Bescot Banter: Walsall's unbeaten run now a distant memory
Last weekend's dismal defeat to bottom-of-the-table Southend United saw the Saddlers register their third all-competition defeat on the bounce as their recent unbeaten run is now nothing more than a distant memory.
Suffering four defeats from their last six all-competition outings the Saddlers appear to be on the edge of a precipice where just a few more poor performances could see the board forced to at least consider a change in direction, something which we're sure they currently have no desire to do.
Whilst the league table shows the reds have lost just two of their twelve pre-Cheltenham Town outings, that doesn't tell the whole story as the team has huffed and puffed its way to just three victories, drawing a remarkable seven games in the league so far this season.
In attack, we're clearly suffering without the creativity and overall attacking desire of Josh Gordon whilst at the back there seems to be an ever-increasing likelihood of an error as matches are not only being lost, but thrown away.
Along with the defensive and attacking issues is the overall performance of several of the players who many fans expected to hit the ground running after ending the curtailed 2019/20 campaign with a spring in their step.
However, that simply hasn't been the case with many seemingly going through the motions with little threat of being dropped as the manager continues to ignore those players deemed 'not ready', despite some simply awful performances.
And with all that in mind its no real surprise that some of the less patient and more vocal Saddlers supporters are already growing a little weary of a season that has all the hallmarks of a disappointing one.
Retaining the vast majority of last season's mid-table finishing squad, it seems the manager is struggling to get a tune out of several of his preferred starters, with the team occasionally playing like a group of strangers and not that of a side eighteen months into their relationship.
Now is the time for some of our squads senior players to stand up and lead by example. Despite recent performances there are the makings of a perfectly competent team amongst our squad, and its up to the manager to get something out of them.
Whether that is achieved by dropping some of the favoured few or by yet another change in formation, there are plenty of points still up for grabs, starting with this weekend's clash with the title-chasing Robins.
