I don’t think that a struggling fourth division side should think itself too grand to take the EFL cup seriously.
Blackburn have made 11 changes because they are confident that they can beat us with their reserves. Walsall have made 6 changes because they agree with them.
Such a disappointing line up.
Team during the 4-0 victory over Hartlepool, first game last season.
The team against Swindon 3 days later.
7 changes were made by Flynn that night. A little OTT in your reaction. We have a squad and he is making use of it. Prior to Saturday many saw this as a free hit and to me not much has changed even though we lost.
The amount of people who want Sadler and this team to fail for what would seem to be self gratification is shocking.
I don’t want Sadler to fail, not at all.
I didn’t agree with playing weakened teams in the League Cup when Man United started doing it in the 90s, and I definitely don’t agree with Walsall doing it now. It may be the reality of football now but I don’t have to like it. Nothing to do with Sadler and failing or anything like that at all. I want Walsall to win of course.
Exactly that, Play Johnson, gets injured for the Stockport game, they will be calling for Sadlers head.
To put into perspective - Mansfield have made just the one change tonight for their tie against Grimsby
I’ll take the view that we are wanting to use our squad early doors to get them game time thanks, as we have tough run of games coming up.I don’t think anyone at Walsall believes that they are too grand for this competition personally.
Key is the attitude coming in do they believe they are playing with a chance of winning a shirt in Saturdays game. If yes no issue
If they think they are playing in a dead rubber just as rotation, then that’s the problem
That’s down to team management
I don’t want him to fail as I want walsall fc to win every match they play. If he does fail I won’t feel sorry for him because he never deserved to get the job in the first place. People were moaning about Philipps but jesus compare his managerial, coaching and playing record to Sadlers.
My post was more in relation to the poster saying the sooner he is gone the better.
I regards to playing your strongest squad, your points are valid, but the coaching team have picked the team for their own reasons. These may possibly be to give us the best possible chance come Saturday or it may be because after seeing these players train daily, feel they can do a job tonight. The full reasons why we’ll never know, but we need to be united in getting behind the team instead of picking faults at every opportunity.
I think what you have to consider mate are two things….
How does it demotivate the rest of the squad if you make it clear you’re best and only 11 this early in the season……morale wise the fringe players like Tierney, Allen, DJT all need to feel valued.
You’re not resting players after 1 game because they’re tired you’re resting them to prolong and enhance their impact over the coming games. Best example I can think of is Hutch who started 52 out of 56 games last season and was a used sub in 2 others……people can moan about inconsistency but he had a spell last season where it looked like he couldn’t lift a leg…
If he plays 10 less games but scores 4 more goals because he’s fresh and revitalized every now and again in stead of playing against West Hams 23s, a dead rubber v Cheltenham and whoever else it was in PJ Trophy then we’ll all be happier?
More to do with the fact that we still dont have any real strength in depth.
As loads of fans have recognised they will call for Sadlers head anyway if he dosnt get some wins quickly
Self fulfilling prophecy. Say it enough times, you may start to believe it.
We all want Walsall to win of course we do. I think you need to recognise though that quite a number people still feel pretty peeed off about such a poor ‘on paper’ appointment. Good interview or not
And it will bite at some point.
Yeah fair enough, My moan was more about the general attitude towards the cups, especially a club like Walsall, it should matter.
Good luck to those who are getting their chance tonight though. Let’s hope they give the manager something to think about.
Just stop talking now and again!!
Someone once said to me it’s better for people to suspect you are a fool rather than opening your mouth and them all be able to confirm it.
Not concerned really. May not be the strongest eleven but they are all first team players.
