Shocking Saddlers Lose Against Latics

PANTS
By Davina
March 26 2005

After bringing in 5 new players there was some renewed hope amongst the Bescot faithful. Unfortunately the new found optimism has quickly vanished after yet another hopeless display at "Fortress Bescot"

Those fantastic memories of beating Wolves, thrashing the Baggies and stuffing Reading in the Play Off final have been put, all too soon, on the “good old days” shelf. It will be a long, long time before such magical moments are witnessed again as this Walsall side are poor. Very, very poor.

Today was the day when our move away from the relegation zone should have began. With 5 new additions to the ranks confidence should have been high.

The defence consisted of 3 players playing together for the first time. In front of new shot stopper Oakes, Pead played at right back, Perpetuini at left back whilst Gerrard partnered Roper in the middle. The midfield trio of Taylor, Osborn and Wrack were supposed to supply the ammo to Merse, Fryatt and Joachim.

Saddlers started off brightly enough and looked determined. Unfortunately they were unable to create anything at all. Lots of intricate passing resulted in nothing in the attacking third. The only times Walsall managed to look dangerous was when long balls were launched forward to JJ. It is worth noting that Joachim managed to win more headers in one match than Leitao has managed all season.

The nearest Walsall came to scoring in the first half was when Osborn let fly with 3 long range efforts. The first two managed to trouble the advertisement hoardings whilst the third was easily claimed by the keeper.

The Latics were pretty basic and never really looked like scoring although they were better organised and more disciplined than Saddlers.

After such a poor first half I anticipated a change in formation for the second. Merson, ineffective through out, was the cause of Saddlers problems. Without him creating opportunities for the team he is more of a liability than a necessity as we have no width whatsoever when he plays. Oldham were really there for the taking. Unfortunately Walsall continued with their ineffective 4312 formation.

Both teams looked like League Two outfits such was the poor quality of football on show. With 15 minutes left Oldham took the lead. A free kick was planted into the box. Neither Gerrard nor Roper reacted. Beckett nipped in to deflect it passed the keeper. Simple.

In response Joachim failed in a one on one with the keeper and Mildenhall pulled off a magnificent save from Surman late on. That was about as good as it got. Dreadful.

We weren't even offered our usual last 10 minutes of continual pressure on the visitors goal for our entrance fee. Oldham controlled the second half completely. Although they were very limited up front they were extremely well organised. They deserved their victory. Saddlers were simply dreadful.

Out of the new boys on view Peado looks half decent at right back but offers nothing going forward. Ditto Perpetuini at left back. Gerrard looked unconvincing although he did display some quality touches under pressure. The best of the new bunch was Joachim who showed that he is/was a good player in the recent past.

Man of the match was a toss up between Kris Taylor and Oakes.

Clown of the match goes to either Merson or Wrack. No, it was certainly Wrack who was 10 yards off the pace, uninterested and a complete bag of toss.

This team is capable of so much better. For whatever reason they are now a disorganised, uninterested shambles.