does skip understand all that football talk
Agree with comments above - we were very average first half. Newport looked really good for the first 30 mins, possibly the best football any visiting team has managed against us this season. However, there was no real goal threat from them and we have to expect teams to start raising their game against us now we’re top.
Second half, as per normal, we ground them down. As soon as we took the lead, they hardly ventured into our half. Really good game management at the end.
The table is looking amazing tonight…it’s weird to think we only took over at the top 22 days ago!
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McEntee is on the verge of a start IMO not convinced Jellis is 100%
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Had the pleasure of @Mossa company the last two games, both games very similar and thoroughly enjoyable. We are something else second half. Was a bit sweeter as we were surrounded by Newport fans who weren’t hiding their allegiances despite being in the home end. Comments like “how are these top” was soon evident to them.
Lowe spoke after the game how much the Doncaster game had taken out of them, you wouldn’t know it those last 10 minutes they were chasing everything down and I don’t think Newport had a chance despite bringing on two man mountains at the end. Surprised to see their manager say we’re just a long ball team and claiming some sort of moral victory. They sold out of their principles as soon as we got a press on them and lumped it long. We had by far and away the better chances.
12 points clear at the top and can’t say we don’t deserve it, they keep finding a way to win. Please let us have Lowe till the end of season Stoke. UTS.
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This side are something special. Never would I ever have dreamt of a Walsall side being 12 points clear in any division. Some careful strengthening in January plus holding on to Lowe and this is a done deal.
What a time to be a Sadler
Also on a side note, fair play to the Newport fans who joined in with the memorial minute prior to kick off. Thought that was very classy
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Some of these managers are clueless if they believe the shite they say. Every game we are no better than them according to the manager, yet have lost 3 games all season and have just won 6 on the bounce with 5 clean sheets🤔
Somebody ought to tell them that weeem actually very good at winning games and mossively fitter than there lot, as it seems they can’t see the obvious.
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On about us with long balls when he bought a Harlem Globetrotter on for the last 15 minutes
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Absolutely… I thought Newport were very good in possession in the first half but, they never really offered a serious threat, like so many other ‘possession’ teams.
Now if their manager wants to believe that makes them a better team, he’s quite entitled to that view.
Someone does need to remind him though, that points are not awarded for possession or appearing to be in control.
Otherwise, perhaps they would be sitting 12 points clear of the pack and we would be in the lower half of the table.
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They passed it around a bit but they always ended up hitting it long anyway. Deluded he is 
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Sadlers thoughts
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Another class thing about Sadler is that he is always respectful to the opposition, win, lose or draw.
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Start of season id have taken 12 clear of bottom 2 going into 2025. But 12 clear of 2nd. Game in hand over most. Looking at one if those special teams, which will one day be a quiz question, which team has finished with most points in efl history
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Was the same when Graydon was manager, loads of managers crying after games, not realising that we had just done to them what we were doing to every other team.
Crying about us relying on set pieces, maybe don’t leave 3 players up, I’ve not seen any team do that since I saw us do it when Merson was manager, that tells you everything you need to know.
We were poor today, our passing was way off and there were some awful first touches, but we still created the best chances in the game and got the job done.
We are in such a strong position now, we must surely finish the job off. If we can keep Lowe, we go up as champions I think.
Happy days.
Not surprised to see Notts moving into second spot, I thought they were very good at Walsall and had a fair few out injured. Tough game on NYD, but I still fancy us.
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Took 3 players out of their box, unfortunately for him it was 3 players who aren’t really a threat from corners anyway. 
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We were totally solid defensively. As always. This is the foundation of our success.
Newport a good passing side and repeatedly hurt us with balls over the top down both wings. The N7 was very quick. But no cutting edge or quality in final third.
Our Midfield was basically absent for first 45, but Stirk got into it and Gordon found his form after the break. Jellis and Larkin both unusually poor/quiet.
Substitutions worked I think - we lacked rhythm until then + too many stray passes and wrong choices.
Their manager is deluded - they didn’t have a single serious shot on target.
Jamma should have scored his header, Lowe missed two easy-ish chances and there’s a top save from Strik’s drive. Against nothing concrete from Newport.
Somehow we have found a methodology to withstand the first half, then go up a gear / wear out opposition in the second…fitness levels a factor?
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What’s interesting here is the tactical awareness he credits the players with - ‘problem solving’ a fascinating phrase he uses several so times.
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Just to sprinkle a bit of reality around, we have two tough away fixtures coming up with presumably a very leggy starting 11. Twelve points is a nice cushion but can easily be frittered away.
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He normally tells the kid about little Johnno falling down a well and being crook or some such.
The lads the the mate the epitome of a team. A number of individuals were miles off it today but as a collective they rallied round, kept the opposition at bay and gradually worked their way back into the game
Stirk is a really key player for us. As soon as he starts getting on the ball and dictating play we instantly look a better side.
I thought Liam Gordon was excellent today. Nullified the threat of Bobby Kamwa (who looked useful) and was a handful himself going forward
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