Millers Point the way Forward

By Alan Stokes
February 16 2003

As the Saddlers performances continue to deteriorate questions need to be asked. Why is it, that a club with established first division players are just about capable of remaining above the relegation zone?

As we approach the final third of the season it seems as though the whole Saddlers squad is in turmoil. There is no definitive style of play, there seems to be no confidence within the team and a total lack of cohesion as we stumble from one bad performance to another. In order to move forward it is necessary to identify where the problems lie.

It has been said that Walsall are a good passing side. The reason for this currently escapes me. The argument may have been valid for a few matches towards the beginning of the season but there is a distinct lack of evidence to suggest we are a good passing side as we come to the closing stages of the season. Our current style of play appears to be to hoof the ball into no mans land in the hope that the forwards will pick up the ball. This, quite simply, is not good enough.

Coupled with our inability to pass to each other are the continual changes in formation. The team changes from 442 to 532 to 352 to 4312 on what appears to be a monthly basis. It appears that Colin Lee is now inventing his own formations as the standard issues don’t appear to be working. This policy can have no benefit to the team as from one week to the next the players don’t know whether there is 2 at the back, 3 at the back and God knows how many in midfield. We have situations whereby we play lone strikers up front with our other strikers employed as wingers. We have formations where we play Corica in his famous hole, Corica on the right wing, Corica on the left wing and yet there is still no cohesive direction.

In midfield, the objective should be to break down the opposition whilst driving your own team forward creating attacking options. We are currently capable of neither. Is it a question that the players are incapable of driving the team forward or is it due to the fact that the midfield are largely bypassed in favour of the aimless hoof? I suggest that the aimless hoof over the top is largely responsible for our current failings coupled with the fact that we have NO wingers at the club who are capable of taking the ball out wide, beating players and supplying decent balls into the box. In fact I will rephrase that by saying we have no wingers at the club full stop. Taking the argument one step further, even if we find these mysterious things called wingers we still have no centre forwards capable of putting the ball in the back of the net from these situations. I exclude Birch in this equation as he has not yet been given chance to show what he can do in front of goal. Indeed, the only chance he had (against Burnley) from a cross resulted in a goal.

I will leave the arguments of the full backs out of this discussion except to say that we have no alternative to the current players we are using. This is of course a failing of the manager and no one else.

With our current first team under performing I can understand the narrow mindedness of the manager in sticking with his experienced players. However, changes do need to be made. There is a clear need for the club to do something different and from my point of view i would suggest the introduction of Taylor (even though I know little about him but logic would say he can’t be worse than an erratic Zigor), Birch and a very unfortunate Mark Wright. Give the lads a chance.

Throughout the winter months our poor performances were blamed on the state of the Bescot pitch even though our travelling performances on decent pitches did nothing to really inspire. This excuse has now been made null and void having had the pitch replaced. The performances still haven’t improved.

Along with our ability to hoof aimless balls upfield we also have the inability to take throw ins. In fact, a throw in usually turns out to be a disadvantage to us as no-one wants the ball, no-one moves for the ball and the result is a long throw to opposition defenders. Alternatively, when the opposition gain a throw, players make themselves available while our lot stand around and watch in amazement as opposed to trying to mark the players. The same can be said for our corners and other set pieces. This sadly is a reflection of the manager and his coaching staff.

Given the shambles highlighted above, arguments could be made for a change in stewardship. However, I do not think that this would benefit the club at the moment as no-one could say for sure whether a new manager would give us the improvement that is needed short term. Whilst I don’t think that Colin Lee and his team will take us down this year (I have no basis for that statement other than gut feeling) I do not feel as though he is the right man to take us forward in really establishing ourselves in the first division. He has managed to stabilise the club just above the relegation zone but has made no real progress other than that. Some people may argue that this is progress in maintaining our first division spot again. I don’t necessarily disagree BUT with the signings that we made and the financial state of the other clubs in the first division as we started the campaign the hope and expectation levels grew. Sadly, the team haven’t delivered as yet (though there is still time).

Finally, whilst Colin Lee is desperately trying to get in players of a higher quality (and full marks for trying to do this) he is often quoted as saying how difficult it is to attract quality players to Bescot. He will indeed be hampered by the financial constraints given to him. However, in reply I would say compare and contrast with our old friends the Millers. League position says it all really.

There is still time for history to prove me totally wrong and I sincerely hope that this proves to be the case.

As an aside, these are my own views and are nothing to do with the people that run the site.