Let's talk about the Walsall game

[selby]

  After getting back on track with the win v Tranmere in which we saw the good the bad and the downright ugly of our game we come up against the top of the division in Walsall in the festive boxing day fixture.
 Last season they  employed the passive press letting us mess about at the back and retreated into their own half putting bodies between our players and their goal at all costs when we had the ball and hit us on the break, and used the tactical foul to break our rhythm.
  I expect the same as we have shown since that we find those tactics hard to break down.
  Even today they won 2-0 at Harrogate where we can't and had the less of the possession having only 45% but had 20 shots to Harrogate's 3 attempts and 258 passes to Harrogate's 349 so can thrive on little.
  In contrast and just watching us we have become a side that in the last few games have spurned golden chances with schoolboy finishing and rarely put a consistent full game together, at our fluid best we are good, at times unstoppable and seem to switch from one to the other even in individual games.
  Who would be a manager of such a team, its enough to drive him mad surely, the last two goals we have given away school yard mistakes, making keeping a clean sheet looking impossible.
  So the contrast of our wastefulness and a defence that is just as likely to set their forwards up for an easy goal and a team that are good without the ball and maximise what they are good at, reflected in the fact in Lowe and Matt are two players in the top list of the divisions scorers but with thirty seven goals this season over half are spread out to other players so danger all over the pitch and have lost only one game at home while scoring 21 goals.
  Needless to say it looks like for a very merry Christmas we need to cut out our mistakes and be at our very best as they are well capable of spoiling our festive season.
   What do you think?  will we rise to the not inconsiderable challenge? can we go there with confidence we are capable of a clean sheet? which we might need to get any points out of this game. can this game be the game we take a goal out of few chances? Will we carry on with a back four? It is a game of importance, one we need to lay a marker down we are a threat to the best in the division, are we good enough to do it?
  Lots to mull over, lots to discuss, and games coming up fast over the holiday period, please have your say.
  Also to everyone all the best have a great Christmas keep the faith in the club and management who have come a long way in a short time, and thanks for your interest and contributions to this thread in the past and hopefully the future, Merry Christmas everyone.

[ravenrover]

Not forgetting Harrogate had a man sent off

[Chris Black come back]

Walsall have the best home record in League Two, unsurprisingly. They have also scored the most goals at home in League Two. They are though very leaky and have conceded 14 at home, one of the most in League Two and have only managed three home clean sheets all season (Morecambe, Colchester and Barrow). That is pretty much where the good news ends though. They are on a league run of one loss in 15 games, with 10 of those being victories. This will be a very tough game.

[sedwardsdrfc]

Don’t know if it’s backed up by the stats but it feels like we’re better against the better teams. Could be wrong but that’s my gut feeling about the group.

We know we’re better playing forwards quickly and not been too focused on having the ball. Hopefully this game suits us

[mushRTID]

Iv got a really good feeling about this one.

[selby]

 We will have to start defending better, Olowu and the keeper have been the only consistent part of the defence lately.

[Alan Southstand]

I have little confidence in us getting a positive result at Walsall. Currently, they’re showing the rest of the league  be consistent. Whilst we, although  handily placed, are hardly a model for that very thing. I would love us to get something out of the game but I fear their tactics will not suit us.

We simply don’t seem to be able to string a good set of results together. There’s been plenty of discussion and debate on the matter, recently, so it’s pointless going over that again.

Hopefully, a bit of good business in January can see us get a few more consistently good results.

[Colemans Left Hook]

lest we forget

https://www.footballwebpages.co.uk/match/2024-2025/league-two/walsall/fleetwood-town/492946

Walsall 2 Fleetwood 6


https://youtu.be/f3AGpNJhOhk

i watched that Port Vale 0 Walsall 1 match on TV

Port Vale had chances early on a draw was a fair result   I expected beforehand a 0-0 result and it nearly was
- PV looked good - but Moore is always changing his team - but his defence is scrooge like

Walsall typically have less possession and they are Arsenal like with inswinging corners on the goalies throat - they might be the top scores from dead ball situations.

I have very recently laid them for a few hundred

and hope they will discover their true form against us   ....  if Fleetwood can hit them for six then ..........

[selby]

  If we can rid ourselves of being inconsistent even in a single game and play well for the majority of the game we have every chance.
  But defend like we have been lately and we will again have to score at least two goals to get anything out of the game, and that is a big ask every week.

[Usher wide.]

Two things we absolutely need to do. Stop giving the opposition a gift of a chance with sloppy play.

Start converting gilt edge chances.

Do that & with endeavour & concentration for 90+ minutes & we can win this game. Change that for we will win this game.

[graingrover]

I bet Walsall fans see this upcoming game as a real test for them and their current run of winning results .We should go with no fear .

[steve@dcfd]

This will be a tough game we will have to be at our best. We need to be more clinical yes we scored 3 yesterday but it should have been more. We gave away a goal which our players were at fault.
Now this is a start of 4 games in 10 days so the squad will be important and GM will have to pick the the right players.

[Nudga]

Can't wait for this. Getting our tickets tomorrow.

Anyone have an idea of what we've sold so far?

[les@donr]

Hope their players eat lots of Turkey and Christmas pudding, that will give us a chance!

[bpoolrover]

Can't wait for this. Getting our tickets tomorrow.

Anyone have an idea of what we've sold so far?

just over 900

[Padge_DRFC]

Can't wait for this. Getting our tickets tomorrow.

Anyone have an idea of what we've sold so far?

just over 900

That's very good that

[bpoolrover]

Tickets come off sale at 4pm today in case anyone waits till tomorrow

[GazLaz]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

[ForsolongaRover]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

Perhaps best you don’t go then!

Seriously though, it’s the toughest fixture any L2 side could face and we must hope for a solid performance. If that is good enough on the day to achieve the win, so be it, but we will have done our best. We have the advantage of them taking us seriously which will possibly make them more tense.

[karldew]

If I buy a ticket before 16:00 today is there collection at Walsall ticket office on the day?

UPDATE: Just gave the ticket office a quick ring, pick up at Walsall if you’re exile only. If not it’s collection from OUR ticket office, so only chance to collect is 09:00-13:00 tomorrow.

[RoversInSpain]

There’s a good chance their thought process will get ahead of them, as they could achieve a 10 point lead over us and with a game in hand.
They could freeze a bit.
1-3 Rovers.

[scawsby steve]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

I don't see why you'd be raging, Gaz. Their league position with less games played suggests at the moment that they're much better than us, so a defeat for us wouldn't be unexpected.

I'll be more inclined to be raging if we don't address our obvious weaknesses in the January window.

[NickDRFC]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

I don't see why you'd be raging, Gaz. Their league position with less games played suggests at the moment that they're much better than us, so a defeat for us wouldn't be unexpected.

I'll be more inclined to be raging if we don't address our obvious weaknesses in the January window.

Could be wrong but I read that as being annoyed if we fall into their trap and are beaten as a result, rather than just from losing.

[scawsby steve]

Gutted I can’t go to this. Really tough game. They have everything we struggle against. Out and out counter attacking side that want as little of the ball as possible.

If we go there and have 60% possession we will get beat. The games where they hand struggled the most are the ones against teams that also want to sit deep and counter. We should literally let them have the ball pretty much uncontested to ten yards inside our half, sit in and be patient.


I’d also play 3 centre halves and match them up as they have dropped points against teams that play that way.

I’d play direct to Ironside and Moly up top with Moly trying to run in behind.


Really hope we win this one as it’s a massive game. If we fall into their traps and get beaten I’ll be raging!!

I don't see why you'd be raging, Gaz. Their league position with less games played suggests at the moment that they're much better than us, so a defeat for us wouldn't be unexpected.

I'll be more inclined to be raging if we don't address our obvious weaknesses in the January window.

Could be wrong but I read that as being annoyed if we fall into their trap and are beaten as a result, rather than just from losing.

Yes, I get that, but why should the only reason for them winning be because of us falling into their trap?

At the moment, they seem to be a better team than us.

[karldew]

If I buy a ticket before 16:00 today is there collection at Walsall ticket office on the day?

UPDATE: Just gave the ticket office a quick ring, pick up at Walsall if you’re exile only. If not it’s collection from OUR ticket office, so only chance to collect is 09:00-13:00 tomorrow.

UPDATE 2: Pick tickets up from Walsall stadium after 13:00 if you haven’t got them already.

Stadium closed, comment on Twitter saying gas leak from an air con unit, not sure how true that is!

[Nudga]

If I buy a ticket before 16:00 today is there collection at Walsall ticket office on the day?

UPDATE: Just gave the ticket office a quick ring, pick up at Walsall if you’re exile only. If not it’s collection from OUR ticket office, so only chance to collect is 09:00-13:00 tomorrow.

UPDATE 2: Pick tickets up from Walsall stadium after 13:00 if you haven’t got them already.

Stadium closed, comment on Twitter saying gas leak from an air con unit, not sure how true that is!

I was told this at the ground when I went to pick my tickets up.

[DonnyBiz]

Granted it's from a month ago, but I like the way they analyse teams.

https://youtu.be/iFhmQsEhv-I?si=PxXfrQBIFirvoADf

[selby]

   Everything breaks down to the class of the players, the game is simple and that just backed up in a complicated way the old adage that you make room and get into space when you have the ball, and you close down the opposition when you don't have the ball.
   With the tactics employed in the modern game, and the change in the offside law I am surprised the 60s/ 70s tactic of a sweeper is not employed by the odd team and make it difficult to get behind defences.
  They used to cover runners central and wide back in the day. There are more goals scored now splitting the back line than there was then, and  players had to run past defenders much more often with the ball as they covered the space behind across the pitch and caused attackers to be doubled up on.
  That is why old films of players like Best and Cruyff invariably show them having to dribble past a number of players to get in the box  instead of the modern stop the ball, turn away from goal and pass back to the central defenders or across the field.
   The high scoring games now show it is easier to score goals now, if the Italians scored one normally that was it, and Leeds were the same with Madeley so quick.

[Nudga]

Us fans really need to play our part in this. Top of the table clash,  festive period, Walsall fans giving it the big un last season, let's Ave it!!

From 2.45pm to 5pm let's give Grant and the lads constant, Loud backing.

[Butchers Red]

   Everything breaks down to the class of the players, the game is simple and that just backed up in a complicated way the old adage that you make room and get into space when you have the ball, and you close down the opposition when you don't have the ball.
   With the tactics employed in the modern game, and the change in the offside law I am surprised the 60s/ 70s tactic of a sweeper is not employed by the odd team and make it difficult to get behind defences.
  They used to cover runners central and wide back in the day. There are more goals scored now splitting the back line than there was then, and  players had to run past defenders much more often with the ball as they covered the space behind across the pitch and caused attackers to be doubled up on.
  That is why old films of players like Best and Cruyff invariably show them having to dribble past a number of players to get in the box  instead of the modern stop the ball, turn away from goal and pass back to the central defenders or across the field.
   The high scoring games now show it is easier to score goals now, if the Italians scored one normally that was it, and Leeds were the same with Madeley so quick.

Ref sweepers - Demetriou at Crewe plays more or less in that slot and is very effective ( as we painfully know ! )