Saddlers Social: Walsall fans have their say

James Kenealey

I’ll be honest, due to a combination of other commitments, frustration, and a small, unsettling feeling of growing indifference, I hadn’t watched us play since the Southend game. That performance offended me, as my column at the time reflected.

That said, I was pleasantly surprised when we effectively and surprisingly despatched an in-form Tranmere side just as they welcomed their limited crowd back in. I was more surprised at the way we handled the Bolton game last Saturday. These performances clearly show that this side does have something there, it’s just been all-too fleeting.

There seems to echoes of last season and the blowing-hot-and-cold spells that we had. Think the dire stretch around October 2019 compared with the way we were playing just before the season was suspended. The fortunes of Wes McDonald seem intrinsically linked to our overall form, and it’s no surprise that he shone on Saturday. Rory Holden also produced one of the best free kicks I’ve seen us put away since Erhun Oztumer. It was all just more exciting. Arguably, we should have won by more.

We’ve just beaten two of the in-form sides in the division (discounting Bolton’s previous mauling by Port Vale). This has to be the system we play moving forwards. Play like that week in week out and we arguably could be capable of creeping in or around the play off places. It’s just that you have that nagging feeling that we won’t.

We need to put a run together to prove these aren’t just lucky days. Oldham on Tuesday is important.

Rob Harvey

A little break from writing this column and we have an upturn in form and put in two of the best performances of the season against Tranmere and Bolton. Perhaps we should break more often?

The game against Tranmere seems to (and I say that cautiously) have been a bit of a turning point and I have to say I was extremely surprised to see our performance levels that high. 13 shots on target in a game isn't something to be sniffed at, although I feel we perhaps could be a little bit more clinical at times. We totally nailed Tranmere, especially in the second half, and after giving away an obligatory goal to the team we're facing we then absolutely nailed Bolton in the second half too.

Darrell Clarke has seemingly found his best team a little earlier than last season, with possibly the exception of Josh Gordon who would be in the first XI when he's fully fit. Let's hope he continues not to tinker too much and keeps a settled side because it appears to be paying off at the moment.

As always with supporting Walsall, they always give you that small bit of optimism and usually kill it soon after, but looking back at our exits from the cups leaving us with a couple of free weekends and weeknights it could actually have been a blessing in disguise, especially with the frantic schedule in place this season. Teams are constantly in action and if we can gain even a five per cent advantage from having a rest I'll take it. It could be the difference between having an alright season or a very good one.

Moving forward into the Christmas schedule now we should have a lot more confidence throughout the squad and the games are there for us to attack. First up, a trip to the coldest place on Earth on Tuesday against Oldham. If there's one thing I can thank roronavirus for, it's depriving me of the opportunity to suffer near hypothermia at Boundary Park. Let's go and get the three points there, I'll be watching, make sure you do the same!

Nick Etheridge

How refreshing have these last two weeks been? Following a large run of games where we’ve huffed and puffed our way through 90 minutes, our latest two performances have seen some real quality going forward. The game plan and formation that we’ve adopted in recent weeks has seen us look far more of a threat in the final third as we are committing players forward to support the loan front man.

Although Rory Holden still finds himself on the right-hand side, he’s now encouraged to drift around to find the space where he can cause some damage rather than be asked to hold his position in that awfully rigid 4-4-2 we played. Someone else who is benefitting from the change is Wes McDonald who is finally showing some signs of his old self with two back to back performances of creating chances and being a genuine nuisance. Alfie Bates is another who is now being afforded more time on the ball as the spare man in the middle of the park. His range of passing is now seeing us move up the pitch quicker and is starting to dictate games

The ridiculous Ian Evatt accused us of being overly physical, which is ridiculous given the way that his team lined up. It’s good to see a Walsall side that can mix it up in these sorts of games. Time and again over the years we’ve been bullied by teams who have done a real job on us. It’s nice to have the shoe on the other foot, especially knowing that we can look just as threatening going forward.

Robert Dearn

Back to back wins, and a coming from behind in a game too! Things are certainly starting to click, and the team are starting to take control in games, which we have been guilty of not doing this season. It is back to back games where we have also taken advantage of the spells that we are on top. We have scored and taken our chances. What a nice thing to be able to say.

One thing that has impressed me, is the desire to win. Heads could have dropped after going a goal behind, but instead, they rallied, and improved. Against Cheltenham, I felt that the team were guilty of heads dropping. Four games later, and four games unbeaten, and it is a different outlook. We look like a team that believes they will get a result, and with another couple of games where we can get a result if we play like we can, I am hoping for more positive results.

Ian Newbold

December started badly with the lucky lacklustre point against Stevenage. But then wins against an in-form Tranmere and the once mighty Bolton have brought early festive cheer, albeit remotely. Funny how many entitled sides come and fail at the Bescot. We’ve been consistent for a week, and consistent in selection. Our best spells under Darrell Clarke have been where the tinkering has been minimal. Let’s hope this is the beginning of another spell of positive consistency and a distinct lack of fiddling.

There’s Flash (Josh Gordon) to re-integrate but performances have been pretty solid and 7+ all over the pitch for the last 180 minutes.

Oldham away next and we’re usually rubbish at the always freezing cold Boundary Park. Then better opposition in Port Vale and Salford. Perversely I fancy us more against the latter two.

We often seem to perform better the harder the opponent.

Chris Saunders

It’s amazing what a couple of back to back wins can do for confidence. You find yourself looking up the table on a Saturday night rather than down it and the next game can’t come quick enough.

Hopefully this is a run of form similar to how we did towards the end of last season and we have started it with enough time and within touching distance of the promotion positions.

I know stand out performances will always get the plaudits but Jack Rose coming into the keeper position has had a big influence in my opinion. The defence seem more confident with him behind them, that’s not to say Liam Roberts is bad but it’s good to have the competition when a player is out of sorts.

Finally it was good to see Josh Gordon back involved over the last few games, the extra option, quality and effort he gives is a massive plus point.