But there’s no way our 11 v Sutton was our strongest 11.
I think he tried something different in a game that ultimately won’t matter at the end of the season… Players let him down a bit.
Of course it was in Sadlers eyes for that game! The game against FGR was for experimenting (and he did). Draper and Hutch didn’t play, presumably because Draper has been dead on his feet, and Hutchinson didn’t fit whatever it was Sadler was trying to do for that game (don’t ask me to try and reason what that might be, I’ve no idea).
But suggesting he’s putting out a weakened side in October to experiment because we don’t need the points is preposterous nonsense.
I’m starting to see why you are happy with literally anything. It’s October and we are already pretending it’s dead rubbers
It might have mattered to the 274 fans who went.
Maybe he should let us know before the game and the fans can decide whether to experiment in not going
I don’t remember that but I will take your word for it.
What I’d say is that Smith was probably safer in the knowledge he wasn’t getting sacked, and let’s be honest there must have been discussions about his job at various times. No good planning for the future if you don’t make it far enough. Football management is like that pretty much all over, the here and now is what matters. It’s not just Walsall, that’s just how it is. He may be a good advert for giving a manager time but I’m not sure Sadler is as smart as Smith and he certainly doesn’t have someone with the quality and know how of Richard O’Kelly next to him.
If we are giving up points this early in the season to experiment and writing the season off completely in October, I’m not sure it is worth me bothering for the rest of this season. Maybe if they let me know when they are going to take it seriously.
Indeed. Ballzy move to put the prices up then write the season off two months in!
Dont see how you can say it wont matter at end of season ? Thats just a silly statement .
Imagine a single point at end of season relegated us , would that experiement stil not matter , imagine we had a miraculous upturn in performances and missed out on the playoffs by one point would it still not matter.
And as for we are not in danger of being relegated id look again. Can you really tell me that FGR,Tranmere,Doncaster,Newport and grimsby are going to finish below us under current circumstances? That leaves a three way shoot out for the two relegation spots of walsall, colchester and sutton all under CURRENT circumstances and performances.
Dont worry though because it wont matger come the end of the season …
You need to explain that one to me Andy
Haven’t these been forced due to injuries and Hussey retiring so hardly experimenting.
At the moment there are no obvious basket case clubs who are going to fill the bottom 2 clubs. A winless run would soon see us in trouble.
“
What do points make?”
Well. I think Sadler saw the game against Sutton and thought ‘these are a physical team, but probably not that strongest or most technical team with their one win in 10 games or whatever. We’ve taken 4 points from two tough games (Bradford/Mk dons) where Draper and hutch are probably a bit tired and perhaps at risk of injury. I’ll give the players who haven’t been playing and who (on paper) look a good match for Sutton a game, they may take the opportunity and we may pinch a victory’
I’m guessing if it was the last day of the season and we needed something to stay up, Sadlers thinking would have been different.
It didn’t work out, mainly because some players were very poor. Sadlers a bit to blame, but personally I blame the players who didn’t take their chance more.
Of course if Sadler were to pick the same team v Sutton regularly and they gave the same performance, then I would blame Sadler.
Not entirely I would argue. But yes, some things have been forced on Sadler.
I expect to finish top half, but Does it really matter where we finish the season if we aren’t top 7 or bottom 2? I would say no, although obviously hope to finish high as possible.
I wouldn’t agree entirely with Andy’s post but what I would agree with is rather than experimenting or not thinking it mattered, it was very much a case of trusting other pros and playing a different way and picking a side to suit that.
If it had been a cup final or a game needing to stay up I’d suggest he would’ve played a very different side.
Horses for courses.
As Andy says, to an extent Sadler has to show trust in the entire squad and there was no one in that side saturday that most people wouldn’t have picked (possibly Jamille - but there was a case for him and DJ to play together).
There were plenty suggesting draper was f*cked physically v MK and there were more than plenty saying Hutch should be left out. Other than that who on earth would anyone have played differently?
The blame lies in the main with the players. However, as Andy rightly says, should that be a recurring theme it becomes the managers fault for not learning!
That’s the job though. No manager gets two cracks at the same game.
ok mate that’s your opinion but no way am happy thinking we have a Manager who after 11 games thinking we don’t really need the points at any stage .
Hopefully my other post has clarified my thinking and I’m sure Sadler is working hard to get as many points as possible over the season.
That isn’t experimenting.