Thetownend.com

The Opponent: Walsall

Only a few short nights ago we gathered under the lights of The County Ground and witnessed, in my opinion, yet another fantastic display of football. I think Flash pointed out a few days back that maybe now is a good time to take stock, 12 games in, some decent form in the cups, and it has to be said, Mark Cooper is doing a decent job. It seems this is the general opinion, I’m sure not everyone thinks so and I have no doubt 4 straight defeats would soon lead to effigies of Cooper and McRory being torched in the bad lands of Cavendish Square, but for me, well done Mark Cooper, credit where credit is due.  I know he doesn’t show his emotions that much in the post match interviews but for a man, with the greatest of respect, with his past record in management, he must be pretty satisfied with what has been achieved so far. A long way to go indeed, but a really good effort so far, and some of the best football I have seen at the County Ground for many years.

The town of Walsall is home to some 180’000 folk, which surprised me, they certainly know how to pack them in up in The West Midlands. Historically, Walsall was part of The County of Staffordshire but now comes under The West Midlands, although to call them Brummies is somewhat wide of the mark as the local dialect is known as Yam Yam, which is shared with other parts of The Black Country. Interestingly, a local landmark is Barr Beacon, which is reportedly the highest point following its latitude eastwards until the Ural Mountains in Russia! Why I never knew this information before now baffles me.  For many years, Walsall was the West Midlands answer to Blackpool with a stunning array of illuminations, which are sadly now a thing of the past due to financial restraints. The local council promised lots of different attractions in its place although nothing has materialised, in all truths, is it possible to squeeze Walsall and attraction in the same sentence?

The Last Time We Met – Back in March we played out a 2-2 draw at The County Ground in front of just over 8’400 with goals from the now departed Andy Williams and Simon Ferry.

They have served us both –  Jimmy Kelly, Jimmy Davies, Iffy, Grant Smith, Paul Smith, Claude Gnapka, Jamie Vincent, Fitzroy Simpson, Peter Eastoe, Willie, Penman, Trevor Benjamin (was there anyone he didn’t play for?)

Where the opposition gather –

http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43551

Walsall Last 6 – WDDLDW (Currently 9th on 19 points, they have already picked up away wins at Crewe and Wolves so far this season).

The Odds –  Swindon  4/5 Draw 5/2 Walsall 7/2  The wife managed to predict the 2-0 scoreline last Friday evening, sadly we had a grand total of £3 on it, the big bucks was put on the 4-0 scoreline, which after half an hour looked well and truly on the cards!

The Son Says – Another 2-0 home win and a random prediction of 199 away fans. 

The Prediction – Walsall seem a decent enough outfit and have picked up a few decent results a few times this season. I don’t think a few decent results will be enough to see them past us tonight, we have too much up front for most teams, Walsall included. 3-1 with goals from a fit Nathan Thompson, Nile Ranger and Yaser Kasim. 7'722 in attendance with 233 from Walsall.

And Finally –  The town's WW1 cenotaph is located on the site of a bomb which was dropped by Zeppelin 'L 21', killing the town's mayoress, and two others. Damage from the Zeppelin can still be seen on what is now a club on the corner of the main road.

COYR COYR COYR

I've got a good feeling about this!  2-1 Swindon COYR

Hoping the attendance will be much higher given the price reduction. It's painful being so far away knowing we're playing great football at the moment - here's hoping it continues. Given that I can't make the game, any win will do.

2-1, Luongo and Ajose. 8739.

i'm convinced this is another clean sheet.  i'm going for 3-0 - pritchard, mason and ajose

Good write up as per usual, though you did forget one player who served us both  ;)
going for a Town win 2-0 Luongo and Kassim (he's due one soon) crowd will be 8794 with 212 making the trek down

3-1 att: 7,907 (it's raining  :( )

Entertaining 1-1, the unbeaten run continues. Attn: 7,431

Bit of a toughie tonight, I reckon.

Could edge it 2-1 but not surprised if it's a draw.

I've been prepared to change my name to Audrey if the 10,000 barrier isn't broken tonight - what with the price reductions - so hope this filthy weather eases up by kick off.

There were plenty of spare seats available when i got my ticket online on Friday.

4-1 to us

Normally a tight game at our place. 2-1 either way, If we have an off night. 3-0 win if we don't.

I thought Walsall were the best team that visited the County Ground last season. Should be a lot of fast attacking football on show based on that. Another score draw I reckon where the quality of football compensates for the result.

Walsall are no mugs on the road with 3 wins 2 draws and only 1 defeat so far in the league scoring 7 and conceding only 3.

They won away at Wolves and drew away at Orient.

Has low score draw written all over it for me in front of 7,854 with 673 Warsaw fans.

testing game for the defence tonight. i think they'll defend deep and counter attack quickly. might have to come from behind. Narrow win for us though

Hello Audrey  :bye:

Should be a good game, bit of a bogey side for us at home, hope we win but I think a draw (1-1) will be the outcome, weather expected to clear up a bit for tonight, so 8,366 fans to watch a good game.

Absolutely lashing down with rain here, what's it like in Swindon ? Hopefully our drainage is working.

Actually stopped here now, forecast not too bad for the rest of the day, a bit windy and a few showers around.

Hoping for a nice comfortable win as my birthday present from the Town. With Preston and Bradford playing each other a win would solidify us nicely in the playoff places, although 3rd to 11th admittedly looks very tight still.

Walsall at 7/2 looks good value to me.

I think it will be a draw tonight, 2-2 again.

Very tough game, although their manager seems adamant that they play it neat on the ground too which will suit us.

I'm gonna go for 1-1, Mason with our goal and a crowd of just over 8K.

I think we'll win, but it will be a much tighter game than Friday night. I rated Walsall when they came here last season, especially after they looked like a sure bet for relegation when we beat them away last season! I'll go for a tight 2-1 victory, with Ranger and Ajose getting the goals! Crowd 8,272 with 512 coming from Walsall. C.O.Y.R!!!

We can go 4th tonight if Preston and Bradford draw.

Still think it's way too early to care too much about league positions.

Although I will admit it is nice to be in and around the top 6!

It's raining again, but even if it was 30 degrees outside and £10 a ticket we still wouldn't get over 10000 fans there tonight.

I agree totally with both those statements.

I think you're going to need this:  http://www.ukdps.co.uk/HowToApply.html

Based on our recent performances I think this may be a game when the rest of the league sit up, take notice and realise that the Rotehrham game was not a one off.

or it could be a dire 1-1 draw. An early goal either way could be the difference between the two outcomes.

I'm beginning to think I may have been a bit rash.

After watching another 90 minutes of entertaining football last Friday my immediate reaction was that if the people of Swindon can't get off their arses for £15 and come and see for themselves what's happening at the club they never will.

I think maybe the 'never will' bit is nearer the mark!!

I've come to the same conclusion over the last 24 years. Isn't there some champions league stuff on tonight?

Taking in my first game of the season tonight. I hope its a good one - and its not called off....?

2-1 to us

I think we can count on an obliging mod to ensure that your rashness will be long commemorated on the TEF, even if you chicken out of the deed poll stuff... Audrey.  :mwah:

On second thoughts, I reckon it will be mighty close to 10,000

We had over 8000 on Friday, so all those should turn up again tonight. Walsall will bring more than Notts County, so say that should be 8500.

So only another 1500 to be enticed by the pricing and Bob's me uncle.

I am quite willing to have my user name changed to Audrey!

You are clutching at straws now. May as well start filling in that deed poll form. It will save time later. You know it makes sense. ;)

Wasn't Nile Ranger in court in Newcastle yesterday as the first part of his rape case? I am sure I read it somewhere, if he was I hope it does not have an adverse effect on his confidence and performance today.

EDIT.

Yes he was but I have not been able to find anything about it.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nile-ranger-appears-newcastle-crown-5732557

just to say he's not guilty

Heard that some Walsall fans are in the Town Centre already causing a bit of trouble.

Surprising, what with the well renowned cafe culture and architectural wonders on offer!!

Walsall fans saying that you will be lucky to see 200 of their lot there tonight.

Nah be nearer 8k. A lot of the longer distance fans who went friday wont be able to do tonight( it's easier to skive off early on a Friday)

Getting regular 8,000 crowds at mid-week games is a fairly recent phenomenon.  Even a few years ago, a game like tonight's would have attracted 6,500 to 7,000.  We're on the right path.

2-0 Ranger, N'Guessen (again)

8.5K at the very best i'd say.  Only few hundred people maximum who wouldnt have gone for £25 will be enticed by a tenner off.

This is a tough fixture no doubt about it, Walsall are no mugs and been playing well for pretty much all of 2013.  I'll take a dour 1-0 victory (Luongo) and run. 

Even under Hoddle in the promotion season to the Premier League we had 9 league crowds of under 8,500 including one game on a Tuesday in late September against Grimsby of under 5,800.

We are certainly going in the right direction with crowds.

Whatever the score, I doubt it will be dour.

I actually find myself really looking forward to games these days - gone is the sense of obligation

I've started to enjoy football again. Surely this sense of joy can't last long ? It's Swindon after all.

Ill make you unenjoy it again tonight, ill keep flicking your ears

And that is not universal.  Oxford's home gate fell by 20% last season.  They were one of 9 (nine!) clubs that saw a decline of 20% or more against the previous season (2011/12).

Football League Attendances 2008-13 (http://www.football-league.co.uk/staticFiles/6f/bd/0,,10794~179567,00.pdf)

Might be a decent crowd as ppl tend to buy tickets earlier rather than on the day so weather matters not
2 sections of drs upper sold out and even the section nearest TE is in the orange ( according to the ticketing webbie )

As for the game itself am going  for a 3 nil win with Ranger getting 2 and Pritchard
Be great to keep another clean sheet
Lets say 9194 att with 326 from warsaw

Am in the Arkells tonight for the first time on over 20 years  :eek: mainly due to DRS not having 3 seats anywhere together bar the 2 end sections  :crash:

I'll take any sort of Swindon win - we're guaranteed to move up at least one place if we do

...and still falling this season.

Lower, lower! (http://www.yellowsforum.proboards.com/post/339325/thread)

Much more difficult outing this evening so easy to think this could quite possibly be a draw however I am going for a 2-1 win. Unfortunately I will not be there as Swindon and I need to rest up, as my visits have become so regular I might end up liking the place....and I can`t allow that to happen.

Red Army......

Got a (mate) who goes to Pox matches occasionally and he reckons the ground is shit, that beer tent thingy is shut, football is crap kick and rush hoofball and even though they are up near the top there is no atmosphere (must be the altitude)!

He is coming with me tonight to see something vastly better (hopefully).

Thats tempting fate!

There are very few clubs who got their relocation project as badly wrong as Oxford did...and they are paying the price to this day.  Everything...the ground design, the location, the ownership (critically), the lack of amenities nearby.  Fix all those things and it would add a few thousand to the gate on its own.  They won't though, because they can't.

Don't know why but I have a feeling were going to lose tonight.

Everyone is very happy, were playing fantastic, great home record so it's bound to end tonight as I have finally convinced my grandad to come along. He hasn't been in over 25 years since we got dicked at Pox and relegated to Div 4.

0-2

Christ, you need some Doctor Happy!

The rain clouds have passed and the sun is out

Been a shite few days, prepared for the worst later!

That's right...............as long as his forms OK, that's what matters.....................poor bloke

Second game of the season, which breaks the playing teams at the foot of the table, home and teams at the top of the table away, pattern.

The first away out of pattern we lost at Shrews, so it will be interesting to see how tonight goes...a win would be very significant...a loss not the end of the world.

We tend to not win when we're all optimistic. 2-2

Going to be a tough game, only 1 point behind us and seem to be better away than at home, be happy with a sneaky 1-0.

We will smash this 4-0. or if we get an early goal 6-1

poor bloke? You know he's innocent then?

Whooooooooosh

Until proven guilty, yes.

That's how it works is it not

@Official_STFC: Town side to face Walsall: Foderingham, Thompson N, Hall, Ward (C), McEveley, Kasim, Luongo, Pritchard, Ajose, Ranger, Byrne

@Official_STFC: Subs: Belford, Mason, N'Guessan, Thompson L, Barthram, Branco, Elgabas

Some inane trivia:

After this evening, there is only one further mid-week evening game scheduled at the County Ground this season (vs Wolves on March 11th 2014).

Traffic is mental, has there been an accident somewhere?

Traffic crazy on Newport Street in Old Town.

Touchee !!!!

Back fucked means I cannot make it...gutted...

Hopefully the lads can pitch in with another 3 points...

Can you hear the Audry sing....

Fewer Walsall than Notts County!

Good feeling about this....apart from being on nights tonight!

3-1 Town.

I wonder what this 'good news' is which Jed has tweeted about..

When? Can't see it.

Henshall scores for Bristol Rovers.

He didn't actually say that. The closest I can find is this...

Afternoon #STFC all ready for tonight's game been a busy couple of days ... So you all no that means we must e close to something

A Walsall commentator just said N Thompson is on loan from Spurs.

Do your homework son.

Well, yeah....that's kinda what I meant..

Who are the commentators on the Town site?

Not sure, is it Martin Ling?

Yep.

It's oh so quiet....

Walsall sound dangerous.

ffs

Town too slow to organise themselves there   Good finish mind

Balls. This is what happens when everyone gets all positive!  :)

Sounds like we're on the rack.  Need to get a grip.  A second goal from them could kill this before it's started.

According to Twitter, Kasim making a few mistakes....odd for him.

I miss one game....and this...

C'mon town ffs

Fods on form at least

Crewe 0 Stevenage 3 after 20 minutes. Davis will be sacked in the morning.

Not enjoying this!

Rather be behind now than the 75th minute, long way to go yet, we will get into this soon.

We couldnt get into a bath at the moment  :no:

They are stretching us too much at the back. Midfield not filling the gaps left by our back three. A bit too predictable going forward too.

Have we done anything this half other than defend corners?  How are Walsall winning so many?

A lot of aggression and criticism on Twitter tonight...it's as though we play like this every week!...

Only takes one bad result for all the retards to complain about something. Tend to mostly be chavs/simpletons.

Needs a change of formation and personal imho

Only going by Sam on Twitter but we sound second best by some way tonight sadly.

Simply been second best. No complaints.

We should be 3 or 4 down fodders having a good game the 2 full backs and grant hall having a mare

It's only 1-0, but sounds like Walsall have sussed us.  Going to be interesting to see how Cooper responds.

Similarly based only on the tweets of young Mr Morshead, but it sounds like we are fortunate to only be one behind.

Lets hope that we can turn it around in the second half

Let's hope for a game of two halves.

Agree

Agree

Agree

Wes is keeping us in the game but we look devoid of ideas anyway. Very poor half.

I recon the answer on radio is:

Aden Flint with the last goal an og for Shitty against us.

Apparently 'Smith has got Cooper by the nuts tactically', which sounds deeply unpleasant.  Cooper will want his nuts back in the second half, I'm sure.

Who won the Great British Bake Off?

I'm surprised Dean Smith is still at Walsall, he's done a great job with them.

Yep, it's not working.  Too many players going through the motions tonight.  As much as I like Thompson, he's adding nothing in a wing back type position, as he isn't comfortable going forward.  Byrne hasn't been much better.

As good as we were on Friday, we've been poor tonight.  Wes has made 3 or 4 good saves to keep us in it tbh.

Change the formation to 4 at the back is the general consensus....

Mason & N'Guessan to appear 2nd half perhaps?

Its looking like a two horse Ruby v. Kimberley race...

Yep bring our two top scorers on, don't think we can play as bad again 2nd half.

Good display by walsall, decent team..draw would do me right now.
The players look jaded

Come on Ruby.

Agree Lee.  The extra day doesn't seem to have helped us.

Mason is on for Ajose.

Agree with the agreement

Fucking hell, Cooper sounds like a miserable cunt when we win in post match..

COYR....FFS

Maybe a change in formation with Mason coming on?

Oh well. That's that then.

Bullshit.

Fuckity Fuck

 :headhurts:

Are we playing 3 at the back against 3 attackers? If so that's just asking for trouble.

Mistake by Ward leading to the goal.

We're a bloody shambles atm.

It's over

Is the weather in swindon as bad as here, any chance of an abandonment. #clutching at straws

Pompey game abandoned, any hope for us?

McEveley now suspended for Oldham..

Not raining here folks.

We look worse this half

none whatsoever

Have Walsall done their homework? Or have we just been inept?

Foderingham sounds like he's keeping us in this (if that is possible!)

Both, by the sounds of it.  Same old Swindon: consistently inconsistent.  Just when you dare to think that we might be putting a run of form together...

both. Walsall  decent. We look like we are stuck in second gear.  Formation wrong, in my opinion. But that's only part of the issue.

I bet they were out on the piss last night

Blurry

At least the extra day has meant the players seem refreshed!

Coventry 3 Orient 0! They'll make the playoffs.

Do do doooodo do do dooo do dodo (circus song)

Oh well, it's better to win then lose than draw then draw....

Are we shit again now?

Bugger  :headhurts:

GET IT FORWAAAARD

3-0. Good god!

today, extremely.

Oh well. Back to Earth we go with a bump.

Well done Walsall. Sounds as if there has only ever been one team in it.

Walsall are a good side but this is hopeless tonight by the sound of it.

Our heaviest home defeat since 10/11.

Our boys have taken one hell of a beating........

At least the Slave Traders are losing.....

City are 1-0 down.

This all sounds a bit shit.

What happened to the free flowing football team from Friday, have they all been abducted by Aliens & replaced by clones of Eric Sabin?

Comeback!

Really didn't see this coming.

A draw now would be steal of the century.

What is the attendance tonight?

8,188. What a shame.

Where's Audrey now?

8188, 202 away

@SamMorshead_SA: Attendance is 8,188 (202 from Walsall) - weirdly that's the exact same attendance figure as Friday

Hope are city getting on. Snigger.

Not bad for a champions league night.

Isnt that the same crowd as on friday?

nah. I wasn't here Friday for one.

Baddum Tish :)

That's OK, because I was but am not there tonight ;)

Ranger misses open goal.

Not that we deserve anything from the game, but he missed a sitter at the start of the second half too according to Sam

Yes, exactly.  Sam Morshead commented on it.

Have we ever recorded identical attendance figures in consecutive games at any point in the club's history?  One for Richard Banyard!

I would doubt it, highly unlikely.

As ever 50 points is the first target.

If we were still looking at the top of the table, results have gone our way barring Wolves and Brentford (snigger)

It's a young team, everyone said that they were going to be inconsistent at the start of the season so it should not come as a surprise that they are capable of a shit performance every now and then.

Not a big deal IMO.  Win on Saturday and the results go our way and we can still go 4th...  What's the problem.

Still learning, these results will happen, and Walsall are a decent side. Move along nothing to see here.

Just back, this just about covers it. Bounce back on Saturday, at least we ain't as bad as Shitty eh?

For the first time ever I left with 15 minutes to go.

For those of you fortunate enough not to be in attendance it is difficult to convey just how inept that performance.

Completely and utterly shambolic from start to finish.

Without Wes they would have got double figures - and deservedly so.

Walsall were fantastic and everything we were not.

Committed, pacy and skilful.

If opposing teams get hold of a DVD of that performance it will be a masterclass in how to beat Swindon. Forwards close down our defenders from the seemingly never-ending pass backs to Wes.

There was a total lack of urgency, tackles were missed - or more truthfully not put in at all - it was ponderous and slow. Even the simplest of passes failed to reach their target and I lost count of the number of times were caught in possession and lost the ball.

There was no Plan B.

I naively thought that we couldn't be as bad in the 2nd half as the first and Walsall couldn't be as good.

Boy, was I wrong. If the first half was bad the 2nd was almost comical in its ineptitude.

I would hope this was a one off but the confidence must have taken a helluva battering tonight.

Thoroughly pissed off

Yours faithfully, Audrey

Spot on, full marks to Walsall, draw a line and let's move on :(

^ What Audrey said.

Terrible, terrible.

Walsall fantastic, barely a misplaced pass all match.

The best away performance I have seen here in years. Played us off the park.

Clueless from Cooper, but take nothing away from Walsall they had us sussed and played a passing game which unlike ours was direct.

We'll still be up there.

They did their homework and beat us fair and square. Cooper tried to change it up nice and early but it just wasn't to be tonight. Well done Walsall.

Walsall didn't need any help from us - but we certainly gave them plenty!!  Only Ranger and Wes can hold their heads up high tonight, they never announced a man of the match but it would have to be Wes, he stood between us and a rout.  Could have been embarrassing, could have been six!!  Very good side Walsall, and thoroughly deserved their win.

Not if we don't stop fucking about at the back we won't.

Hands up, got beat by the better team but by Christ we made it easy for them.

Get a fucking grip,a no-hoper team according to many at the start of the season loses to a team with a fantastic away record to slip to the depths of 8th in the league.Some people need to get their heads out of their arses.

Credit to Cooper for trying to change it early as well. Sounds as though we were outwitted.

We don't have to play Walsall every week.

Didnt know Steven Gerrard had signed for us!

Have to agree with majority of what's been said already, so in summary from me...Walsall outclassed us, we made some costly mistakes, didn't play at all well tonight, still a young side, some of whom are only in their 1st season of league football, and we'll win as a team and lose as a team...expect us to be better at Oldham. Again, remember if you'd have given us this start to the season in the Summer we'd still have taken it! Thought Wes kept us in it 1st half, and again 2nd half, and Nile did well too!

A bit pissed off that the Town End bar wasn't open  >:(

Who needs to get a grip, people telling how the game was what's wrong with that

I was but not tonight!

People who think we are going to turn up and rip apart anything thats put in front of us.

Plus points?

Neon hoardings turned down?

Well that was proper shit.

Think Coops dropped a bollock today by playing 3 at the back. Actually, its worked exceedingly well in recent weeks but it was clear pretty early on that they were stretching us far too much at the back, getting the ball wide into the gaps. Should have gone to a flat back 4, thought there is no guarantee this was the answer I suppose.

Fact is Walsall were better than us. They denied us space, which meant a frustrating rather than a fruitful passing Town game. Walsall themselves were playing the ball on the deck, but played with a better pace when breaking and were more incisive.

Although we deserved to lose, and by a bigger margin, two of the goals they scored were very disappointing. The first came from a corner. They took the corner and literally had two men in the box unmarked (shot blocked) and three on the edge of the box (ball smashed in). Fuck knows what the defence and midfield were doing.

The second disappointing goal was gifted them by Ward.

I think also it was a collective off night I think performance can be put into these categories:

Good: Wes.
OK: Ranger
Poor: McCeverly, Ajose
Dogshit: Kassim, Luongo. Pritchard (for 80 minutes), Byrne,
Utter dogshit: Hall, Ward,
Presumably an imposter lookalike from the crowd: Thompson.

Take nothing away from Walsall though, they were excellent.

Still its only one game. As Kipling said:

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
  And treat those two impostors just the same;
....

today was a disaster, but it has not baring on tomorrow.

What's happening tomorrow batch :hmmm:

Cheers Batch

This is just one example of tempting fete. STOP,. THINK. DON'T TEMPT FETE

What planet was Ward on tonight?  Not in tune at all, oh well different formation on Saturday as J Mac is suspended, will be a 4-4-2 I guess.

Nothing that today had any relevance to.

You knew what I meant.

Nnnggghhh, I don't know what was more annoying, our performance or the reactions of our 'support' at times.

It was a poor one, Walsall looked sharp, strong, fast, and gave eachother options on the ball whilst depriving us of any. Lots of below par performances on our side. I wouldn't have started Ajose instead of N'Guessan, but it made little difference really. We didn't move into space, didn't press, and too often gave in to crowd groans, resorting to hopeless long balls that we are not well versed in. And Ward was awful. But we'd have lost without his gaffes, so again, had little bearing on the result.

Also, it's surprising how many seasoned viewers know less of the offside rule than the linesmen they insist on insulting in a rabid rage.

I really didn't enjoy tonight.

Or the Tombola of life will come and bite you in the backside.

We never seem to do well v Walsall at home and fair play to them their game plan worked brilliantly. God knows what Ward was playing at in defence tonight. Wes saved us from a hiding but Mason, and Ranger had channces which if they had gone in would have put Walsall under a bit more pressure. Had it not been for wonder save by their keeper the 5 minutes of injury time might have been a bit more interesting too. Worrying that so many seemed below par - particularly Luongo and Kasim. Reality check all round.

 author=Batch link=topic=52777.msg1232499#msg1232499 date=1382477484]
Nothing that today had any relevance to.

You knew what I meant.
[/quote]
 :)

1-3 flattered us. Walsall had done their homework. Sussed out the 3-5-2 and got runners in behind Thompson and Byrne, both of whom were absolute shit. Ward was even worse and Hall was slightly better but still shit. McAveley was the pick of the defence and that's not saying much. Their no 7 owned the midfield. Kasim was shit and needed a change of boots. Pritchard was useless. The worst midfielder by a mile though was Luongo who broke up so many of our attacks. Ajose was shit. ranger was decent. Fods was MOM by a mile.
We were bettered in every single department.
Still one defeat in 5 isn't bad and I'll take that going forward.
Walsall looked a really good team who employed good tactics, kept their shape and were sharper all over the pitch. I can hardly recall one tackle by a Town player other than McEveley going for the neck of one of theirs and Hall going wastehigh.  

Think Watd has been eating too many yams.

First thing, Walsall were easily the best team here this season, worked as a team, pressed in bunches and didn't let us move further than 5 yards outside our box. If Ranger had scored his free header from 6 yards out earlier on in the second half it might have been different but saying that they had plenty of chances to make it 4 or 5-0, Wes was the best player but even still with 5 minutes to go, to keep doing those short goal kicks which is what Walsall wanted us to just but us under pressure and was eventually lumped up anyway, im a fan of the possession play but sometimes you need to do something different. Frustrating game which was just as bad as Shrewsbury away.

Even at 3-1 down we kept so many players behind the ball.

Every once in a while a game comes along where every Swindon player looks like they've come out of the tunnel in a catatonic stupor.

I don't want to take anything away from Walsall though. Fully deserved the win and should have won by more. Tactically the best team we've played this season by a distance. Cooper needs to look at that performance and try to replicate those tactics away from home.

For us, no-one except Wes and Ranger came out with very much credit. Hall, Ward and Thompson were atrocious but had no protection from the midfield. Kasim was not the messiah, he was a very naughty boy.

This has cheered me up a bit  :)

Unbelievable. Truly shocking.

How did Ruby not win the Great British Bake Off?


(oh and we were total shit tonight)

As shit as were, at least we created some chances.

We have played far worse at home in recent years but it has been a long time since a team turned up at the CG and ripped us apart like Walsall did.

It was painfully obvious that our wing backs were being exploited time after time and it should have been changed far sooner. Ward was wank but asking a player like him to turn into a ball playing defender was never going to work and the odd mistake will be expected from him with the ball at his feet. Still our best defender by a mile (in general, not tonight).

Was it Barthram who fucked up for the third?

I feel sorry for the Walsall fans.

Their commentary team was atrocious despite their performance and result. I'd hate to listen in to that each week.

Walsall were very good, we were very poor (apart from Wes)

Atmosphere was really subdued from the off, our performance didn't help but it was very quiet.

Draw a line under the performance and move on quickly!

Did someone on the radio say Kasim had verbals with someone in the crowd? May have totally misheard this driving back...

If they were proper fans then they wouldn't be listening to it every week - they would be at the match.

I'll bite. Midweek games are a bit of a git to get to for some, even if its only from Brum,.

I thought they said Ranger on the radio but I did hear something so you didn't imagine it...unless we both did

You know the performance has been poor when no man of the match is announced.

Not really much to add that hasn't already been said.  Too many players off their game tonight, some of them remarkably so.  McEveley was getting a slating on some of the texts on BBC Wiltshire after the game.  Bit unfair imo, there were a number of players who were far worse.

We were beaten by a Walsall side who were far better than us tonight.  A bad night at the office all round.  Hopefully we'll pick ourselves up for Saturday and play like we can.

Kasim told some gobby bastard to 'shut the fuck up'

From the DRS I clearly heard him tell someone to "shut the fuck up". Wasn't sure if directed at lino or crowd.

Well put.

Luongo and Kasim were simply awful tonight by their standards but McEveley is singled out - makes a difference to Byrne I suppose.

Lots of overreaction on Radio Wiltshire as usual

Bad day in the office - move on. if we win 4 lose 1 for the rest of the season I'll be happy. We needed a kind of Macca / Foley character today to sort their number 7 out.

Good on him.

One thing I have learnt is we need to employ Ling as a scout.

I love him a bit more now

[Clutching at straws] Having enjoyed the love we've been getting from other fans in recent weeks, the TEF at least is getting credit for our class from the oppo tonight. [/Clutching at straws]

http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43545&start=120 (http://www.upthesaddlers.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=43545&start=120)

I've always liked Walsall and their fans since the game in 2006 when we both sealed promotion from League 2.

At least it might cool the "play offs at a minimum" talk.

I like that they have rhyming slang swear filters. Took me a while to realise what eartha and donald were doing all over the place.

Also, how many in the Town End don't seem to know if the back edge of the ball is on the outside edge of the line it's still in. Fuck sake, the amount of fans moaning that Walsall's corners were out the quadrant. Learn the fucking rules. I saw nothing wrong with any of the ball placement for any of their corners.

No way is that attendance right. I wasn't there but not a chance in hell it was the exact number of Friday. Some one was  crying and sent Fridays again.

Meh. We were under form, and Walsall were very good. If they had a decent striker they would be right up there, very good side.

They had our number from the start, pressured us high up the pitch which gave the midfield 3 no time on the ball and as a consequence Luongo in particular barely got in the game first half.

Thought Cooper made the right changes to personnel but the second goal right after half time killed us. Their second and third both a result of sloppy passes across the back, which we knew at the start of the season would happen from time to time playing this way - at least they got 2 out of the way in one game.

At the end of the day we've had an off night and been beaten by a good team, no cause for massive concern. Maybe food for thought for Cooper that this 3 at the back is better suited away, the previous system we were using at home was doing just fine.

Didn't help that Nathan Thompson was clearly unfit and couldn't run back properly, didn't he go off on Friday as well?

Must say Wes was absolutely outstanding, and Ranger had a very good game, although he'll be kicking himself he didn't get a hat trick after he missed two fairly easy chances and their keeper pulled off a cracker to stop his close range header.

Top bloke. Had a quick chat in the Legends and my lad had his picture taken no problem. Said Dean Smith is his mate so he's hoping for a draw. Well didn't happen.

I said earlier, that this would be an interesting game, because it was the first at home v a team with some form...think if we'd won, it would have been a big statement, but not to be. Saturday now becomes important, as it's a second away game v a side with sketchy form. 

Div 3 is a tough attritional league....and Oldham on a dank late October afternoon might prove difficult.

Told you all with the few days I'd had we would lose and my grandad thoroughly enjoyed his first game for a long time  :no:

Everyone was shit apart from Ranger and Fods (without him it would have been 5/6 easily), Mason looked ok when he came on.

3-5-2 leaves us massively exposed on the wings, it happened against notts in the first half and as I said on Friday we were lucky that Notts were awful and couldn't exploit it. I'm not a fan of using that formation as we have two fullbacks who arent very good going forward and are key to us attacking and giving us width, we would be better off with Pritchard and Ajose/N'Guessan out wide and playing 4 at the back.

Fair play to Walsall as well btw, fantastic performance, best I've seen here in a long while

Thought Walsall were a bit rich on their forum though saying 'our part time fans won't be back'.

We average 8'500. What do they average ? 3'500 ?

A little over 4,000.  Link from earlier in this thread:

Wasnt there

But I imagine from listening to the radio that it was a bit of young team, inconsistent.

We will ahve days like this im afraid, we can only hope we have more good days then bad

Had to laugh at that quote - far from our highest gate of the season! To be fair, it's only one person. For all we know he could be their equivalent of Dosser ;)

Made me laugh too, average crowd for us. Maybe their stay away 300 fans will come back now they are doing well?  :)

Only 3 minutes of highlights on Player - I guess they are being kind to us after last week's 8/11 minutes

Didnt enjoy that one bit
We were slow to the ball, gave far too many passes away and second best all night long
Far play to warsaw they came for the points and took them.

Surprised Thompson started as he was subbed friday as was ill and didnt look like he had got over that last night
He wasnt the only one out of sorts tho
Wes was the only one who seemed awake and with it - which was a good job as could easily have been 6 rather than 3

Lets hope its just a blip and we put in a decent shift at Oldham

Sounds like the game to be missed - which fortunately I did. I will take this an omen and so in future when I attend we will win....sorry not going to Oldham. :pint:

I'll echo what the majority have already said.

After last night, you could easily say how bad we were, but that was only down to how well Walsall played. Tactically, spot on. And disciplined with it!

I still think we're a centre back short as I'm still not sold on Grant Hall.

We were shit. The lightening show behind the DRS was good