Walsall in Crisis

By Alan Stokes
November 17 2002

With the season fast approaching the half way mark where are the Saddlers going wrong? Why are we conceding so many goals. Is it down to the players or the manager?

Prior to the start of the season many supporters were beating the drum about how we were going to establish ourselves in Division One this year. Certain players were also saying that we should be looking at reaching the play offs. I have a message for you all – Wake up and smell the coffee; we are fast slipping into a relegation dogfight.

To date we have rustled up a meagre 5 wins from 19 games whilst conceding a massive 34 goals. Why on earth are we in this situation and why on earth are we conceding so many goals. We have on paper an excellent defence with Bazeley, Roper, Hay, Carbon and now Pollet all players who could quite easily walk into most first division sides. Add to that we also have the defensive abilities of a certain Martin O Connor in the middle of the side to protect the back four. It is hard to see where we are going wrong. I just cannot understand why we are leaking so many goals!

Colin Lee has brought into the club players who have already proven their ability to play at this level as well as those who have great potential so why are we down amongst the dead men? I don’t think it is because the players are passed their best so the logical conclusion is that either a) they can’t play together or b) there is something wrong tactically.

This year we have tried numerous formations (something that I am not a great fan of) but it seems that whatever formation we play we still leak goals. Given that the defence has established performers at this level then I am at a complete loss to understand our current predicament.

I am gradually coming to the conclusion that maybe Colin Lee is somehow contributing to our own downfall. I have mentioned previously that Colin’s way of playing is for all the players in the team to defend as a unit. In doing this he requires Jorge and other forwards to continually track back. If you watch, whenever the opposing team has a throw-in in our half then Jorge is way back on our 18 yard line. Whenever we manage to clear the ball it is inevitably to an opposing defender as our strikers are not in the correct positions to gain control of the ball and to hold it up. This also has the effect of “draining” our forwards, when they do get control of the ball they are so knackered towards the end of the match that their “potential” to produce is massively diminished.

One area that I do hold Colin Lee responsible for is the lack of cover at left back. There is no way that a team should go into action without cover for all positions. It is inevitable that players will pick up suspensions and injuries during the course of the season so it is imperative that the squad is capable of adapting to whatever injuries and suspensions that arise. We are not in a position to do this currently and it must be rectified.

It is still early in the season but I am becoming increasingly concerned about our current points total and position in the league table. Without wanting to be alarmist, unless we start to defend properly, stop leaking goals on such a regular basis then there is a good chance that we will be relegated. There is still a long way to go BUT something needs to change, and change fast.

Fans Reaction to our current position.

Geoff Whiting:
I hate to be really pessimistic, but looking at the fixtures for the 2nd half of the season, I think we are now in very serious trouble.

Cannock:
Quite frankly 5 wins from 19 games says we just aren't good enough

Ian Hemmings:
Once again our short comings are being exposed by teams who we should be getting something off; we need an injection of new blood!

Codsall Saddler:
I'm also getting a bit nervous.

Ian Gittins:
We may have the same number of points as last year but we are playing way, way better and the results will come.

4Two:
We shall be safe.

Assuming that both Ipswich and Preston win their games in hand then there is a small gap appearing between ourselves and the teams immediately above us. It is essential that we start picking up 3 points, starting at home to Gillingham.

Let us all pray that 4Two and Ian Gittins are right come the end of the season.