W 2-1 vs Mansfield Town (H) - League Two - Sat 17th Feb, 3pm

[WalsallOne]

No he did it because Earing is coming back from a terrible injury and needs to be handled carefully. His performance yesterday rather proved the point. He may not start Tuesday. I accept Sadler is inexperienced but I think he has handled a difficult season injury wise reasonably well. We now have 4 CBs injured and yet only a few weeks back he was being criticised for signing Adeboyaga by certain folk on here. The lad cannot win can he?

[Andy_Petterson]

@Dornansog

@Stretch

1. Are we lacking a few more Jamille Matt type characters ?
2. Do we have owners who understand this ?
3. Do we have a manager capable of instilling consistency and mainintinh levels

Answer to all 3 of those is No

Did you mean yes to the first question ?

@Stretch

@Dornansog correct - need a few more like him

Seems harsh to criticize the owners in point 2 then, given you didn’t understand it yourself

[Stretch]

@Andy_Petterson you’re happy with Walsall FC 16th L2 for life. Forgive me if I take no time to consider what you say.

You just want somewhere to go on a Saturday. You’ve stated as much.

Maybe you should broaden your horizons.

[Andy_Petterson]

Come on now stretch, you need to concentrate on these tough fixtures coming up in the next few weeks.

Feb 24 - Dunelm (A)

March 2 - B&Q (A)

March 9 - Boundary Mill (H)

March 16 - Home Bargains (H obvs)

[jjunior9]

With all the talk of Earing, where do fans see Jellis slotting in?

Is he Hutchinson’s replacement when he inevitably moves up to a higher league in the summer?

[Stretch]

@Andy_Petterson like I say. Broaden your horizons.

You either want Walsall FC to kick on. Or you don’t. You’ve made your position perfectly clear.

[Mighty_Saddler]

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we’ve done well against the better teams in this division. They seem happy to let us have the ball and play their own game which gives our better players (mostly Hutch) more time on the ball to get us playing forward (granted he gave it away facing his own goal a few times yesterday)

We struggle against teams that come and stifle the game and press us to death.They don’t have the quality as the likes of Wrexham and Mansfield so they concentrate on stopping us rather than their own game, which time and again proves to be affective. Sadler hasn’t yet worked out a way to play against teams like this, much like the Smith team didn’t the season after Brandy, Patterson and Grigg left.

[Mister-sitter]

Pleased you and your family had a good day on what would have been an emotional day, and that we managed to give a decent performance in memory of your dad, well done mate let’s hope we continue to honour your dads love of WFC with some success over the coming years.

[JumboTrudgeon]

@Andy_Petterson

Feb 24 - Dunelm (A)

Dunelm is never an easy place to go.

[WeYamTheMods]

Good result yesterday where we rode our luck at times with the chances Mansfield had and the goal that wasn’t given that looked like it clearly crossed the line. Thankfully they used their goal quota up on Tuesday against Harrogate and we held firm with Smith pulling off a couple of good saves.

It was an important 3 points given other results, not because of this fallacy that we are set to storm the playoff positions, but because Salford, Tranmere and Doncaster all got good results so we have a battle on our hands to secure that 16th position but I think we have it in us.

[P.T]

@CompletelySaddled

@P.T

Personified in Earing. Earing has to start every game he can. He’s the only member of the squad who can play that role and the midfield looks so much more functional when he plays. Yet we’ve done absolutely nothing by way of providing cover for him

Whilst I’m not arguing that Earing has done ok, you’re guilty of forming an argument to suit your own narrative there.

When he was left out v Grimsby the general consensus agreed it was for his own good in terms of preservation and protection and that it was fully justified.

Likewise, our so called only good spell of the season saw a run of 6 wins in 7 games and he didn’t play in 4 of the 6 only appearing firstly for the Wrexham game and then Grimsby.

Of course I’m guilty of that. But I’m pretty consistant.

I’m trying to work out from your post whether he started at Grimsby or was “left out” resulting in some “general consensus” (when is there ever a general consensus on these things?). I remember him scoring so you seem to not only be wrong on your facts but you’ve also made up a “general consensus” based upon something that I’m not sure is true.

My point, and I’m sorry if it isn’t clear, is around personnel and system. As @WalsallOne says he’s recovering from an injury - so my point is around why is there literally and metaphorically only one Jack Earing in the squad when we have more than enough for other position/roles?

And as for Jack’s performance at Crawley, I’m sure he won the penalty by doing that thing that is unique to him in our midfield. And again, this is partly about Jack and also Sadler’s blind spot around valuing what a player like him brings to a midfield that already has a shield and an attacking midfielder.

[Scooby2167]

I’ve looked at the Birds Eye view of the goal that was that wasn’t and I can confirm that luckily the match ball has a slight bulge by the valve where the orange rubber inside is poking out so the whole of the ball wasn’t over the line .

[Welsh_Saddler]

Did the OWL report in sick yesterday??

[Belphegor]

Can you point me to a post where @Andy_Petterson or anyone else has stated that they don’t want Walsall to “kick on”?

[Stretch]

@Belphegor i struggle to understand those who are happy with L2 or appreciate that there are direct routes rather than investing in other peoples processes that in football tends to be waffle. I struggle to understand anyone who doesn’t want progress. You want the posts that indicate these you search for

There are winners and losers. No in between.

[SaddlerSteve]

As fans we all have our opinions and on approaches taken.

But claiming any Saddler is happy to be in this league and doesn’t want progress is just complete nonsense.

[Stretch]

Understand your point @SaddlerSteve

But how many Rochdale fans (who lost to Solihull yesterday and sit half way in the national league) - wish they’d have demanded a bit more than L2 stagnation as they sleep walked in to Non League football.

I see this laid back attitude - it is what it is attitude with sections of our support. We let Bonser walk all over us for 20 plus years without so much as the odd murmur ! He’s walked off a rich man.

Now we want to comply with this trust the process mantra. It’s quite clear we can win now.

Want more.

[CompletelySaddled]

@P.T

I’m trying to work out from your post whether he started at Grimsby or was “left out” resulting in some “general consensus” (when is there ever a general consensus on these things?). I remember him scoring so you seem to not only be wrong on your facts but you’ve also made up a “general consensus” based upon something that I’m not sure is true.

Mis type - I meant Newport….ive edited it now

[DanG_WFC]

@CompletelySaddled

Anyone notice Tierney coming on today on 77 mins for Gordon at a goal up which was the exact same sub in the exact same minute he did against Gillingham when Sadler was criticised….well lambasted actually for going defensive and costing us the game…

Every game is different though, I think Gillingham we were in control and should have looked for a second, yesterday was different, rode our luck at times in the first half especially, Mansfield always have it in them to come at you and grab a few goals. Gillingham have scored 31 goals in 32 games, Mansfield have scored 62 goals in 32 games.

Anyway, focus on yesterday as that second half was what we’re all about. 6 points off the play offs with a game in hand, not going to get carried away and I don’t expect us to reach them but let’s hope the silly talk can stop and give Sadler what he deserves which is another summer to mould this team into even more of his own, get some more players in to strengthen us further and have some stability.

[TomWFC92]

Earing is class. Found another gear with his pace and complements Hutchinson’s skill set perfectly. Won the penalty against Crawley, contributed superbly to the win at Grimsby and was excellent yesterday.