Walsall match report part one

WALSALL MATCH REPORT
I was looking forward once again to being able to report that things aren’t as bad as they may seem and that we are playing well enough to deserve a break sooner, or later. Sadly, this time the opposite was true. The 3-1 scoreline flattered us and not Walsall, be in no doubt. 3-0, or 4-1 to the Saddlers would have been fair. The gulf between the two sides was considerable and we were on the wrong side of it even before we had been fortunate enough to take the lead in a rare attack from a good corner.
On this viewing, there is no doubt at all about the significant problem area, which is the shambles which mascarades as our midfield. I don’t think we can retrieve this sort of data in the lower leagues, but it would be interesting see how many passes of ours went astray to the opposition and how many found their target. The record for each player would also be interesting reading. We were appalling in this sense and just gave away possession over and over again. For me, this was down to shambolic disorganisation, rather than lack of quality. Who is playing where and do they actually know? There were good touches from Jennings, who looked lively; some excellent skills from Berry and one or two fitful flickers from Hourihane, but no one seemed to be able to find a Barnsley shirt with any regularity, even the keeper. This disorganisation is noticeable when we don’t have the ball, as no one seems to know what their responsibility is clearly and quickly enough and, when we do have the ball, the same disorganisation means that a) we don’t keep it for long and b) we get no quality service up to the strikers.
Even now I am finding it difficult to know quite how to describe the formation of our team. There was definitely only one goalkeeper!! There was a back four of Holgate, Cranie, Nyatanga and Brown – odd that Brown played left back and Holgate right, but there is no reason they shouldn’t switch that way and it did not emerge as a significant weakness playing them that way round. I believe that we had four in midfield and that the four were Jennings, Abbott, Berry and Hourihane, but whether it was a diamond, a flat four, or what it was I still am unable to tell you, because it never sorted itself into any discernible structure, which is how it developed into shambolic lack of coordination when in possession (not for long) and lack of clarity of role, task and effectiveness when we didn’t. I do not blame the midfield players for this. Up front we had Trotta and Cole. The former did stay pretty central as target man, but see player ratings, and the latter seemed to pop up in any number of places, often wide left. It hardly mattered where they were playing, as the service to them was, at times, non-existent. I don’t blame Cole for his ineffective game, but see below regarding Trotta.
We had substitute appearances from Lita, who looked lively, made some good runs and had the experience to put his foot on the ball; from Hemmings, who didn’t get much into the game and from Jack Cowgill, who looked assured in his cameo after Nyatanga left the pitch.
First half: neither side looked particularly impressive early on, but our pattern of misplacing passes was quickly established and Walsall looked more likely to make the break through, so it was somewhat a surprise when we scored with a good training ground routine from an excellent corner by Conor Hourihane. Cue wild celebrations and ‘up the football league we go again!’ Would that it were that simple being a Reds fan. Within the minute, Walsall themselves had a corner on our left. It was initially cleared by the defence, but again the flimsy midfield cannot have been looking to clear the scraps around the edge of the box, because Jordan Cook just half-volleyed the clearance straight into the top left hand corner of Turnbull’s net. It was a truly stunning strike, which drew applause from several of our own fans, self included. Worth paying the entrance money for, but would have preferred it to have been for us, not against. There was then a mishap on our right for young Mason Holgate, who had a misunderstanding with Cranie, which let in the Walsall forwards, the ball being squared across our box to Bradshaw, who had the simple task of slotting into the corner. From 0-1 up to 2-1 down in less than five minutes! Oh, the joys of supporting the Reds. Walsall drew confidence and started to play with additional energy and drive and I could see us getting a tonking, as our level of performance was still as dire as ever. Final passes, such as there were any, went well astray of the strikers and we offered little threat for that reason.
Second half: we were out on the pitch well before Walsall and the ref, our own, our very own, Trevor Kettle! New strategy for the second half from Danny’s inspirational half time talk; out on the pitch early; a storming start, quick goal back and we go on to win. No chance! Walsall came at us with all guns blazing and it was truly amazing that our goal lived the charmed life it did and that Walsall did not score. Our passing did not improve and Walsall were now well in command of the game. We fans were, however, in excellent voice and on one of the rare occasions that our forwards got near enough to the away end, were able to do our bit in raising the game. For about fifteen minutes, we battled hard for the first time, occasionally actually winning 50:50 balls and looking as though we really did want it. The fans continued to their bit during this time and there were some good shots, some of which O’Donnell had to make smart saves, but there was also very wayward finishing from the likes of Hourihane and Abbott with shots well off the mark from way too far out. After Nyatanga needed lengthy treatment, we did not seem to get the adrenaline going again. Walsall dominated again, being first to the ball frequently and holding possession with growing confidence, making our side look static by comparison. It was hardly a surprise when more loose defending allowed Jordan Cook to score his second and Walsall’s third to close off the game and inflict defeat in a game from which we rarely looked like getting anything. ‘We’re s**t and we know we are,’ sang the so supportive fans. Going on to ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ at the final whistle. The fans were great and they deserve better than this dismal and disjointed display. There was so little to cheer, but we cheered anyway, especially during the second half.

 

And the calls to give Wilson time continue? Thanks for the report.

 

Thankyou for your report.

Makes for grim reading

 

Much appreciated, pal.

 

Good report and I completely agree regarding the midfield. We were a shambles in there. We lacked someone to exert a bit of control in there like Adam (or was it James) Chambers did for them. I thought Holgate did well for us - he was steady and aggressive in the tackle. Him and Cranie messed up big time for their second goal but I thought Cranie, as the senior player and captain should've stepped in and cleared it up. Strangely given my comments above I thought Berry was busy and did ok today, particularly in the first half but he's no leader and we lack leadership massively in there.

Trotta was abysmal today. On this evidence he's a target man who doesn't win headers, can't hold the ball up, can't pass and doesn't work hard. Your mark of 4 is generous imo.

I was one of the ones who sang "You're not fit to wear the shirt" at the end and I'm sorry I did so now. For me it reflected my frustration and I suspect that;'s the case for others too. I blame the manager -sending the team out so badly prepared to compete is negligent in my opinion. I reckon 300-400 were singing at the end and Ben Mansford should be concerned about that. Worrying also the number of people around me saying that they were done and not going again.

As for the "We're s**t and we know we are", I think that was more humorous - but nevertheless and sadly true. Actually I thought the support was great today for the vast majority of the game. Despite having very little to shout about they did anyway.

 

Thanks for taking the time to post this and your other thread, mate. Much appreciated.

 

You're right. I live about 6 miles away from the Bescot and to be honest wasn't sure I could be bothered going until a couple of hours before ko - such is my lack of enthusiasm right now. This was my home game, it's the fans who travelled best part of 100 miles that are the heroes today!

 

I could barely summon the energy to get up from Birmingham, and the biggest regret I have regarding today is that I did! Ruined what could have been a lovely Saturday afternoon.

As you rightly say, it's not too bad for us. Travelling back up to Barnsley after that display must have been brutal, and I salute those that did it.

 

Sounds like we played poor again . Know we are missing key players but our form and effort seems to have evaporated since burton game