Differing sense of humours, social/work environments.
Where I’ve worked/lived since leaving school, if you act like a dick people will at the very least take the piss at your expense, and then usually tell you that you’re being a dick and to stop being a dick whilst laughing. Mistakes and errors from 20/25 years are still raised are humorous anecdotes at peoples expense. It’s just the way it is.
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In my opinion there are a few factors that have come together.
Firstly Sadler’s development is excellent and has to be mentioned before anything else. We’re well drilled and he’s absolutely got everyone rowing in the same direction. He’s refined our style of play and kept the things that worked well last season.
O’kelly must help. I can’t see how him offering advice isn’t huge for Sadler given his record.
Recruitment has been brilliant - we’ve improved this side of things so much, so quickly. We have much better players than last season and a lot of young players who have developed well.
The board are better - we feel like a more professional club now.
Our fitness seems better - I’m not sure if we’ve made changes or just got things right but strength and conditioning seems way better. Matt’s improvement at his age stands out and I can’t imagine he’s suddenly just decided to try harder.
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Agree with all that especially the fitness part, MS and his staff have clearly recognised that last season we tired and struggled in the last 10 minutes of games most weeks, this season as been completely the opposite and we finish so much stronger than the opposition and fitness has to play a part.
Recruitment is so much better too, the club have targeted players for the desired positions and that makes all the difference.
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Oh come on. If you can’t have some piss talking on a football forum where can you do it ?
I don’t think anyone takes it too personally
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I get that and if you’re 2 people who get on having a bit of banter then I take it back, but it seems like a one way attack with no real punchline from the outside looking in.
Different strokes and all that but it doesn’t come across as good natured in my opinion.
I haven’t got a horse in this race and Thanatos seems like he can look after himself but it just comes across as tiresome repetition of a point that’s already been made.
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Not a f88kin snowball in hells chance. 
There was an interview - maybe Jellis - he said that our best results last season came when we ran the most. It was the biggest statistical predictor of success.
Anyway, Sadler apparently went all in on it and if you can’t outrun the opposition then you don’t play.
I think it’s been a massive help, especially combined with better game management through managing the first half and then stepping up in the second half.
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Thanks mate. Can’t see the reply to so can only assume one of 3 people I have had to block because of the incessant nonsense.
Why can’t people just enjoy that we are doing well?
I certainly didn’t see this season coming - and I’m bloody glad of it.
One thing I think I did get right was the issue of Daniels and Fark playing together - and McEntee being used in midfield.
Just strange that those who say that others egos’ are inflated - are the ones rubbing themselves on their phone because they were ‘right’.
Why can’t we all just enjoy the season and push on?
Don’t think any of us would dare to dream what position we are in.
I thought we would be better but not on this scale
. Being an old Walsall fan you just expect everything to go tits up .
We need to embrace it but not get carried away , not just yet anyway 
You weren’t right actually. He was always in midfield for a specific reason. He played in midfield away at Notts county and Salford last season where we won. He also came on against Newport on Sunday to replace Jellis, again because we needed someone with energy to win the ball against a side that we’re passing the ball around at the back.
My point was more that you were wrong. Very wrong. And unlike other posters like Blazing and Browser your ego is too massive to admit it.
I find I am able to both enjoy the season and point out where you are wrong.
Have a nice day. 
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I nearly added that in my opening post 
and thank you for taking my post in the spirit it was intended. It certainly wasn’t to embarrass or belittle your old post as some may have suggested.
If you saw my later post about managing in general, you’ll probably understand my views on Sadler last season.
I saw enough that he had a belief in how he wanted to play and that whilst he was implementing this and you could see the improvements, he would have learnt he hadn’t quite got all the parts to fully make it work.
With players contracts and transfer windows you’re restricted in how quickly you can change that.
I think it’s noticeable that it’s taken only a few key additions/changes to fully turn it into a well oiled machine.
Do I think he’s got things wrong? Oh absolutely. If you’ve never failed at anything, you’ve never been in a position to make decisions about anything. From what I can see, he’s always stayed steadfast in his beliefs.
My thoughts on O’kelly… Sadler would undoubtedly have tapped into his experience from time to time. I think he confirmed this in an interview last season, that he speaks to him and other professionals. However, I do find it disingenuous when people suggest Sadlers success is in part down to O’kelly’s influence.
As you commented and one thing no one could claim to have predicted, is being 12 points clear of the pack at the end of 2024 and long may it continue.
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The PE teacher got luckily by accidentally stumbling on the secret passage next to the cleaning cupboard in the Locker. From there Sadler was able to follow the tunnel to the O’Kelly coaching altar, and bring back the lost leaflet of coaching.
No one really knows it’s secrets, or it’s power.
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To be fair I can see why Thanny is annoyed, considering you trawled back to a quote from last season (prior to all new signings and loans) to bring up a “gotcha”.
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Did the tunnel lead to the men’s Loo in Morrisons supermarket 
Were it was written on the Bog Roll
Yes long may it continue mate.
I know that when I read “it’s a 3 year project” I get wound up and let’s be honest it shows how quickly things can change, we’ve suddenly stopped leaking in goals for fun (MS massively got it wrong chucking Daniel’s back in end of last season, he’s learnt from that) and know we’re even better the other end of the pitch, I think Jamma finding his forest green form as helped us, he really has been an handful and Nathan Lowe is just a proper centre forward who has a big future in the game.
It seems last seasons wrongs have been given attention and we are a dominant force, Sadler and Co must all take credit for that along with the squad.
I’d love nothing more than to eat even more humble pie when we get promoted, like everyone else i can’t wait for match day im in the locker for midday even thou I haven’t had a beer for 4 months and find myself visiting opposition boards to read there thoughts, they all say the same, a well balanced, disciplined, hard working, well drilled team.
Happy times to be a saddler.
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Good points made.
I can relate wholeheartedly to your last paragraph… not the humble pie bit , but the eagerness for each match day to hurry up and arrive and the reading of the opposition message boards.
Happy times to be a saddler indeed… at last!
Happy New Year UTS
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I find the easiest way not to be caught out on saying silly things is not to say them in the first place.
It wasnt an exception there are literally lots of other equally silly examples.
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That’s the old Bonser passage your thinking of
Weird from a bloke who has resurrected a thread to peacock how right they were.
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And yet it wasnt me who resurrected it.
Why do you make wrong claims about things people can literally see for themselves. Now that’s weird.