The Unlikely Lads Top of the Table Clash (Walsall vs Gills)

[PuB]

Well who'd have thunk it back in early August. 1st vs 2nd as we're heading in to November.

Our performances haven't been great in the last three games and we've relied on late goals to take 7 points from 9. It's all well and good doing that and at the end of the season the table won't lie, but our luck will run out at some point.

I'm in no doubt we need to up our game significantly though, someone doing the hold up play at the front would be great, but we're limited by injuries.

I'm actually expecting a goal fest, maybe 3-3, and there should be a decent Gills turnout too.

COYG!

 

[SaddlerJonny]

4-3 win to the Saddlers, all 3 of Gillinghams goals coming in extra time! Need to get a big fucking headstart when playing Gills it seems!

 

[GFCSludge]

My first game of the season and also my first trip to the Bescot. I am looking forward to it more than anyone could reasonably be expected to.

Our record there is horrible, our recent performances have been extremely average so in conclusion it's got to be 2-1 to Gills, with the winner obviously arriving in the 90th minute.

 

[joethegill]

We've been shit lately, but such is the nature of this league that no-ones been any better than useless so we haven't suffered too much for it. We never win at Walsall though.

2-0 Saddlers.

 

[Camborne Gills]

There was me all ready to write a 'witty' thread title and I got beaten to it .

Anyway, hoping to go and watch us score in the 100th minute and win 1-0 (maybe)

 

[WFC]

Should be a good occasion, the same as Burton at home was, a repeat of that would be perfect but reckon it'll be a much tougher test.

Fuck knows about the score, will probably be goals though and a late one from Gillingham to carry on the trend

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Is there much near the ground Walsall fans?
I am getting to Birmingham New St at about 11.45 so if not then I will just spend a couple of hours in Birmingham before poodling along to the Bescott.
Looking forward to this one.

 

[Saddlerrad]

Is there much near the ground Walsall fans?
I am getting to Birmingham New St at about 11.45 so if not then I will just spend a couple of hours in Birmingham before poodling along to the Bescott.
Looking forward to this one.

There isn't anything close to the ground other than a Maccies - it's definetely worth popping into the Saddlers club though. I've never actually been in there as we tend to drive to games and be there a few minutes before kick off, but all reports I've heard is that away fans are welcome and I've seen a few Walsall fans who have plenty of oppo fans as friends on Facebook and they meet up for a pint each time in the Saddlers club. That's probably something to do for an hour or so though, not 3.

Spoons just outside of New Street is decent if you want a few pints and a bit of lunch.

As for the game, we are shit at home - I'd prefer to play this away. We need to hope that letting in 4 last week was courtesy of good play from Colchester rather than the norm. I didn't realise they'd only lost 1 in 13 at home and we nearly stole it late smashing the post at 4-4.

I presume Gillingham won't come and play 4-5-1 like everyone seems to have done recently? I'd rather you came and attacked - we look much better then.

1-3 Gillingham
Dack, McDonald (2) and Bradshaw for us.
4,704 with 891 from the SE.

 

[Jockney]

Not so unlikely. Both were in the Championship together for three or four years until as recently as a decade ago.

 

[AusGill]

Really could go any way this one.

I think most of us Gills would gladly take a draw.

2-2 would be entertaining eh?

 

[joethegill]

I presume Gillingham won't come and play 4-5-1 like everyone seems to have done recently? I'd rather you came and attacked - we look much better then.
.

We played 4-5-1 against Southend to start with as we're running low on strikers. McDonald came on but he clearly wasn't fit. Edinburgh has suggested we'll be looking to bring in a loanee in the next few days though. If we don't, then I'd imagine it'd just be Donnelly up front on his own, although it won't be a defensive 4-5-1, more like a 4-3-3. Our full backs get forwards at every opportunity too, so I don't think there's any worry we won't be going for it! Still think we'll come unstuck though.

 

[SaddlerJonny]

1-3 Gillingham
Dack, McDonald (2) and Bradshaw for us.

You're so bloody negative

I know it takes a while but we soon have to realise that we're actually really good this season, it's weird but I feel confident going into any game at the moment, even Colchester hasn't dented my optimism!

Maybe it's just built into us Walsall fans or something to be really negative

 

[mattsaddler]

There isn't anything close to the ground other than a Maccies - it's definetely worth popping into the Saddlers club though. I've never actually been in there as we tend to drive to games and be there a few minutes before kick off, but all reports I've heard is that away fans are welcome and I've seen a few Walsall fans who have plenty of oppo fans as friends on Facebook and they meet up for a pint each time in the Saddlers club. That's probably something to do for an hour or so though, not 3.

Spoons just outside of New Street is decent if you want a few pints and a bit of lunch.

As for the game, we are shit at home - I'd prefer to play this away. We need to hope that letting in 4 last week was courtesy of good play from Colchester rather than the norm. I didn't realise they'd only lost 1 in 13 at home and we nearly stole it late smashing the post at 4-4.

I presume Gillingham won't come and play 4-5-1 like everyone seems to have done recently? I'd rather you came and attacked - we look much better then.

1-3 Gillingham
Dack, McDonald (2) and Bradshaw for us.
4,704 with 891 from the SE.

First time poster...... Looking back I can't see the last time Saddlerrad did not predict us to lose? Is it some kind of reverse psychology in being so negative?... Not sure you have noticed but we have lost 3 league games in the last 24 matches. Granted our home form is not as good as our away form but we should be able to take advantage of a gillingham side who do concede goals and by their own admission haven't been playing well recently. As long as smith picks the right lineup which should consist of 2 from all lalkovic, Morris and forde at worst I think we will draw this game

 

[Saddlerrad]

I expect us to return to rubbish at any given time - but I do predict us to lose when we are home every week. I let myself get comfortable against Crewe and Chesterfield and look what happened on both of those occasions. As far as I'm concerned I've naturally built in a defensive mechanism of, we are tiny, have no fans, no money and a low budget - regardless of opposition, virtually every other team has bigger right to be successful than we do and so I do come across as negative but being a Walsall fan in the last decade hasn't exactly been kind to us, has it?

Bar 1 season in League 2 and half a season under Smith, we've done nothing but occasionally surprise team and then lose/fail to take advantage of every single decent opportunity we have, mainly at home. The aim for this season was top half, I'm still in that camp and will be until/unless we are still top 2/3 come the end of January/February time.

Predicting us to win (seriously, you have never seen a Sports jinx like me) is literally just like me saying 'Hello Gillingham, embrace your 3 points, I've just wrapped them up for you'. I'd rather predict us to lose and look a happy idiot if we win.

Welcome board though! Nice to see another Saddler on board.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Reverse psychology Saddlerad, you could almost be a Gills fan

 

[mattsaddler]

Fair enough. I myself do keep expecting this bubble to burst but maybe just maybe it won't!! With the exception of the 8-2 defeat to Bristol City I can't remember a game in best part of 24 games when we were not in with a chance of getting a result. smith has instilled a level of consistency into these players. I'd love another striker on loan though to give us another option when Bradshaw is either misfiring or simply knackered from the amount of running he does. My only criticism of smith this season is his negative tactics at home by picking 3 centre mids in mantom, chambers and Flanagan. At home I personally think we should be looking to play less defensive which is why for me home games would include 2 if the 3 wide players (forde Morris n lalkovic). I also get so frustrated with the amount of stick sawyers gets on other Saddlerrad sites. Any "real" fan who knows anything can see the lad is a class act and destined for the chsmpionship at least.

 

[wiganmudhuts28]

could be a good weekend for us if we beat Swindon at home we will be in striking distance of the top 2

 

[Saddlerrad]

Fair enough. I myself do keep expecting this bubble to burst but maybe just maybe it won't!! With the exception of the 8-2 defeat to Bristol City I can't remember a game in best part of 24 games when we were not in with a chance of getting a result. smith has instilled a level of consistency into these players. I'd love another striker on loan though to give us another option when Bradshaw is either misfiring or simply knackered from the amount of running he does. My only criticism of smith this season is his negative tactics at home by picking 3 centre mids in mantom, chambers and Flanagan. At home I personally think we should be looking to play less defensive which is why for me home games would include 2 if the 3 wide players (forde Morris n lalkovic). I also get so frustrated with the amount of stick sawyers gets on other Saddlerrad sites. Any "real" fan who knows anything can see the lad is a class act and destined for the chsmpionship at least.

Are you a user of UTS?

I'm Sawyers biggest fan, always have been. Even last season when he wasn't firing, or only had one of his game every 6 or 7, I've always seen something very classy in his play, his ability to pick a pocket of space and then play one pass and let the ball do the work. My big criticism of him was how he seemed to avoid being in the penalty area or shooting more - which has been rectified this season with 5/6 goals already and some absolutely brillant strikes from outside the box.

Make no mistake about it, he's the best NATURAL number 10 (NOT striker) in the division and virtually every opposition manager/fans pick him out as our best player. If he stays consistent, then he will be playing top half Championship football for the better part of his career. Not a chance of him signing a contract with us IMO, if he does, then we will get a good fee for him.

 

[JoeJoeJoeJoe]

Are you a user of UTS?


Make no mistake about it, he's the best NATURAL number 10 (NOT striker) in the division and virtually every opposition manager/fans pick him out as our best player. If he stays consistent, then he will be playing top half Championship football for the better part of his career. Not a chance of him signing a contract with us IMO, if he does, then we will get a good fee for him.

You're forgetting #JM10 - Nike UK athlete.

 

[joethegill]

Make no mistake about it, he's the best NATURAL number 10 (NOT striker) in the division and virtually every opposition manager/fans pick him out as our best player. If he stays consistent, then he will be playing top half Championship football for the better part of his career. Not a chance of him signing a contract with us IMO, if he does, then we will get a good fee for him.

This paragraph also accurately describes Bradley Dack!

 

[Geosaddler]

Fair enough. I myself do keep expecting this bubble to burst but maybe just maybe it won't!! With the exception of the 8-2 defeat to Bristol City I can't remember a game in best part of 24 games when we were not in with a chance of getting a result. smith has instilled a level of consistency into these players. I'd love another striker on loan though to give us another option when Bradshaw is either misfiring or simply knackered from the amount of running he does. My only criticism of smith this season is his negative tactics at home by picking 3 centre mids in mantom, chambers and Flanagan. At home I personally think we should be looking to play less defensive which is why for me home games would include 2 if the 3 wide players (forde Morris n lalkovic). I also get so frustrated with the amount of stick sawyers gets on other Saddlerrad sites. Any "real" fan who knows anything can see the lad is a class act and destined for the chsmpionship at least.

Welcome along Matt, good to have another saddler on board.

Totally agree with you on Smiths home tactics. Bury, Chesterfield, Crewe, Oldham (and Doncaster) all came and firmly planted the team bus on the line and came away with a point or better. We just had no idea how to break them down with pedestrian sideways football. Lalkovic and/or Morris should start more home games in my opinion and with a more attacking shape. We are superb in the more open games such as Coventry, Burton and Brighton but a lack of a plan B against more defensive sides costs us time and time again at home. The away form has been unbelievable and with a bit more consistency at home there is a real chance we could do something this season.

It sounds hypocritical but for the Gillingham game I would leave things alone though. With a chance to pull out a 5 point gap on us I would be amazed if they came and just 'sat in' for 90 minutes. If they come and attack us (which I expect they will) it may well play into our hands.

I think the 'Sawyers argument' has been well and truly put to bed this season. I admit I was anti-Sawyers the last couple of years as he frustrated the hell out of me.........not because he was a bad player but the exact opposite. I saw a class act who was not even close to fulfilling his potential. The work he (and Dean Smith) have done on him in the closed season has been fantastic. He has bulked up, way more strength, seems a yard quicker, has the best eye for a pass in the league, is now given license to attack and shoot more but most impressively has upped his work rate about 1000%! To be honest i've not heard or read much Sawyers abuse this year. If anybody is doing it then they are absolutely retarded. He is one of, if not the best No.10 in the league.

 

[mattsaddler]

In response to Saddlerrad I'm an observer on UTS only and some of the stuff written on there always makes me laugh. I am sure all clubs are the same in that all possess a deluded element of the fan base but we do seem to have more than most!!

I think at home playing 3 centre mids doesn't always work due to our small pitch and you could throw a blanket across the centre midfielders . The 5 at the back works perfectly away from home particularly on bigger pitches. I just don't think at home we need to play with 3 in the middle particularly when one of the 3 is Flanagan who I don't think Is ready to play in the big games. By all accounts Taylor struggled on Saturday but it would be a brave call to leave Taylor out and play Rico in a back 4 on Saturday which is why smith will probably go with a back 5 again.. It's great to have so many different options available. Our bench at times has looked so strong.

Looking forward to Saturday. Have to pick and choose my games given the constraints of living in Cheshire and having young family but Saturday is a game I couldn't miss!

 

[GFC4EVA]

Absolutely gutted can't make this game.

Will no doubt be our hardest test so far, would take a point now but we have enough quality in the team to cause walsall problems.

If we win I will really start to believe this could be our year

Walsall 1-2 gills

Donnelly with our traditional last minute goal

 

[WFC]

Not much near the ground, the 'away' pub is the King George V about 15ish minutes away, Fullbrook is similar distance but mainly a home fan pub. Better off either drinking in the town (are some decent boozers if you look) or in Birmingham. The latter if you have more funds!

Saddlers club is nice and convenient really. Don't rate the place personally.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

How far is the town in relation to the station and ground?
I will probably stop off at Birmingham as it seems easier but with Wolves at Brum and Leicester at West Brom I just thought it may get a little feisty.

 

[Geosaddler]

How far is the town in relation to the station and ground?
I will probably stop off at Birmingham as it seems easier but with Wolves at Brum and Leicester at West Brom I just thought it may get a little feisty.

As stated there is nothing decent near the ground. The Saddlers Club and King George are ok but nothing special. You will probably find trouble in the Fullbrook so I would stay out of there.

A few decent pubs in Walsall town so i would go for a drink there. If if go for a pre-match drink I usually go to Bar Sport and watch the early kick off and grab some food. Its then either a 1 stop on the train to Bescot or 5-10 mins in a taxi to the ground. It also puts you much nearer the ground in case of any problems with the trains from Birmingham.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Cheers mate, I'll probably get a cab from Bescott then and have a few bevvies in Walsall.
My mate is bringing his daughter along so it might be best to avoid Birmingham for drinkies.

 

[Geosaddler]

Cheers mate, I'll probably get a cab from Bescott then and have a few bevvies in Walsall.
My mate is bringing his daughter along so it might be best to avoid Birmingham for drinkies.

No worries. I'm assuming you will be going from Birmingham New Street Station. Just stay on the train 1 stop passed the Bescot and thats Walsall town centre. Its the same line. Save you time and money. Then just use taxi to get back to ground. Not every train stops at Bescot coming back so taxi is safest unless you check times.

 

[WFC]

If you're drinking in walsall as I type the train never usually costs you anything to Bescot, never been told I've had to pay or anything.

 

[joethegill]

Suicidal 60 seconds has undone what has otherwise been a very comfortable half.