They always were.
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Just to add to that post - that’s meant to be a positive post (not sure how it will read), but throughout my life supporting Walsall, we’ve had teams to get behind.
There’s a certain magic that this club produces and I look back on past Walsall sides/seasons and what I feel is something that a fan of a big club could never understand.
We’ve been starved of that for a few years now and it truly hurts me, but I feel like we could be starting to become Walsall again.
For me, the owners have got this right. Things are changing, we have a few young players making the right noises, we keep identifying diamonds in the rough in the transfer market and the whole club feels aligned.
I’ve been anti Sadler since he was appointed, but he is doing a good job now, so as much as it’s hard to change your mind when you’re so entrenched in a position, I can’t deny that he seems to be building something.
We’ve looked like the better side against every team we’ve played this season, and that isn’t easy over 5 matches.
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I’m not going to ruin the thread for people by getting into a debate about that where the end result is me moaning about things that happened 6 months ago on the back of a great win as that isn’t fair on other fans, but I will say that objectively I don’t believe they were.
Maybe the winning runs could be argued, but pre Notts County…you’ll never convince me.
I respect your opinion though, happy to take it to DM if you do want to discuss it.
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A big difference for me is that our experienced, higher class signing dropping down at last looks like he’s really going to work out. Not just his play, but his attitude. Everything about Albert says the opposite of " one last payday."
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Great result last night but the Cheltenham game is even bigger now.
Maybe the Nigel Adkins masterclass in the dark arts is a useful reminder that the opposition will try and stifle, frustrate and upset the rhythm of a buoyant, vibrant, youthful team.
Flynn will come with a real desire to give Walsall a bloody nose in a smash and grab. I wonder whether Jamma could be the key player because league two football can be a war of attrition. Once we’ve ’earnt the right to play’ we can shuffle the pack in the second half.
It’s difficult because the likes of Maher, Earing, Lowe and Albert are all incredibly creative, but, they’re not the strongest, physically, and will definitely be targeted by Flynn to ‘snuff out’ the creative outlets.
One player who I know will be properly fired up is McEntee because Flynn very publicly called him out when he made a mistake which led to a goal (an away game, in the cup, I think - was it Carlisle?)
I think that Flynn will try and get into the heads of one or two, so I hope we have a strong referee (the 4th Official might need some ear plugs to cope with Flynn’s high pitched yelps throughout the game, too!)
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I think there’s a song by The Killers which includes the line “Smile like you mean it.” With Unc, it’s so genuine: his joie de vivre.
Albert has such infectious enthusiasm that it’s very difficult not to like him.
Whether it’s singing the Taylor Allen tune or being in the goal celebrations and enjoying the final result with the fans, he’s evidently living for the moment.
I hope that the young players drink it in because I wouldn’t be surprised if he does for Walsall what Wes Hoolahan did for Cambridge (I think Waddock was there, then, too).
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I sincerely hope the old favourite “2-0 and you f&$@ed it up” got sung. Great result. Made my day.
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Yep I don’t think he needs the sort of money we will be paying him.
He just seems to love the game, his social media backs that up.
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I’ve consumed everything from our game last night as I wasn’t there.
I really like this team. I like it a lot. If we are in a game of football in the fourth division, I think we will win more than we lose. Unfortunately, not all fixtures in the fourth division are games of football. Sometimes, they descend into games of the mind. Old pros who know every trick in the book, referees who understand the laws but not the game.
Lowe will be a marked man now. Can he cope? For the first time in years we have a functional midfield - how do the individuals in that midfield cope when the opposition just bypass it? How do our three centre backs adapt when the opposition effectively play without a centre forward thus creating a three player over load across the rest of the pitch?
I’m beginning to believe and hope that this team is different. It has proven it can win games of football. But the test is much more than that. Being able to put the football in the goal from 12 yards is a sign of mental strength. We’re failing that test just now. Defending crosses is a sign of concentration - the jury is still out - there are a lot of crossed and high balls in the fourth division.
Loads of reasons to be cheerful. Hoping to pull out a plum in the next round of the league cup. Hoping we can get back to winning ways against Cheltenham (will test our fourth division nous). As August ends - things look good. Just need to keep working hard and these young players need to mature quite quickly.
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Does anyone know why highlights aren’t being published on the Saddlers app before they are posted elsewhere? Kinda makes a mockery of paying for Saddlers+/Live whatever it’s called now.
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It did, more than a few times. In fact we started singing it a bit too early for me liking. All worked out in the end though.
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I think Lakin did really well in that holding role when he came on, some of his passing was sublime always looking to go forward.
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I think Sadler deserves a huge amount of credit. He acknowledged the desire to ‘get off to a flier’, and having our most settled squad in many years has really helped us do that. Even last nights much changed line up had 6 players starting with us last year, the cohesion we have already built up has given us a competitive advantage on those who have made wholesale changes as we usually do and the obvious team spirit that Sadler has fostered has made it very easy for the new additions to fit in.
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I didn’t post anything much about the game last night and only really skim read the thread after getting home.
A few of my thoughts.
I read some negative comments on social media about Lowe, posted before he scored obviously. I said to the kids that I thought he was a right handful before he scored. I did wonder if his head would drop after the penalty. No chance, just kept on. He will do well for us without a doubt.
Adomah, bloody lovely. You could play him anywhere but I do think he looks better on the right than upfront.
Jellis, he must be a horrible player to play against. Lakin did well when he came on too, much more like the player we were expecting.
For those that don’t like or care about the cup anymore, you are missing out. That was another great night. We can still do well in the league alongside a good cup run. Me and the kids really enjoyed it.
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Still magic left in the cups its the clubs that don’t care as much about them now they still bring excitement for me as a fan i can’t wait for the draw now!!
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I do worry about our style against a Prem team though you give away 70% of possession to them your liable to get a good hiding lol.
NOOOOOOOO!! This is exactly what we shouldn’t do.
Maher, agreed. But there’s nothing physically weak about the other three. Adomah has pace and physicality to go with his skill and has played at this level and in non-league early in his career. He seems to dish out as much as he takes from what I’ve seen of him. Earing is pivotal to the balance of the midfield, again I don’t see any issues strength wise, he was hugely successful in the National League which is arguably more physical than L2, and last night outpaced and out-muscled their player that resulted in the sending off. Lowe lacking in physical strength?? Really??? He’s built like a brick-shithouse and looks as strong as an ox, easily as strong as Draper and on first looks has a turn of pace and looks better on the ball. Matt literally can’t run, his control of a football is woeful, and when we make him the focal point against a team of meat-heads he loses twice as many aerial challenges as he “wins” as was evidenced on Saturday. All of that, coupled with the fact that he gives away loads of pointless fouls is a key element in our poor retention of the ball.
We need to accept there will be bad days, defeats, and times when we get a number done on us, that’s football. But we need to stop over worrying about the opposition and realise that for the first time in years we actually have several very good footballers for this level. I would much rather watch their capabilities become pivotal to an actual style of play, which I thought was what Trivela promised about 18 months ago, rather than worry about what the likes of Flynn and Adkins might have up their sleeve.
Let’s see a bit of bravery and belief, I think that will facilitate a far greater chance of success, and will certainly be more entertaining.
If we just keep reverting to type we’ll just get the same boring mediocre outcome.
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That is absolutely spot on!
Really enjoyed last night’s match. I also love watching Adomah. I’ll admit I was skeptical when he signed, but he is so likeable and his enthusiasm is infectious. He’ll be a huge plus to the squad this season both on and off the pitch. On more than one occasion last night he was that player who sees things around him to make things happen and create chances - you can tell he has always played at a higher level.
This team are flipping fantastic. The team spirit instilled is credit to Sadler and his coaching staff and long may it continue. I don’t want to get my hopes up too much, but I’ve now performed a total 180 compared to how I felt pre Morecambe. Lowe looks a real player and I’d be tempted to put him in ahead of Jamma on Saturday. I think he and Gordon could be a really useful partnership. I’d also like to see Earing start as he offers something that none of the other midfielders do for me.
It’ll be interested to see how the ground lies after 10 or so matches, but it’s great to go into a Saturday excited. Roll on Saturday 
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