More so than ever, it’s difficult to be a Walsall fan right now. It’s affecting us all in some way and that’s been reflected in the recent nature of the forum.
A reminder however that we’re all fans of the same club from the same town, and we owe each other the respect that endows.
Overstepping the line, in terms of insulting or goading fellow supporters has already resulted in bans over the weekend, so can we please keep it civil.
I’d strongly suggest the flagging system is used, particularly for posts where there is a clear intent to agitate other users. Thanks.
We all want the same thing - and it’s a cause we all feel incredibly passionate about. For many of us it’s been the single consistent love affair our whole lives - but one we are utterly helpless to influence or control.
It’s a relationship that has defined our lives - it’s one we’ve been ridiculed and mocked about by supporters from ‘bigger’, more successful teams - but like a relationship, our love is blind to sense and reason.
This is why it’s easy for passion to edge over into unhealthy argument - it’s entirely understandable because we all care so much, but we must all remember that we are all on the same side.
And by the way, like all love affairs, Walsall FC’s behaviour this last three and a half months has crushed my hopes and left me utterly despondent.
If my reply to a posters comments has upset anyone I apologise
I would never intentionally. Try to upset any fellow. Supporter my response. Was because I felt. A fellow saddler was being singled out and targeted. Unfairly
Believe me, mate, we feel your pain, but to be honest, after 60 years supporting this club, what’s happening now is what we have come to expect! Little joy, lots of pain!!
We’ve provided the flowers and chocolates, and our lover has just had a “can’t be arsed” attitude. Now it’s crunch time to see if the relationship can be salvaged, or whether a period of trial separation is required. We’ve just got at least one, possibly 3 or 4 dinner dates left to see if the relationship is worth saving!!
Good post Simon. I was nearly knocked over on Saturday by the thug who had been abusing MS. I am going to Crewe on Saturday and my daughter who is on holiday in Portugal is worried about my safety.
However frustrated we feel we should treat each other properly. I don’t hate MS. I think he has shown over the past few months that he has has some failings which may well prevent us getting promoted . Too much loyalty to a core of players being one which has cost us. I think it best if he goes but we have a match to play and win. If we do we might yet go up so I will be at Crewe supporting the team selected as I have done for many years.
I’m no happy clapper but do try to be as positive as I can - bloody been difficult the past few months for sure..
However, one thing that supporting WFC for over 50 years has taught me is that in general, we have outstanding supporters that care passionately about OUR club, each other and those in need of our help.
It’s easy to say all fans are the same but with the exception of the broadly fickle nature of following a football club, Walsall fans are a genuinely good bunch who show great patience, humour and humility towards each other and mostly, other clubs (except the dingles, Crewe and Sloppies)
Apart from a few exceptions (usually online where bullies and idiots can easily hide their real identity) we rally together and support each other - exactly what I see happening in this current situation..
We’re all hurting and feeling let down - we might even lose a few genuine fans after this spectacular collapse.. However and in general, we’ll be there for each other next season and beyond (whatever it looks like..)
The really crazy thing about it all is that, before the season began, many on UTS were talking about relegation to the National League and all of us would have been delighted to be in with a shout of promotion with one game to play. The antipathy towards Sadler was such that the successful run was put down by some as down to luck (e.g. Lowe only played because Gordon was injured) whereas the appalling recent run is wholly down to Sadler.
If we were to get promoted, by whatever means, we have to accept that is better than most of us expected, and a definite improvement in position relative to last year.
In case I am labelled as a happy clapper, I have found the recent results as depressing a period as I have ever known following Walsall over more than 60 years. I think there are many reasons for that run, and Sadler and his team must take much of the blame, but there was also the loss of Lowe and the disappointment that Wheatley did not pick up the baton, the loss of Hall and Earing due to injury, and the fact that we were not able to maintain our high tempo game throughout the season, both due to tiredness and because other teams worked out how to combat it. And a bit of bad luck here and there, such as the hit and hope Stanley goal.
On the face of it yes, but context is important here. If we had been in and around the playoff’s for most of the season fair enough. But, we were 12 points clear at the top. We have dropped like a stone for 3 whole months to the position of most likely having blown the chance for automatic promotion and instead limping into the playoffs completely out of any form.
I agree entirely about the collapse. I did say, I had rarely seen anything like it I reckon the form to take us so far clear and the more recent collapse were both anomalous - we were never that good and scraped a few wins that easily could have gone either way. And we have not been as bad as the lack of a win in 13 would suggest.
The season has been so strange that I just don’t know what to make of it. Has a team ever been promoted with the fans wanting the manager sacked?
For the record, I do not think we will win any of our last 3 games and that will be that.
We were even further in front of 4th place. To not win the title would have been disappointing but not totally beyond the realms of possibility. I have no idea how we have blown promotion, it was almost impossible. Almost.
