D 1-1 vs Colchester United (A) - League Two - Sat 16th March, 3pm

Aslong as we’re still in contention for that last play off place, that’s all that matters really.

Even in the last three games, we haven’t played poorly in any of them, so just a case of scraping a couple of wins to get over the line.

We can do it :+1:t2:

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I think in all the matches in League 2, only Mansfield beat a team below them on points at the start of the day. It’s that time of the year

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Sadler, bit of a different tone to normal

Great post Redandwhite measured and accurate .:+1:

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Highlights- they missed a lot of the late chances out

The narrative that Hutch has been below par for the last three games and should’ve been taken off more often or earlier is a joke….ok he has been below HIS par but only in a goal threat sense.

It’s generally accepted that when he’s off it Walsall struggle and by doing so we basically put the blame on one player for a poor team performance without considering that a poor team performance may have impacted a players individual performance!!

Makes no sense.

We also seem to judge his performance on whether he’s created or scored a goal and failure to do so immediately puts him in the poor bracket regardless of how he’s actually played.

Last two games he’s been better than Earing yet received for more criticism. He was really poor v FGR…but actually after his penalty miss he was probably our best player for 25/30 mins….takes real bravery to do that when hiding was the easiest option available to most players….

It’s no surprise he’s found life tougher more recently. He’s clearly being denied time and space from opposition (as is Earing) - which is to be expected - but while we all moan about the poor forward players and how we miss Jamma not many are offering much consideration to how that may affect the attacking midfield players who rely on him to hold the ball up and allow them to join in.

If teams are working harder to prevent us from playing they will clearly focus that on players like him and Earing and limit the opportunity to give them the ball.

You’re then relying on the ability of others to get it to them….which means if the team struggle the individual suffers.

Where I think he is struggling is he seems reluctant to pull the trigger….but strangely that was many people’s criticism of him earlier in the season saying that he was a little greedy and shooting too often. Damned if you do……

The fact is, even today, I wouldn’t have taken him off. He’s still the most likely to open up a defence even if it’s not the final ball it’s often him who releases Gordon or Foulkes on the overlap that creates the crossing opportunity.

Sometimes with these players you have to just take your medicine. I bet almost every team in the division would give their right arm for a centre midfield player who has 13 goals and 9 assists.

Also…he plays one hell of a lot of games. At a club where everyone constantly bemoans the injury records of players we have a player here who hasn’t missed a match day squad since he joined……not one single injury or illness has made him unavailable……no wonder he’s a managers favourite!

Just checked….98 games in less than two seasons and 37 direct goal contributions in that time….not to mention several involvements missing the official ‘assist’ recognition….

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He would have scored the chance Tierney had :unamused:

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Hope your right but can’t see it. Need to beat Bradford, Swindon and Salford at home and then win or at least not lose against Wimbledon on the last day. If we can scrape a few points from the away games. Could be enough.

This is Walsall though and we might go away to mk dons and win. That game is a huge one and given its fairly local and has alot riding on it it will be our biggest away league following for a few years I reckon

:clap:t2::clap:t2::clap:t2::clap:t2:

Can add Notts County and Doncaster to that list too, all to play for :slightly_smiling_face:

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Nice to be in with a shout. And mk dons away on the bank holiday should be a good day out

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Need to get DJ back in this team to revive our push asap for me . I don’t care that he doesn’t run round like a headless chicken. He scores goals and takes his chances.

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What if DJ came back into the side, didnt run around much, didn’t get given many chances to score, didnt contribute to opposition starting their attacks or preventing the ball from coming back a bit too quick and didnt create much space for others to score……and we had a win % similar to what we’ve had in all the other games he’s started this season…

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I’d actually sign Faal end of the season.

He’s up and down but then he’s still only 21. Not everyone that age can make an impact like Draper but he has 9 league goals across his spells here and at Donny.

With the others it’s clear DJ will go in the summer, DJT had the odd good game here and there but now back on the periphery. Gordon just been like he was in his first spell but a natural goalscorer he ain’t. Matt finally hit some form but ultimately he is in his mid 30s.

There’s potentially a very decent nucleus forming. I’d be signing Faal and Okagbue on permanents and doing everything to get Adegboyeda on another loan if that’s even possible.

If all that takes selling Hutch it’s something that will probably have to be done.

We’ll see how this season plays out but there’s a chance now for club to have a really exciting young team for start of next season that can have a serious promotion push and then enough youth to then be competitive in league one. Let’s hope the club just dosen’t let it slip through their grasp like so often in the last decade.

But DJ has not been given a fair crack of the whip all season for me through no fault of his own . And to be not be given any game time at all not even 10 minutes here and there to build up his match fitness is not acceptable for a player of his quality

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But he has had chances and at this level ylu have to take them. In the main when DJ has started a games he’s been very poor and we’ve lost….

You have to also consider that there’s more than likely a very good reason Monday to Friday that is why he’s not started more games……I doubt very much that he’s looked a class act and sharp as a razor and the staff have decided against starting him….

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Hutch is our best player easily and his contribution shows it
How anyone can moan about him not being a good player is utter rediculous
The same people who dislike hutch probably love Gordon as they see hard work as the only thing that matters over talent
Hutch won’t be in this league much longer and neither will Gordon but in opposite directions

Imagine selling hutch so we can sign Dave , faal and give Matt a new deal
That’s a huge downgrade and waste of money if I’ve ever seen it

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Bit of a momentum killer the last 3 games, with chances we could possibly have been 5 points better off with a bit more ruthlessness. I was one of Sadler’s biggest critics back in November but fair play to him to get us with a fair chance of making the final play off spot( a rarity at this stage of the season). Easter weekend obviously pivotal to our chances. Keeping fingers crossed we can pick up at least 4 points over the 2 games. On the DJ situation, obviously he’s only just come back from injury and with no reserve team the lack of match practice will do him no favours. What i would say is would it have hurt to give him 10 minutes and roll the dice?. Anyway nice to be at the right end of the table for once!!!

Nah. I dont see it. The couple of games he cameo’d in before he broke his toe, he was slow and took away from the team. He did score 1 tap in though. Sell in the Summer.

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