Thanks for getting to the bottom of it all for us Andy.
It’s a relief to know Sadler threw away promotion this season to concreate on getting promoted next year instead.
Also nice to know I’m just as culpable for the collapse as he is. I shall prepare a derogatory banner about myself right now.
Bad luck 35% 
Superb response 
I reckon Lowe leaving and, for whatever reason, Wheatley not being able to be an adequate replacement, played a part.
The funny thing is that, apart from a couple of games, I don’t think we have played like a relegation team. It’s not been bad luck, although some of the goals scored against us have been ridiculous once-in-a-season efforts, more the confidence washed away.
Bradford will probably win but their supporters are probably all doom and gloom too as they have been playing poorly. But whatever happens, a win today at Crewe might cheer us all up.
Bury (A) '95, Oldham (H) '99, Millennium Stadium '01, Notts County (A) & Swindon (A) '06.
My big Walsall days. Hard to feel we haven’t been robbed of one of those this season.
Today is reminiscent of the Shrewsbury game in 18/19. Final day of the season, we travel to a traditional rival having won a handful of games since Christmas, desperate for points and favourable results elsewhere to scape a place in League 1 next season.
Just feel a bit numb heading to this one. Even if things go as well as they possibly can, Crewe (A) '25 will feel more like a great escape than a promotion party.
It is odd but I think if we win at Crewe today and don’t go up, I will be even more angry than I already am.
I obviously want to win, as it may help us for the playoffs, but these aren’t normal circumstances. My head is fried.
If only we had managed that this season.
Yes, yours is a good post you make good points. You are right our lack of ability to clear our lines certainly invites pressure, so perhaps a bigger % of fault should go to Walsall being knackered our Walsall being worked out. It’s all subjective.
But take the goal Gillingham scored against us. Goals like that are rare. Gillingham hardly had any other chances that night. The fact that goals like that happen is part of what makes football a great game, but I struggle to give Sadler blame for dropping points in that game.
It’s also probably why the analysis should wait until after the season has finished otherwise you risk going around in circles.
I think it’s 100% Sadler
Teflon shoulders central
And he can have 100% repsonibility to get us 12 points ahead too
Just for clarification… why are the players knackered ?
You know, we won 12 league games that season and 6 came before mid October.
There was at least one mistake in that goal against Gillingham. If you want to pick up on little points like that there will always be a mistake involved. We have conceded several goals like that for a reason.
Game 51/56 for me today and hope it’s the last one this season.
Really, really hope we can do it 
Thanks man. Until all avenues to promotion are dead, ill stay positive!
we’ve got dodgy Matty Sadler he f***** up a 12 point lead. 
Believe everyone 1-0 Saddlers 
Bradford to draw
This is true. You are right luck is a hard concept to grasp but the more games you play the less of a factor it is. I do agree, but on the same hand as someone else posted Walsall are the first team since 1888 to win 9 games on the bounce and then not win 13. Similar to having 10 heads followed by 10 tails it’s a freak but it can happen every 100 years.
Not that it’s the only reason of course.
I think Sadler has his plans and principles that we don’t fully know and he sticks to them, I’m surmising he does this for the long term good. It explains for example, the DJ situation.
I remember when Walsall got to Wembley and Smith stuck to his patient passing style even though we were behind and everyone (including me) was urging the ball forward. But that just wasn’t Smiths way.
Similarly I would agree that we should have focused on whatever was needed for promotion, but that doesn’t seem to have happened. Whether Sadler is right or wrong only time will tell or if he gets sacked we will never know.
I take on board your comments about I’ve ’invented’ this. You are right I have no concrete evidence. I’m just trying to make sense of what’s happened e.g. the DJ situation
Agree with the rest of your post except for
I only gave this 5% because it’s the by and large the same crowd that were there when Walsall were winning, so logically it can’t be a huge factor, but I don’t think the Bescot atmosphere helps. I don’t know why our perceptions are different but I find the Bescot atmosphere has a very negative vibe by and large. I would point to the players getting booed when we we drew with Gillingham and were 12 points clear.
I’ve taken friends to Walsall and they’ve said they find it a negative place. Possibly caused by years of understandable frustration. It is what it is. Again accept it’s a subjective view.
Probably a mixture of the way we played earlier in the season and not being rested. I can see a case for saying this is Sadler’s fault yes. Again it’s hard to isolate from other reasons.
Que Será, Será has never felt more appropriate today.Safe journey to you all and pray for a miracle.
Never looked forward to a game less than this one. Really cba. I just want this season to be over and the fastest way for that to happen is to get promoted so please let there be a miracle at gresty road today but I don’t expect there will be one.
Probably best you take another break