he is being marked so he does not have to have the ball. This is Smiths fault as he should have addressed this by now and made sure the team were playing the ball through the midfield using the Patterson as a creative outlet. To be over 20 games into the season and playing a style of football that is clearly not working leaves the blame at the door of the manager, its not Bonser that will make me a stayaway next season, but it will be the awful football played under Smith.

Fellow regular tinned also saw the game in a similar manner:

I thought for spells in the first half we passed it well and looked like a half decent side. Second half and another Smith master tactician talk and we’re mentally still in the dressing rooms. As soon as Macken was taken off we lost all ability to hold the ball up top.

It’s okay saying 4 points out of 6 was a good haul (it was) but after getting 3 on Monday we should be disappointed not to get all 6.

UTSer Welsh Saddler saw the following:

All in all, a disappointing game. Rochdale were obviously trying to impress their caretaker-manager by showing their ability to play proper football, and I thought they always looked the more likely side to score. We CAN play like that, but too often we CHOOSE not to. That’s down to Dean Smith.

Does Deano believe in his team?

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Weird being a Saddler, isn’t it? After a disappointing season so far, the team turn out a performance as good as the one against Wednesday on Boxing Day. It would make you wonder what the heck were going on – if there wasn’t an explanation for it. As I said before the Chesterfield game, we will be better away from home or against the good teams, purely because the game will be more open. We just dont have the creativity in the side to break down defences of poor sides back on our home turf. Unfortunately, of course, it is creativity that is the most expensive thing to aquire.

Dean Smith has no new injury or suspension concerns ahead of the visit of second-bottom Rochdale.

Claude Gnakpa stepped off the bench to bag an injury-time equaliser and the Frenchman may have played himself into contention for a starting berth against managerless Dale, although Smith will be reluctant to make too many changes to his starting eleven.

Manny Smith passed a fitness test to face the high-flying Owls and, having netted the late winner, will again start at the heart of defence alongside skipper Andy Butler.

Olly Lancashire (hamstring) misses out again while fit-again midfielder Kevan Hurst (probably our most creative player) is closing in on his return from a broken bone in his heel but may need more match practice before being considered.

Meanwhile, over at our opponents, Chris Beech, the new caretaker manager, will be making his debut in the job, as their last game, at Tranmere, was postponed, when the stands at Prenton Park started to blow down.

Captain Gary Jones should return from injury for the visitors, but midfielders Joe Thompson (thigh) and Simon Hackney (abdominal) are long-term absentees, alongside defensive duo Marc Twaddle (back) and Pim Balkestein (groin).

Goalkeeper David Lucas will be assessed ahead of the contest having having suffered a head injury in the defeat to Sheffield United earlier this month.

Predictions?

Rochdale have won 2, drawn 1 and lost 7 of their 10 away games this season, so we ought to be favourites – mind you, we’ve only won 3 at home! We ought to have enough to win, however, especially if they make the mistake of trying to play football!

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8000+ at the Bescot today to witness a remarkable injury-time turnaround as Walsall stunned the high-flying owls 2-1 with two goals in six minutes time allowed. The victory was in no small part down to Saddlers and UTS regular Funk Hits the Fan who was attending his first game for 5 years – his thoughts were left on our message board:
Just could not see where a goal was coming from, although we looked solid there was absolutely nothing going forward – although the same could be said for Wednesday – a typical Gary Megson team.

I’m hoarse, jubilant and have been well and truly reminded of how good it can be following Walsall. BIG SHOUT out to the Saddlers fans today, I have been on here a lot slagging of the lack of atmosphere but the boys & girls really got behind the side and gave the huge vocal Sheffield following as good as they got.

This board is often negative (including me a lot for the time) but I can’t find any negatives today the way I am feeling. It’s good to be back!

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The Saddlers went to basement club Chesterfield yesterday and were within 16 seconds of nicking a 1-0 win. But veteran Jack Lester equalised meaning Walsall missed the chance to grab a vital three points.

Pedagogue was at the game and offers this considered analysis via the message board:

A frustrating game – overall, we should be grateful for a point because, over the full 90 minutes, Chesterfield were the less bad team. Yet it could so easily have been a welcome rare away win. How many times have we conceded a goal in the closing minutes, this season? Lester’s equaliser came on 44 minutes and 44 seconds of the second half! In the first half, without ever dominating play, we always looked in control. However, in the second half, play was nearly all in our half. Luckily for us, the Spireites are as crud in front of goal as we are.

Walker – did what he had to do, well, with ever being really extended.

Westlake – steady performance, nothing outstanding, but no major mistakes, either.
Beevers – a workmanlike performance. Although he’s not quite good enough to get into our full-strength starting XI, he does provide reliable cover along the back four.
Butler – usual performance, excellent headers, tackles and blocks but bloody awful distribution.
Sadler – good performance again.

Taundry – as usual, worked his socks off and gave good support to Westlake.
Peterlin – who?
Chambers – see Peterlin – if Peterlin and Chambers are the answer, what on earth was the question? Totally anonymous again. In their defence, I will say that the distribution of Walker and the back four usually by-passes them. You don’t need a conventional midfield when your defenders play “hoofball”. Can somebody on the coaching staff PLEASE do something about this?
Paterson – wide left is not his best position but he is still learning (and hopefully “filling out”). Always looks more dangerous when cutting into the penalty-area.

Nicholls – worked tremendously hard right across the width of the pitch. Took his goal well. My MotM.
Macken – the old warhorse was a good player in his day but he is now well past his “best before” date.

Grigg (for Macken) – no improvement on the old man (even worse, in fact)
Halliday (for Paterson) – not enough time on pitch.
Bowerman (for Westlake) – reshuffle saw Taundry drop to right-back. Bowerman managed one on-target shot but it was too weak.

I am still concerned about the style (or lack of it) of our football. Persistent “big boot” upfield to a dwarf forward line, none of whom could head their way out of a wet paper bag. This suggests poor coaching. Even if we do sort this out, we still need a couple of midfield players.

Listening to BBC Radio Dingle (yeah, I know!) on the way home, I heard that Deano and some of the players were complaining that Jack Lester (who went on to score the equaliser) should have been sent off for elbowing Chambers in the face. We can’t comment on that because we were all in the North Stand while all the action was in our half, at the other end!

Nice little ground – no stanchions, Roy! The traffic management outside was just as bad as at Bescot, though.

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Thank God we’re away tomorrow.

That might seem a strange thing to say, considering the need for points and the fact we were so abysmal on Tuesday night in the Cup, but there is a logic to that. I was discussing the difference between the excellent perfromance at home to Charlton on Saturday, followed by the terrible one on Tuesday. When asked what the difference was, I said that Charlton came thinking that the point were “in the bag” and played an open, attacking style. That gave us the chance to play football. Dagenham, on the other hand, came to keep it tight in midfield and at the back and our lack of any creativity in the side made sure that we couldn’t break them down. One of the group said he had predicted right at the start that our best performances would come gainst the good sides and away from home, for exactly that reason, and that is the way it is turning out. Mind you, that still doesn’t explain to me why Peterlin, the most creative of the three central midfielders on Tuesday night, was playing the deepest!

It looks as if the team may well be picking itself for the game. Lancashire must be out, following his hamstring problem, and so, we must assume, will be Manny Smith, after his kick in the face (wht wasn’t that a foul, ref?), which left him groggy and missing some teeth. That gives a back four of Westlake, Beevers, Butler and the returning Sadler.

Of the rest, Hurst is back in training, but unlikely to play, so that may mean no changes at all, although I would prefer going back to 4 4 2 with the current line up and give Bowerman a chance to start with Macken. Jarvis, of course, is still suspended.

Chesterfield will be hoping veteran (and dangerous) striker Jack Lester can shake off his virus.

Leading scorer Leon Clarke’s loan spell ended after the defeat at Wycombe Wanderers last Saturday, so he will have retuned to Swindon to see if he can avoid another row with Paolo Di Canio. That means either Lester or Jordan Bowery should come in, though Scott Boden, scorer of a hat-trick in the midweek County Cup game, could be in for a recall.

Defender Neal Trotman hopes for a start following the Spirites letting three in Adams Park last week, with Aaron Downes is most likely to make way if he gets the nod. Nathan Smith’s hamstring should enable him to be considered but loan left back Scott Griffiths’ form should keep him in the role.

Dean Morgan, scorer of both goals last weekend, should continue after what, up to that point, had been a disappointing season for him. Former Saddlers player Dwayne Mattis played 90 minutes in the reserves’ game with Heanor Town on Tuesday.

Predictions?

This is a team in even worse form than we are. Chesterfield’s dreadful home form has resulted in just 1 victory and 1 draw from their last six played. While Spireites have scored 10, a worringly large 15 have been leaked at the other end. Meanwhile, our away form is losing just 1 from the last six, but drawing the other 5. Only 5 goals have been registered in this time, with 6 leaked at the wrong end. On form, this should be a narrow away win, but who knows!!!!

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By all accounts the faithful were served up a dish of dross at the pre-Christmas feast for famine night at Bescot. On the positive side, we kept another clean sheet in open play, but that’s the only positive. A shameful result, the bad taste of which will linger for a long time.

Asps was at the match and saw it like this:

An abject disgrace of a performance. Smith needs to take a long look at himself and the players he’s signed.

In addition to all said by other posters above, it was a terrible use of subs again tonight. All ours used by 70 minutes, when all could see extra time was coming.

Nichols should never wear the shirt again. How anyone can try to bend a penalty around an imaginary wall is beyond me. He can retire and clean cars at the end of this season.

Freezing cold night & no warm drinks after 60 minutes as shop shut – ffs only at Walsall.

You can comment on the match thread here and from there you can navigate to All About Walsall and have your say about the rest of the season, Smith and whatever else tickles your fancy, or makes your butt itch.

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I will be king
And you
You will be queen
Though nothing will
Drive them away
We can beat them
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
Just for one day

And you
You can be mean
And I
I’ll drink all the time
‘Cause we’re lovers
And that is a fact
Yes we’re lovers
And that is that

Though nothing
Will keep us together
We could steal time
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
For ever and ever
What d’you say

I
I wish you could swim
Like the dolphins
Like dolphins can swim
Though nothing
Will keep us together
We can beat them
For ever and ever
Oh we can be Heroes
Just for one day

I
I will be king
And you
You will be queen
Though nothing
Will drive them away
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be us
Just for one day

I
I can remember
Standing
By the wall
And the guns
Shot above our heads
And we kissed
As though nothing could fall
And the shame
Was on the other side
Oh we can beat them
For ever and ever
Then we can be Heroes
Just for one day

We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
We can be Heroes
Just for one day
We can be Heroes
We’re nothing
And nothing will help us
Maybe we’re lying
Then you better not stay
But we could be safer
Just for one day

Your view
http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=38842

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