Let's talk about the Walsall game

[Colemans Left Hook]

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

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

cut out the waffle and get to the important  bit 

"  "a few of their loans might get recalled after Christmas"  fingers crossed

expect PV to get a job lot ? of loanees -     just realised Walsall "is stroke was"  also in Staffordshire  .. not a lot of people ( including Akinfenwa) will know that

[ForsolongaRover]

   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 ! )

When Goalkeepers began to venture out of their areas and up the field, which is some time ago now, they were likened to "Sweepers". We more of less take it for granted now and I wonder whether advanced students of the game retain that view?

[les@donr]

It is very possible that some of Walsall’s might get poached by bigger clubs in the January transfer window.

[les@donr]

Nathan Lowe could be returning to Stoke in January as he has been a liable to Wallsall.

[BobG]

Are Walsall particularly liable to have their players poached? I'm  curious. What makes them more liable to that than us? Better players perhaps?

BobG

[les@donr]

Yes, Bob.

[Filo]

I’m assuming this one and the game on Sunday will be on Sky Sports + ?

[graingrover]

I think that the geographical location plays a role Bob .

[BobG]

Presumably so does the manager/coach Brian? If he gets players performing well they would, presumably, be more likely to attract poachers?

I don't  think this is a simple decision matrix.

BobG

[selby]

 I don't think of myself as an advanced student of the game at all, but my experience of goal keepers playing away from their area, and with their feet spells danger to me, and has been born out with some calamitous events just in the last few weeks at the highest level.
  Defending was always taught to me as reducing risk, for instance as a  not great full back my main out ball  was out wide to a winger who was taught to show himself to me, I would have got a rollicking for an oh lay ball like McGraths  last week whether it made it or not, across your own goal was a big no no. and if the winger didn't show for the ball he got it in the neck or you put it down the line as ninety times out of a hundred if you didn't you were going to be taken out sometimes from behind by a beast of a striker who had notches on his belt for smashing defenders.
  In the modern game if your spot on then you can get away with it, if your not like the two Manchester sides, you can have some of the best players in the world in their positions and it is hard to get away with it., never mind with second division players.
 

[drfchound]

I’m assuming this one and the game on Sunday will be on Sky Sports + ?

The Walsall game is on Sky+ but I can’t see that the Colchester match is scheduled to be on Sky.

[Chris Black come back]

As part of the new TV deal for EFL clubs this season, all games played on Bank Holidays including Easter, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are available to watch live.

[scawsby steve]

I’m assuming this one and the game on Sunday will be on Sky Sports + ?

The Walsall game is on Sky+ but I can’t see that the Colchester match is scheduled to be on Sky.

It will be on the red button, mate.

[Sprotyrover]

Will it record? I am out at family event

[ncRover]

This list suggests that the Sunday lunchtime games and all the Boxing Day and NYD games are included, but the 3pm Sunday games aren’t.

https://www.skysports.com/football/competitions/league-2/fixtures

I don’t understand why? Will the Colchester game be on Rovers+ then?

[drfchound]

I’m assuming this one and the game on Sunday will be on Sky Sports + ?

The Walsall game is on Sky+ but I can’t see that the Colchester match is scheduled to be on Sky.

It will be on the red button, mate.

Ah, I watch Sky football through the Now TV App so maybe don’t get the option of the red button.
I just googled “live football on Sky tv” and it only showed a few games for the Sunday and ours wasn’t shown as one of them.

[donnyguy]

Just looked on sky and it is showing just the 12:30 games on Sunday as live.

[mushRTID]

Any ideas on away pubs?
Seems they have their own supporters bar called The Locker, but away fans charged £5 entry from what I can see.

Edit: Just seen elsewhere it’s £2 entry

[Goole Rover]

Just looked on sky and it is showing just the 12:30 games on Sunday as live.

I’m a complete novice when using these channels but use Now TV, Sport, Live ELF, Scroll down to competitions then across (right) to ELF, Live League Two and we’re first.
Your IT wiz pensioner.

[Nudga]

Any ideas on away pubs?
Seems they have their own supporters bar called The Locker, but away fans charged £5 entry from what I can see.

Edit: Just seen elsewhere it’s £2 entry

£2 mate, just got in here

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I just can't see us eliminating enough of our unforced errors to win this game.

We may cause them problems offensively but as the game goes I think we'll conceded too many set pieces to blank them out.

Of course, I'm hoping it's a game we click more than clunk but I can see a repeat of the same 3-1 scoreline as last season.

[ss1953]

Will it record? I am out at family event

Don’t think you can record a match on the red button.  Only the one being broadcast on Sky Sports+.

[Chris Black come back]

Can barely hear Hoden on commentary. Lot of background noise.

[Goole Rover]

You Anderson knockers, did you notice again that massive gap on the 28th minute.

[Avsuptem]

Great to hear our fans in such good voice.

[Avsuptem]

And they are right, Walsall is indeed a shithole.

[rich1471]

We have been shocking so far

[Goole Rover]

Bring back Anderson and put McGrath on the bench.

[Chris the Rover]

That have been better than us all over the pitch. It’s as simple as that.

[Chris Black come back]

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!!

57% possession and one shot on target (89th minute).