Thought we played well for 60 minutes.
Got battered in the 1st 15 mins and was 2nd best after we made the subs.
In between we competed and played well.
At 2-1 down it looked more likely we’d score next (2-2) rather than Wrexham (3-1).
Individual mistakes cost us 2 goals.
I thought Sadler’s decision to push fullbacks forward was inspired and worked well, but I think “the management” were to blame for their 1st goal and the substitutions.
We should have expected the initial bombardment, but we weren’t prepared and Foulkes was targeted and exposed. We can’t have been surprised by Wrexham’s style of play and why didn’t we get the grips with Lee who ran the show?
Secondly, our substitutions gave the momentum back to Wrexham. Not sure why we went to 4-4-2.
I didn’t agree with Stirk coming off; I’d have brought off McEntee or Williams.
Thought Foulkes did well going forward, shame he made a late mistake.
I’m happy with 3 points from Stockport and Wrexham, but we need points against Crewe.
I dont see a meltdown. Just concern from some that are usually on the money when it comes to these things. And you never can understand it because you cant see past the end of your nose when it comes to Walsall.
Then when it all starts going tits up you’re the first to actually start calling for people’s heads.
If you didnt see the meltdown yesterday you also cant see past your nose obviously.
What is there to understand about yesterdays game other than we made 3 defensive mistakes and lost to a very good Wrexham team dont need someone who is on the money to tell me that. That tells me we just need to work harder on the training ground.
The football is whole lot better than what we are used too which i think will improve as the season progresses. The next 7 or 8 games will show how far we have progressed as a team compared to last year especially once Farquharson is back. Lets not forget we had 2 defenders with no efl experience playing next to each other against some quality opposition players.
January post: we’ve turned the corner! Well done to the chairman, the manager is a genius! We are a club finally on the up! Not only that, he was busy actively slapping down any one with caution in a similar way
Spot on with that assessment. Just like mid-way through the Morecambe game, I honestly thought we’d come away with something and was pleased (for the most part) with how we played - up until the substitutions. I really hope heads don’t drop in the team as we’re nearly there.
Feels like the opposite of last season atm, we can now score but can’t defend all that well.
Hoping Farq adds some much needed stability at the back.
Still hate this formation too, the width just isn’t there and when it is theres major gaps at the back then . Wish we’d play something standard with proper wingers.
I agree with some of what you say. Defensively we are shambolic at times and that needs to be put right asap. But we play some lovely football at times which is a joy to watch. Having cut my teeth watching the teams alan buckley played in and managed thats what gets me out of my armchair and down the bescot. Not the negative hoofball we played last year. Id sooner watch paint dry. So i agree - give them a chance!
Although if we dont stop conceding soft goals like that lob on tuesday then i might join the detractors!
The most uncomfortable interview of 2023. At least he held his hand up on his mistake but the rest was just stating the obvious. Fair play to him he didnt go into hiding
I absolutely agree with you that at times we do play some lovely football and that there are also times when our defending is woeful which is perhaps the most important thing to put right for Saturday.
Although we were two nil down we got back in with a chance and at 2 1 down we more than held our own.
The first ten to fifteen minutes of the second half Walsall had Wrexham on the back foot and at that point to me it looked as though we could get on level terms but sadly the referee allowed play to continue without awarding the foul on DD and suddenly it’s t 3 1.
Went last night and can’t really say anything that’s not been said by at least a couple of people already.
The things I feel most strongly about to mention are:
McEntee isn’t a midfielder and certainly isn’t a number 8. CDM would make more sense you would think but he just seems to spend most of the time chasing the ball because he’s in the wrong position. I’m not slating the player himself, he’s playing the role he’s been asked to but just can’t help but think he’d be better served as part of the back 3. The fact that Taylor Allen came on to play centre back while McEntee remained in midfield was anywhere between confusing and alarming.
Isaac Hutchinson and the audible groans when he loses the ball or misplaces a pass are undeniably louder than when any other player does it. I think somebody (possibly @simon) mentioned earlier in the thread that maybe it’s because he’s by far our most creative outlet and the disappointment when he fails to create something is more tangible than it is anybody else but he never shies away, always wants the ball and always at least tries to make something happen. It says a lot that numerous Wrexham fans on social media have called him out as being our best player. Maybe we just expect a bit too much from him because we know how good he can be on his day, which admittedly it hasn’t been yet this season.
It is his job in the team but they’re also some of the most difficult parts of the game, playing defence splitting passes and creating something from nothing, sometimes with very little movement and lack of options. I just feel like we’re a few games away from ironic cheers if/when he ever gets substituted, as unlikely as that is.
