Saddlers Social: Walsall fans have their say

Ian Newbold

Merry Christmas my fellow Saddlers. So who do you reckon made Santa’s ‘Good List’ this year?

Not sure there’s many in our squad that will get positive replies to any lists they’ve sent off to Lapland.

Perhaps a few will get new socks, as they’d worked their previous ones off. Josh Gordon, Stuart Sinclair, James Clarke, Alfie Bates, Liam Kinsella and a few others. The keepers could share out a selection box like they have the goalkeeping duties so far. Many will be hoping Santa has train tickets for the ‘Rorys’ back to Manchester and Bristol respectively, but I’m not sure that they’ve been good enough to make his list. Surely Wes McDonald will get a contract, just wondering from which club Santa has got him one from?

Lavery can have a six month supply of cotton wool to wrap him in until May. Zak Jules should get a copy of ‘How to Make Friends and Influence People’. Our midfielders could get a job lot of scatter cushions, so they don’t sit too deep #badumtish

And what do you get for the man who has everything, Darrell Clarke? New industrial strength ear defenders?

In any case, whoever you think is deserving this festive season, here’s to them ALL deserving premium brand chocolate eggs by the time Easter rolls around.

Nick Etheridge

Another game, another frustrating result. This Walsall side is just impossible to figure out. As many have said, I would have taken a point before the game. In my own head, that point would have come from a resolute defensive display, where we’d had to dig deep, defend for our lives, and probably taken our only chance of the game. Well, how wrong was I!?

At 3-0 up it looked like the team that we had all envisaged at the start of the season. With how solid we’ve looked for the majority of the season I didn’t see us letting in three goals. I don’t know why that even crossed my mind given how many leads I’ve seen Walsall blow over the years

For whatever reason Darrell Clarke just can’t seem to get the balance right. If we go all out looking for goals then we are really vulnerable at the back, and if we shut up shop then we are toothless.

It’s good to see two forwards scoring and the partnership between Lavery and Gordon is quite clearly our best option. After having a steady few games the question marks will be out again around Liam Roberts and how he commands his area. We all know that he’s a good shot stopper, but this is an area that he really needs to improve on if he wants to further his career.

It’s good to see the unbeaten run extended but it’s important that we register a win sooner rather than later. Turning draws into wins are key to the remainder of the season and the sooner we do that, the quicker we will shoot up the table. At the moment though, it just seems like we’ve forgotten how to win.

Robert Dearn

Let's try and keep this neutral. Yes we should not have let a three goal lead slip, no matter who we are playing. But three goals and a point against second in the league is a very good result, and both Gordon and Lavery scoring is a positive too.

Defensively we have to get some consistency. Port Vale we were so solid, and stopped a good attacking force from creating much.

This brings me to January. We have depth in defence, but is it a position we need strengthening. Personally no. I feel that we need a solid, strong physical defensive midfielder to help out the defence. Kinsella and Sinclair are better defensive players, but someone who can compete in the air is something we miss. Midfield is the area we are physically light.

That being said, if a very good defender was brought in, then who am I to complain if they sure up the back line.

Jack Talbot

Before today’s game I would of 100 per cent taken a draw but to be 3-0 up after half an hour then you have to see out the game. Obviously when we conceded the first goal then the momentum swings in their favour.

Also, why is Kinsella being played on the wing? He has never been a winger and it shows that on the pitch. A top winger in January is a must!

I have said if we stay unbeaten throughout December with two or three wins and recruit well in January and get some real momentum behind us then who knows what the new year will bring! Onto Scunthorpe on Boxing Day who have certainly improved their results in the last couple of months so it will definitely be another test for this team.

Chris Saunders

Protected the unbeaten run, three goals in one game and yet somehow I feel like a 1-0 battling loss would have been an easier result to swallow.

As a team you can’t go three goals up and come away with a point, it’s just not acceptable. Exeter are flying but as soon as the third goal goes in you just kill the game and grind the result out.

Not Walsall though we turn the taps on, let the leaks show at the back and surrender a three goal lead. What’s massive now is a response on Boxing Day otherwise the confidence in the squad could be damage beyond repair.

On a positive note however the unbeaten run continues and the need to look over our shoulders is lessening each week.

Jon Taylor

Would I have taken a point before kick off? Yes. Am I Happy we got a point at the final whistle? Maybe.

Any point away from home is typically a good point but losing a three goal lead is unforgivable. Our defensive frailties were shown up again admittedly at 3-0 Exeter had nothing to lose and went for it and it worked and without a decent save by Roberts they could have completed the turnaround. Let’s look on the positives we have scored three and Lavery and Gordon continue to work well together. Roberts is growing as a number 1 he’s always been a great shot stopper but is getting better at the other aspects of goalkeeping.

We’re more than likely not going to go down so the rest of the season is a free hit giving Clarke a chance to see what works and what doesn’t and build on this for next season. I know that McDonald is working and should be given an 18 month deal at the least.

If we can come out of the festive fixtures with a couple of wins we can really look to push on and continue building the momentum.

Rob Harvey

One defeat in ten now, but my god we need to get better at defending. Against Exeter we finished our chances well, but at 3-0 up you shouldn’t be drawing or losing that game - it’s criminal!

Looking forward to the Christmas period, we’ve got Scunthorpe away and Carlisle at home, and I can see us losing away and winning at home. Then we move on to January and the transfer window.

We need reinforcements, that much is clear and we’ve started clearing the decks by sending Liddle to Hartlepool for a month. It will be interesting to see who else leaves.

Signing wise I’d be looking to add another out and out winger and another defender, and possibly another forward too - hopefully Gaffney is sent packing!

One final thing on the signings - Wes McDonald. If you’re going to stay, sign the contract, if you’re going to leave then be honest and don’t play again. Too many times we have been used by players and I fear this is another one of those instances. We were right to give him a six month deal as he’s been injury prone in the past but seems to be settling here, so hopefully he shows us a bit of loyalty and respect too. We can but hope.

Merry Christmas to all Saddlers fans!

UTS!