Minority Report - Walsall

I did not see the league game when we were defeated 2-0, so this was my first sight of Walsall. It was soon clear what their game is. Their shape, 4-5-1, allowed them to press high in our half, and having won the ball back early, it allowed them to break quickly. Luckily, our back four and particularly our two centre backs are now on the same page of the coaching manual, and although we lost the ball in our own half more than I am comfortable with, the defenders were able to resist fairly comfortably.

On our right side, Lalkovic had Scowen on toast for most of the game. In the first half he set up Bradshaw who put his shot weakly wide of the far post. By that stage we had scored two off-side goals, one of which was clearly not according to the TV replays that I did not see. The only answer was to get Walsall to score for us, because own goals cannot be given off-side.

It was 1-0 at half time, but I felt that there had been nothing in it. Walsall’s 5 man mid-field had earned them a greater share of possession, but up front, Bradshaw looked very ordinary, and although Sawyers was causing us plenty of problems, he was too deep to make it count.

At the start of the second half, the Walsall keeper saved from Isgrove when we were 4 on 1. It really was desperately poor finishing, and I wondered if we would come to regret it. Sam Winnall ensured that we did not with two excellent finishes. At 3-0 we had the luxury of taking off Winnall and sitting back in our defensive shape, a shape that visitors to Walsall will see again on Thursday night. It should have meant a comfortable and trouble free final 30 minutes. The reason that Walsall were able to create several chances during that period was through Lalkovic’s domination of Scowen, which became more and more obvious as Scowen dropped off his man, and Lalkovic was able to run at him with pace. It looked inevitable that Walsall would get the goal that would give them hope in the home leg, but Hecky reacted. He brought on White and Williams went to right back. Finally, the back four had stability and Scowen played out the remaining minutes in the relative obscurity of attacking mid-fielder in a 4-4-1-1.

For me, that was Walsall’s best chance. They were set up to catch us on the break, but they will find us less willing to commit central mid-field players forward in the return leg, and we should be able to catch them on the break in a reversal of roles.

 

Pretty fair...although I though Scowen played pretty well after the move.

 

Lalkovic did absolutely not dominate Scowen.

Yes he beat him a few times but this report is way over focused on Lalkovic.

What brought us a lot of chances was actually Lalkovic leaving their left back Henry completely exposed against Isgrove.

Lalkovic had an awful game.


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I stopped reading at Lalkovic having Scowen on toast, I thought Scowen played well and Lalkovic was poor. Only my opinion of course.

 

Really?

 

I used to sit in the East Stand. Didn't realise they showed a different game there.

 

I sit in there and Lalkovic didn't dominate anyone.

I actually commented during the game how he could play all day and he wasn't going to achieve anything.

 

Red Rain - I read your posts often, and though I often don't agree with your views on the games, I appreciate the thought that goes into what you write.

I disagree again today with your view that Lalkovic had the better of Scowen. Like Wigan last week, I feel that Scowen's performance at right back was one of the catalysts for the result.

But, the reason I've posted today is to ask this. How in the world can you post on here straight after we've won 3-0 in a playoff semi, without expressing any kind of satisfaction at the result? Without congratulating the team on their efforts? I really do find it amazing.

We can analyse the game in hindsight if you wish. You could well argue that we played no better tonight than in many other games this season, but we got 2 breaks for the first 2 goals and took another chance, which put a shine on it. You could talk about systems, as you have. But isn't all that just overwhelmed by a massive feeling of pride and excitement that we're really, really well set to get to the playoff final, against all expectations??

I'm not knocking you. If you really are thinking about all this stuff, I'd just suggest that you try really hard to stop, and just enjoy the effort, the performances, and the results this team have been getting since December. It might be a long time till it happens again.

And in addition:
- our midfield two (Hourihane and Brownhill) worked really hard to close Sawyers down. They clearly saw him as the dangerman, and executed a plan. If he was too deep to have an impact, it's because our lads made it so.
- the Isgrove chance. As it developed, I felt he should have passed, but he made the run into a great position and had a decent effort on goal, vindicating his decision not to pass. It was a bloody fantastic save from the keeper. "Desperately poor finishing" is hard on the lad.

Finally, I hope you're right about the 2nd leg. We're Barnsley, and I've seen us blow it enough times not to get complacent. Walsall are going to need to come flying at us on Thursday, and it would be great if we could hit them on the break early and go 0-1 - I'm sure that would end it.

 

And me after I swore a lot. What rubbish. All about opinions though

 

I don't agree re: Scowen. Not at all.

 

My feelings absolutely and totally! All of them.

 

Scowen on toast. You saw a different game to me. Goodness. Some of your other analysis is way off beam also.

 

I do not usually both to defend what I write on here. Football is about opinions and the series of Minority Report are so titled because I give my opinions and I realise that my opinions are in the minority.

However, the main issue on this occasions seems to be that Scowen played well and Lalkovic did not. Now I mentioned a chance at the end of the first half that Bradshaw missed by side footing weekly wide. This chance was created because Lalkovic beat Scowen to the goal line and crossed the ball back to Bradshaw. I can only think that none of you were concentrating, or perhaps because Bradshaw failed to score that the chance was not a good one. Some people are like that. If a chance is missed, it was not a chance.

As the second half wore on, Scowen became more and more inclined to drop off his man. As a result, by the time Lalkovic arrived at Scowen, Scowen found it more and more difficult to match his pace. In consequence, Lalkovic was reaching the goal line and crossing time and time again. Clearly, Walsall did not score because of the excellence of our central defenders, but the fact that Walsall did not score from any of these chances does not mean that Lalkovic did not beat Scowen at regular intervals, or that he did not create chances that were covered by our excellent central defenders.

The final time it happened, I cried out in frustration, we have to change our right back. Not two minutes later, the change happened and any threat from Lalkovic was snuffed out by Williams. We all see different stuff. I write what I see and that is an account of what I saw, and it seems that Hecky saw it the way I did. Why else would he replace Scowen at right back.

 

On toast is over the top...but Lalkovic looked their most dangerous player in the last 30 mins...I think that's why Hecky rearranged things and put Josh back in midfield.

 

Oh ok you're right, we're wrong.

 

Were you actually there or are you a wallsall fan in disguise, lalkovic was absolute garbage, scowen had him in his pocket all afternoon.

Ah well ...

 

What about Lalkovic leaving his left back completely exposed against Isgrove?

If our winger did that you would put great focus on that.

 

Can I ask though mate on the rare occasion you get invited to a party do you dissect every vou-le-vant and quiche when you get home rather than just enjoying the party?

 

I thought that you stopped reading at "Lalkovic having Scowen on toast".

How do you actually think that I should respond to these comments. I have explained that the game is about opinions, and I have explained that these are my opinions. Others have given different opinions. We have a failure to agree here. What more do you want me to stay.