Biggest problem last fre games is i dont believe the players think we can get promoted, no leadership on or off pitch.When we went a goal down Saturday there seemed no belief we could win .
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Has been very visable in all the games we’ve gone behind in or conceded having been in front for many weeks. You could see the belief drain out of them.
You could often see they’d worked hard to try and get themselves up for the next game, they’ve never given up trying, but as soon as a we conceded the belief disappeared. That’s a true sign they no longer had faith or belief in what the management team were asking them to do.
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Can we appoint Andy Whing tomorrow please.
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It all depends on what his targets were at the start of the season as to whether he gets sacked or not.
If his targets were to reach the play offs, (which I think would be the case, going by the Byfield comments) then it’s job done, so no reason to sack him. If it was to get promoted, then he still has that chance to do so, so again they won’t sack him…yet.
I’m not saying he shouldn’t be sacked, I personally think he should, but just playing devils advocate as to whyhe still remains in place.
There are 3 other teams in league two this season who have endured 12 or more games without a win: Gillingham, MK Dons and Tranmere. All 3 clubs pulled the trigger on their manager.
The counter argument is that all 3 teams continued to underperform.
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Thanks for this, I’ve been struggling to explain to non-Walsall fans multiple times a day exactly what has happened, and I think this is all that is needed - it’s now a screenshot on my phone ready to be sent to save me having to type anything 
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I have had similar thoughts, but recent form and losing the fanbase must surely come into consideration.
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Must be a horrible situation for Sadler, being hated so much for your own best efforts. Why hasn’t one of his staff said something to him to turn this around by now.
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I call exceptional circumstances.
There has never been anything like this before and probably never will again. Targets can and should be changed also. When he signed his new contract for example.
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exactly once you lose the fan base you also start losing money .
we could still get promoted saturday with a lot of luck 
. And sadler could end up the only manager ever to exceed his objectives from the start of season which i’m pretty sure would have been play offs minimum and be so disliked after what he has put us through the last 3 months
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Is he listening even if they are? It’ll all come out in the wash when the season is likely done and dusted on May 16th. Slow death this is..
He may of course where he is thinking that if he is going down, he will go down doing it his way? Bit sad if true as with some tweaks it could have all ended differently, still could I suppose but it feels highly unlikely.
To play devil’s advocate, Graham Taylor lost something like his first 9 games as a young, inexperienced Lincoln manager and he was widely questioned by supporters for being out of his depth.
In his 4th season, he got Lincoln promoted.
He then spent around 10 years at Watford, playing quite direct football.
He was given time in both jobs to create a winning formula.
Even in the glory days of 4:4 draws between Walsall and Watford, even though we got Kelly from Alvechurch, he was supported by Nicky Cross and Trevor Christie, who were experienced forwards.
My point, I suppose, is that out of adversity can come togetherness. Maybe, just maybe, the last three months, can teach Trivela and Sadler that serious investment in the striking department, is needed (at least two permanent signings of quality goal scorers) next season, regardless of which league we end up in. For example, Ahadme, Swan, Asiimwe, Draper, Woods, Chang and Hall would make us pretty competitive.
I know that comparing Sadler to Taylor might offend some, but Graham the Turnip had to put up with some pretty harsh personal attacks and he is still remembered fondly by Watford supporters and most even minded football supporters.
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Well Blazing, im sure I remember reading at the start of the season, there were no targets set, “as we dont work that way”. I think i may have commented on this at the time. If true very strange indeed, every company has some targets to aspire to, even more so American led businesses.
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At least if we have 2 they can keep each other company when Sadler freezes them out
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I mean they haven’t learnt over the last 3 years, but I guess we can hope.
In fairness, I believe that Walsall were in for Paton and Tolaj in the summer before Port Vale offered more money. Paton wouldn’t be a bad shout if we are in league two next season, because he was loaned out to Dundee United in January so is probably surplus to requirements.
I’m convinced that Sadler didn’t want DJ and it was a publicity stunt by Trivela to sell season tickets. Hopefully, lessons will be learnt because it was an expensive investment that has not really worked out.
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Our number one target all summer was a loan deal from Stoke.
I ask myself the question, do I wish we’d never completed that loan signing?
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I really enjoyed that phase of the season but it wasn’t all down to him.
A better signing would be a coach that can offer a plan B when the frantic press wears out or a more consistent Goalkeeper.
As has been proven this season having a decent striker. ( not just til january) makes all the difference at this level .
Also having one who may not suit the system but is a goal scorer that you need to give him more than 10minutes and the odd start to keep him involved and part of the squad each game and at least have him on the bench in the most important part of the season.
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