Sadler out! Save our season!

All About Walsall
1911

100% agree with this. If you look at our first 23 games - and take out the complete one-off that was the Fleetwood game - we only conceded 14 goals across 22 matches. Our defence was rock solid. Now? We’ve shipped another 34 since then! I honestly can’t get my head around how bad we’ve become at the back. And let’s be real - we can’t pin this on losing Nathan Lowe.

Going forward, yeah, there’s been a slight dip. We scored 43 goals in those first 23 games, and 31 in the next 22. So there’s a drop, but we’re still top scorers in the division! Attacking-wise, we’ve not been as sharp, sure, but if we still had that solid defence we would have easily got over the line. For me, the massive issue isn’t up front - it’s 100% the defence. That’s where everything has fallen apart for me.

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1912

Attack is the strongest form of defence as the old adage goes.
There has been a drop off in form with the defenders the same as across the whole team and you can’t attribute the whole shocking mess of this run to losing Lowe but as an attacking unit off the ball of which Lowe was an integral part of with his intelligence and energy we were so very very good.
We defended 10 or 20 yards further up the pitch which shielded the back 3 so well. Now they are seemingly always under pressure with the midfield and attack not picking up second balls and pressuring the man on the ball.

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1913

There’s loads of attributes and ability in our group of players, they’ve just been horrendously managed by Sadler.

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1914

I agree that without an ‘out ball’, defenders very quickly lose possession. Nathan Lowe stretched defences and chased lost causes. He made Taylor Allen look even better because he would anticipate forward lobs and get on the end of crosses by cutting in front of the front man.

I genuinely can’t remember the last time I saw an attacking Walsall player make a front post dart; almost everything goes at ‘keeper height’ borderline aimlessly. The set pieces on Saturday were as bad as Jellis’s wayward shooting (and Chang’s too). I also think that DJ would have broken the net with the Albert dribbler that hit the post and bounced to safety. It was almost laughably poor - not an inventive corner in sight!

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1915

I think without Lowe it would have been understandable for us not to win the league even with the lead we had but to not be on what is usually top 3 points at this stage of the season (around 80 to 83 points) is just not fathomable. As Geordie says above there are plenty of capable players here to have been what we needed to get up - just a decent league 2 team.

1916

Fair points mate and I’m sure Graham Taylor did suffer some personal attacks at that time. Patience in football is a lot less now in the modern game. Sadler won’t be given that opportunity if we don’t go up imo. I understand totally the serious investment needed up top with permanent signings, as loan signings going back to their parent clubs have seriously hurt us for the last 3 seasons. That is one part of the puzzle and whatever happens that needs to be put right going forward. The main issues for me is that Sadler hasn’t evolved the team to counter attack other clubs figuring out how to play us. His overuse of players to the point of exhaustion is another failure. These will now lead to us not going up, i hope I’m wrong though. He just won’t survive very long now. Fanbase has nearly all turned. When that happens there’s no way back. What trivela do next will be interesting.

1917

Because Matt doesn’t move , he hangs either in the middle or at the back post. It doesn’t come much easier for a defender to play against.

It’s 1980’s football.

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1918

To be fair to Matt, because we have no pace to get behind teams, defenders can just push up and compress the space. Our attackers and midfielders are then corralled in a small area of the pitch with no space to play in. This then means that our defenders have no easy out balls from the back and resort to hoofing it forward in Matt’s general direction. Until we get some pace up front for the threat of the ball over the top, this will continue to happen.

I’m not sure that the 3-5-2 formation is doing us any favours either. If you stop our wing backs then you stop Walsall. It also leads us to have little possession which has come back to haunt us as all that chasing the ball over a long season has knackered us out - Jellis and Stirk being prime examples! It’s time for a different approach.

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1919

Exactly this. To have pace up top, gives you an outlet, plus it gives you a chance of scoring a goal ‘out of nothing’.

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1920

Agree with all of that, but it doesn’t change the fact that Matt can’t move.

The least you expect is a player who can run a little.

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1921

In our perceived “easy run” of 4 games since Port Vale we have scored 2 goals and failed to score in 3 of them. Those 2 goals were from Liam Gordon and an OG. The pressure on our defence is immense because as soon as we concede, who are we looking at to go and get a goal?

In our last 8 games two strikers have scored 1 goal a piece, Amantchi and DJ. One has no chance of playing, so are we seriously looking at Amantchi to fire us into League One :see_no_evil_monkey:

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1922

Welsh’s Crewe match preview really hit home. Many of us who’ve invested so much time and money into supporting this club are feeling lost. I think It’s important that we share our feedback with the club and send them emails. I know they can’t act right away, but there are a few things we need to get across. This season has had a huge impact on us fans; we’ve shown incredible support. But the second half has been a disaster, and it’s left us feeling shattered. We need to work on rebuilding these broken relationships, but I’m not sure how. I think having an inbox full of stories from long time supporters who are done, could be impactful.

Based on my previous interactions with Ben Sadler, he is connected to what the fans are feeling and is open to listening and taking feedback into account - so I think it’s worth him hearing it.

It would be great to hear others’ thoughts.

1923

Please see below. Recent e malls between Issa and the slo. After. Our request for a meeting

ent from my iPad

Morning Graham hope you are well

I’m writing to express our disappointment in not even getting the courtesy of a reply from you or the club regarding a request for a meeting with Issa and senior officials within the club after we have been inundated with requests from the. Fanbase

It’s disappointing that the club keep constantly refuse to meet with the biggest official supporters group associated with Walsall, fc , a group which is registered with the football supporters association and one which has recently been invited to sit on the efl league one and league two network groups An offer which we will be taking up this week

What is even more disappointing is the fact that our clubs slo is ignoring legitimate requests from the very fans he is at the club to represent , now wether this ignoring of requests is a personal choice or one of it being imposed on yourself by the hierarchy of Walsall fc. Is. Open to debate but we sincerely hope it’s not the first option otherwise it is a gross dereliction of duty to the very fans you are in place to represent and as said we hope this is not the case

We feel that the club just ignoring request for a meeting be it now or when the season is finally finished , is further fuelling ever growing tensions. Between the club hand its loyal fanbase, we also feel it would be very foolish for the club to underestimate. Fan unrest whatever league we find ourselves in next season

A bombardment of social media calls for fans to rally round by the manager and the media team of the club. ,is just not cutting it , with many fans thinking this is an insult after they have proven time and time again that there passion and loyalty for the club has never wavered, Maybe those issuing these calls should read the room a little better before. Adding fuel to the fires

Again we request a meeting with the club. , at there earliest convenience as we have collated a lot of genuine questions. Raised by the fanbase that they would like the club to answer , in regards to many facets in relation to how this current season has been to date and question relating to what is planned. Moving forwards

We look forward to your reply, and I will more than likely see you at Crewe on Saturday

Kind regards
Dave ( olly ) beckett
Chairman
Independent saddlers supporters association

Hi Dave, sorry for the delay in replying.

The club acknowledge the concerns being raised and fully appreciate and understand the disappointment felt by many supporters in the second half of the season.

However, with the season still ongoing, arranging additional meetings or making public comments at this time would not be appropriate and would risk undermining the playing staff, who continue to work hard to achieve the best possible outcome.

As set out in the Fan Engagement Plan at the start of the season, the club are committed to holding two Fan Forums each year. The second of these will take place in mid-June, and that will be the appropriate time for supporters to raise any questions or concerns directly.

Thank you for your continued support.

Hi Graham

Thank you for your reply

I will share it with the fanbase base via the usual social media. Platforms.

Kind regards Dave

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1924

I think you make a very sound argument there for an approach that in general, would register with the club the depth of feeling from a very supportive yet frustrated fan base..

There’s absolutely no point throwing accusations around and expecting any sort of credible response - actions likely to illicit a reaction from the club are better being balanced and reasoned..

I see the post from DHforever with a reply (finally) and accepts the need for comms between the club and the fan base which should now happen in June - that’s at least something for now…

I’d personally be more than happy to email BS with my own thoughts and feelings - does anyone have his details??

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1925

Understand what their saying, but I’m afraid they have little understanding of the feeling of the supporters mate. Absolute catastrophic second half of the season has completely dismantled the trust and support that had been gained. If it all goes pear shaped and it more than likely will, then they will hear on Saturday after the match and again after the inevitable play off defeat. A bloody half arsed video to fans after said defeats will be an insult. Oh well i guess they will reap what they’ve sown if it does go badly. Anyway we came out of January at least as strong if not stronger than when we went into it. Also we are where we want to be. Them soundbites will bite them on the arse in a big way.

Thanks for the hard work done by ISSA on the fans behalf as always mate

Regards Dave H

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1926

I could write him a story, a story of my life which has mostly revolved around following Walsall. Stories of days following Walsall with my Dad, which has now moved on to following them with my boys. The sacrifices I have made and what we make as a family to follow Walsall.

Even with it written out, and I believe I could do a good job of it, I don’t think it is something you can get over to someone who doesn’t get it. And while I am sure he has the clubs best interests at heart, I don’t think it could truly be understood. If he could get it, then he would already know.

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1927

I get the sentiment as to wanting to wait until the season is finished, however, the main message there is that they have no intention of meeting with ISSA at any time.

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1928

That’s fine.

We will be prepared for the fans forum. Could be a long night for them.

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1929

They a bigger venue! :grin:

1930

For anyone who wants to contact the club:

[email protected]

If you put FAO of Ben Sadler, it’ll be forwarded on to him (in my experience)

Might also be worth doing once the season concludes, as we still might (somehow) shithouse a promotion🤣

1 Like